|
|
|
|
TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
|
JANUARY 23, 2007
ATTENDANCE: Don Nelson, Chairman; Laurel Lindstrom, Rich Whitehead, Maribeth Becker, Peter Viteretto
ABSENT: None
STAFF: Hal Alvord, Tree Warden; Paul Sotnik, Deputy Tree
Warden
NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE: David Tracy
NEIGHBORHOOD TREE LIAISONS: Mike Mushak, Golden Hill
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Nelson called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
2. APPROVE MINUTES OF TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 28, 2006
Please note the following changes:
Page 1, under ATTENDANCE: Please change “Rick Whitehead” to
“Rich
Whitehead”.
Page 1, under NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE LIAISON: Please change
NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE LIAISON Alan Kingsbury, Norwalk Tree Alliance, David Tracy (6:32 p.m.)
to NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE: Alan Kingsbury, David Tracy (6:32 p.m.)
Page 1, under NEIGHBORHOOD TREE LIAISONS: please change:
Tia Sidley, Rowayton Farm Creek Organization; Diane Witkowski, Spring Hill/Norwalk Hospital Area
To: Tia Sidey, Farm Creek Association; Diane Witkowski, Spring Hill/Hospital Area
Page 1, please change “Tia Sidley” to Tia Sidey” throughout the document.
Page 1, under OTHERS: please change “Anne Cagnuria” to “Anne Cagnina”.
Page 3, paragraph two, under APPROVED MEETING SCHEDULE FOR
CALENDAR YEAR 2007: please change “this calendar” to “this
schedule”.
Page 3, paragraph 4, line 5: please change “had twenty two plantings”
to “had
twenty-two plantings.”
Page 3, paragraph 5, line 3, please change the following from:
“side streets off
of Harbor Shores. Mr. Nelson said that when Pam returns,” to: side streets
off of Woodward Avenue. Mr. Nelson said that when Pam Garrett returns,”
Page 3, paragraph 6, line two: please change the following from:
“Mr. Sotnik
said that there were about one hundred request that had not been screened
yet. Mr. Nelson said that he would like to try to do over the winter is to
identify” to: “Mr. Alvord said that there were about one hundred request that
had not been screened yet. Mr. Nelson said that he would like to try to identify”
Page 4, paragraph 1, line 1 please change the following: from:
“there are no Tree
Liaisons or the area does not have boundaries.” to: “there are no
neighborhood associations and/or no Tree Liaisons or the area does not have
boundaries.”
Page 4, paragraph 2: please change the following:
From: “Ms. Sidey said that she had gotten involved with the Tree Advisory because she heads the clean up for her area of Rowayton. Mr. Alvord said that during the winter would be a good time to encourage Neighborhood Associations that don’t have a Tree Liaison to find someone interested in working with the program. There are actually thirty-three entities that call themselves Neighborhood Associations. Approximately twenty-six are listed with CNNA. Ms. Becker said that some of the groups are small because they are just one or two street associations. She said that it was very possible that there were more associations listed than were active. Mr. Alvord said it would be wonderful to find people who were not only interested in the programs but also interested in becoming part of the Alliance. Mr. Nelson commented that it is important to broadcast for volunteers to work with the Liaisons in doing the inventory, also.”
To: “Mr. Alvord said that during the winter would be a good time to encourage Neighborhood Associations that don’t have a Tree Liaison to find someone interested in working with the program. There are actually thirty-three entities that call themselves Neighborhood Associations. Approximately twenty-six are listed with the Coalition of Norwalk Neighborhood Associations (CNNA). Ms. Becker said that some of the groups are small because they are just one or two street associations. She said that it was very possible that there were more associations listed than were active. Mr. Alvord said it would be wonderful to find people who were not only interested in the programs but also interested in becoming part of the (Norwalk Tree) Alliance. Mr. Nelson commented that it is important to broadcast for volunteers to work with the Alliance in doing the inventory, also.”
Page 4, paragraph 5, first line, please change the following
from: “Mr. Nelson
said that if the Tree Advisory could” to: “Mr. Nelson asked if the Tree
Advisory Committee could”
Page 4, paragraph 5, line four: please change the following
from: “the Tree
Advisory” to “the Tree Advisory Committee”
Page 4, paragraph 5, line seven, please change the following
from: “the Tree
Advisory” to “the Tree Advisory Committee”
Page 5, paragraph 1, line two, please change the following from:
“to work on the
volunteer to work on the guidebook” to: “to work on the volunteer
guidebook”
Page 5, paragraph 2, line thirteen: please change the following
from: “copier of
the photographs. There” to: “copier. There”
Page 5, paragraph 4, line two: please change the following from:
“ simply five
fold that” to: “simple tri-fold”
Page 5, paragraph 5, line five: please change the following
from: “when it is
bloom or during” to: “when it is in bloom or during”
Page 6, paragraph 2, line eight: please change the following
from: “Mr.,
Kingsbury” to “Mr. Kingsbury”
Page 6, paragraph 4, line eight: please change the following
from: “be banners for
sign poles.” To: “be banners for the signs.”
Page 6, paragraph 6. line six: please change the following from:
“the number of
tree that” to: “the number of trees that”
Page 7, paragraph 2, line one: please change the following from:
“of a summer
intern.” to: “of an intern.”
Page 7, paragraph 2, line three: please change the following
from: “He also
requested that the job description be too specific and” to: “He also
requested that comments on the job description not be too
specific and”
Page 7, paragraph 3, line one: please change the following from:
“their five year
review” to “their five-year review”
Page 7, paragraph 3, line four: please change the following
from: “After a brief
visit at DPW and then” to: “. After a brief visit at DPW offices, they then”
Page 8 paragraph 2, line three: please change the following
from: “Mr. Kingsbury
said that Mr. Donnelly” to: “Mr. Tracy said that Mr. Donnelly”
Page 8 paragraph 3, line one: please change the following from:
“He said that an
award had been given for developing” to: “He said that a grant had been
awarded for developing”
Page 8, paragraph 3, line four: please change the following
from: “downloaded
into Mike Mushak’s GIS database” to: “downloaded into Mike Yeosock’s
GIS database”
Page 8, paragraph 4, line one: please change the following from:
“Jeannie
McAndrew” to “ Jeanne McAndrew”
Page 8 paragraph 5, line two: please change the following from:
“meeting, but
focusing strongly” to “meeting, and focusing strongly”
Page 8, paragraph 5, line four: please change the following
from: “the City, and
the Tree Alliance and the Tree Advisory.” to: “the City, the Tree Alliance
and the Tree Advisory Committee.”
Page 8, paragraph 6: please delete the following paragraph:
Mr. Nelson suggested that the schools be more involved in Arbor Day. Mr. Alvord said that he and Mr. Nelson had met with the elementary science curriculum committee, the committee drafted an insert for the Curriculum because it was in the late spring. When the curriculum is re-published, a visit to the arboretum will be an actual part of the curriculum for all the elementary schools. The larger brochure that is being done by Ms. McAndrews will be provided to each elementary school.
Page 8, paragraph 7, line one: please change the following from:
“Ms. Sidley
thanked everyone for the project and expressed” to: “Ms. Sidey thanked
everyone for the Sammis Street project and expressed”
Page 9, paragraph 3, line three: please change the following
from: “that Olmstead
was supposed” to: “that Almstead was supposed”
Page 10, paragraph 7, line one: please change “Ms. Cagnuria” to “Ms. Cagnina”
** MS. LINDSTROM MOVED TO ACCEPT THE MINUTES AS AMENDED.
** MR. WHITEHEAD SECONDED.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
3. APPROVE MINUTES OF TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF DECEMBER 19, 2006.
Please note the following changes:
Page 1, under ATTENDANCE: Please change “Rick Whitehead” to
“Rich
Whitehead”.
Page 1, under NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE LIAISON: Please change
NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE LIAISON Dan Landau, Alan Kingsbury, Dick Aimee, David Tracy
to NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE: Dan Landau, Alan Kingsbury, Dick
Aimee, David Tracy
Page 1, under NEIGHBORHOOD TREE LIAISONS: please change:
Tia Sidley, Rowayton Tree Liaison; Mike Mushak, Golden Hill
Tree
Liaison
To: Tia Sidley, Farm Creek Association; Mike Mushak, Golden Hill
Page 1, paragraph 2, line one: please change the following from:
“Mr. Sotnik
announced” to: “Mr. Alvord announced”
Page 2, paragraph 2, line four: please change the following from: “key yet,
but
Mr. Kingsbury has the rest of the guidebook ready.” to: “key yet; Mr.
Kingsbury suggested that the key may be in the text line that is also on the
CD.”
Page 3, paragraph 2, line one: please change: “Ms. Sidley” to “Ms. Sidey” throughout the text.
Page 3, paragraph 2, line two: please change: “suggested that
booths” to
“suggested booths”
Page 3, paragraph 2, line one: please change the following from:
“which both Calf
Pasture and the new Arboretum being considered.” to: “with both Calf
Pasture Beach and the new Arboretum being considered.”
Page 3, paragraph 3, line four: please change the following
from: “when the
schools observed Arbor Day. Having the Spring Planting Day
on the next day,” to: “when the City observes Arbor Day. Having the
Spring tree event on the next day,”
Page 3, paragraph 4, line one: please change: “Mr. Alvord suggested”
to “Mr.
Nelson suggested”
Page 3, paragraph 4, line four: please change “with Gwen in
” to “with Gwen
George in ”
Page 3, paragraph 5, please change the following:
From: “Mr. Alvord reported that he had contacted CL&P regarding the route for the High Transmission Line and suggested that the line turn north at the intersection of Cross Sand Main Streets and proceed along Main Street to New Canaan Avenue. CL&P has agreed to this and will be replacing the curbs, sidewalks and repaving the road from curb to curb almost all the way to New Canaan Avenue.
To : “Mr. Alvord reported that he had contacted CL&P regarding the route for the High voltage transmission line and reported that the line from Middletown will turn north at the intersection of Cross and Main Streets and proceed along Main Street to New Canaan Avenue. CL&P has agreed to replace the curbs; and sidewalks and repave the road from curb to curb almost all the way to New Canaan Avenue.
Page 3, paragraph 5, line eleven: please change the following
from: “detection
traffic signals for that route. Another improvement will be a bike plan
along” to: “detection for traffic signals for that route. Another
improvement will be a bike path along”
Page 3, paragraph 6, line three: please change the following
from: “She also
informed the Committee that the committees were being
formed regarding neighborhood flooding.” to: “She also updated the
Committee on the flooding forum conducted by the Eastern Norwalk
Neighborhoods Association on December 13, 2006.”
Page 4, paragraph 3, line one: please change the following from:
“Mr. Tracy
reported that the Kickoff on the Tree Inventory will be with electronic
vehicle mounted equipment purchased with grant funding.” to: “Mr. Tracy
reported that the kickoff review on electronic vehicle mounted inventory
equipment grant was accomplished at the previous week’s meeting.”
Page 4, paragraph 4, line one: please change the following from:
“of Sammis and
Rowayton Avenue” to of Sammis and Roton Avenue”.
Page 4, paragraph 5, line one: please change the following from:
“Ms. Sidley then
showed a digital photograph of the corner of Sammis Street where
new utility boxes in front” to: “Ms. Sidey then showed a digital
photograph of the corner of Sammis Street and Farm Creek where a
new electric service box had been installed in front”
** MR. WHITEHEAD MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FROM THE DECEMBER
19, 2006 MEETING AS AMENDED.
** MS. LINDSTROM SECONDED.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. REPORT – INCIDENTS OF ILLEGAL CUTTING.
There were no new reports of illegal cutting.
5. TREE PLANTING PROGRAM.
a. Look ahead to spring plantings.
Mr. Alvord suggested that now was the time to encourage plans
for the spring planting program. Mr. Nelson requested that Ms. Becker include
this on the next Coalition of Norwalk Neighborhood Associations (CNNA) agenda.
During the following discussion, it was suggested that the Broad River area
was in need of attention. Mr. Whitehead said that he would be willing to stake
the area for planting. Mr. Alvord reported that the funding for the tree program
might be cut next year because of other budgetary priorities. The discussion
then turned to defining the boundaries of the various Neighborhood Associations.
Ms. Becker said that she would work with Mr. Alvord on clarifying this issue.
b. Guidebook for volunteers.
Mr. Tracy will be examining the DVDs and CDs from Dirr’s to locate the text information index. There was a discussion regarding which trees should be included in the guidebook. Mr. Viteretto displayed a list of trees that he would like to recommend to Mr. Greene, the Director of Planning and Zoning. Mr. Nelson suggested that when the Guidebook is completed, a meeting should be held for the liaisons.
6. INFORMATION COPIES:
a. Chris Donnelly letter re: Tree City USA recertification.
Mr. Alvord distributed copies of a letter dated January 5, 2007 from Mr. Donnelly, the Urban Forestry Coordinator, to Mr. Alvord.
b. Arbor Day January/February 2007.
Mr. Alvord distributed copies of the Arbor Day January/February 2007 newsletter to the members of the Committee.
c. APWA – Growing Your Tree Replacement Program.
Mr. Alvord distributed copies of the American Public Works Association flyer from a January 10th event on Growing Your Tree Replacement Program.
d. HDF Case Study
(www.homedepotfoundation.org/support_trees_case.html or www.homedepotfoundation.org/pdfs/norwalk_2.pdf
)
Mr. Alvord distributed copies of the Home Depot Foundation article, which is located on their Website. This article features Norwalk’s efforts in urban forestry.
e. “Roots to Branches” tri-fold – Fairfield Forestry Committee.
Mr. Alvord distributed copies of the “Roots to Branches” tri-fold produced by the Fairfield Forestry Committee.
7. Discussion – Tree replacements on Beech Road.
Mr. Alvord reported to the Tree Advisory Committee that Chris Torre, who works
for the Department of Public Works, has been given lead responsibility regarding
tree issues in Norwalk. Mr. Torre has inspected the trees on Beech Road and
reported that there are several that are leaning and others that are dying.
These trees will eventually have to be replaced. Mr. Torre has suggested that
Beech Road should remain a tree-lined street and seeks the Committee's input
on what species should be replanted. The Tree Advisory Committee discussed
what kind of tree should be planted and how this should be done. Mr. Whitehead
and Mr. Viteretto stated they would inspect the trees on that street and report
back to the Tree Advisory Committee. They will also start planning a tree
scape for the Committee. Mr. Alvord will check the location of Beech Street
to determine if it is located within a local neighborhood association.
8. DISCUSSION – “PLANT A TREE FOR ME”
Mr. Alvord distributed copies of a newspaper article titled “Dell Says Plant a Tree, Help the Environment” to the Tree Advisory Committee.
Mr. Nelson briefly outlined the Dell Computer Plant a Tree program for the Committee. A discussion about the possible ways to utilize this program followed. Mr. Viteretto suggested that a plan to remove the various invasive species along the Norwalk River and replacing them with native hardwoods be proposed. Mr. Alvord wondered if Dell would be interested in a project to plant trees at Calf Pasture Beach. Ms. Becker suggested asking the Chamber of Commerce if they would be interested in sponsoring the planting of some trees.
Mr. Viteretto wondered whether the Master Plan had incorporated green space in the overall scheme. A discussion on this topic followed. Mr. Nelson mentioned that a draft of the Plan was expected shortly. Mr. Alvord also stated that he felt it would be advisable for the Tree Advisory Committee to keep its focus on attainable goals. Mr. Alvord commented that often people will take down the mature oaks and maples in their front yards, but leave the Norway maples along the rear property line. He pointed out that the number of trees being taken down in Norwalk is not the only factor, but also the quality of the trees being removed.
Mr. Sotnik related a recent incident involving a developer who wanted to remove a tree for a driveway. The developer was told he could not remove the tree and would have to relocate the driveway. Mr. Viteretto stated that Norwalk does not have a Tree Preservation Program, so the contractors have little or no interest in preserving the trees on a parcel. Mr. Alvord reiterated a point that Ms. Lindstrom had made earlier that unless someone was monitoring construction activities, the heavy machinery compacts the soil around the roots of the tree. Mr. Sotnik suggested that Zoning require a snow fence around the base of the trees to prevent this from happening. Mr. Alvord agreed that this could be an ultimate goal.
Another suggestion was that when a homeowner applies for the various permits needed for construction, he is given a brochure on how to protect the trees on the property.
9. DISCUSSION – PLANNING FOR ARBOR DAY.
Mr. Nelson stated that Columbus Magnet School would be the location for Arbor Day. Mr. Nelson said that Bob Bociek wished to be on the Arbor Day planning committee. Mr. Alvord suggested that the Principal be reminded that this event was scheduled for her school. Mr. Nelson said that Atty. Spahr sent out some emails regarding screening the property line where the fence is behind the arboretum. Mr. Alvord pointed out that if the Tree Advisory Committee was going to plant another tree in the arboretum, it would be important to select what kind of tree carefully. A discussion about revising the signage followed.
10. DISCUSSION – SPRING TREE FESTIVAL
Mr. Nelson reported that the planning committee had a good meeting recently. Mr. Whitehead then presented a report on the events that transpired. He said that calls had been made to tree companies and some had agreed to donate time to trim trees. Mr. Whitehead said that this event would be scheduled for the second Saturday after Arbor Day, depending on whether the Mathews Park would be available. Mr. Whitehead said that they were planning for 300 people. There was also a brief discussion about scheduling a rain date. Mr. Whitehead then listed a number of activities that will take place, along with some of the details.
11. DISCUSSION – NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITIES.
Ms. Becker reported that Spinnaker Developers had addressed the Coalition of Norwalk Neighborhood Associations (CNNA). She gave a brief overview of their talk. The developers brought along models of the various projects for the members to see. After their presentation, they answered questions from the audience.
At the Mayor’s Neighborhood monthly meeting, Ms. Becker reported that the format had been changed from general discussion to a topical presentation. This month, the presentation was by one of the City attorneys and covered the topic of zoning violations.
Ms. Becker said that the next meeting would be Monday, February 12th at 7:30 p.m. Poco Partners will be giving a presentation to the Coalition of Norwalk Neighborhood Associations (CNNA).
Ms. Becker stated that the Coalition of Norwalk Neighborhood Associations (CNNA) Meet and Greet event is scheduled for February 15th from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Norwalk Museum.
Mr. Nelson said that one question that had been discussed was what it would require to have legislation in the State of Connecticut so that impact fees could be used to offset the cost of new developments. Mr. Nelson also said that he was hoping to meet with the Mayor to update him on the Tree Alliance projects.
12. DISCUSSION – NTA ACTIVITIES
Mr. Tracy provided an updated on the NUCFAC grant activities and the NTA Communications with the Fairfield Tree Committee.
NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Viteretto displayed drawings for tree planting pits within and under sidewalks and discussed some of the current technology for tree planting pits within sidewalk areas.
ADJOURNMENT
** MR. NELSON MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon L. Soltes
Telesco Secretarial Services
 |
 |