Arbor Commission Meeting Notice and Agenda for Monday, November 4, 2024

1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, ME 04605

ARBOR COMMISSION

Regular Meeting

Monday, November 4, 2024, 8:15-10:15 AM

Held in the EFD Training Room at City Hall

AGENDA

1. Call to Order (time by which item will be completed)
2. Adoption of Minutes of October 7, 2024 (8:20AM)
3. Staff Comments or Clarifications (8:30AM)
   1. Appointment of Supervisor for Tree Steward/Attendance at training session
   2. Current status of City tree-related budget
   3. City Hall Landscaping Priorities
4. Citizen Comments(8:35AM)
5. Report from City Council (8:45AM).
   1. Residency of Commission members
   2. Thanks to C. Hanson
   3. Process of assigning next Council representative
   4. Other
6. Immediate Action Items in progress
   1. Commission membership (9:00AM)
   2. Staff/Commission Project Management Committee Report (M. Blackstone, T. Davis, I. Drummond, C. Hanson, A. Wilson, T. White) (9:15AM)
      1. Memorial Tree Planting.
      2. November Pilot Tree Planting Nov 4/5; advance PR
      3. Winter Prep for Nursery
7. Commission Work Agenda/Schedule for 2024-2025 (including allocation of commission Budget) (10:00AM)
   1. Contracting of Public Forest Management Plan
   2. Contracting of Invasive Pest Management Plan (esp. Emerald Ash Borer)
   3. Tree Ordinance/Tree Warden Job Description (I. Drummond, J. Lambert, T. White)
   4. Forest Management Plan (Blackstone, T. Davis, J. Barnes, T. White)
   5. Tree City USA application
   6. Arbor Day Proclamation
   7. Public Education Programming
   8. Arbor Day/Maine Arbor Week activities (including nursery plantings)
   9. Project Canopy Application re Public Forest?
   10. Tree Steward Application?
8. 2023-2024 Work Schedule for Information (Details/Timelines)
   1. Budget Proposals for 2025 (submitted and presented to Council April 2024; follow up communications/meetings with City Manager necessary in light of Fall budget review)
   2. Project Canopy Grant Application (submitted May 15, 2024/received)
   3. Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Grant (submitted May 15, 2024; received)
   4. Tree Steward Application (submitted August 15, 2024)
   5. Revised Tree Ordinance (sent for consultation in April/May/June)
   6. Tree Warden Job Description (March 6, 2024 to City Manager/Council; resent after arrival of new city manager; resent July 2024)
   7. Submission of Arbor Day Proclamation to Mayor (proclaimed February 12, 2024)
   8. Submission of Tree City USA application (submitted December 2023)
   9. Community Tree Nursery Planting/ Ordering (80 new trees planted Maine Arbor Week; 30 new chestnut seedlings June 2024; winter preparation November 2023)
   10. Began drafting City of Ellsworth Forestry Management Plan (September-February 2024)
   11. Public Education Programming (Chestnut Program, April 2024; Beech Leaf Disease August 2024)
   12. Arbor Day/Maine Arbor Week Activities (April 26, May 16, 18; attendance at Forestry Service award ceremony May 22).
9. Member Comments/Other Business (10:10AM)
10. Next Meeting: December 2, 2024, 8:15-10:15AM
11. Adjournment (10:15AM)