Agenda - Sault Ste. Marie, MI

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call the City Clerk's Office at 906/632-5715 in advance to request mobility, visual, hearing, or other assistance.
General questions may be directed to Linda Basista, City Engineer and Community Development Manager Phone: 906/632-5733; Fax: 906/635-5606; e-mail: [email protected].
AGENDA
City of Sault Ste. Marie TREE COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
5:15 p.m.
City Commission Chambers, 3rd Floor
225 E. Portage Avenue
Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan
(Use Water Street Entrance)
1.
Call to Order
2.
Excuse absent Tree Commission Members
3.
Approval of Minutes: Regular Meeting of April 21, 2015
4.
Agenda: Changes, Additions, or Deletions
5.
OLD BUSINESS
a.
b.
6.
7.
Tree Commission Budget Request update – Linda Basista
915 Pine Street – update from City Commission Meeting
NEW BUSINESS
a.
b.
DTE Grant Application
Request for Tree Removals
(i)
114 W 11th Ave
(ii)
1501 W 22nd Street
(iii)
750 Kimball Street
(iv)
321 E Spruce Street
c.
Targeted area(s) for tree planting
Street/parks tree map (indicating all trees and ash trees)
STAFF REPORTS
a.
b.
Update on Tree Removal Requests
MDOT follow up
8.
Matters to be Presented by the Public or Commission
9.
Next Meeting: Tuesday, June 16th, 2015
10.
Adjournment
SAULT STE. MARIE CITY TREE COMMISSION MINUTES 04-21-15
TREE COMMISSION
MEETING HELD
IN THE CITY COMMISSION CHAMBERS
THIRD FLOOR, 225 E PORTAGE AVENUE
AT 5:15 PM ON TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2015
1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chair Nancy Gillotte at 5:18 p.m.
Present:
Nancy Gillotte (Chair), Roger Blanchard, Dennis Merkel, Jim Wilson,
Steve Gregory, Jeanne Smith and Jay Gage (City Commission Liaison)
Absent:
Kevin Wozniak
Staff Present: Linda Basista (City Engineer and CD Director)
Becky Bottrell (City Beautification)
Joan Roney (CD Office Coordinator)
Public:
Kevin Kenney
Jason McLeod
2. Excuse absent Tree Commission Members:
It was moved by Jim Wilson and supported by Jeanne Smith to excuse the absent Tree
Commission member. The motion carried.
3. Meeting Minutes Approval:
It was moved by Roger Blanchard and supported by Dennis Merkel to accept the Sault
Ste. Marie Tree Commission Meeting Minutes of October 21st, 2014, as amended to clarify
Short Term Goals “Plant 100 new trees or more per year,”. The motion carried.
4. Agenda:
New Business for Tree Removal requests were reviewed at this time with the public
present.
It was moved by Roger Blanchard and supported by Jim Wilson to accept the agenda
for the Sault Ste. Marie Tree Commission Meeting of April 21st, 2015. The motion carried.
a. Request for Tree Removals –
312/315 E Spruce Street: Kevin Kenney was present at this meeting to request removal
of one (1) large Maple tree, over the sidewalk at 312 E Spruce Street and two (2) trees at
315 E Spruce Street. After discussion that these trees were damaged from the widening
of Spruce Street and that the tree at 312 is in the electrical line. It was noted that the
trees at 315 E Spruce Street could be replaced with smaller trees after the CSO project
using the 60/40 program, the homeowner will remove these two trees, it was moved by
Roger Blanchard and supported by Jim Wilson to approve the removal of the three (3)
trees discussed and that the trees be replaced from the recommended street tree list
after the CSO project. The motion carried.
(i)
915 Pine Street: Jason McLeod was present on behalf of Shirley Sauro, a senior
citizen who is the owner of 912 Brown Street. He explained that there are three (3) trees
in the rear yard of 915 Pine Street that are against the neighbor’s house at 912 Brown,
hanging over the sidewalk and that branches are falling in the street. He added that the
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SAULT STE. MARIE CITY TREE COMMISSION MINUTES 04-21-15
trees are dead and bark has fallen off. The discussion included that the trees are on
private property and that they are a hazard to life and property. It was moved by Roger
Blanchard and supported by Jeanne Smith to notify the property owner to remove two
(2) trees from the rear yard closest to the property line due to the facts presented that
they are a hazard to life and property. The motion carried.
(ii)
1942 W 14th Street: After review and discussion it was determined that the City
will remove the dead limbs and watch the tree for further deterioration. It was moved
by Steve Gregory and supported by Jim Wilson to deny this request for removal. The
motion carried.
(iii)
907 Johnston Street: Tree will be removed by Cloverland during their scheduled
right of way maintenance along the power canal.
(iv)
Corner of Johnston & Carrie: It was discussed that this tree is in the electrical
lines and is a Maple Tree with tar spot, it will need to be replaced with a low growth tree.
It was moved by Dennis Merkel and supported by Jeanne Smith to take no action at
this time but to approve the removal of the tree next year by Cloverland. The motion
carried.
5. OLD BUSINESS
a. Tree City USA update: Denis Merkel provided an update on Tree City USA and that
the goal will be to apply for 2015 at the December 31 st deadline. This was due to the
Arbor Day Proclamation requirement.
b. Tree Commission Budget Request update: Linda Basista reported that the City
Commission is currently working on the budget and that she will report at the next
meeting.
c. Jeanne Smith requested follow up with MDOT regarding the application from Shunk’s
for tree removal and replacement. There has been no response to their application.
Linda Basista will contact MDOT.
6. NEW BUSINESS
b. 60/40 Program
Bring forward discussion on this item to May after the budget is finalized.
(i)
1101 Johnston Street – Neil Gregory – 5 gal. Ivory Silk Lilac Tree
(ii)
917 Kimball Street – Marlo Derry – 10 gal. Street Tree
(iii)
313 Water Street – 10 gal. Linden Tree
It was moved by Jeanne Smith and supported by Roger Blanchard that these three (3)
street trees be ordered including the planting at the locations discussed. The motion passed.
Project Playground – Becky Bottrell arranges an annual event at Project Playground to
plant a tree for City Beautification.
Jeanne Smith inquired if the 60/40 program could be advertised. Linda Basista
responded that once the budget is approved the program could be posted on the web and
Facebook site.
c. Approved Street Trees – Appendix D
It was moved by Steve Gregory and supported by Jeanne Smith that the recommended
street tree list be approved including those that were marked removed. The motion
carried.
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SAULT STE. MARIE CITY TREE COMMISSION MINUTES 04-21-15
7. STAFF REPORTS
a. CSO C-3 Area Trees/Update on Trees for Removal: Linda Basista reported that
the contractor hired to do the tree removals has not yet completed all the removals. The
City’s GIS Technician L. Joe Miller has marked the trees for removal and has updated the
City’s Tree Inventory. It was noted that Cloverland has been a very important partner in
the City’s tree maintenance, care, preservation and removal.
It was moved by Jeanne Smith and supported by Dennis Merkel that a letter be sent to
Cloverland commending the partnership and cooperation of Jim Wilson, Vegetation
Control Manager, in his position at Cloverland with the City of Sault Ste. Marie. It was
recommended that the letter to be signed by the Mayor. The motion carried.
b. Tree Planting along Ashmun Creek:
Commissioners complemented the tree planting at Ashmun Creek which will help
stabilize the bank.
c. Arbor Day Events update:
Mayor’s proclamation of Arbor Day was circulated at the meeting. Steve Gregory
announced that there will be a campus tree planting by the Lyon’s Club on Friday April
24th, in honor or Arbor Day at Lake Superior State University. Linda Basista suggested a
tree at Rotary Park. Steve Gregory donated a Sugar Maple tree to be planted by the Tree
Commission in honor of Arbor Day at Rotary Park at 5:30 pm Friday, April 24 th, 2015.
Becky Bottrell volunteered to take pictures to submit to the Evening News.
d. GLRI Grant:
Linda Basista reviewed the application for the GLRI Grant submitted by the City.
Commissioners were provided with copies of the application in their meeting packet.
8. Matters to be Presented by the Public or Commission
a. The Tree Planting Guidelines Brochure prepared by Dennis Merkel was approved for
distribution. The draft of a news article was also reviewed.
b. Liberty Tree information was provided.
c. Steve Gregory explained that Lake Superior State University would be starting a
nursery this Spring on property up against the I-500 track. He suggested that this
would be a good project to bring the City and the University together.
d. Jim Wilson presented the Cloverland Right of Way Maintenance Plan for 2016. He
explained the numbering, the substation indicators and direction on each pole as well
as providing a map of the City’s power structure. Mr. Wilson indicated that
postcards will be sent out to inform property owners of tree topping, trimming or
removal.
9. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be Tuesday, May 19, 2015.
10. Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Dennis Merkel and supported by Jeanne Smith. The
motion carried.
Meeting Adjourned at 7:00 pm.
______________________________
Nancy Gillotte (Chair)
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