Tree Commission April 2021 Minutes Date: April 6, 2021 Time: 5:00PM – 7:00PM Location: Remotely via Zoom meeting Attending: Brian Menard, Tim Padalino, Mark Zollinhofer, Mark Rylander, Peggy Van Yahres, Jeff Pacelli, Jody Lahendro, Jeffrey Aten, Vicki Metcalf, Jean Umiker Sebeok Absent: Anson Parker Staff: Mike Ronayne, Todd Brown, Missy Creasy, Jack Dawson Attendees: Molly Conger, Patrick Punch Guests: Amanda Nelsen The meeting was called to order at 5:02 p.m. March Minutes Corrections – Tim motions to approve the minutes as presented. Peggy seconds, none opposed. Call to Order, Chair Report and Welcome New Members – Brian M. Welcome New Members Jeff Aten is a Landscape Architect in town who is also a former member of the Parks Advisory board and is looking forward to serving the community. Vicki Metcalf is a naturalist looking forward to serving and is concerned about canopy loss and canopy loss in underserved neighborhoods. Jean Umiker Sebeok is a long-term gardener who wants to serve to help get trees to neighborhoods and places where they are needed most. Early next month Brian will be providing a presentation to the Sierra Club per a request. There is also now a workspace in MS Teams. The group still needs to coordinate what order and how documents will be uploaded. Six trees went to council Monday evening for consideration for further protection under ordinance. Another reading is required but the only comment received was questions of why all trees aren’t important. The Tree Commission would like to expand the list of protected trees. Fossil Flora, UVA art/climate Project – Amanda Nelsen Amanda is working with students to use single-use plastics to create art to hang from trees and hopes to hang them from City trees in an effort to raise awareness for single use plastics and climate change. The group is generally supportive of the goals and message of the project presented by Amanda Nelsen at the April meeting but would like further discussion as to whether and how the City and Tree Commission might collaborate in implementing the project. NDS/PW Presentation and Discussion – Tim Padalino, Missy Creasy, Jack Dawson After collaborating with staff, the Codes and Practices Committee was able to arrive at 6-10 priority items to work on. The code review through the C’vill Plans Together project will be the first complete rewrite of the zoning code since 2003. The subcommittee will wait for guidance of either repeal and replace or tweaking and will provide comments. Committee Reports Arbor Day 2021 – Peggy, Arbor Committee Arbor Day will now be held on Thursday, April 29th 2021 at Walker-Upper Elementary School at 10AM. With help from teacher Nancy Smith, the group will be celebrating at the row of street trees planted along the Gentry Ln. side. Low Canopy Neighborhood Projects – Peggy, Education and Advocacy Committee For this year, the group is looking to work with CATS to put a reading tree, small tree planting and a bench in the 10th and Page neighborhood. Next year the group wants to plant more trees in low income neighborhoods. CATS could do the planting with volunteers, Parks & Rec. staff could help with the education component and the group is still looking for an organization to receive the funding. Peggy proposes that the group meets soon. Arborist Report - Mike Canopy Study Update Mike found that the scale of the 2020 imagery to be purchased was inconsistent with previous canopy studies and would likely show discrepancies. Mike will wait a couple more weeks to hear back from other people in the industry before a decision is made how to move forward. Mall Tree Study Draft General comments are provided from the group. There is concern over having an emphasis on the tree replacement strategies over other Mall components and infrastructure. A committee will work with Mike to provide feedback. Public Comment None. Other Items Not on Agenda On Arbor Day April 29th at 10:30AM CATS will also be holding a ceremony at the post oak in Maplewood cemetery. On April 30th Dominion Energy will be also hosting a tree planting with a Girl Scout troop in lower Washington Park. Meeting Action Items:  Codes and Practices Committee will provide comments for code rewrite  Group will provide comments for Mall Tree Study The meeting was adjourned at 6:51 p.m.