[00:00:02]
[ AGENDA PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD City Hall - Council Chambers 6131 Taylorsville Road July 16, 2026 6:30 P.M.]
IS SIX 30, SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND BEGIN TONIGHT'S MEETING AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH THE ROLL CALL.WE DID HEAR FROM ALEX AND DENNIS THAT THEY WOULD BE ABSENT THIS EVENING.
I DO NOT HAVE ANY OPENING REMARKS THIS EVENING, AND THERE ARE NO CITIZENS TONIGHT.
SO WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE YMCA UPDATE.
SO WE ARE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH SUMMER POOL SEASON, UM, THROUGH YESTERDAY.
WE'VE HAD A LITTLE OVER 27,000 VISITS TO THE AQUATIC CENTER SO FAR THIS YEAR.
UM, THE WEATHER'S BEEN PRETTY COOPER, UH, COOPERATING SO FAR.
UM, BUT UM, SO FAR EVERYTHING'S GONE WELL OUTSIDE.
UM, WE, UM, ARE HAVING THE TRIATHLON, THE STRONG KIDS TRIATHLON ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 1ST.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, I THINK I SENT THE LINK OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE ANYBODY AND EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO COME OUT.
UM, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF FINISHING UP, UH, T-BALL, UM, COACH PITCH AND BASKETBALL SEASONS AT THE YU SPORTS WISE.
THIS PAST WEEK WE HELD, UM, A BASKETBALL CAMP AT TOM CLOUD PARK IN THE MORNING.
UM, AND TOMORROW THE KIDS WILL GO TO INDIANAPOLIS, UM, TO PLAY THEIR TOURNAMENT GAMES AT GAME BRIDGE.
UM, AND HOPEFULLY, I BELIEVE THERE WAS SOME CONVERSATION WITH, UM, THE FEVER IN BREE HALL TO HAVE HER GIVE A, UH, KIND OF A SPEECH TO ALL THE KIDS THAT ARE THERE.
UM, AND THESE ARE KIDS THAT COME FROM ALL OVER DAYTON, KIDS FROM SPRINGBORO, XENIA, UM, HUBBERT, UM, YOU KNOW, DAYTON, INGLEWOOD, PREBLE COUNTY.
UM, AND THEN KIDS, IF THEIR PARENTS, UH, DECIDE TO COME OVER, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STAY AND WATCH THE FEVER GAME, UH, THAT EVENING.
UM, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON AT THE Y SO, AND WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CITY UPDATE.
UM, I'LL GIVE AN UPDATE ON SOME OF OUR RECENT AND UPCOMING PROGRAMS. SO WE ARE CONTINUING WITH OUR TASTY TUESDAY FOOD TRUCK RALLIES OUT AT CLOUD PARK.
UM, THEY ARE CONTINUING TO GROW IN ATTENDANCE AND WE HAD OVER 300 PATRONS THIS LAST TUESDAY.
UM, SO HOPEFULLY PEOPLE ARE GETTING OUT THERE AND TRYING THE TRUCKS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN OUT YET, YOU STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TUESDAYS LEFT, SO HEAD OUT THERE.
UM, STORY TIME CONTINUES IN THE PARKS THIS MONTH.
WE ARE AT SHO GATE PARK ON WEDNESDAYS AT 1130, AND WE'VE HAD, UM, I'VE BEEN AVERAGING OVER 40 PEOPLE PER PROGRAM, SO IT'S BEEN GREAT.
AND THEN, UM, I KNOW HAD A SPECIFIC REQUEST FROM ALEX BLACK TO GET PICKLEBALL NUMBERS BACK OUT ON THE PICKLEBALL COURTS.
SO THOSE HAVE BEEN HANDED OFF TO PUBLIC WORKS AND SHOULD BE INSTALLED SHORTLY.
SO LOOK FOR THOSE IN THE COMING WEEK OR TWO.
AND THE PHILLIPS PARK SIGN THAT WE HAD SOME RESIDENTS COME IN AND TALK ABOUT IT FADING THAT IS IN THE SHOP.
SO WE SHOULD SEE THAT BEING RETURNED ANY DAY NOW.
THE, UM, UP FOR OUR UPCOMING PROGRAMS, WE HAVE THE HERITAGE PICNIC THIS SATURDAY, SO, UM, IF ANYBODY IS WATCHING AT HOME OR YOU GUYS KNOW ANYBODY THAT MIGHT WANT TO COME OUT, WE ARE TAKING REGISTRATION THROUGH THE END OF DAY TOMORROW, SO THEY SHOULD HOP ON OUR REC DESK SITE AND REGISTER THAT IS 11 TO ONE, AND IT IS INCLUSIVE OF FREE FOOD.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FANTASTIC DONORS, INCLUDING TEXAS ROADHOUSE AND LEE'S CHICKEN AND F FLICKERS.
AND SO THERE'LL BE ALL SORTS OF GOODIES OUT THERE.
UM, WE JUST ASK THAT YOU REGISTER SO THAT WE CAN, UM, RESERVE YOUR SPOT AND YOU ALSO GET YOUR FREE STATE OF OHIO, UM, AMERICA TWO 50 HOMECOMING PICNIC KIT, WHICH IS INCLUDED OF A KITE AND A BAG, UM, A RECIPE BOOK.
SO LOTS OF INTERESTING STUFF IN THERE.
SO MAKE SURE YOU REGISTER SO YOU CAN, UM, RESERVE ONE OF THOSE.
IF ANYBODY SHOWS UP UNREGISTERED, WE'LL TAKE YOU AS LONG AS WE HAVE ROOM.
UM, AND THEN WE'LL FIT YOU IN IF THERE'S ANY FOOD LEFT, DEFINITELY.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE OUR NEXT, UM, FESTIVAL COMING UP WITH OUR EVERYTHING ENVIRONMENTAL FEST ON 7 26.
THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITING VENDORS, INCLUDING SOME PEOPLE COMING OUT, SHOWING OFF SOME DIFFERENT MODELS OF ELECTRIC CARS.
WE'VE GOT THE, UM, RAPTOR CENTER FROM GLEN HELEN BRINGING OUT SOME OF THEIR BIRDS.
[00:05:01]
IS SOME HOMESTEADING INFORMATION BEING GIVEN OUT BY A LOCAL HOMESTEAD AND FARMSTEAD, SO THAT WILL BE GREAT.IT'S REALLY ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, UM, SUSTAINABLE WILL BE OUT AT THAT FESTIVAL.
OUR NEXT CONCERT WILL BE 7 31, AND THEN OUR YOUTH ENTERTAINMENT SERIES COMING UP IN AUGUST IS THE 11TH.
SO ALL THAT'LL BE TAKING PLACE BEFORE WE SEE YOU NEXT.
SO I WANTED TO GIVE, UM, A REMINDER TO THAT.
AND THEN FINALLY ON A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT UPDATE, THE MOST RECENT UPDATE IS THAT THE PATIO AT THE SENIOR CENTER HAS BEEN POURED.
SO THERE IS A CEMENT PATIO OUT BACK NOW.
WE'RE WAITING ON FENCE INSTALL AND WE SHOULD HAVE THAT WRAPPED UP BY THE END OF THE MONTH.
UM, AND THEN TONIGHT, UM, I JUST WANTED TO INTRODUCE CATHERINE OF THE, UM, OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
UM, SHE'LL BE NEXT ON THE AGENDA WHEN CASEY'S READY TO MOVE TO IT IF THERE'S NO FOLLOW UP.
BUT JUST SO EVERYONE KNEW WHO WAS SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE, AND SHE'S GONNA TALK TO US TONIGHT ABOUT ALL THINGS, TREES AND TREE BOARDS.
SO ANY QUESTIONS FOR ME? OKAY, COOL.
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND MOVE TO THAT URBAN FORESTRY DIS DISCUSSION.
UM, LIKE SARAH SAID, I'M WITH THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES, THE DIVISION OF FORESTRY SPECIFICALLY, AND I AM HUBER HEIGHTS' REGIONAL URBAN FORESTER.
AND SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS I'M AVAILABLE TO YOU AS THE COMMUNITY, UM, TO HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR URBAN FOREST.
AND THOSE ARE THE TREES THAT EXIST ON YOUR CITY PROPERTY, YOUR BOULEVARDS, YOUR STREET LAWNS, YOU KNOW, TREE LAWNS AND AND SO FORTH.
AND UP UNTIL THIS POINT, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, LIKE A, A SEPARATE PLAN FOR THE URBAN FORESTRY THAT, THAT THOSE DECISIONS ARE SPREAD OUT AMONGST DEPARTMENTS, STREET DEPARTMENTS, PARK DEPARTMENTS, THAT THEY GET THE JOB DONE.
AND I THINK THAT'S MY IMPRESSION OF HOW HUBER HEIGHTS HAS BEEN ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE SOME CANOPY COVER AND MANAGE IT AND TAKE CARE OF IT, IS YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE ON STAFF AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND IN THIS BOARD TODAY THAT ARE AT LEAST PERIPHERALLY, YOU KNOW, JOINING IN ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
UM, BUT WHAT I'VE BEEN ASKED TO EXPLAIN TONIGHT IS WHETHER HUBER HEIGHTS, UH, OR, YOU KNOW, IF HUBER HEIGHTS WOULD WANNA HAVE A KIND OF A BUSIER, MORE ACTIVE TREE BOARD THAT IS MAYBE NOT JUST THE PARKS AND REC BOARD OR THE, YOU KNOW, ARTS AND BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE, BUT THAT IT'S ITS OWN, AND IT'S CALLED A TREE COMMISSION OR A TREE BOARD.
AND SO THOSE ARE GONNA BE YOUR COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE APPOINTED AND THEY GET TOGETHER LIKE THIS AND THEY DISCUSS JUST THOSE TOPICS, THOSE URBAN FOREST QUESTIONS, TREE PLANTINGS, TREE MANAGEMENT, YOU KNOW, SEASONAL TALKS AT EACH MEETING.
SO IT, IT'S REALLY JUST HONED IN ON THAT ASPECT OF, YOU KNOW, YOUR MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE TREES ARE INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY'RE RIGHT NEXT TO OUR GRAY INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEY ARE GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND SO IT, THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO IT.
UM, AND SO IF YOU WANT TO, YOU KNOW, ASK ME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT DOES A KIND OF A, A SUPER ACTIVE BOARD LOOK LIKE COMPARED TO ONE THAT IS JUST DOING MAYBE THE BARE BONES, UM, AND MAYBE WHY THEY CAN DO THE BARE BONES.
IT MIGHT BE THAT THEY'RE IN A CITY THAT DOESN'T NEED THEM, OR IT COULD BE THAT THEY'RE IN A COMMUNITY THAT DOESN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF ACTIVITY FOR THEM ANYWAY.
UM, SO THERE'S JUST KIND OF THAT WIDE RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR YOU.
AND I'M SURE THAT YOU'VE MET PARKS AND REC BOARDS THAT ARE NOT DOING NEARLY AS MUCH AS YOU TWO, YOU KNOW, SO THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF JUST THAT, THAT ACTIVITY FLOW AND THAT VOLUNTEER ENTHUSIASM AND, AND THE TIME THAT YOU HAVE TO COMMIT TO IT.
UM, SO LAST YEAR, YOU GUYS AS A COMMUNITY EARNED YOUR VERY FIRST, TO MY KNOWLEDGE, VERY FIRST TREE CITY USA AWARD.
AND THAT'S A PROGRAM PUT ON BY THE AOR DAY FOUNDATION.
IT GOES OUT TO CITIES, TOWNS, TOWNSHIPS, UTILITY COMPANIES, CAMPUSES.
AND IT'S ALL TO, YOU KNOW, TO JUST RECOGNIZE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PUTTING IN THE MANAGEMENT EFFORT.
IT COULD BE THAT THE ENTIRE YEAR ALL THEY DID WAS JUST MANAGE THEIR URBAN FOREST.
THEY DIDN'T ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, PLANT OR CUT ANYTHING, BUT THEY'RE STILL A TREE CITY 'CAUSE THEY WERE DOING THE WORK.
SO ANYWAY, HUBER HEIGHTS, UM, WASN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT TO OUR, UM, TREE CITY USA AWARDS PROGRAM.
[00:10:01]
THIS YEAR.UM, THEY, THIS IS THE 50TH YEAR THAT ARBOR DAY HAS AWARDED THESE, UM, RECOGNITIONS ACROSS UNITED STATES.
OHIO HAD THREE COMMUNITIES THAT WERE AT THAT 50TH YEAR, AND SPRINGFIELD WAS ONE OF THEM.
SO THEY HOSTED A BIG, UM, PROGRAM.
AND SO NEXT YEAR, BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE OF ME NOW, I'M, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE NEW ONES, YOUR PROGRAM WILL BE CLOSER TO HOME AND IT'LL BE SMALLER, YOU KNOW, GROUPS AND STUFF.
SO I HOPE THAT IF YOU DO WIN THAT RECOGNITION THAT YOU CAN SEND SOME FOLKS TO IT AND COME AND PICK UP YOUR AWARD IN PERSON.
BUT TONIGHT I WILL HAVE ASK SOMEBODY TO TAKE YOUR, UM, THERE USA WITH YOU WHEREVER THAT YOU KNOW, SARAH AND SO FORTH.
WE'LL PUT THAT UP AND THEN I'LL HAVE YOUR FLAG AND SIGN AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN THERE FOR YOU.
IN FACT, YOU MIGHT, I MIGHT CHECK MY OFFICE, I APOLOGIZE.
THERE MIGHT BE A, A STREET SIGN THAT I OWE YOU AS WELL.
THERE'S LOTS OF GOODIES INSIDE OF THE SMALL BOX, BUT THEN I MIGHT HAVE A METAL ONE.
'CAUSE IT LETS YOUR TRAVELERS NOTE THAT YOU'RE A TREE CITY WHEN THEY ENTER YOUR MAIN HIGHWAYS AND STUFF.
SO YOU MIGHT SEE THOSE IN OUR OTHER OHIO TOWNS.
UM, SO THAT'S PART OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, REGIONAL URBAN FOREST HELPS WITH, IS WE FACILITATE THAT PROGRAM, THAT RECOGNITION PROGRAM, WE HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR TREES, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, AND THAT GOES ALL THE WAY FROM ORGANIZATIONAL STUFF LIKE CONTRACTS AND SPECS AND FINDING TREES ALL, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY TO THE VERY END OF, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF THE, UM, WHEN, WHEN YOU'RE, EVERYTHING IS GOING SWELL AND THE, THE CREWS ARE GOING OUT EVERY YEAR AND DOING A QUAD AND SO FORTH AND EVERYTHING IS JUST RUNNING LIKE CLOCKWORK, YOU KNOW, SO WE CAN GET YOU TO THAT POINTER TO MAKE YOU FEEL EVEN MORE LIKE YOU'RE RUNNING LIKE CLOCKWORK JUST THROUGH, THROUGH, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT TREE MANAGEMENT WITH YOU GUYS.
SO I, I, YOU KNOW, I STILL HAVE A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GOING HERE, BUT I'M ALREADY CATCHING UP A LOT WITH WENDY VAN BUREN AND SARAH.
UM, SO THAT'S MY INTRODUCTION.
WHAT QUESTIONS YOU HAVE YET NEXT.
SO, UH, IF WE WERE TO HAVE A NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, WHICH I THINK WE HAVE SEVERAL, DOES THE BUILDER WORK WITH THE CITY OR DO THEY WORK THROUGH YOU ON WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE IN THEIR DEVELOPMENT? IT IS NOT NECESSARY NECESSARILY GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN URBAN FORESTER OR THE CITY'S, YOU KNOW, PERSON WEARING THE URBAN FORESTRY HAT TO BE IN THOSE ROOMS UNLESS SOMEONE ADVOCATES FOR IT TO BE THAT WAY.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE TREE ORDINANCE THAT YOU GUYS DRAFTED, YOU KNOW, TO GET IT OUT THERE AND, AND ON THE BOOKS WAS TOO LATE FOR A LOT OF THESE RECENT ONES.
AND SO I DON'T, I NEED TO READ OVER IT AGAIN, BUT I DON'T THINK IT HAS ANY LANGUAGE THAT WOULD FORCE AN URBAN FORESTER TO THE TABLE.
UM, OR TO, TO JUST IT THAT THEY SHALL BE PART OF THE PLANTING PROCESS AND HAVE HELP WITH TREE SELECTION, UM, AND THAT TREE PLANTING SPECS.
UM, SO IT'S NOT A GUARANTEE AT ALL.
WE RECOMMEND THAT AN URBAN FORESTRY BE AT THE TABLE BEFORE THEY'VE EVEN MEASURED HOW WIDE THEY WANT THE TREE LONG TO BE.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT, THEN ROADS WIDEN, TREE LONG SHRINK BOULEVARDS DISAPPEAR, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN EVERYBODY IS ANTIT TREE, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T GET THAT PERSON AT THE TABLE EARLY ON IN THOSE DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS.
YOU CAN FIND DEVELOPERS WITH, YOU KNOW, OPEN EARS THAT'LL BE LIKE, OH, YOU'RE GONNA TAKE THE BURDEN OF TREE SELECTION OFF OF MY HANDS IF I JUST PAY YOU BACK, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH MONEY PER PROPERTY.
SO YOU CAN MAKE THOSE KINDS OF REALLY GREAT PROGRESS, YOU KNOW, WITH, WITH SOME DEVELOPERS.
AND BASICALLY THEN THEY'LL, THEY'LL LEAVE THE, THE PROPERTY, UM, YOU KNOW, WITH THE TURF AND THEN THE CITY'S GOT THAT LITTLE BIT OF EXTRA MONEY THAT THEY DIDN'T SPEND ON THE TREES THAT THEY WOULD'VE PLANTED, NOT WHERE YOU WANTED THEM AND MAYBE NOT HOW YOU WANTED THEM.
AND THEN YOU TAKE THAT MONEY AND YOU BUY EXACTLY THE TREE YOU WANT, YOU PLANTED EXACTLY WHEN YOU WANT TO.
AND THEN THE, AND THEN THE ENTIRE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY IS SET UP FOR SUCCESS.
WE'RE WE'RE, WE'RE ROLLING IT OUT, YOU KNOW, AS, AS COMMUNITIES GET STRONGER AND STRONGER TREE BOARDS AND TREE ADVOCATES ON THE CITY CREWS.
'CAUSE I MEAN, WE'VE GOT BIG ENOUGH CITIES THAT THEY HAVE A, A CITY URBAN FORESTER OR A STREET CREW THAT'S A CERTIFIED ARBORIST, AND THEY ARE A GOOD, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATE FOR URBAN FORESTRY AS WELL, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT THEIR MAIN JOB.
SO CAN YOU, UM, TELL US JUST BASICALLY OFF OF SOME COMMUNITIES, MAYBE AROUND US, HOW OFTEN DO THEIR TREE BOARDS MEET
[00:15:01]
AND WHAT ARE SOME TOPICS OF DISCUSSION THEY REGULARLY HAVE ON THE AGENDA? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.SO, UM, A TYPICAL TREE BOARD WILL MEET, UH, MONTHLY.
AND SO THAT'S 12 TOTAL MEETINGS.
ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS MAY BE OUTDOORS, YOU KNOW, UM, FOR LIKE ARBOR DAY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AS LONG AS THEY DO A ROLL CALL AND, AND SO FORTH, THAT WOULD BE FINE.
BUT WE, WE SEE, UM, 12 A YEAR, VERY COMMON.
AND WHAT IT IS, IS EVERY MONTH THERE IS SOMETHING THEY'RE ANTICIPATING.
AND SO IN JANUARY THEY'RE ANTICIPATING ARBOR DAY COMING UP IN APRIL, IN FEBRUARY, THEY'RE ANTICIPATING PLANTING SEASON COMING UP IN APRIL AND MAY.
AND IT'S ALL ABOUT ROLLING OUT EACH STEP OF YOUR URBAN FORESTRY MANAGEMENT PLAN IS SEVERAL MONTHS IN ADVANCE, GETTING THOSE, YOU KNOW, CALLS TO NURSERIES, UM, LOOKING AT TREE OPTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE TIME TO DO THAT.
AND A LOT OF TIMES COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY ON STAFF THAT CAN, THAT YOU CAN SET ASIDE SALARY FOR THEM TO DO THAT KIND OF RESEARCH.
THAT'S WHY WE RELY ON AN ACCOUNT ON TREE BOARDS TO GIVE THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS AND ADVICE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALL ADVISORY AND WE JUST HOPE THAT THEY TAKE OUR ADVICE BECAUSE IT'S ALL SOUND, YOU KNOW, BACKED UP BY BIOLOGY, TREE BIOLOGY.
IT'S, IT'S PRETTY WELL BEEN FIGURED OUT AND AS LONG AS, YEAH, AS LONG AS THEY INCLUDE YOU, IT, IT, IT IMPROVES THE SURVIVAL OF THE TREES.
IT IMPROVES THE, THE AMOUNT OF TREE BRANCHES FALLING WHEN YOU'RE MANAGING YOUR MATURE TREES WELL AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO I KIND OF FORGET WHAT THE BEGINNING OF THAT QUESTION WAS, BUT WE, HOW OFTEN THEY MEET AND THEN SOME COMMON TOPICS.
AND SO THEY'RE, UH, PROACTIVE PLAN PLANNING MEETINGS.
UM, SOME COMMUNITIES STILL INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN TREE GIVEAWAYS AND FLORAL, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FLORAL SHRUB GIVEAWAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND THOSE CAN BE IN YOUR TREE BOARD MEETINGS, YOU KNOW, THOSE KINDS OF ACTIVITIES.
IT'S NOT ALL HARD UNFUN SCIENCEY STUFF.
IT'S STILL JUST THE SAME COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT IF YOU WANT TO, UM, CO UH, DO LIKE SOME SORT OF COOPERATIVE WITH YOUR LIBRARY SYSTEM.
WE'VE GOT A LOT OF BOARDS THAT DO THAT THING, YOU KNOW, THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S EACH MONTH IT'S, IT'S PLANNING FOR THE ANTICIPATED SEASON COMING UP, AND THAT WAY YOU'RE NEVER CAUGHT OFF GUARD BY ANYTHING.
YOU CAN TURN YOUR PROGRAM INTO A PROACTIVE PROGRAM RATHER THAN A REACTIVE PROGRAM.
AND A LOT OF, A LOT OF TIMES BY JUST ADDING A TREE BOARD, HOW MANY PEOPLE TYPICALLY SIT ON THE TREE BOARDS YOU WORK WITH? UM, IT CAN BE AS SMALL AS THREE AND AS LARGE AS WE'VE GOT GOT ONE RIGHT NOW THAT'S LIKE 15.
JUST COMES DOWN TO WHAT YOU DECIDE.
I KNOW SOMETIMES THEY'RE ALSO USED FOR LIKE CONFLICT RESOLUTION REGARDING TREES IN THE COMMUNITY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY EXAMPLES OF, OF THAT? IT'S HARD TO ANTICIPATE WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE, HAVING NOT ADDRESSED ONE BEFORE.
UM, I MEAN, SO TREE BOARDS WILL OFTEN BE THE FIRST PLACE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS WILL CALL WITH COMPLAINTS, QUESTIONS, CONCERNS.
AND SO THE TREE BOARD IS GUIDED BY THEIR ORDINANCE, BY THEIR COMMUNITY CODE, AND BY THE OHIO REVISED CODE.
THEY REALLY CAN'T SWAY OFF OF THAT.
AND SO YOU'RE NOT HELD TO ANY KIND OF LIKE MAKING AN OPINIONATED DECISION AT ANY ONE TIME.
YOU'RE NOT TRA YOU KNOW, UH, TRACK OR EXCUSE ME, UM, TREE RISK ASSESSORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
YOU'RE JUST SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE VOLUNTEERS, YOU'RE ADVOCATES FOR THE PROGRAM, UM, PROGRAM.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S ABOUT RIGHT.
REMIND ME AGAIN, WHAT, AND YOU GUYS OFFER A TREE COMMISSION ACADEMY AS WELL? YES, WE DO.
UM, IS THAT, LIKE THIS FALL, WE'RE STARTING UP ANOTHER BRANCH, BUT I THINK, DID WE GET YOU GUYS IN TO THIS FALL? I'VE REGISTERED TWO PEOPLE, BUT IF THERE'S MORE INTEREST, THEN WE DO HAVE ROOM IN THE BUDGET DECEMBER, WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL ANOTHER BRANCH ROLLS AROUND.
THAT ONE FILLED UP REALLY FAST.
UM, BUT THE TREE COMMISSION ACADEMY IS A FOUR, FOUR-PART SCHOOL, FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR, SENIOR, UM, WHERE WE INVITE OUR COMMISSIONERS, MAYORS, UH, URBAN FORESTERS, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE WITH SOME SORT OF URBAN FORESTRY HAT ON.
AND THEY COME AND TAKE THIS COURSE WITH US, UH, WHERE WE TEACH YOU EVERYTHING ABOUT ORGANIZATIONAL, YOU KNOW, THINGS, UTILIZING VOLUNTEERS, CONFLICT RESOLUTION MEETING, CONFLICT RESOLUTION.
IT ALSO TOUCHES ON BIOLOGY, TREE BIOLOGY, UM, YOU KNOW, BENEFITS OF TREES, MARKETING CONTRACTS, UM, ALL SORTS OF THINGS.
AND WHAT WE FIND FROM THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT
[00:20:01]
TAKE IT, AND THE GRADUATES, THEY SAY THAT THE BIGGEST, UH, YOU KNOW, GIFT OF TAKING THE COURSE WAS INTERACTING WITH THEIR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND LEARNING WHAT THEY WERE DOING IN THEIR PROGRAMS AND VICE VERSA.SO LIKE, SHARING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, LEARNING WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, THEY NOW CALL EACH OTHER AND, AND ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT URBAN FORESTRY BECAUSE OF MEETING EACH OTHER.
TREE, TREE COMMISSION ACADEMY.
SO IT'S, UH, IT'S $200 TOTAL, SO THAT'S ONLY $50 PER FRESHMAN, SOPHOMORE, JUNIOR, SENIOR.
AND OFTENTIMES YOU'RE ON THE CLOCK, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S A CITY CREW GUY OR UM, A COMMISSIONER AS WELL, YOU KNOW, UM, A LOT OF TIMES YOU CAN GET YOUR COMMUNITY TO COVER THAT EDUCATIONAL EXPENSE.
UM, SO IT'S NOT, WE TRY NOT TO MAKE IT COST PROHIBITIVE AND YOU ARE FED AT LUNCH, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S A, IT'S A REAL CLASS AND YOU'LL, YOU'LL COME AWAY.
IT'S INFORMATION OVERLOAD, BUT IN A GOOD WAY, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU A LOT OF RESOURCES.
YOU CAN KIND OF LIKE FORGET ABOUT IT THE END OF THE DAY AND LOOK IT UP LATER.
IF YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT TREE CARE AND, YOU KNOW, WATERING REGIMES, WE, WE PUT IT ALL IN THERE, WE PACK IT ALL IN THERE, AND THE PEOPLE THAT DEVELOP THE CLASS ARE STILL THE ONES TEACHING IT.
AND SO YOU WILL GET, YOU KNOW, THE BEST, UM, KIND OF, UH, INFORMATION GIVEN TO YOU BY THE BEST COMMUNICATORS OF IT BECAUSE THEY DEVELOPED IT AND THEY KNOW IT.
AND IT COMES STRAIGHT FROM THE CERTIFICATION COURSES THAT ARE INTERNATIONAL.
YOU KNOW, WE GET THIS STUFF FROM THE, UH, AND WE, AND WE BRING IT DOWN AND BRING IT AND KIND OF, I DON'T SAY WE BRING IT DOWN, WE BROADEN IT IN A WAY THAT THE ENTIRE AUDIENCE CAN UNDERSTAND IT AND THEY'RE FEEL WELCOME.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO READ AND SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO LISTEN, SO WE GIVE YOU BOTH, YOU KNOW, SO IT'S A REALLY GREAT PROGRAM.
AND WE'VE GOT TWO FROM HUBER HEIGHTS COMING THIS TIME, SO THEY'LL BE STARTING FRESHMEN THIS FALL, AND THEY WILL GRADUATE IN A YEAR AND A HALF OR LESS, JUST DEPENDING ON HOW OUR CALENDARS WORK.
SO WE HIGHLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO, YOU KNOW, KEEP SENDING PEOPLE TO THAT.
AS, UM, SEATS OPEN UP, WE'LL HAVE LOTS OF BRANCHES POPPING UP IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO WITHIN.
WE TRY TO GET 'EM WITHIN LIKE AN HOUR OR TWO DRIVE OF, YOU KNOW, IN OUR, WITHIN OUR REGIONS.
SO NOW THAT WE'VE GOT MORE FORESTERS, THE REGIONS ARE SMALLER AND THE DRIVES ARE SHORTER.
UM, SO YEAH, WE'VE GOT THAT PROGRAM, UM, GRADUATES AND MID, LIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR TCA PEOPLE ARE THEN, UM, INVITED TO WHAT WE CALL LIKE GRADUATE TCA WORKSHOPS.
SO YOU MAY GET AN INVITATION TO GO TO A, A TREE PLANTING WORKSHOP OR SOMETHING WHERE IT'S VERY HANDS-ON, YOU GOTTA BRING GLOVES AND STUFF.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE IN T-C-A-T-C-A IS LIKE IN THE CLASSROOM WITH A BOOKLET AND LOOKING AT A SCREEN.
UM, AND SO IT JUST OPENS UP A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES BY GETTING INVOLVED IN TCA.
UM, I RUN AROUND AND GIVE EDUCATIONAL, UM, TALKS AND WALKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ONLY, YOU KNOW, SPARINGLY THE INVITATION ONLY KIND OF THING.
I DON'T TRY TO JUMP OUT THERE TOO MUCH WITH MY TIME, BUT IT'S WITHIN OUR, YOU KNOW, OUR PURVIEW TO HELP PEOPLE ADVOCATE FOR TREES, UM, AND, AND CARE FOR TREES AND, AND JUST ALL THAT THAT GOES INTO IT.
AND, AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY WANT TO KNOW ABOUT INSECTS AND BUTTERFLIES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TOO.
SO WE'LL TAKE THE TIME TO, YOU KNOW, PRESENT THINGS LIKE THAT AT, AT CERTAIN AUDIENCE EVENTS AS WELL.
UM, SO YEAH, IT, IT REALLY JUST OPENS UP.
YOU, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA MEET A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THE THINGS IF YOU, YOU KNOW, IF YOU JOIN US AT THE TREE CITY USA AWARDS PROGRAM, IF YOU JOIN US AT OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
UM, AND THEN THOSE, THOSE SMALLER CLASSROOMS, UM, IT'S JUST A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK AND IT, IT IMPROVES PROGRAMS JUST KIND OF BY OSMOSIS, JUST BY BEING TOGETHER.
HAVE YOU SEEN SITUATIONS WHERE A, UH, TREAT COMMISSION DID NOT WORK OR WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL AND KIND OF WHAT WERE THE FACTORS THAT CAUSED THAT TO HAPPEN? UM, I WOULDN'T WANNA SAY THAT THE COMMISSION WASN'T SUCCESSFUL.
UM, SOMETIMES A COMMISSION HAS PRIORITIES AND GOALS AND, YOU KNOW, AND, AND THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO GET DONE AND WANNA GET DONE AND WANT TO HELP WITH.
BUT NEWLY ELECTED OR LONG TIME HIRED CITY ADMINISTRATORS ARE ON A DIFFERENT TRAJECTORY.
THEY JUST SIMPLY HAVE DIFFERENT VALUES ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ABOUT TREES AND TREE PLACEMENT AND, YOU KNOW, AND TREE MANAGEMENT AND, AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.
AND SO YOU MAY SEE A CA COMMITTEE JUST KIND OF LOSE HOPE IN, IN SOME INSTANCES.
AND IT, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST
[00:25:01]
A RARE, UH, YOU KNOW, SITUATION.I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT HAPPENING HERE AT ALL.
UM, JUST KIND OF, YEAH, YOU KNOW, HOW PEOPLE CAN BE, UM, DISAGREEMENTS AND, AND POWER STRUGGLES CAN SOMETIMES HAPPEN, BUT NOT IN THE COMMITTEE.
IT'S ALWAYS THAT THE COMMITTEE'S LIKE, YEAH, WE WISH THAT WE COULD BE MORE HELPFUL AND INFLUENTIAL AND LISTENED TO AT, AT OUR, AT OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE.
BUT, UM, YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE A COMMITTEE WILL FIND THEMSELVES WITH A SINGLE MEMBER THAT'S LIKE, WHY DID THEY EVEN WANT TO BE ON THIS COMMITTEE? THEY DON'T SEEM TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, BEING HERE OR BEING JUST IN THAT.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S JUST A RARE SITUATION.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MANAGING THE MEETING.
UM, YOU GUYS ARE, YOU KNOW, MAKING IT LOOK EASY.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CONFLICT AND, UM, YOU KNOW, MEETINGS LIKE THIS, UH, WHERE IT BECOMES STICKY IS LIKE TREE REMOVALS.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HATE TO SEE A TREE GO AND SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SEE A TREE GO.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, YOU'VE GOT THE CODE, YOU'VE GOT THE ORDINANCE, YOU'VE GOT SCIENCE BACKING YOU UP.
YOU'RE, WE'RE NEVER REALLY MAKING PERSONAL DECISIONS IN URBAN FORESTRY.
'CAUSE THEN YOU CAN BE LIKE, IT'S NOT MY FAULT.
IT'S THE, IT'S THE CONDITION THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
SO YEAH, YOU MIGHT JUST SEE, YOU KNOW, MINOR CONFLICTS WITH TREE REMOVALS AND TREE, YOU KNOW, DECISIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IT'S, IT'S, UM, JUST TAKE THEM AS THEY COME.
BRIAN, I WAS ABOUT SAY THIS IS, I PERSONALLY THINK THIS IS A GOOD TIME FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.
'CAUSE THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF, LIKE OUR BRAD REPAIRS WE'VE BEEN TAKING OUT AND THERE'S BEEN CITIZENS BEING LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU TAKING OUT? ALL THE TREES? WE'RE LIKE, HEY, THOSE ARE NOT GOOD TREES TO HAVE HERE.
AND ALSO, I KNOW WE'VE BEEN WORKING, TALKING A LOT ABOUT DO PARK AND DO PARK, YOU KNOW, BEHIND THAT THERE'S A LOT OF WOODED AREA AND THEN THERE'S A NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENT THAT'S DONATING, LIKE A WETLANDS TYPE OF NATURAL AREA THAT'S GOING TO MORE LIKELY ATTACH TO THAT DO PARK.
I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE LIKE A NATURE WALK BACK IN THERE AND I KNOW THERE'S, WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT IT TAKES TO TAKE OUT THE UNDERBRUSH, WHAT'S THE BAD STUFF TO TAKE OUT? WHAT, WHAT GOOD STUFF TO KEEP.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE GUIDED PATHWAY, WALKING PATHWAY THROUGH THERE.
SO I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD THING THAT THIS IS HAPPENING NOW.
IT DEPENDS ON HOW BIG THE LITTLE WOODLOT IS.
YOU ALMOST MIGHT GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE YOU WANNA HIRE SOMEBODY TO HELP WITH IF THERE'S TOO MUCH UNDERBRUSH.
BUT IF IT'S A JOB THAT VOLUNTEERS CAN UNDERTAKE, UM, IT'S COMPLETELY POSSIBLE.
WE, WE CAN ALSO HELP WITH PARK PLANNING.
YOUR REGIONAL URBAN FORESTER IS AVAILABLE TO HELP YOU WITH TREE SELECTION.
IF YOU'VE GOT WETLANDS, THEN YOU'RE NOT GONNA WANT TO PUT AN UPLAND TREE NEXT TO IT.
THAT'S ALL, YOU KNOW, TAKEN CARE OF THROUGH US AND THE TREE BOARD.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL PUT TREES THAT LIKE WET FEET NEAR WATER AND WE'LL PUT TREES THAT LIKE DRY FEET NEAR THE, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ELSE.
UM, REMOVING OF, OF UNDERBRUSH AND INVASIVES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
IT CAN, IT'S, IT'S AN UNDERTAKING, BUT IF YOU'VE GOT A BAND OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO DO IT, IT CAN BE, YOU KNOW, UH, TRANSFORMATIVE.
WE'VE GOT OTHER COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY REMOVED HONEYSUCKLE AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, UNDERBRUSH ISSUES WITHOUT THE HELP OF A HIRED CONTRACTOR JUST THROUGH THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, SWEAT.
UM, AND IT'S ALSO POSSIBLE TO COMBINE THE TWO, LIKE HAVE THEM DO THE WORST AND THEN YOU GUYS GO IN AND DO THE NEXT STEP.
AND WE DO THE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY DO THE PLANTING AND WE DO ALL OF THE WATERING AND PRUNING, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE WHATEVER LEVELS OF, UM, COMMITMENT EACH GROUP CAN DO, WE CAN TOTALLY, YOU KNOW, MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND KEEP IMPROVING THE PARK EACH YEAR.
AND, AND ONE THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT, OR THAT I ALWAYS REMIND PEOPLE IS, YOU KNOW, ONLY PLANT WHAT YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF MANAGING OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
'CAUSE THOSE ARE BABY TREES FOR TWO YEARS.
THEY NEED YOUR WATERING, THEY NEED YOUR PROTECTION, THEY NEED YOUR WATCHABLE EYE.
YOU CAN REMOVE THE STEAK, YOU KNOW, ON THE SECOND YEAR AND STOP WATERING ON THE THIRD YEAR.
BUT IF YOU PLANT, YOU KNOW, A BUNCH OF TREES AND ALL YOUR VOLUNTEERS MOVE AWAY, YOU KNOW, STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO IT'S JUST, JUST LITTLE PLANTING THINGS LIKE THAT.
UM, WE'LL PUT, YOU KNOW, PUT THAT PARK ON OUR FRONT BURNER WHEN THE TIME COMES.
BUT RIGHT NOW I KNOW OF IT AND I WANNA CHECK IT OUT WITH YOU GUYS SOMEDAY.
NOW I JUST SENT SARAH THIS WEEK, BUT IT EMAILS, THEY'RE SO SILLY.
I HAD TOO MANY ATTACHMENTS ON THEM, I THINK.
[00:30:01]
UM, THE RECIPIENTS OF THE FEDERAL IRA GRANT THAT WAS FOR URBAN FORESTRY MANAGEMENT.IT WAS INTENDED, YOU KNOW, IT IS MARKED FOR THAT.
AND YOU APPLIED AND YOU WERE GRANTED IT.
AND WE ARE BEGINNING THE PROCESS OF, UM, PLANTING TO PLANT TREES, NOT ONLY IN REPLACEMENT OF, UH, BRADFORD PEAR THAT ARE BEING REMOVED, BUT THERE'S SOME TREE LAWNS THAT I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN A TREE THERE FOR A WHILE.
AND SO PEOPLE WILL BE SEEING NEW TREES AND REPLACEMENT TREES IF EVERYTHING GOES AS, AS WE, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF MAPPED OUT.
AND SO THIS FALL I'LL WORK WITH HER AND, AND WE'LL BE, YOU KNOW, RIGHT, WE'VE GOT THE SPECS DRAFTED OUT AND WE'LL GET THOSE C CLEANED UP AND PUT OUT A CALL FOR BIDS.
AND UH, NEXT SPRING WE'LL BE PLANTING SEASON.
AND SO THERE'LL BE ROWS AND ROWS OF NEW STREET LAWN TREES COMING TO YOU GUYS.
UM, FOR, BECAUSE OF THE HELP, YOU KNOW, FROM THAT GRANT.
AND THAT GRANT WAS INTENDED TO INCREASE TREE CANOPY IN COMMUNITIES.
AND SO WE REALLY FOCUS ONLY ON LARGE AND MEDIUM TREES.
'CAUSE THOSE ARE GONNA GET UP AND OVER OUR HEADS AND CREATE THAT, THAT CANOPY, THAT SHADE AND DO ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT THE TREES DO.
OUR SIDEWALKS OFF AND SO FORTH.
UM, SO THAT IS, UM, SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING, YOU KNOW, NOW.
AND UM, YEAH, WE'RE GETTING THAT OFF THE GROUND AND WE'RE RUNNING WELL ON TIME.
UH, AND THEN AFTER THAT, WHEN GRANTS COME AND GO, THEY CAN KIND OF BE LIKE A WEIRD DISRUPTION AND HICCUP TO A PROGRAM THAT WAS KIND OF RUNNING AT ITS OWN PACE.
AND SO I DON'T WANT TO, UM, COME BACK IN 2027 AND EVERYONE BE EXHAUSTED AND LIKE, OH, I DON'T WANNA MANAGE URBAN FORESTRY ANYMORE.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, WE WE'RE, IT'S A MEASURED PROJECT.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU GUYS, YOU KNOW, CAN HANDLE AND STUFF.
AND SO INTO THE FUTURE, HUBER HEIGHTS WILL KIND OF TAKE THE REIGN AS A, YOU KNOW, BUDGETING FORCE AND SO FORTH AND VOLUNTEER FORCE AND EVERYTHING.
AND YOU'LL CONTINUE TO BUILD YOUR URBAN FORESTRY CANOPY, BUT IT MAY NOT BE A HUNDRED GRAND IN 2027 THE WAY THAT THAT GRANT CAN KIND OF LIKE GIVE YOU THAT BOOST OF, OF CANOPY COVER.
UM, SO YEAH, I WILL BE HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL.
UM, HELPING OUT WITH, YOU KNOW, JUST THE, THE PROGRAM ITSELF WHENEVER YOU NEED ME FOR ANYTHING.
ANYTHING ELSE I FORGOT TO MENTION ABOUT OUR, WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, SARAH? WE'VE GOT TCA.
SO, UM, WE DID, UM, DRIVE AND LOOK AT WHERE THE BRADFORD TREES WERE REMOVED, UM, DOWN OLD TROY.
UM, AND I THINK THAT WE PRETTY MUCH PLAN TO SPEND THE BULK OF THE MONEY THERE, UH, FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
UM, ONE THAT THE MONEY KIND OF GETS EATEN UP BY YOU DOING A ROBUST PROGRAM DOWN OLD TROY, WHICH CERTAINLY NEEDS IT.
AND TWO, THAT THERE ARE, UM, FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS PLANNED FOR BRANT PIKE, INFRASTRUCTURE WISE, ROAD SIDEWALK, MULTI-USE PATH.
AND SO IT WOULD BE BEST TO JUST HOLD OFF KNOWING THAT WE WOULD MAYBE BE REMOVING TREES THAT WE JUST PLANTED IN THE NEXT DECADE OR SO.
SO, UM, I THINK THE MAIN FOCUS IS GONNA BE DOWN OLD TROY AND, UM, I'LL GET THAT PLAN FROM CATHERINE AND THEN SHARE IT AT THE NEXT MEETING IF THAT'S OKAY WITH YOU GUYS.
AND I ALSO THINK AT THAT NEXT MEETING, AND CORRECT ME IF THIS FEELS INAPPROPRIATE TO ANYBODY, BUT THAT I THINK THIS BOARD NEEDS TO GO THROUGH KIND OF A VISIONING OF A TREE BOARD AND THINK, YOU KNOW, DOES THE PARKS BOARD WANT TO REMAIN BASED OFF THE TYPES OF THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN WITH TREES IN THIS COMMUNITY? DOES THE PARKS BOARD WANT TO REMAIN THAT BOARD? DO WE WANT TO START A SEPARATE BOARD? IF WE START A SEPARATE BOARD, WHAT WOULD IT BE CALLED? HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD SIT ON IT AND WHAT WOULD ITS KIND OF STARTING MISSION BE? UM, I, I IMAGINE MAYBE A FEW OF YOU WOULD WANT TO SIT ON IT, MAYBE OTHERS NOT SO MUCH.
YOU PREFER MORE OF THE RECREATION SIDE OF THINGS.
SO IF WE HAD TO GO OUT AND RECRUIT OTHER PEOPLE TO SIT ON IT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM THEIR INITIAL CHARGE IS SO THAT THEY CAME ON KIND OF KNOWING WHAT THEY'D BE WORKING ON SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, A VIEW AND THEN BE UPSET THAT THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY DOING.
UM, SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD KIND OF PLAN TO DO IS BRING THAT PLAN WITH OUR URBAN FORESTRY GRANT THAT HOW WE PLAN TO SPEND THAT A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ON TREES, ON STREET TREES.
AND THEN TWO, START LOOKING AT YOUR VISION FOR THE TYPES OF THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN WITH TREES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND THEN START ASKING THOSE QUESTIONS OF, DOES THIS BOARD WANT TO BE THE ONE TO TACKLE THOSE OR DO YOU THINK YOU NEED TO CHARGE ANOTHER BOARD WITH IT? RIGHT NOW WE DO HAVE A TREE, UM, ORDINANCE THAT IT BASICALLY, IT JUST RETAINS, UM, TREE DECISIONS BETWEEN THE STREET DEPARTMENT AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT,
[00:35:01]
WHICH IS KIND OF HOW IT'S BEEN OPERATING FOR DECADES, UM, WITH USING YOU GUYS AS, UM, ADVISORY LIAISONS ON ANYTHING TREES.SO, UM, THERE'S, IT IS LIKELY WE WOULD REWORK THAT ORDINANCE, RESEND IT TO COUNCIL TO NARROW THE PURVIEW OF IT, EMPOWER EITHER THIS BOARD OR A NEW BOARD MORE SO THAN IT CURRENTLY IS.
WE'RE KIND OF HITTING THE BARE MINIMUM RIGHT NOW.
UM, WHEN IT COMES TO THAT ORDINANCE.
I THINK I SENT YOU A WHILE AGO A PAMPHLET ON HOW TO BE A NEW TREE BOARD MEMBER, BUT IF I DIDN'T I'LL RESEND IT TO YOU.
SEE THAT ONE, THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION, THEY PUT OUT A GREAT PAMPHLET KIND OF INTRODUCING, UM, PEOPLE WHO'VE NEVER HEARD OF A TREE BOARD WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO JOIN, YOU KNOW, LIKE HOW TO BE A MEMBER OF ONE.
SO I WILL RESEND IT AND UM, GET THAT TO YOU.
IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S VERY GENERAL AND YOU'LL, YOU'LL MAKE IT YOUR OWN, BUT IT'S JUST KIND OF A NICE THING YOU CAN, UM, SHARE WITH SOMEONE THAT YOU MAY BE INVITE TO, YOU KNOW, BE A MEMBER.
YEAH, YEAH, JUST A QUICK THOUGHT.
I, I THINK IT'D BE GOOD TO GET SOME LIKE BEST PRACTICES INTO THIS VISIONING SESSION SO WE KNOW KIND OF WHAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SO WE DON'T KIND OF GO OFF AND DO WHAT WE THINK MAKES SENSE, BUT SOMEBODY ELSE TRIED IT DIDN'T WORK.
SO SOME WAY TO GET SOME LESSONS LEARNED I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL.
I MIGHT HAVE A LIST OF THE 12 MONTHS AND WHAT TO DO AT EACH MEETING.
WOULD THAT BE HELPFUL? I THINK I MIGHT HAVE THAT JUST TO SHOW YOU KIND OF WHAT THE BEST, YOU KNOW, IT'S YEAH, GOT THAT AS WELL.
YEAH, I ALSO THINK THAT MAYBE SOMETHING WHERE OTHER TREE BOARDS, LIKE WHAT THEIR VISIONS WERE FOR THEIR CITIES AND HOW THAT WAS ACHIEVED WOULD BE NICE TO SEE AS WELL.
IF THERE'S ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I, I THINK I, YEAH, WE'VE SENT THOSE TWO, I'LL RESEND THOSE AS WELL.
YEAH, I PICKED, UM, OH GOSH, I DON'T WANNA SAY FOR SURE.
NO, NOT SPRINGFIELD, SOMEBODY ELSE, BUT YEAH, I'VE GOT THOSE AS WELL.
UM, I ALSO THINK WHAT THE TREE BOARD STARTS OUT AS WILL LIKELY CHANGE, YOU KNOW, OVER TIME, ESPECIALLY IF WE HAVE ONE FOR 30, 50 YEARS, WE, WE PROBABLY GO FROM A HEAVY PLANTING TIME IN OUR FRESHMAN YEAR OF BEING A TREE CITY TO UM, MORE MANAGEMENT AS THAT, AS THAT ALL MATURES.
UM, SO, UH, WE DON'T HAVE TO TRULY PIGEONHOLE EVERYTHING THE BOARD WILL DO, BUT IT WOULD BE GOOD TO KNOW THE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE LIKE, WELL WE NEED A TREE BOARD BECAUSE WE NEED MORE TREES IN THIS TOWN, OR I THINK WE NEED A TREE BOARD BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT TREES AND WE NEED A JUDICIAL PANEL FOR IT.
SO, UM, THE, THEY CAN CERTAIN, THE BOARD CAN CERTAINLY DO BOTH.
UM, BUT YOU WOULD HATE FOR SOMEBODY TO JOIN AND FIND OUT THEY'RE DOING ALL OF ONE THING AND NOT ANY OF THE REASON THAT THEY JOINED KIND OF A DEAL.
YEAH, I RESENT ALL THOSE ARBOR DAY RESOURCES TO SARAH, SO THANK YOU.
PUT THOSE BACK AT THE TOP AND THEY DO HAVE THE HANDBOOK.
UM, WE DO HAVE COMMUNITIES THAT MAINTAIN THEIR TREE PROGRAM WITHIN THEIR, UM, PARKS AND REC BOARD.
WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT AS WELL? JUST IF I HAVE ANYTHING ON IT, I WILL PUT THAT IN THERE.
JUST SO YOU CAN KINDA MAKE SURE THAT IT'S STILL NOT WHAT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT IS WHAT YOU END UP GOING WITH AND SEEING HOW THAT WORKS.
AND SO ALL WE REQUIRE WHEN THAT HAPPENS, UH, TO MAINTAIN YOUR TREE CITY USA, UM, STATUS IS IN YOUR AGENDAS FOR EACH OF YOUR SIX TO 12, UH, YEARLY MEETINGS.
YOU WILL JUST HAVE TO TALK ABOUT TREES AT LEAST ONCE.
IT'S REALLY THAT, THAT MINIMAL, YOU JUST HAVE TO BRING UP YOUR, YOUR URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM ONCE AT EVERY MEETING.
AND THAT MEETING COUNTS AND EVERYTHING, UH, STAYS THE SAME AS FAR AS OUR TREE CITY.
SO YOU CAN MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM IN HERE OR WE CAN, UM, BRANCH OFF AND PUN INTENDED
YOU COULD START MAKING, YOU KNOW, RECOMMENDATIONS AND, AND ACTING IT WOULD HAVE TO BE LIKE A WHOLE YEAR OR WE DECIDE WHENEVER WE NEED IT.
NO, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE, UM, COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS ARE USUALLY THE SAME TIME EVERY YEAR IN COMMUNITY.
SO IT WOULD BE THE NEXT ROUND OF THAT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF THING.
[00:40:01]
NEED TO DRAFT A TREE COMMISSION ORDINANCE OR A TREE BOARD ORDINANCE, WHATEVER THE NAME, YOU KNOW, WINDS UP BEING AND THAT IS VERY SHORT.IT IS ONE PAGE, ONE PARAGRAPH, WHATEVER YOU NEED, AND IT JUST GOES RIGHT ABOVE THE TREE ORDINANCE, YOU KNOW, OR, OR, OR, OR I EVEN HAVE A FEW PLACES THAT PUT THE TREE COMMISSION CLAUSE IN THE TREE ORDINANCE AND THAT WORKS TOO.
BUT IT'S ABOUT THE COMMISSION ITSELF AND IT JUST ESTABLISHES IT AND IT, UH, LAYS DOWN THE SIMPLE GROUNDWORK ABOUT HOW YOU BECOME A MEMBER AND HOW LONG YOU GET TO STAY A MEMBER AND HOW YOU GET KICKED OUT AND, UM, HOW LEADERSHIP IS ELECTED.
UM, I, I THINK THAT WHENEVER A COMMISSION GIVES UP TOO MUCH INTERNAL DECISION MAKING TO ADMINISTRATORS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, THAT IS WHEN THEY WIND UP GETTING INTO CONFLICTS WITH THEM, IT'S BEST TO JUST BE LIKE, WE'LL DECIDE WHO OUR PRESIDENT IS.
WE'LL DECIDE WHO OUR VICE PRE, YOU KNOW, OUR SECRETARY IS, AS LONG AS YOU APPOINT US, YOU'VE ALREADY TRUSTED US ENOUGH TO BE YOUR COMMISSIONERS.
TRUST US ENOUGH TO MANAGE OURSELVES.
UM, SO THAT WOULD JUST BE THE ONLY GUIDANCE I HAVE ON THAT AS FAR AS A TREE COMMISSION ORDINANCE.
UM, AND IF YOU DON'T DEVELOP A TREE COMMISSION ORDINANCE AND JUST STICK WITH A TREE ORDINANCE, THEN YOU WOULD JUST DO YOUR TREE PROGRAM THROUGH ONE OF YOUR EXISTING BOARDS, SIR? UH, I, I DIDN'T KNOW, UH, YOU KNOW, IF, IF WE ARE, YOU KNOW, BEING PARKS WRECK AND ALSO DO THE TREE BOARD STUFF AND SAY IF THERE'S LIKE A, LIKE A, WHEN I TALK ABOUT DO PARK, THAT'S GONNA BE A PRETTY BIG THING.
UH, I KNOW SO MANY YEARS AGO WE WAS, THERE'S PEOPLE IN IN THE CITY THAT WANTED A DOG PARK, I MEAN, TO HAVE A DOG PARK.
AND SO THE MAYOR MADE, YOU KNOW, JUST A TEMPORARY COMMISSION JUST TO FOCUS ON THE DOG PARK.
AND ONCE THAT WAS DONE, IT WAS BUILT OUT.
SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE COULD HAVE, YOU KNOW, US AS PARKS REC DUE TO TREE BOARD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE'S A HEIGHT WE HAD TO MAKE A SMALLER COMMISSION THAT JUST MET OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, AT A DIFFERENT TIME TO HYPER FOCUS LIKE ON DO PARK.
AND THEN ONCE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, COMPLETED AND THEN, YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE JUST AT THE MAINTAINING OF IT, THEN THEY COULD PULL BACK AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WE JUST DO THAT AND HYPER FOCUS.
I SEE WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, LIKE SOMEWHERE ELSE LIKE SAY PHILLIPS PARK OR YOU KNOW, THE STUFF LIKE THE OLD TROY PIKE, YOU KNOW, STUFF LIKE THAT.
I DIDN'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A POSSIBILITY.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE A SUBCOMMITTEE PROCESS ALREADY? IF WE, IF WE WERE TO SUBCOMMITTEE IT, WE NEED TO CHECK WITH THE CLERK OF COUNCIL ON DOING THAT.
BUT I THINK TYPICALLY ANY SORT OF SUBCOMMITTEE COMES BACK TO THE COMMITTEE AS A WHOLE FOR FINAL RECOMMENDATION.
SO IT'S LIKE, HERE'S WHAT WE WORKED ON AND HERE'S WHY WE ARO AT OUR RECOMMENDATION.
BUT NOW THE WHOLE PARK BOARD HAS THE CHANCE TO WEIGH IN.
UM, SO A, A SUBCOMMITTEE IS AN OPTION.
UM, A SEPARATE TREE COMMISSION IS AN OPTION.
AND KEEPING IT HERE ON THE PARK BOARD, WHICH IS HOW IT CURRENTLY IS.
IF WE CAME INTO SOME BIG CONTENTIOUS TREE THING RIGHT NOW, ME, THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR WOULD COME TO YOU GUYS FOR YOU TO WEIGH IN.
AND I THINK A LOT OF THAT IS SHAPED BASED ON WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS YOU SEE THE BOARD ACCOMPLISHING.
IF YOU JUST WANT TO PICK OUT PLACES TO PLANT TREES EVERY YEAR AND WEIGH IN ON WHAT SPECIES ARE GOING IN, THAT CAN ABSOLUTELY BE COVERED IN THE PARK BOARD.
UM, IF YOU WANNA GET INTO DOING CONFLICT RESOLUTION OR YOU WANT TO BE MEETING WITH THE CITY PLANNER TO HELP REDUCE CITY CODE FOR WHEN WE DO A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT, THE TYPES OF TREES THEY NEED TO PUT IN AND WHEN AND ON WHAT SCHEDULE AND WHO PLANS THEM.
WELL NOW THAT'S VERY FOCUSED AND WE NEED A TREE BOARD.
UM, SO I THINK IT HAS TO BE WHAT IS THE VISION FOR THE TREE BOARD FIRST AND THEN THAT WILL HELP US FIGURE OUT WHERE IT, WHERE IT LIES.
SO WE CAN DO SOME OF THAT NEXT TIME.
UM, BECOME PREPARED TO BE CREATIVE.
'CAUSE YOU KNOW, VISIONING PROCESSES ARE NEVER JUST SITTING AROUND AND TALKING, I'M GONNA GET YOU UP AND MOVING AND DOING STUFF.
A LITTLE BIT OF IT IS JUST LIKE, YOU KNOW, CUTTING UP A BLANKET AT DIFFERENT SPOTS ON IT TOO.
YOU KNOW, ULTIMATELY THE PROGRAM WILL BE RUNNING THROUGH SOME SOMETHING SOMEWHERE, SOMEHOW THIS WAY, YOU KNOW, THE GOAL AND THE HOPE.
SO DON'T GET TOO, YOU KNOW, LIKE HUNG UP ON THE DECISION.
JUST WHATEVER YOUR GUT'S TELLING YOU THAT'S BEST FOR YOU GUYS.
JUST, YEAH, JUST TAKE A, TAKE A SILENT VOTE OR SOMETHING.
[00:45:01]
MY PLEASURE.AND WE'LL TRY, WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK IF YOU WILL, VISIT US FROM TIME TO TIME.
AND IF THE STREET SIGN ISN'T IN HERE, WE DEFINITELY WANT THAT.
I THINK I DO HAVE ONE FOR YOU.
UM, I'M OFTEN CARRYING, UM, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS IN MY CAR.
ALL I HAVE RIGHT NOW IS SPANISH SPEAKING, TREE OWNERS GUIDES.
DO YOU HAVE A LIBRARY OR A COLLECTION OF LITERATURE AVAILABLE TO YOUR SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT I COULD GIVE, DONATE THIS TO? WE WOULD DEFINITELY TAKE SOME, TAKE EM.
WE, I WORK CLOSELY WITH THE LIBRARIAN THAT WE CAN PUT SOME THERE AND WE CAN PUT SOME AT THE PARK'S OFFICE AND MAYBE GET SOME IN ENGLISH TOO WHEN YOU HAVE THEM AS THE ENGLISH ONES COME BACK IN.
EVERYBODY LOVES THAT TREE OWNER'S GUIDE.
YOU GOT ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT A TREE IN YOUR YARD? PROBABLY IN THAT LITTLE GUIDE.
CAN YOU ORDER THEM IN ANY LANGUAGE? OOH, I THINK NOT.
BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE HAVE SOME, WHAT IS THE THIRD LANGUAGE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE A LOT OF HERE LANGUAGES IN THIS COMMUNITY.
AND SO BEING ABLE TO GET A COUPLE MORE WOULD BE REALLY IN REALLY COOL FOR US.
I'LL ASK MY, I'LL ASK MY COWORKERS.
YEAH, IT'S PUT OUT BY THE US FOREST SERVICE, SO WHATEVER THEY'RE WILLING TO PRINT IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES.
UH, SO WE'LL WORK ON GETTING THAT, THOSE IDEAS TOGETHER, UM, FOR THE NEXT MEETING.
I WON'T BE HERE, HOWEVER, I'LL SEND SOMETHING OVER BEFORE THEN.
UM, SO WE WILL GO AHEAD AND, UH, MOVE ON.
IS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL BUSINESS OR ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE? ALL RIGHT.
DID EVERYONE GET A CHANCE TO LOOK OVER THE MINUTES FROM LAST MEETING AND ANYONE LIKE TO APPROVE THOSE? MOTION TO APPROVE RACHEL, BRIAN.
SO THOSE WILL BE APPROVED AND THEN THE NEXT MEETING WILL BE AUGUST 20TH AND WE WILL END END'S MEETING.