HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-STAC-2016-02-17City of Ithaca Shade Tree Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 17, 2016
Present: Nina Bassuk, Laurene Gilbert, Jeanne Grace, Beverly Hillman, Paul Paradine, Debra Statton,
Keith Vanderhye
Forester’s Report: Jeanne talked to Mark Whitmore about a few branches still showing woolly adelgid in
the cemetery, to see if a second treatment might work better. He thought it a good idea to make another
attempt.
Jeanne is going to the Board of Public Works to make a presentation and refresh the committee’s memory
about our EAB plan, then will get on Common Council’s agenda the first Wednesday in March and do a short
presentation to refresh Common Council’s memory.
Nina will present the list of STAC accomplishments over the last year at the March Common Council meeting.
Dawn Redwoods by bus station: Keith will call Greg Wilder at the Trust Company again, to offer to remove
them himself and suggest that if it seems reasonable, he’ll take out all three‐‐‐two are dead and one is
questionable. The Trust Company will pay for the replacement trees. Jeanne could ask the City Attorney to
draft a partial easement for that area so that the City could take care of the shrubs there which look awful
now, meat‐balled smoke bushes and junipers. Paul thinks Norfolk Southern might have an easement there.
If so, Paul could suggest we’d plant something that didn’t have to be sprayed. It might be worthwhile writing
a letter to Green Star’s Council or Paul going to them as an owner‐member to ask what plans they have for
the area beside the railroad track.
Tree City Recognition Ceremony: Paul, Laurene, and Beverly want to go. It’s a luncheon with awards and
guest speakers on March 30. There’s a 7‐seater van of Cornell folks going so there’s probably room for our
three. Jeanne will verify the number of people allowed, coordinate the van, and get back to us.
The crew has done lots of tree removals, including a lot of willow trees at Stewart Park that weren’t stable.
The next batch will be ash. They have taken out 50 trees and will take out about 20 more before end of
winter.
Jeanne is looking to order 60 trees this spring. There’s $7,000 in the tree account. Jeanne also keeps a
record of revenue from trees removed ‐‐‐by accidents or developers‐‐‐ and uses this money in fall, for a total
of $10,000‐$12,000 per year.
Our Masterplan and Criteria go next to Public and Economic Development Committee, then Jeanne can take
them to the Board of Public Works herself. She will be in touch with JoAnn again to get it on the agenda.
Beverly reports that the crabapple project got funding from the Ithaca Garden Club. On March 4, this
decision will be endorsed. The Club would like to watch the planting when it happens in fall. Jeanne and
Beverly have it narrowed down to several cultivars. The plan is to intersperse new trees in with old ones.
Next meeting Wed March 9, rescheduled to Wed March 16, 4 pm Cooperative Extension.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Debra Statton