HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-0208 Tree MIN
ASHLAND TREE COMMISSION
MINUTeS
FEBRUARY 8,1996
I. Meeting called to order at approximately 7: 1 0 p.m.
Present:
Vince James
Mark Jenne (Minutes)
Rich Whitall (Chair)
Donn Todt
Shelly Simmons
II. Approval of Minutes - Minutes approved with the following change:
Shelly Simmons was present, Donn Tod.t was not.
III. Guests: Robbin Pearce, City of Ashland Re: PA 96-017 (SaSC)
IV. Old Business:
A. Arboretum Status - No report.
B. Goals and Vision Planning - Several big projects were discussed.
1. Oak Street Project - Rich will keep us informed as to the progress.
2. City Tree Guidelines - Donn thinks this will need commission input
soon because of a planned update to the Site Design Guidelines.
3. Tree Plantings - Siskiyou planting may be the only one this -year.
a. Also, Jeff in Parks Department has seedlings to plant at top
of Park Street. This would have to be done in February. This is
tentatively scheduled for February 24; Jeff will sent out a flyer
to commission members.
b. Donn has Goldenrain Trees that should be planted this year.
We'll keep that in mind.
c. Last year's oaks had a couple of casualties, Donn will drop
off a few seedlings for Mark to replace.
4. Other projects will be done by those who are absent.
ASHLAND TREE COMMISSION
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 8, 1996
C. Tree Inventory Tutorial Status - The computer upgrade was successful in
making the inventory software operates at a reasonable speed. Mark is
again extending his offer of a tutorial.
D. Big Street Tree List - No update.
E. Riparian Area Protection - No update.
F. Trees for Siskiyou Boulevard - Donn has selected sites by the Blue
Mountain Cafe and across the street from there.
G. Arbor Week Planning - The date for Arbor Week is April 7-13.- Vince is
coordinating publicity and activities prior to Arbor Week. The Tree City USA
signs have been found and will go up shortly before Arbor Week. Shelly will
be helping Vince with publicity.
1. The Natural History Museum has offered to give two tree walks for
Arbor Week, perhaps Wednesday afternoon and Saturday morning.
Donn will coordinate it.
2. Slide show (by Pete?) can be held at Stevenson Union. Perhaps as
part of their Friday science lectures. Mark will coordinate.
3. Vince will contact John McClendon about coordinating the
ceremony and to Dave Mason about writing an article. Vince also
wants to use the utility mailer more often.
4. Rich was asked to look into getting school kids to do a tree-
plantingt perhaps at the museum.
5. Shelly has talked to the Ashland Gallery Association - they are
booked up a year in advance. Perhaps the Northwest Nature Shop
can help with something.
6. The nomination forms for Tree-of-the-Year will go out in the
February mailing and due back March 15.
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ASHLAND TREE COMMISSION
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 8,1996
V. New Business:
A. Site Review -
PA 96-017 (SOSC & Wightman) - Plan looks good, but suggest more
trees along the south side of the large parking lots.
PA 96-022 (634 Iowa Street) - Donn suggests that Iiquidambers can
be made to work if attention is paid to giving roots room while
protecting sidewalk.
PA 96-020 (284 Hersey Street) - Postponed.
PA 96-021 (563 North Main Street) - This plan may be changed by
the re-routing of the sidewalk, but regardless, it could use trees on the
south and west sides of the parking lot.
B. Spruce tree on North Main near Maple Street - The tree may be
saved after all. Planner Mark Knox came up with a plan to
circumnavigate the tree with the sidewalk, thus giving a minimum of
six feet around the tree. Through there are risks, it is an encouraging
possibility. Watering and pruning will help improve the tree's
chances. ODOT seems cooperative and Robbin will publicize this by
calling the paper, etc. Donn was involved in this also. (See PA 96-
021 reviewed this month.) Shelly Simmons will write a letter to the
Planning Commission expressing our support for saving the tree. She
will also mention the need for extra care during the summer.
C. Construction requirements - Robbin reports that the Planning
Department is trying to come up with a process for checking tree
protection during construction. She would like us to help make the
guidelines into requirements.
D. Commission Membership - The commission is facing quite a bit of
turnover. Vince James will be retiring when his term expires at the
end of April. Rich Whitall is also retiring after April to spend a year in
Australia on a job exchange. In addition, Mark Jenne will probably be
moving to southern California in the next year or so.
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ASHLAND TREE COMMISSION
MINUTES
FEBRUARY 8,1996
VI. Meeting adjourned at 9.20 p.m.
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