HomeMy Public PortalAbout05-17-2017 Minutes Tree Board Regular MeetingPage 1 of 3
Minutes
Tree Board
9a.m. May 17, 2017
Town Barn, 101 E. Orange St.
Present: Chairwoman Andrea Lewis, Vice Chairwoman Frances Harris, Casey Collins, Tim Logue, and Liz
Waters
Absent: George Campbell, Bryan Stuart, and Greg Yavelak (ex officio)
Guests: Nell Kriesberg, Kristen Prelipp, and Katie Murray
Item 1: Call to order, roll call, and confirmation of quorum
Chairwoman Lewis called the meeting to order at 9 p.m. Ms. Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the
presence of a quorum.
Item 2: Additions to the agenda and agenda adjustment
Chairwoman Lewis added an item regarding pollinators. Ms. Trueblood added a review of the new advisory
board appointment policy.
Item 3: Approval of minutes from April 19, 2017, meeting
Motion: Vice Chairwoman Harris moved to approve the minutes as presented.
Second: Mr. Logue seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Item 4: Discuss opportunities to create bee hotels as a Bee City USA initiative
Ms. Trueblood acknowledged that Nell Kriesberg was a guest at this meeting. She also introduced
Hillsborough Arts Council Program Director Kristen Prelipp and Orange County Arts Commission
Coordinator Katie Murray, who were present for the bee hotels discussion.
Ms. Trueblood reviewed that this board has been discussing the promotion of native bee habitat in the
community and is interested in funding one bee hotel showpiece project. She reviewed that there are a
variety of materials which can be used to create bee hotels. She shared a photo of one at the Museum
of Life and Science in Durham. She proposed the showpiece project as a first step, followed by a
workshop to encourage Hillsborough resident to create bee hotels.
Ms. Murray shared that the Orange County Arts Commission is working on a separate project to paint
the manhole covers along Riverwalk with native plants.
Ms. Trueblood said she is torn because there are many craftsmen in town who would likely create what
the Tree Board wants at the cost of the materials and yet there is the desire to support local artists by
commissioning a work of art. A board member said offering a commission makes the project a little
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more serious. Ms. Trueblood noted it would be nice for the commission to include several years of
maintenance on the piece.
Ms. Murray said the Orange County Arts Commission would contribute to the cost of the commission.
Ms. Prelipp suggested scheduling the unveiling of the bee hotel-commissioned project to take place in
conjunction with the River Park concert on Oct. 28. The unveiling could take place at 11 a.m., and then
the Hillsborough Arts Council could assist with workshops throughout the day to help people make their
own bee hotel.
There was interest in placing the commissioned bee hotel in Gold Park.
Ms. Murray agreed that the Orange County Arts Commission will coordinate the call for artists and the
selection process. The plan is to choose an artist by August.
It was agreed in discussion that the Tree Board will financially contribute to the showpiece project, the
Hillsborough Arts Council will run the workshops, and the Orange County Arts Commission will
coordinate the selection of the artist.
Motion: Vice Chairwoman Harris moved that the Tree Board provide $1,000 in Fiscal Year 2018
from its public education funds for a commissioned bee hotel in Gold Park in
partnership with the Hillsborough Parks and Recreation Board, Hillsborough Arts
Council, and Orange County Arts Commission.
Second: Mr. Logue seconded.
Vote: Unanimous
Added Item 5a: Milkweed
Chairwoman Lewis shared information about a systemic pesticide treatment on milkweed sold at The Home
Depot that kills Monarch butterflies, among other insects attracted to milkweed.
Item 5b: Update on Cates Creek pollinator garden planting
Ms. Trueblood reported that the planting at Cates Creek Park went well and that a good number of volunteers
came out to help. She and Stormwater and Environmental Services Manager Terry Hackett have plans to extend
the landscaping and plantings at the park as part of a second stormwater management project.
Item 6: Debrief April 28 Last Fridays pollinators event
Ms. Trueblood suggested the Tree Board set up a table next year at Orange County’s Earth Evening
Celebration event at the Farmers Market Pavilion instead of at Last Fridays because many more families
and people interested in trees and bees are at the Earth Evening event, which takes place
simultaneously with the April Last Fridays.
Item 7: Updates
Garden Club: Andrea Lewis — The Hillsborough Garden Tour and plant sale will take place
the weekend of May 20-21.
Staff updates: Stephanie Trueblood —
o Churton Street Access Improvements Project — It is going well. The rain is slowing the
contractor but that’s OK with Ms. Trueblood because it gives her time to better oversee
the work.
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o Parking lot planting — The contracted landscaper has been planting many plants in the
downtown lot. Ms. Trueblood will ask the Hillsborough Garden Club whether some
members are willing to care for more planters.
o Flooding — Floodwaters damaged the Gold Park pollinator garden, but a workday
occurred soon after the flood and volunteers added soil and mulch. Ms. Trueblood
reported the tree identification signs remained intact. She has received a lot of positive
feedback on these small signs. She has in mind two other trees on the Riverwalk
greenway that need signs and is interested in posting similar tree identification signs in
other parks.
o Treasure Tree article — Ms. Trueblood reported The News of Orange printed the article
without the photograph. Members informed her it was printed the following week with
the photograph.
o Tree vandalism — Ms. Trueblood reported lower limbs were torn off small trees in Gold
Park, and the stepping stones in the pollinator garden were thrown in the river.
o Ms. Trueblood reviewed the new volunteer appointment policy recently approved by
the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners.
Item 8: Adjourn
Chairwoman Lewis adjourned the meeting at 10:11 p.m.