HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-STAC-2015-05-13City of Ithaca Shade Tree Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
May 13, 2015
Present: Nina Bassuk, Laurene Gilbert, Jeanne Grace, Pamela Markham, Judith Maxwell,
Debra Statton, Keith Vanderhye.
Forester’s Report: The Arbor Day ceremony took place in DeWitt Park. The sweet gum ‘Moraine’ was
planted since the Kentucky coffee tree didn’t come in time. New Roots students came and made a
presentation and helped with the planting. Lee Dean made a presentation on planting and mulching.
Trees ordered never come this early. Need a different way to handle or a different nursery to go
to for the Arbor Day tree.
The trees for the spring order arrived, from Kline’s in Ohio‐‐‐planted a week ago‐‐‐ and from Schichtel’s ‐
‐‐‐to be planted tomorrow. The trees to replace those removed on Green Street are Adirondack crabs
which grow to 18’ and remain narrow.
EAB: sent letter out to Common Council reps a month ago, haven’t heard anything back. Jeanne will
check again and make sure the letter went to the Fall Creek list serve.
Old Elmira Road: the trees are here. Construction was supposed to have started May 4 but no one is
working there yet.
Trees ordered for Court Street planting: tulip tree ‘Emerald City,’ sweet gum, and Quercus
muehlenbergii (chinkapin oak).
Commons Update: 4 redbuds were planted on Bank Alley, not all are alive. Contractor is Source
Landscaping.
New bucket truck: DPW has a new bucket truck with 75’ tall arm.
Planning and Development agenda: Jeanne goes over the agenda‐‐‐ the update on the project where
the Neighborhood Pride store was, and the next leg of the Waterfront trail.
She notes that Maguire wants 5% internal landscaping while our current code calls for 12% and
our code revisions call for 25%. Jeanne will suggest porous asphalt for the parking lots which leaves
small but adequate room for big trees. Trees suggested for the project currently are Accolade elms and
honey locusts.
Why isn’t STAC and our revisions to code on the agenda? Our specs would help with these
projects.
Re the Texas Road House on the 700 block of Elmira Rd, Jeanne will comment about trees for
the parking lot, and will recommend using our specs, otherwise the trees will die.
Summer Intern: Jeanne got funding for a summer intern who will mostly lead Citizen Pruners sessions .
CP has approximately 5 new people. After the Beautification Brigade finishes planting everything, could
they be involved in Citizen Pruners. The Beautification Brigade is funded by tourism dollars and work
out of Cooperative Extension. Citizen Pruners might not be considered tourism‐related.
Next meeting is June 10, 4pm at Cooperative Extension. Nina will not be here for the June meeting.
Minutes respectfully submitted by Debra Statton