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TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES
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DECEMBER 19, 2006
ATTENDANCE: Don Nelson, Chairman; Laurel Lindstrom, Rich Whitehead
ABSENT: Maribeth Becker, Peter Viteretto
STAFF: Hal Alvord, Tree Warden; Paul Sotnik, Deputy Tree Warden
NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE: Dan Landau, Alan Kingsbury, Dick
Aimee, David Tracy
NEIGHBORHOOD TREE LIAISONS: Tia Sidey, Farm Creek Association;
Mike
Mushak, Golden Hill Golden Hill.
OTHERS: Marven Moss, Public Relations; Lauren Klein
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Nelson called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
2. APPROVE MINUTES OF TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 28, 2006
Mr. Alvord announced that the minutes from November have not yet been received and therefore were unavailable.
3. REPORT – INCIDENTS OF ILLEGAL CUTTING
Mr. Sotnik stated that he had no reports of illegal cutting. Mr. Alvord stated that there was a problem with CL&P regarding some trimming that was done on trees located on Norwalk Land Trust property. Mr. Alvord said that he will follow up on the issue of the logs in the stream and that the trees that were removed will be replaced.
Another issue with CL&P arose regarding some trimming that was done on Vanderbilt Avenue. The trees that were trimmed did not meet the 6” at breast height requirement. The feedback was that the crews had removed “brush and debris” and had improved the sight lines. It was agreed that a supervisor would do spot checks on the various locations where CL&P are trimming.
4. TREE PLANTING PROGRAM.
a. Look ahead to spring plantings
Mr. Alvord said that a detailed spreadsheet list for Harbor Shores needed to be prepared. He then reviewed the process, which includes looking at aerial views, developing priority areas and sending letters to the property owners. Mr. Alvord said that it might be possible to train the Tree Liaisons to do the initial evaluation process to prepare the spring planting list.
b. Guidebook for volunteers.
Mr. Alvord reported that Mr. Kingsbury had been able to track down Dr. Dirr and has purchased CDs with the photographs and the descriptions of the various trees, along with the rights to use the photographs in a publication. Mr. Alvord stated that he had not found the photo identification key yet; Mr. Kingsbury suggested that the key may be in the text that is also on the CD. Mr. Alvord stated that he is looking forward to a February or March training session for the Tree Liaisons.
5. INFORMATION COPIES:
a. Tree City USA Bulletin No. 10.
Mr. Alvord distributed copies of the Tree City USA Bulletin No. 10 to those present.
Mr. Alvord also stated that he has received a letter dated December 8, 2006 from Chris Donnelly about Norwalk’s application for Recertification as a Tree City USA.
6. DISCUSSION – SPRING TREE EVENT IN COOPERATION WITH NTA
Mr. Nelson introduced Mr. Moss to the group and said that Mr. Moss had experience in Public Relations. Mr. Nelson then asked the group for suggestions regarding the upcoming Spring Tree Event.
Mr. Aimee asked what target audience that Mr. Moss will be looking for. Mr. Nelson said that one of the goals was to recruit members and volunteers. Mr. Moss reported that he works with the Norwalk Educational Foundation and their philosophy was to find interesting stories to catch the public’s interest. It is also important to include what the payoff is for the public. The media likes the abbreviation FACE, which stands for Feelings, Analysis, Crime and Energy. Mr. Moss gave Mr. Nelson a list of twenty possible reasons to issue a press release. Mr. Nelson said that he would include this in next month’s information packet.
He also suggested that the Committee consider checking with various speaker forums to see if the Committee members could speak at different functions. Some appropriate ones would be places like the Bartlett Arboretum, and various Garden Clubs.
Ms. Sidey suggested a tree clinic for those who receive new trees. Mr. Alvord suggested booths for various different Tree related topics. Ms. Sidey asked if there was the possibility of showing what a site looked like before and after a planting. Another idea was to have a raffle. One exhibit idea was to show the insects that destroy trees. Mr. Whitehead wondered if there would be any arborists available who would consider donating a free day of trimming.
There was also some discussion on the locations, with both Calf Pasture Beach and the new Arboretum being considered. The Committee felt that the Arboretum might be the best location for the event and this will be researched. Mr. Alvord stated that the last Friday of April was when the City observes Arbor Day. Having the Spring tree event on the next day, Saturday, might be a good idea.
Mr. Nelson suggested that a committee be formed consisting of Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Tracy, Ms. Sidey, Mr. Landau and possibly Mr. Shockley from Redevelopment. He suggested that the group use the DPW Conference Room for their meetings. They need to schedule this with Gwen George in advance. The first meeting was tentatively scheduled for 4 p.m. in the middle of January.
7. UPDATE – CLP SITE VISIT ALONG MAIN STREET
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. There are 21 possible tree planting sites
along this route. However, it must be determined what underground utilities
are in the area before any planting is done. Mr. Alvord noted that the stretch
of road west of the intersection of Main and Union has power lines on both
sides of the street and this may limit the planting sites. He also reported
that CL&P has agreed to purchase video detection for traffic signals for
that route. Another improvement will be a bike path along the route of the
Glenbrook Project. This project will be underway for the next year and a half.
8. DISCUSSION – NEIGHBORHOOD ACTIVITIES
Ms. Becker was not present to give a report. Ms. Lindstrom commented that she had attended the Master Plan meeting with Chan Kreiger earlier in the day. She then gave a brief overview of the meeting. She also updated the Committee on the flooding forum conducted by the Eastern Norwalk Neighborhood Association on December 13, 2006.
Mr. Nelson expressed concerns about the Clean and Green program and the Free Tree program. Mr. Alvord stated that he had spent hours with Chan Kreiger and that these two projects had been covered.
9. DISCUSSION – NTA ACTIVITIES
Mr. Tracy reported that the kickoff review on the electronic
vehicle mounted inventory equipment grant was accomplished at the previous
week’s meeting. This piece of equipment can count trees with a camera mounted
on a car. He stated that the GPS software has not been ordered at this time.
Mr. Tracy said the next Norwalk Tree Alliance Meeting will be on December
21, 2006.
10. NEW BUSINESS.
Ms. Sidey asked about a parcel of land at the corner of Sammis and Roton Avenue
where the adjacent owners wish to “clean out” the strip, which appears to
be City property. Ms. Sidey stated that there were Norway maples and privet
bushes on the strip and displayed a digital photograph of the site.
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 of a telephone pole. Mr. Mushak commented that he had often spray painted these glaringly obvious objects with less jarring shades of paint.
11. ADJOURNMENT.
Next Tree Advisory Committee Meeting: Tuesday, January 23, 2006
Room 101, Norwalk City Hall
** MS. LINDSTROM MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MR. WHITEHEAD SECONDED.
** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Sharon L. Soltes
Telesco Secretarial Services
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