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MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE June 10, 2019 East Conference Room Present: Councilmembers Rader, Anderson, Bullock Also Present: Councilmembers O'Leary and George, Mayor Summers, Chris Perry of the Urban Forestry Department, Assistant Law Director Jennifer Swallow, Clerk Maureen Bach, members of the former Tree Task Force (David Sangree, Marianne Quasebarth, John Palmer), and Deputy Clerk Lascu taking minutes. Call to Order: 7:07 pm AGENDA: Communication from Councilmembers Bullock & George regarding Tree Task Force recommendations & tree canopy. (Referred to Public Works 4/15/19) Other tree topics to be discussed with City Forestry Division & former members of the Tree Task Force. Councilman Rader opened the meeting with introductions of those in attendance and with brief discussion on the resolution Council recently passed regarding a tree lawn tree planting program. He deferred to Chris Perry of Urban Forestry for an update on tree planting efforts. Mr. Perry stated that his department has seen 9 people sign up for tree plantings on their private property and the program has been implemented thus far on a word of mouth basis, with a good deal of people on Blossom Park Ave. participating. These private property plantings increase the species options by 60%-70%. Councilman Rader discussed developing some type of committee to further tree canopy development. Councilman Bullock noted the amount of progress made by the Urban Forestry department through planting on the public side of property lines and added that more than half of the goals proposed by the former tree task force will be accomplished largely by plantings on private property. A tree commission could enable the City to implement public education of private owners and spread information regarding various planting programs by word of mouth. Mayor Summers stated that he has a healthy respect for commissions and task forces, but is cautious about creating one for this issue as there is no clear deliverable. He said when we ask citizens to volunteer for a commission they must be given some form of authority and questioned what decision making a tree commission would do. He noted task forces are used to shape ideas and that the former tree task force did that successfully, as Mr. Perry's work in the Urban Forestry department has embodied many of the principles created by the former task force.