Arbor Commission Meeting Notice and Agenda for Monday, September 9, 2024

1 City Hall Plaza, Ellsworth, ME 04605

ARBOR COMMISSION

Regular Meeting

Monday, September 9, 2024, 8:15-10:15 AM

AGENDA

1. Call to Order (time by which item will be completed)
2. Adoption of Minutes of August 5, 2024 (8:20AM)
3. Staff Comments or Clarifications (8:50AM)

• News regarding Inflation Reduction Act Urban and Community Forestry Grant
• Overall context of City greening efforts
• Tree Ordinance response re levels of authority
• Response to Tree Warden job description
• Staff Support for Commission
• Other

4. Citizen Comments(8:55AM)
5. Report from City Council (9:05AM)
   • Council approval for current commission
   • Other
6. Action Item Reports/Decisions (9:45AM)
   • Constitution of Staff/Commission Project Management Committee to oversee and integrate the work plans for ongoing maintenance and planting, the Project Canopy Grant work plant, and the Urban and Community Forestry work plan. Committee mandate is to keep the Commission informed and up to date and to complete projects as planned on time and on budget.
   • Public education event: Beech leaf disease panel
   • November memorial tree planting (M. Blackstone/T. White)
   • Commission membership
   • Overall Commission Work Plan/Agenda for 2024-2025 relative to Commission and Public Works Budgets
   • Other
7. Committee Reports 

• • Tree Ordinance/Tree Warden Job Description (I. Drummond, J. Lambert, T. White) (10:00AM)
  • Update on Tree Warden Job Description feedback/meeting with A. Wilson
  • Update on Tree Ordinance Feedback/meeting with M. Williams
  • Ordinance and tree warden job description revisions in light of feedback and 2025 budget decisions and resulting staffing.
  • Other
  • Forest Management Plan (Blackstone, T. Davis, J. Barnes, T. White) (10:05AM)
  • Current status/next meeting
  • Other

8. Work Schedule for Information (Timelines, Deadlines) (10:10AM)
   • 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)
   • Project Canopy Grant Application (submitted May 15, 2024/received)
   • Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Grant (submitted May 15, 2024; results pending)
   • Revised Tree Ordinance (sent for consultation in May; finalize for submission to Council September 2024?)
   • Tree Warden Job Description (March 6, 2024 to City Manager/Council; resent after arrival of new city manager; resent July 2024)
   • Submission of Arbor Day Proclamation to Mayor (proclaimed February 12, 2024)
   • Submission of Tree City USA 2024 application (submitted December 2024)
   • Community Tree Nursery Input on Ordering & Planting for 2025
   • Finalize City of Ellsworth Forestry Management Plan (first full review by Commission October 2024)
   • Plan Public Education Programming for 2024-2025 (Chestnut Program, April 2024; Beech Leaf Disease August 2024; other on White Pine, to remove or not?)
   • Arbor Day/Maine Arbor Week 2025 Activities (?)
   • Other
9. Member Comments/Other Business (10:15AM)
10. Next Meeting: Sept 9, 2024 8:15-10:15AM.
11. Adjournment