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Home My WebLink About2021-10-28 Tree Board Minutes Tree Board Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 28, 2021 @ 5:15 p.m. Held at Council Chambers Board members in attendance: Greg Edwards, Sean Malone, Cayla Moore, Lovern Stockwell Staff inembers in attendance: Aaron Huotari, Public Works; Anne Kreig, Planning Division Tree Board meeting started at 5:15 pm. It was held in-person and streamed live via Zoom and Facebook Live. Presentation: Anne Kreig, City of Bangor Planner presented an overview of the Comprehensive Plan that is currently being updated. She solicited input from the Tree Board. Feedback for Anne will be directed to Aaron Huotari and he will present the Tree Board recommendations all together. Public Comment: City of Bangor resident, Dominic Rizzo, spoke to the Tree Board about tree removals, communication about the same, the City of Bangor arborist, residents trimming city- owned trees or hiring someone to trim them, and damage to trees made by the Public Works Department during paving operations. Agenda items discussed by the Tree Board: 1. 2021 Tree planting status a. 80 trees planted b. 21 trees removed (133 more on a list to remove or requests to look at for removal) c. Recommendation by Tree Board that 99%, or better, or trees removed are replaced 2. 2022 Tree planting plans a. 2022 list currently has 57 trees to be planted or requests for plantings b. We have a resident request to replace trees removed on Center Street in the past. Will look at historical record c. Requests byTree Board: i. Look at street plans to determine if there are more opportunities for greenspace and/or trees ii. Look at new utility pole heights to see if they allow for taller trees iii. Coordinate street paving with a street audit to find opportunities for new trees 1. Potentially train PW employees to identify places to plant more trees 2. Potentially hire a liaison to engage residents prior to paving 3. Potentially have neighborhood groups engage with resident prior to paving and report back with ideas iv. Determine who is creating asphalt spaces on the esplanade for trash bins v. Request that every street has its own comprehensive plan as it relates to street/sidewalk/esplanade/greenspace/tree improvements 3. 2022 Downtown District tree plantings a. Behind parking garage—to replace lost trees b. Columbia Street planter install—to replace one of the trees lost in last remodel c. Norumbega Park— replace lost trees 4. Project Canopy Planting Grant plans a. Join with Bangor High School students to plant trees in nursery and do spring tree plantings on French Street, parking garage, and Norumbega Parkway b. Tree Board felt this was a good idea for use of money 5. 2021 Tree City, USA application a. City of Bangor has met all requirements and will submit application by 12/31/2021 6. Tree removal request at 36 Dartmouth St. a. Discussed tree removal request for 2 trees on esplanade on Dartmouth Street side of property b. Tree Board felt trees did not meet criteria for removal i. They are still healthy ii. They are showing no signs of rot iii. They are not invasive species iv. They are not of a species that would facilitate the spread of destructive/invasive insects 7. Additional items discussed a. Grandview Ave. Tree Nursery status b. Native trees only for Finson Road nursery c. Recommendation that City of Bangor hire a certified Forester d. Recommendation that we look at the City of Bath as a model for Urban Forestry Plan e. Recommendation that Urban Tree Plan gets added to the Comprehensive Plan 8. Next meeting tentatively planned for February 2022