HomeMy Public PortalAbout04-19-2017 Minutes Tree Board Regular MeetingPage 1 of 2
Minutes
Tree Board
9 a.m. April 19, 2017
Town Barn, 101 E. Orange St.
Present: Chairwoman Andrea Lewis, Vice Chairwoman Frances Harris, George Campbell, Casey
Collins, Tim Logue, Bryan Stuart, Liz Waters and Greg Yavelak (ex officio)
Staff: Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood
Item 1: Call to order, roll call, and confirmation of quorum
Chairwoman Lewis called the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m.
Item 2: Additions to the agenda and agenda adjustment
Mr. Campbell requested adding discussion about maintaining the health of the American chestnut trees.
Item 3: Approval of minutes from the March 15, 2017, meeting
Motion: Vice Chairwoman Harris moved to approve the March minutes as presented.
Second: Mr. Campbell seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 4: Receive update from the Bee City Conference recently attended by Garden Club members Sarah
Meadows and Phyllis Simon
Ms. Meadows and Ms. Simon shared activities and materials from the conference that can be used to
educate the public about both native bees and honey bees. The information and activities were focused
on letting people know about activities people can do to help pollinators. Presenting the information
positively engages people. Pictures of dead bees do not, they said.
Ms. Trueblood told the board she met with Ms. Meadows and Ms. Simon recently and shared that the
board talked in March about prioritizing Bee City projects for this year. One priority is planting pollinator-
friendly plants. In the past two weeks, the town has purchased roughly $5,000 worth of pollinator plants
to be planted in the landscape islands in the West King Street parking lot, at the Calvin Street entrance to
Riverwalk and in the rain garden at Cates Creek Park. Another priority is undertaking a bee hotel project,
working with the Hillsborough Arts Council in the fall. The third priority is sharing pollinator information at
the April Last Fridays event.
Ms. Trueblood said Ms. Meadows and Ms. Simon shared with her that it is a good idea to have a master
plan for what the town would like to accomplish as a Bee City. The Tree Board can start collecting ideas
for that.
Item 5: Review 2017 Treasure Tree Article
Board members reviewed the 2017 Treasure Tree article which will be submitted to News of Orange for
publication.
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Item 6: Planning and discussion for April 28 Last Fridays pollinators event
There was discussion that the closest retail nursery where non-hybrid native pollinator plants can be
purchased is Niche Gardens in Chapel Hill.
Item 7: Updates
1. Garden Club: Andrea Lewis — Chairwoman Lewis has potted more than 100 plants for the
Hillsborough Garden Club plant sale. Vice Chairwoman Harris added that those who volunteer to
serve as a docent for the garden tour get a free ticket to the tour. There are 10 gardens on the
tour. Chairwoman Lewis reported that the buckeye tree on the corner of West Queen and Wake
streets is in bloom. She encouraged others to look at it and for the Tree Board to consider
planting more buckeyes in the fall.
2. Staff Updates: Ms. Trueblood —
The Cates Creek Park pollinator garden planting will take place at 10am Saturday May 6.
The landscape islands in the West King Street parking lot will get better soil and then will be
planted over the following two weeks.
The Churton Street Access Improvements Project has begun; it is important to encourage people
to continue to shop downtown despite the months of construction.
Ms. Trueblood passed the Arbor Day tree handbook to Mr. Logue. She encouraged him to look
through it and then pass it along to another Tree Board member so that everyone has a chance to
read it this month.
A crepe myrtle in front of the library blew over in strong winds. It will be replaced.
Item 8: Added item: Chestnut trees
Ms. Trueblood reminded the board that the American Chestnut Association does not want the trees to be
sprayed or supplemented with anything. However, this board can hand weed around the young trees. Mr.
Campbell will let Ms. Trueblood know when he needs assistance with this weeding.
Item 9: Adjourn
Chairwoman Lewis adjourned the meeting at 10:31 a.m.