Draft of 4-15-15 Meeting Minutes — original pdf

Backup

+ URBAN FORESTRY BOARD REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, April 15, 2015, - 5:30 p.m. Northwest Recreation Center 2913 Northland Austin, Texas Board Members in Attendance: Board Chair Chris Kite, Board Vice-Chair Peggy Maceo, Board Members Patrick Brewer, Len Newsom, Keith Brown. Board members Ryan Fleming and Nick Classen absent. Staff in Attendance: Parks and Recreation Department Pat Fuller, Division Manager, Director Designee Lara Schuman, Urban Forestry Program Manager Development Services Department Michael Embesi, City Arborist Lynn Tozser, Program Specialist, UFB Liaison Public Works Department Rob Grotty, Urban Forestry Program Manager Watershed Protection Department John Clement, Environmental Program Coordinator MEETING MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER Board Chair Kite called the meeting to order at 5:40 pm B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Urban Forestry Board meeting of March 18, 2015. Motion made by Board Member Brewer, Seconded by Board Member Brown to approve the meeting minutes of March 18, 2015. Approved by Board Chair Kite, Board Vice-Chair Maceo, and Board Members Brewer, Newsom and Brown. Board Members Classen and Fleming absent. C. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION The first 4 (four) speakers signed up prior to the calling of the meeting to order are allowed a three-minute allotment each to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. • Sharon Blythe, Item F2 • Jim Mallicote, Item F2  D. ANNOUNCEMENTS • Lara Schuman’s new title is Urban Forestry Program Manager • Forklift Danceworks Trees of Govalle performances this past weekend. Both were very successful. Educational events included: o Root collar clearing – APF o Firewise – AFD/WPD o Invasives – WPD o Girdling roots – Texas Forest Service o Ask an arborist and general tree info – TreeFolks o Tree tags – appraisals and benefits of trees – PARD UF o Critical Root Zones – PARD UF o NeighborWoods – TreeFolks o Mulching – TreeFolks • Upcoming work at Deep Eddy Pool/Eilers Park: o Raising some low limbs o Clearing volunteer hackberries and paper mulberries from fence o Vine removal from trees o Crown cleaning of trees • Combining the Urban Forestry Program with the City Arborist Program (from Parks and Recreation Department to the Development Services Department) will be completed on October 1, 2015. • A celebratory, end of the planting year and potluck will occur at Tree Folks this Saturday. See their website for more information. • Texas Forest Service has a one day seminar (April 30th) in San Marcos entitled, “Growing Texas – Urban and Community Forestry Workshop • Urban Forestry Board Chair Kite and Vice-Chair Maceo will be meeting with Environmental Board Chair Mary Gay Maxwell to discuss the transition to Environmental Commission. E. URBAN FORESTER EXECUTIVE LIAISON REPORT – Michael Embesi, City Arborist: • Austin Urban Forest Plan Implementation Monthly Update. Presentation Given. • Status of Prominent Tree Care Program approved by UFB in September 2014. Presentation Given F. ACTION ITEM BRIEFINGS 1. Present Urban Forestry Board 2014 Annual Internal Review. Presenter: Chris Kite, Urban Forestry Board Chair. Presentation given. 2. Draft Cemetery Master Plan. Presenter: Kim McKnight, Project Coordinator, Park Planning and Design Unit, Parks and Recreation Department. Presentation given. 3. Heritage Tree Removal at Upper Bull Creek Greenbelt. Presenter: Lara Schuman, Urban Forestry Program Manager, Parks and Recreation Department. Presentation given. 4. Planting of appropriate tree species on land managed by Public Works. Presenter: Rob Grotty, Urban Forestry Program Manager, Public Works. Presentation given.  G. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 1. Discussion and possible action on a recommendation regarding the Urban Forestry Board 2014 Annual Internal Review. Presenter: Chris Kite, Urban Forestry Board Chair. After discussion, action was postponed to May meeting. 2. Discussion and possible action on a recommendation to the City Council on the Historic Cemeteries Master Plan related to trees and vegetation. Presenter: Board Chair Kite on behalf of Urban Forestry Board Member Nicholas Classen. After discussion, action was postponed to May meeting. 3. Discuss and provide recommendations regarding removal of Heritage Tree at Upper Bull Creek Greenbelt. Presenter: Peggy Maceo, Urban Forestry Board Vice-Chair. No action taken. 4. Discussion and possible action on a recommendation to City Council on planting of appropriate tree species on land managed by Public Works. Presenter: Peggy Maceo, Urban Forestry Board Vice-Chair. No action taken. H. BRIEFINGS – 10 Minute Limit For Each Briefing 1. Austin Energy Line Clearance Monthly Update – March 2015. Backup material submitted. Austin Energy representative not present. 2. City Arborist Program Tree Preservation and Replenishment Monthly Update March 2015. Presenter: Michael Embesi, City Arborist, Development Services Department. Presentation given. 3. City Arborist Program Heritage Tree Report – March 2015. Presenter: Michael Embesi, City Arborist, Development Services Department. Presentation given. 4. Update from Treaty Oak Task Force Working Group. Presenter: Patrick Brewer, UFB Board Member. Presentation given. 5. Public Works Department Urban Forestry Program Monthly Update. Presenter: Rob Grotty, Urban Forestry Program Manager, Public Works. Presentation given. 6. Parks and Recreation Department Urban Forestry Program Monthly Update. Lara Schuman, Urban Forestry Program Manager, Parks and Recreation Department. A. Removal of Protected Size Trees on Parkland. Presentation given. B. Update on Cyclo-Cross Race Remediation Work at Zilker Park. Presentation given. I. FUTURE ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS Briefing on transition of Urban Forestry Board into Environmental Commission. Presenter: Board Chair Chris Kite. May 2015. J. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications are provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 4 (four) days before the meeting date. Please call Lynn Tozser at the Planning and Development Review Department, at 512-974-2698, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Urban Forestry Board, please contact Emily King at emily.king@austintexas.gov or by phone at 512-974-9548.