URBAN LANDSCAPE COMMISSION MEETING

WEDNESDAY, July 28, 2010

 

Attendees:  A. Tanner R. Larue, M. Maupin, K. Hurst, J. Lattanzi, J. Tokash (seasonal laborer), S. Poulson B. McDonald

 

Corrections were made to the June minutes and then minutes were approved.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

BOPARC & MUB Rail Train Rain Gardens: BOPARC went out and placed the rain gardens in more logical locations.  MUB assured BOPARC that they would be using local species in their plantings.  MUB has contracted out this work and they are to get the ULC a plan to review.

 

Commission Membership and Responsibilities:  The Botanist and Urban Forester positions on the ULC are up for renewal.  We don’t know about our Urban Forester as she is not in attendance but our Botanist, B. McDonald, agrees to continue serving.  Our Chair agrees to remain in position with B. McDonald and J. Steketee serving as back up.  S. Poulson agreed to remain serving as secretary with J. Lattanzi and A. Tanner as back up.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Rawley Lane Project Report:  project hold awaiting the status of the grant which is being written and upon receiving input from the Board of Education.

 

4th Block of High Street Streetscape/Bump-out Protection:  One side of the 4th block work is completed.  There is no decision yet about the fencing at the bump outs.  Some people would prefer to see grates used in the tree pits.  Our City Representative has talked to some of the store front owners and some have planted flowers in their tree pit areas and are watering and generally keeping them in good shape.  We agreed to put the installation of fencing on hold and to talk to shop owners and see if they would take ownership of their spaces and keep them in good condition.  We were notified that there is a Graffiti box chained to a tree in front of BW3 and that will be removed.  There are lights in some trees on High Street that need removed as they are cutting into the tree bark.  We will look into their removal.

 

BOPARC Report:  Nothing new.  Paving on the rail trail began today and the second phase has been started.

 

Project Site Report:  Don Knotts islands aren’t looking good and have some areas where weeding was just missed entirely.  Our City Rep. has talked to the Contractor and they will take care of it.  It was noted that the ends of the islands have grown over the brick work and also need cleaned up.

 

The Holly trees in front of the Public Safety Bldg. have been looked at and the ULC voted unanimously to remove every other tree (2,4,6) beginning at the entrance to the front door .

 

The burning bushes beside the Edward Jones office bldg. along the Caperton Trail at the Wharf are being used as shelter for the homeless and causing a security issue.  Our City Rep. would like to start removing these bushes as well as those burning bushes at the airport and anywhere else they are located on city property.  They are invasive and take a lot of time to keep trimmed.  The ULC agreed.  There is also a problem with the Ash trees that have grown back on the roof of the building and whose roots are lifting the sidewalk.  Some decision will have to be made regarding those trees.

 

The New building on the corner of Stewarts Street and University has  a planting of Silver Maple trees and is not consistent with the plan they presented to the ULC.  This is being checked into.

 

Joe Tokash’s last day will be August 9.

 

Our City rep. met with some visitors from Kentucky who stopped in town.  She gave them a tour of our baskets.  They are from Georgetown which is near Lexington and were interested in our maintenance program for flowering baskets.

 

Tree Board:  They met on Monday.  Arbor Day is September 25.  Possible sites of tree planting are the mini park just off Eastern Avenue or the potential park on Aspen.  It was noted that Krepps could use some shade trees above the pool.  The Suncrest Association would like UB to provide some trees at the Aspen location as they removed trees when they did their drainage upgrade a couple of years ago.

 

The last education session that the Tree Board held was not well attended.  In the future they plan to go to the neighborhood association meetings and get on their agendas.  They will talk about preparing trees for winter and how to deal with the winter damage that might occur.

 

Proud of our Town Awards:  Some possible candidates are:

471 Wilson Ave.

The Car Wash on Beechurst

The new Rehab building on the corner of Van Voorhis and Burroughs (we need to check and make sure it is in the city limits)

A house on the corner of Rotary and Kiwanis (yellow brick)

 

Sandy and Beege will check these out.

 

As an aside, our Botanist traveled to Wooster College in Ohio and was very impressed with the landscaping and care taken of the town.  Suggested if we’re out that way to take a drive through town.

 

The 5th Ward Rep. thanked everyone who has supported the Beauty Spot and the work the neighbors have done there. Recognition by the ULC with the Proud of our Town Award was  great positive publicity for all involved.

 

The 7th Ward Rep. noted that our location on the City website needs updated.  She will contact J. Mikorski and our Chair will also check with him.

 

Meeting adjourned at 5:45 pm