Tree Commission

                                        November 2019 Minutes



Date:   November 5, 2019

Time: 5:00PM – 7:00PM

Location: Recreation Office Conference Room at 501 East Main Street (under City Space)

Attending: Paul Josey, Brian Menard, Lynn Rush, Rosanne Simon, Jody Lahendro, Mark Rylander,
Roxanne White, Peggy Van Yahres

Staff: Mike Ronayne, Jeff Werner, Todd Brown, Brian Wheeler

Guests: Tree Stewards Lilibet and Allan Coe, Mark Zollenhoffer

October Minutes Corrections – None

Roxanne moved to approve the October Minutes. Rosanne seconds. Jody, Mark, Lynn, Paul, Brian and
Peggy approve the minutes.

Public Meeting Requirements – Brian Wheeler

Brian reviews public meeting requirements for City Council appointed bodies like the Tree Commission.
The City is currently in process of drafting a policy for City employees regarding these requirements. If
there is a meeting of more than two tree commissioners, it then becomes a public meeting and must be
posted three days in advance for the public. There is discussion that there are minimum requirements
that the state mandates and other best practices that may be suitable for the Tree Commission. After
some questions, the commission decided if there were further questions they would draft them in a
letter to Brian Wheeler.

State of the Forest Summary – Paul

Paul reviews the State of the Forest presentation from City Council’s meeting Monday evening. Paul
shared the Tree Commission’s concerns of inadequate tree preservation from the past year along with
highlighting the CATS partnership to plant trees in Belmont.

Review Bylaws – Brian Menard

Brian has revised the bylaws for clarity and rearranged some items, putting the commission’s purpose
first. The commission agreed to create an “Objectives” document from the “Duties” section once it is
removed. There is some discussion that the vacancies section could be improved and the quorum
requirements be amended. Mike will provide the original resolution from the creation of the Tree
Commission to Brian Menard and Mike will confirm bylaw amendment process. If other commissioners
have comments they will provide them to Brian Menard.

Review Tree Nominations – Peggy

Seven tree nomination forms were submitted. There was a southern red oak at Oakwood cemetery, a
shumard oak along the 250 bypass, the ash at the Historical Society, the elm at Clark Elementary, two
sycamores at Riverview Park and a burr oak at Maplewood Cemetery. Staff has concerns about
nominating trees in cemeteries where roots extend into private plots that people may or may not open
and damage roots. After some discussion it is decided to move forward with nominating all seven
proposed trees. Jody motions to approve all trees as nominated. Rosanne seconds, none opposed.

Belmont Tree Planting - Rosanne

The Belmont tree planting project will take place Saturday November 9th at 9AM in Belmont Park. There
are five planting teams and 25 trees being planted.



Other Updates

CIP - Mike

Comments received from the September Tree Commission meeting were incorporated into the Forest
Health Improvement Initiative CIP request. The other $75k tree planting CIP request is moving forward.
Mike will check with Todd where process is currently. Jody will let the Tree Commission know when the
CIP will be coming to the Planning Commission.

Upcoming Projects that impact trees – Mike

Mike shares an overview of CRHA South First St. Prelim., Preston Av. Turn Lane, Landonia Circle Final SP.,
International School of Charlottesville and Belmont Apartments SP. The Tree Commission stated they
would like to see Belmont Apartments, the International School of Charlottesville, CRHA South First St.
and the Preston Av. Turn Lane. Mike will share his comments for CRHA South First St.

Data/Education Committee - Roxanne

No update.

Code Committee – Mark Rylander

No update.

Garrett St. Oaks - Peggy

After some discussion the Tree Commission decided to move forward with nominating the oak trees
along Garrett Street as Street Trees to fall under protection of the Tree Conservation Ordinance are
voted for by Peggy, Mark, Roxanne, Rosanne, Jody, Brian, Lynn with none opposed and Paul abstained.
Peggy will submit the nomination forms.




Meeting Action Items:

           •   Comments for any other proposed bylaw changes will be submitted to Brian
               Menard
           •   Mike will provide the original Tree Commission resolution to Brian Menard
           •   Peggy will submit nomination forms for the trees along Garrett St.
           •   Mike will write reports for trees submitted for ordinance protection
           •   Tree Commission will write reports for trees to be protected under ordinance
           •   Tree Commission will draft a letter if there remaining questions for Brian Wheeler
           •   Mike will confirm process for changes to bylaws




Next meeting: Annual Tree Stewards Report, CIP/OP update


Adjourn 7:00