April 23, 2024 in Agenda Notices, Arbor Commission

1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, ME 04605

ARBOR COMMISSION

Regular Meeting

Monday, May 6, 2024, 8:15-10:15 AM

AGENDA

  1.  Call to Order (timeline for completion of agenda topics)
  2. Adoption of Minutes of April 1, 2024 (8:20AM)
  3. Staff Comments or Clarifications (8:35AM). (T. Dyer)
  4. Citizen Comments (8:45AM)
  5. Report from City Council (C. Hanson) (9:00AM)
    1. Update on budget process
    2. Council response to Tree Warden job description
      1. Council/City Manager response to request for a Parks and Recreation Department
    3. Other
  6. Committee Reports
    1. Tree Ordinance/Tree Warden Job Description (I. Drummond, J. Lambert, T. White)
      1. update on consultations with Planning Department (9:15AM)
    2. Arbor Commission 2024-2025 Budget Request to City Council (M. Blackstone, C. Hanson, T. White) see attached documents (9:30AM)
      1. update on April 1 (Public Works) and April 29 (Commission budget request) budget presentation
      2. Update on efforts to get a Parks & Recreation Department established
    3. Project Canopy Application ( Blackstone, C. Hanson, T. White, M. Williams) (9:50AM)
      1. Updates on progress towards the $200,000 (no match) Inflation
      2. Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Grant application
      3. Updates on $20,000 Planning & Education Project Canopy Grant or the $15,000 Planting Grant (both require cash or in-kind match)
    4. Forest Management Plan ( Blackstone, T. Davis, S. Walczyk, J. Barnes, T. White) (10:05AM)
      1. update on progress with the development of the plan
      2. update on memorial tree planting
  7. Arbor Day 2024 Public Activities/Observance–Evaluation (10:10AM)
    1. April 26 (Maine Arbor Week 2024—May 19-25, 2024) feedback on April 26 program
    2. ideas for next year?
    3. participation in May 16 tree planting and May 19 & 25 workshops, all at Community Tree Nursery
  8. Work Schedule for Information (Timelines, Deadlines)
    1. Budget Proposals for 2024-2025 (submitted; Council Workshop date?)
    2. Finalize Project Canopy Grant Applications (May 15, 2024)
    3. Revised Tree Ordinance (?)
    4. Tree Warden Job Description (March 6 to City Manager/Council)
    5. Submission of Arbor Day Proclamation to Mayor (proclaimed February 12, 2024)
    6. Submission of Tree City USA 2024 application (done)
    7. Community Tree Nursery Input on Ordering & Planting for 2024 (?)
    8. Finalize City of Ellsworth Forestry Management Plan (October 2024)
    9. Plan Public Education Programming for 2024-2025 (?July 2024)
    10. Arbor Day/Maine Arbor Week 2024 Activities (?)
    11. Other
  9. Member Comments/Other Business 
  10. Next Meeting:  June 3, 2024  8:15-10:15AM?
  11. Adjournment(10:15AM)