HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-STAC-2009-10-14Shade Tree Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
October 14, 2009
Present: Nina Bassuk, Carolyn Boronkay, Judy Fogel, Tony Hanna, Andy Hillman,
Dan Klein, Judith Maxwell, Paul Paradine, Monika Roth, Nancy Schuler, Debra Statton,
Keith Vanderhye
Notice for Homeowners About Tree Work: Andy passed around a draft notice and asked for
editing suggestions by next meeting. Lew worked it up in response to Nancy's request. There
was a suggestion to reinstate `door hangers' to let people know work will be happening.
Fall Planting: Nina's students are poised to plant Nov 3 on Franklin and First Streets for Water
and Sewer. The Plantasia invoice (attached to Sept STAC minutes) shows the shrubs bought for
this, including Pavement Series roses to go along the fence under the trees on Franklin and
hydrangeas for the north side of the building. Nina's students are volunteering the planting, edging
and mulching for the project. Next year Water and Sewer plans to plant the other side of Franklin
and First.
300 Block of E State St will be planted Sat 17 Oct alongside the new brick street. The new trees —
`Danada Charm' Elm and `Magnifica' Hackberry - -will match the shape of the 3 Zelkova still
there.
This is a good project since the planting spots are large enough for some real soil around the
sides of the root ball to enhance the water - holding capacity there. Then with mulch, the trees should
take off.
Schichtel's is replacing at no cost 10 `Frontier' Elms that died their first year; the City crew will
plant them. Also to be planted are a couple of trees on Green St, to fill holes.
Dan shared notes on Commons Redesign Committee plans, and recommended putting all our
concerns in writing to the committee. What's driving the project is that it's not sensible to do any
hardscaping that might last 10 -20 years without repairing the water lines running down the center of
the Commons, which although working fine and not leaking, are pretty old and in need of
replacement within the next 20 years. However, a Commons redesign project is probably too
expensive at this time and perhaps still years away. Various options in the plan run to $5 -6 Million,
which were we to borrow now, would put the City in a bad credit risk status. So there's time to plan
well, and STAC's point of view is important to the process.
Committee comments on the redesign notes:
• With $.25 Million for planning, the mole could be investigated for use;
• The truth of how critical is the time it takes trees to grow;
• STAC should identify the most important trees to save;
• Re fire dept concerns, if sprinklers become widespread on all buildings, then the height of
trees nearby doesn't have to be reduced — won't have to get at the building from the
outside. Currently the City tree crew is able to trim all trees on the Commons to make
access unimpeded.
• It was noted that although only one of the three plans has trees down the center of the
Commons, it's this plan that would preserve the trees, since it would run the water lines
along the sides of the Commons.
• Re the bird problem, the Birdex solution used successfully last time can't be used again.
Birdex is not approved for tree use.
Nina will revise her draft of STAC's letter to Sasaki & Associates, and include these
comments as well as STRATUM statistics on the Commons trees' ecosystem contribution, then
send it around for comment. She and Andy will attend the upcoming public meetings and make
our concerns known.
Beautification Brigade Report: they are slowly taking on Brindley Park directly behind
Island Health & Fitness. Although the Garden Club had provided crabapples and benches
there, it was weedy and uncared for.
The Brigade is about to put in 3000 bulbs, a sequence of red tulips on Dryden Road between
College and Eddy, and at the bottom of Seneca Street.
Citizen Pruners are winding down, just 2 more weeks, doing clean up at small sites. This
year saw a few new knowledgeable volunteers. Mondays a big crew, very small crew on Thurs
mornings, so may have to rethink times. After cleaning up at Van Horn Park, Monika reports
that with the willows gone /died, there needs to be a backdrop, or the area mulched heavily.
Paul took a couple of NYSEG crews to the Visitor Center, and as a public service, took out
the locusts and weeds there which were obscuring the view of the lake.
Keith brought up Urban Timber Salvage to see if the City has any interest in working with them.
They bring a portable sawmill into wooded urban project areas, and in return for saving the good
timber, get half of it.
Paul has noted good timber in some NYSEG project areas — like on Yellow Barn Road — and
had the idea of donating the timber to the City, so the City can plant trees with the proceeds.
Monika could hook the City up with Green Builders who'd love locally harvested wood.
Email from Pamela with Issues of Concern: people are parking up against the one big old oak
saved at ACS; at Cass people are parking up against trees, need wheel stops /fence; the INHS
project on West Hill is worrisome given their past obliteration of trees on a neighboring
project.
Andy says the City owns a lot of trees along the street there and could impede access
to the site, and will use this leverage with INHS to safeguard trees on the site.
He reported that INHS' new building planned for the Women's Community Building
site involves removal of the oaks on the Cayuga St. side. Andy is back on the Site Plan Review
Committee, and believes he can reason with Paul Mazzarella.
Next meeting Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Minutes respectfully submitted by Debra Statton