HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-02-05 - Agendas - Final AGENDA
Urban Forestry Advisory Board Meeting
February 5, 2025
4:00 p.m.
City Hall Room 111
113 W. Mountain
Members: Joseph Fox -Interim Chair, Katie Shirley, Bethany Douglas Jim Parrish, Nathan Walker, Hannah
Ash,
City Staff: John Scott, Urban Forester, Willa Thomason, Urban Forester
1. Call to Order – Chair
a. Roll Call
b. Approval of Meeting Minutes –The minutes are Video Archived. The committee approved the
motions for the previous month's meeting.
2. Board Member Presentation of the Month –
Set up additional presenters and brainstorm ideas for knowledge sharing for 2025. It doesn’t have to be a
plant; it could be a code, a case study, etc.
February- Special Guest Annie Sales with Illinois River Watershed Partnership, discussing detention
ponds and rehabilitation.
March – Nathan
April- Tas? Do we reassign, or would Tas like to speak?
May – Carlo
3. Development Projects – Willa will present a broad overview of the development review process
a. Inspections – Willa
4. Programs- Spring 2025- John Scott
a. Bounty Program – What invasive species would UFAB like to focus on this year?
i. We have focused on B Pear, bush honeysuckle, privet, tree of heaven, English ivy, and
golden bamboo.
ii. Kudzu, Multiflora Rose, Winter Creeper, Lespedeza, mimosa tree, Japanese
honeysuckle, vinca, Asian wisteria, and burning bush.
iii. Timeline – We will start at the end of February and then wrap it up before April 15
b. Tree Week – April 19 through April 26
i. Saturday, April 19, Farmers Market Tree giveaway.
1. We emailed the farmers' market organizers for permission and are waiting to
hear back from them.
2. Our giveaway will consist of three tree varieties: Red Bud, Black Gum, and an
oak.
ii. Sunday, April 20th, Gulley Park, Nature Scavenger Hunt,
1. Urban Forestry staff are working out the details on this one and could use
some ideas and help to create this. I also have Stephanie from the Fayetteville
public schools on board to help. Does anyone have any ideas for this?
2
iii. Monday, April 21st, Tree Price Tags.
1. I have done this in the past. Stephanie from the Fayetteville Public School is
interested in this project. I will need help hanging them and deciding how
many to place at various locations and how many trees to do this with.
iv. Tuesday, April 22, Earth Day, Hiking in the Ramble. Staff are planning two hikes that
day on the upper and lower ramble, one at noon and one at 6 p.m., so working folks can
join. The staff has contacted internal departments to see what other people are doing on
this day.
v. Wednesday, April 23, Talking to trees,
This project is still in the works, and I will need to figure out the details to make it
possible.
vi. Thursday, April 24, Arbor Day- We will announce our newest, Amazing Tree, and
unveil a plaque. Amazing Trees. See the handout with the plans.
vii. Friday, April 25 -Library talk about tree care. Staff feel this could be the first citizen
forestry training program meeting—a curriculum, what we want from this program, and
potential partnerships. I could use some board members to work out the details.
viii. Saturday, April 26- Earth Day Garden Market with the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks.
I have worked out the details for this one. See attached.
5. Other Program Items
a. Mulching—I think the volcano mulching problem is not so much with individual
homeowners as with businesses, like apartment complexes. I am open to suggestions
about an education program focusing on business and tree care. Thoughts: This may be
something we can tie in with the chamber of commerce as a partnership. Our focus on this is
education, and our target audience is businesses.
b. Citizen Foresty—We need to determine who, when, how, and why and establish timelines for
this program.
c. Hiking with the Forester- January 18th Hike. We had 8 people attend, but due to icy trails, we
could only hike to just under the steepest part of the hike. However, there were great questions
and good attendance, and everyone seemed to have a good time.
d. EAB- Ash Program update
e. Food Foraging- Program Update
f. Data Collection – Update
g. Recommended Tree List– Update
6. Public comment
Adjourn –
2025 9th Amazing Tree of Fayetteville
UFAB meeting on February 5th.
We accept nominations from the Urban Forestry Advisory Board, Parks Staff, Public Works, Parks Natural
Resources, and Cultural Affairs. The nominating trees must be on public grounds, preferably City-owned property,
and preferably native trees. Nominations close on February 28th.
Information to include in nominating the tree: the exact location with as much detail as possible, pictures of the
tree, Species, and rough estimates on the tree size, DBH, and height. The information should include why this tree
is amazing. Email Urbanforestry@fayetteville-ar.gov
The Urban Forestry Advisory Board will narrow the nominations to five trees at the March 5th Meeting.
That gives staff two business days to collect pictures, write a paragraph about each tree, and correctly measure
and identify them.
The public voting will start on Monday, March 10th, and close on March 21st. We will also need to update the
website for this.
That gives me time to order the plaque and then get with the staff to install it. We can have a little ceremony and
unveil the plaque on Thursday, April 24th, Arbor Day. This event is also part of Tree Week.
Internal staff Notes: Include pictures of the nominations, maps of the nominees' locations, and information about
each tree online. The board should narrow the nominations to five trees for the public to vote on. We could even
put a QR code and signs near the nominated trees so the public can vote while they are near the trees.
April 24: We need a list of partners, dignitaries, and others who may want to attend the unveiled plaque.
External Roles for partners:
Charlie or John Mark, with Communications: They will Set up our UF page, press release, and online voting and
help with Tree Week.
Parks, Natural Resources, and Cultural Affairs- Make nominations
Parks Maintenance in Public Works- Make Nominations
UFAB: Nominate the trees and help with Signs or QR codes.
Cost: 50$ for the plaque.
Goals for Urban Forestry Management Plan: E- Community education, engagement, and stewardship. E2
engagement for all demographics. And coordinate with partners.
Timeline:
January 22th – Email to staff and UFAB for nominations and the requirements
February 5th - UFAB Meeting on February 5th
February 28- Nominations for Amazing Tree Closes.
March 5th- UFAB Meeting and narrow down to five options for public
March 10th – Press release and voting starts
March 21st- End of voting.
March 24th – Order Plaque for tree
April 14th to April 22nd – Get the plaque to maintenance for installation near the tree.
April 24th – The ceremony for the newest Amazing Tree is part of Tree Week.
Saturday, April 26, Earth Day 2025
Hiking around the Botanical Gardens as part of their Earth Day Market
On Saturday, April 26, for the Earth Day Market at the Botanical Gardens 2025, I am leading a series of
guided hikes around the Garden on a 1.06-mile loop trail. Each hike will accommodate approximately 20
participants and follow a schedule, with 5 hikes occurring every 45 minutes.
The hikes will begin near the Garden's entrance, heading north on the paved trail before turning south
along the Lake Fayetteville Natural Trail. We will stop at the new Bird Blind, where I will invite the
Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society to share insights about the local flora and fauna.
From there, the route will wind through wooded areas before reconnecting with the paved trail to return to
the starting point. Along the way, I will highlight the diverse ecosystems present, including typical oak-
hickory forests and bottomland habitats. This gentle loop is well-suited for beginner hikers and children
aged 10 and up, though the trail is not ADA-accessible.
In inclement weather or muddy conditions, I will adjust the route to remain on the paved trail and modify
the educational components accordingly. This series of guided hikes will provide participants with an
engaging, informative Earth Day experience that connects them to the natural wonders around the
Botanical Garden. Please let me know if you have any other questions or require additional details.
Partners-
Botanical Gardens of the Ozarks
Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society
Notes:
Reach out to NW Arkansas Audubon Society
The Botanical Gardens will set up the hikes and digital sign-in. We will link this to our Outdoor Fayetteville
Program and Urban Forestry Web Page.
Follow up: Check on February 14th and March 17th to ensure this is linked and available from our website.
Start time End Time
Hike 1 12:30 1:15
Hike 2 1:30 2:15
Hike 3 2:30 3:15
Hike 4 3:40 4:10
Hike 5 4:15 5:00