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