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HomeMy Public PortalAbout09-20-2017 Minutes Tree Board Regular MeetingPage 1 of 3 Minutes Tree Board 9 a.m. Sept. 20, 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 Andrea Lewis called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood called the roll and confirmed the presence of a quorum. Item 2: Additions to the agenda and agenda adjustment Vice Chairwoman Frances Harris added an item about planting a tree near the Gold Park pollinator garden. Item 3: Approval of minutes from Aug. 16, 2017, meeting Motion: Tree Board Member George Campbell moved to approve the minutes as presented. Second: Tree Board Member Bryan Stuart seconded. Vote: Unanimous Item 4: Discuss options for planting dry pond area on the Riverwalk greenway Public Space Manager Stephanie Trueblood reviewed that this board had expressed interest in planting the dry pond located by the bridge near the Riverwalk greenway’s Calvin Street entrance. At her invitation, Stormwater and Environmental Services Manager Terry Hackett was present to talk about the possibilities. Mr. Hackett reviewed that the dry pond was created to meet a state requirement but usually remains dry. Last year, a Boy Scout working on an Eagle Scout project cleared around the dry pond, dug out some areas to hold water and then seeded the dug-out areas with native plants. Mr. Hackett said he is pleased with the wetland plants and native grasses growing in the basin. There are some invasive plants, which is inevitable, he said. Mr. Hackett said it would be good to further enhance what is there. Some trees could be planted but not on the three sides of the berm. He thinks any native species that would be found along the Eno River would do fine. Ms. Trueblood added that the berm should be cleared twice a year to eliminate woody plants. When asked, Mr. Hackett said there are sycamores growing on the berm that need to be cut down. He thinks there are enough sycamores in the area. He would like to encourage other native trees to grow. Mr. Hackett thinks there is room in the basin for two to three trees. Mr. Hackett added that because this dry pond is a stormwater entity, he can tap into stormwater funds to purchase larger trees that would give visual impact right away. Page 2 of 3 Ms. Trueblood pointed out that in addition to not planting on top of the berm, the sewer easement also cannot be planted. She said that anything planted will need to be watered, probably with water in wagons. There were suggestions for black gum and tupelo trees. Ms. Trueblood said Mr. Hackett needed to leave for another meeting. She reiterated that the berm should be maintained. It cannot be planted. Item 5: Discuss options for fall plantings Ms. Trueblood reviewed that the list of possibilities includes relocating the butterfly garden at Turnip Patch Park, extending the gardens at Cates Creek Park, planting the Riverwalk dry pond area, and adding plantings to the downtown. The board discussed possible plantings and decided on the following priorities: • Dry Pond — Use stormwater funds to plant two sourwood trees, one tupelo tree and several itea, beauty berry and button bush shrubs. • Turnip Patch Park — Pay for site preparation work for new garden, move plants, mulch and add plants. • Cates Creek Park — Plant an American basswood tree for Arbor Day. Vice Chairwoman Harris said she was going to suggest adding a sourwood tree near the pollinator garden in Gold Park but she does not mind waiting to discuss that until Ms. Trueblood determines whether there is any money left in the budget. Also, she would like to add a bench at the Gold Park pollinator garden. Ms. Trueblood said she has a bench for the pollinator garden that she intends to install in the spring. Ms. Trueblood added that she will talk about the site of the bee hotel installation in the staff updates. Tree Board Member Liz Waters asked whether the volunteers who have been watering trees and plantings should keep watering because there has been no rain. Ms. Trueblood answered that she would appreciate the volunteers continuing to water until Thanksgiving. Ms. Trueblood said she will work on getting estimates for the priorities to bring before this board at its October meeting. Item 6: Develop Arbor Day plan The board decided to meet at 9 a.m. Nov. 15 in place of a regular Tree Board meeting to plant an America basswood tree at Cates Creek Park. The exact location is to be determined. There was a suggestion to invite the students from The Little School to attend the planting because the school is close to the park. Page 3 of 3 Item 7: Updates • Staff updates: Stephanie Trueblood — Ms. Trueblood reported that the unveiling of the bee hotel would take place at 10 a.m. Nov. 4 in Gold Park. Ms. Trueblood said she is hoping to have a Tree Board table set up with information that visitors can take away about native pollinators. After the unveiling, someone will talk about the pollinator garden. Then there will be workshops for people to make their own habitat for native pollinators. Noah Mace, who serves on the Parks and Recreation Board, has offered to organize the workshop. Ms. Trueblood explained the pollinator garden at Gold Park has been expanded to accommodate the new feature. The expanded area was weeded twice, and plastic was put down before the new area was mulched. Before planting, the plastic will be pulled up. The workshop will take place until noon. • Conference training: Greg Yavelak — Mr. Yavelak said the Society of American Foresters conference will take place 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 27. A speaker will discuss urban-county interface and wildfires. Ms. Trueblood asked him to email more information. • Hillsborough Garden Club: Andrea Lewis — Chairwoman Lewis said one committee is working on the poppy seed plantings in October to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the end of World War I. The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough is working with the garden club on this and plans to set up a room with artifacts from World War I. The poppies are being seeded to bloom in April. Ms. Trueblood said the Town Hall campus has some possible places for planting the poppy seeds. Ms. Trueblood said she spoke with Hillsborough Garden Club Member Laura Simmons earlier in the week and Penny Rand said the Garden Club planters in front of the police station are hers. Chairwoman Lewis said they belong to the club, although Ms. Rand picked them out. Chairwoman Lewis said the garden club is ready to maintain the new town-owned planters. Vice Chairwoman Harris said she and her husband can take the garden club planters to her house on Sunday. Item 8: Adjourn Chairwoman Lewis adjourned the meeting at 10:12 a.m.