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MARCH 28, 2006

ATTENDANCE: Don Nelson, Chairman; Rich Whitehead; Maribeth Becker;
Laurel Lindstrom; Peter Viteretto

STAFF: Hal Alvord, Tree Warden; Paul Sotnik, Deputy Tree Warden

OTHER: Tia Sidey, Farm Creek Association; Dianne Witkowsky, Spring Hill Hospital Area Association; Pam Garrett, Harbor Shores Neighborhood Association; Susan Sweitzer, Norwalk Redevelopment Agency; Michael Mushak, Golden Hill Association; Doug Rising, Marvin Beach Association; Dave Tracy, Norwalk Tree Alliance (6:10 p.m.)

ABSENT:

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Nelson called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.

APPROVE MINUTES – TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF FEBRUARY 28, 2006

** MR. WHITEHEAD MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 28, 2006.

Mr. Alvord provided copies of the minutes that he and Mr. Sotnik revised. Further corrections to the minutes are as follows:

On page 1, under OTHER:, add ABSENT: P. Viteretto; D. Tracy (NTA).

On page 4, after the title REPORT – TREE ACTIVITIES AT OAK HILLS, add “Ms. Lindstrom left at 6:50 p.m.”

On page 6, 3rd paragraph, 2nd to last sentence, change “Griff” to “Griffith”.

** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

OVERVIEW – IRVING FREESE PARK RENOVATION

Ms. Susan Sweitzer of the Norwalk Redevelopment Agency provided her presentation on the renovation of Irving Freese Park. She said the Redevelopment Agency is in conversation with two separate development teams for projects in the Wall Street area. One project is across the street from Freese Park. The other project is near the Isaac Street parking lot area. Both of the projects include a substantial amount of residential development. The units will be small, so they won’t be attracting large numbers of families. They hope to get affordable units. Both development teams are interested in having a small, open space that would lend itself to concerts and park-like, urban-plaza activities. Last year they were able to secure capital budget funding of $120,000 for this project. They were unsuccessful in trying to secure another $100,000 this year.

Essentially, the project plans to improve the pedestrian circulation system in the park to provide a more attractive lawn area which could be for seating, picnicking or performances. The developers had requested a small stage area. They are proposing a seating wall, improved landscaping, irrigation, and park lighting along the river edge. They took the project elements that were going to be the most necessary to build the foundation for a park improvement, and put aside the project elements that could be implemented later. The users of the park have not been clearly defined, and as the project moves forward, the area hopefully will become more inhabited.

Mr. Tracy arrived at 6:10 p.m.

They will be re-bidding the project in the next week. They will include in the base project the new walkways, the lighting, the irrigation system, and the lawn. They will not be able to do the railing improvements, the landscaping, the stage, or the seating wall. With the exception of a walnut tree, they most likely will not remove other trees in order to establish the lawn area. When funding becomes available, they can build on the project plan and do improved landscaping. They are retaining the perennial plants that are along the edge of the sidewalk. There is a small group of fruit trees that they will try to keep. They will try to do some pruning to make the existing trees more attractive. Ms. Sweitzer said that they hope to start the project in late spring of this year.

REPORT – INNER CITY GRANT – ARBORETUM STATUS

Mr. Viteretto didn’t have anything new to report since the last meeting. Mr. Alvord clarified that there are 15 trees. Mr. Sotnik said that they have not been invoiced yet for the trees, to the best of his knowledge.

Ms. Lindstrom left at 6:30 p.m.

There was some discussion about the tags for the trees. It was suggested that they enlist the help of parents at the school for the graphics for the tags, as well as doing the physical mounting of the signs. Mr. Whitehead said that there is a one-time set-up fee for the logo. Mr. Viteretto said that the brass tags cost $600 each. Mr. Alvord said they have 77 days left before the grant expires. It is a one-for-one grant. The city committed to match the dollars from the State. As he understands it, the Recreation & Parks Department committed $14,000. He suggested that Mr. Nelson, Mr. Sotnik, Mr. Viteretto, Mr. Whitehead, and Mr. Bociek meet with him to review the work that still needs to be done so that it can be implemented by June 15, 2006. Chairman Nelson said that perhaps Mr. Tracy can get the Norwalk Tree Alliance people involved. It was suggested that a master sign be put up at the school describing where each individual tree was located. Brochures would be available for visitors to use when walking through the arboretum. The common name and species name of the tree would be put on the tree plaque.

REPORT – INCIDENTS OF ILLEGAL CUTTING

Mr. Sotnik said for this month, there weren’t any illegal cuttings. Mr. Alvord said that as a result of two major windstorms in January, a large tree on private property fell across Ponus Avenue. His on-call crews cleared the roadway and stacked the lumber on the side of the road. It wasn’t the city’s responsibility to clear private property of debris even it falls in the city’s right-of-way. There was a two-month long legal battle. He wrote a letter to the property owner saying he had 48 hours to clear the debris, or Mr. Alvord would send his crews out to clear it and then place a lien against the property. The property owner complied by clearing up the debris within two days.

Ms. Lindstrom returned at 6:45 p.m.

REPORT – STATUS OF APPLICATION: U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS –
2006 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE FOR COMMUNITY TREES

Chairman Nelson said that Mr. Alvord had done an outstanding job on the grant application to the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He provided copies for everyone. Mr. Alvord said that there were two categories, cities over 100,000 in population, and cities under 100,000 in population. Norwalk is in the category of under 100,000 in population. The Home Depot Foundation funded the grant, and there will be two grants awarded in each category. The winner will receive a $75,000 grant, and the runner-up will receive a $25,000 grant. The next annual meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors will be June 3, 2006 in Las Vegas, NV. If Norwalk is a winner or a runner-up, they will be notified in sufficient time for Mayor Moccia to attend.

Chairman Nelson said that the city had to partner with a non-profit organization in order to qualify for the grant application. He said Mr. Tracy spent many hours getting the technical information together for the grant application. Mr. Alvord applauded Mr. Tracy for his efforts.

DISCUSSION STATUS OF TREE PLANTING PROGRAM

a. Next 30 locations – status

Mr. Sotnik said from last month, out of the next group there were 18 locations suitable for planting. Of the 18, there were 13 that still needed ownership agreements. They have received 5 of the ownership agreements. Mr. Overall had sent an email saying that he would stake the property at 23 Ludlow Manor this weekend and obtain the ownership agreement. There were four locations remaining on his list that didn’t respond to his calls. The four locations will be removed from the list. He has another location at 24 Winfield Court where the homeowner asked to be put on hold. They still need three ownership agreements before they can place the next tree order. Chairman Nelson said he will have one within a week. Ms. Witkowsky said that the one she was pursuing at 23 Glenwood Avenue should be removed from the list. Mr. Sotnik confirmed that the next tree order would be for 13 trees. He also confirmed with the members that all the stakes are in at the properties that ownership agreements have been obtained for. Mr. Alvord said that they would like to try to keep a minimum order of 10. Originally, there were approximately 200 requests. They have gotten to 70 of them to date.

b. Golden Hill – Elmwood Avenue

Mr. Sotnik said the order was placed with Almstead on March 8 for the ten trees in the Golden Hill area. Mr. Mushak said he doesn’t have any plans right now for any more streets, but he will continue to work on it. He said that when stumps are ground out to mulch form, the mulch is left at the location. A crew is then needed to remove the stump and put in soil to make the area level and avoid a hazardous situation. Mr. Alvord said that it would be the city’s responsibility to remove the pile of chips if it was a city tree that was cut down.

c. Harbor Shores plan

Mr. Alvord said he copied the map that Ms. Garrett had provided for him into the application for the U.S. Conference of Mayors Grant. He did a drive-by through the area in Harbor Shores that Ms. Garrett mapped out. He feels that they could do a good project down there. The real challenge is in front of Darien Asphalt on the west side of Woodward Avenue and the screening issue with the vacant lot on the back end of LaJoie’s property. The next step would be to do a joint walk, starting on Woodward Avenue. Mr. Alvord said he is in receipt of the Backlands Covenant that Ms. Garret sent him, and he will review it shortly to determine if there are any legal issues with the west side of Woodward Avenue. Ms. Garrett said that another approach they might consider is to ask the neighbors if they want to become involved in Adopt-A-Spot and take care of the area themselves.

d. Sammis Street Pumping Station

Mr. Alvord said he met with Ms. Sidey about three weeks ago and looked at the site and what could be done along the walkway leading up to the bridge. The construction is completed and the underground storage tank has been removed. CL&P needs to put in an underground power line. There is an access driveway that OMI needs to get into the pumping station. He said he will coordinate with OMI the plan Ms. Sidey has provided, and some of the costs can then be defrayed by OMI procuring some of the plantings. The plan that Ms. Sidey has developed shows plantings that will essentially block all the pipes and equipment that protrude from the ground. Ms. Sidey said that if there is money available in the Farm Creek Association account in the fall, she would like to plant bulbs on the bank of the pumping station.

Ms. Becker said she received an e-mail from Mr. Ernst deFines of Rowayton, saying that he has organized a small task force to identify locations for trees. The three locations are Bayley Beach, the new public parking lot in downtown Rowayton, and Pinkney Park. Mr. Alvord said there are some permit issues that they need to address. They need to be careful about public spaces and parks for which a revenue garnering entity has responsibility. Mr. Alvord said he will meet with the new administrator soon and proceed from there.

Chairman Nelson asked for an update about the tree cutting permits and tree warden questions with the taxing districts. Mr. Alvord mentioned as a reminder that at the last meeting, they agreed that the taxing districts should have their own contracts for tree trimming and their own tree wardens. Ms. Lindstrom said that she had contacted Mr. Leary to discuss general information about the posting of the trees, and then Mr. Alvord took it up with Mr. Brown. Mr. Alvord said that they recently took a walk through the cemetery. He said that he suggested a few ideas to Mr. Brown and advised him that the State statute information should be followed closely. He also suggested that Mr. Brown put an information plan together for the neighborhood. He said that both he and Mr. Sotnik confirmed that there are two trees, one impacting the stone wall and one impacting the gatepost.

e. SoNo Alliance

Chairman Nelson said that in the mid 1990’s, there was a grant the city obtained that created an organization called the South Norwalk Weed & Seed. There was several parts to the grant, including clean-up activities, graffiti, and crime. The grant has expired. The SoNo Alliance is a new group of residents that has come together to handle these issues. They meet once a month at the new Police Station. Mr. Shockley, the Neighborhood Improvement Coordinator, has been active with them and is in the process of setting up clean-up days. The first one is scheduled for this Saturday, April 1, at Lexington Avenue. A flyer has been made up with all the information, and it is in Spanish as well. Chairman Nelson said that he and Ms. Garrett attended the SoNo Alliance meeting, and Ms. Garrett presented her Harbor Shores plan. The information she presented was omitted from the minutes, but she is working with them to get the information reinstated. She said there are several people involved in the SoNo Alliance.

Mr. Viteretto left at 7:20 p.m.

She provided a flyer with the information about her group, and she said it has been translated into Spanish. She said the ownership contracts need to be translated into Spanish. Mr. Alvord confirmed that they wouldn’t have any problem doing that, but the contracts would have to be executed in English.

Ms. Garrett said that Ms. Pat McClester has generated a lot of interest in the neighborhood of Concord Street, and she has received three signed agreements. She thanked Mr. Roger Wilcox for his involvement with getting the low-income housing families in that area interested in the program. There is a school on Chestnut Street, near Concord Street, and she suggested that they do some planting in front of the school. Ms. Becker said that she will get in touch with Ms. McClester. Ms. Garrett said that she has asked Mr. Dumas to put a presentation together for the next meeting.

f. Guidebook for volunteers

Mr. Alvord said the guidebook isn’t ready yet.

INFORMATION COPIES

a. Arbor Day – March/April 2006

Mr. Alvord provided the latest version of the bulletin.

ARBOR DAY ACTIVITIES – BROOKSIDE SCHOOL

Chairman Nelson said that he, Mr. Tracy, and Mr. Bociek met with the Principal, Mr. David Hay, of Brookside School to plan the activities for Arbor Day. Chairman Nelson said he and Mr. Alvord have met with Mayor Moccia to discuss the presentation of the proclamation. He said Mr. Alvord will provide some information on Tree City USA, the students will sing some songs and write some essays, there will be poster winners, Mr. Tracy will talk about the Tree Alliance, and then Mr. Bociek will plant the trees. Refreshments will be served. The small saplings provided by Almstead Tree will be given out. The Doubletree Hotel has a corporate policy of dealing with schools on Arbor Day and providing a presentation for the children. In order to not duplicate efforts, he will be meeting with the General Manager of the hotel to possibly combine the two programs.

Chairman Nelson asked if anyone had a nomination for a school for next year’s Arbor Day activities. There weren’t any at this time. The events at Brookside School for this year’s Arbor Day activities will take place on Friday, April 28, 2006 at 1:45 p.m. He extended an invitation to everyone at the meeting.

Ms. Lindstrom left at 7:45 p.m.

DISCUSSION – NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITIES

Ms. Becker said they had another lengthy CNNA meeting, during which they talked about zoning issues and how they could create a zoning task force to tackle quality of life issues in neighborhoods. The Rowayton group was there to talk about the proposed zoning change regarding roof height and lot coverage.

DISCUSSION – NTA ACTIVITIES

Mr. Tracy said they will be starting their tree inventory season on May 17, concentrating on the southern area of the city below the turnpike. He asked that if anyone knew of any residents that would like to be involved in doing inventory work to let him know. They are trying to develop new ways to raise money.

NEW BUSINESS

There weren’t any new items.

ADJOURNMENT

** MS. BECKER MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MR. WHITEHEAD SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Carolyn Marr
Telesco Secretarial Services