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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-14-TREE-min Tree Committee Minutes, of February 14, 2019 Meeting DPW, 201 Bedford Street, Room 125 Members Present: Gerry Paul (Chair), Jewel Kuljian(Scribe), James Wood, Anne Senning, Nancy Sofen, Gloria Bloom, and Selectman Liaison Jill Hai. Guests: John Bartenstein, Bob Creech and Keith Ohmart. Absent: Chris Filadoro 1. Appointed Jewel Kuljian as scribe. Minutes of January 10th meeting read and approved. The questions from the current meeting are to be sent to Chris by Gerry Paul (see Aft. 1 & 2) 2. Best Practices Study/DPW Tree Planting Policy. Discussed the changes that have been made, looking at DPW and Best Practices and where they differ. A copy of Tree Processes from Chris is to be requested by Gerry. 3. Review of Chris's list of locations and species of trees planted in 2017 and 2018. Postponed due to Chris's absence. 4. Status of setback planting program. Seventy five at least are on back log. Question, is Google Sheets being used? 5. 2019 Spring Planting. Consider requests from town members, with responses for May tree planting, to plan for May 1 st. What is the timeline for planting?Where and what species are to be ordered? How many are to be street trees and how many are to be setback trees? If the con- tractor is chosen to do the planting, what will be ordered?Ask what the goal is for having trees planted. 6. John Bartenstein and Bob Creech discussed the need to capture information about trees on private property that are not covered under the Tree Bylaw. Broadly, there is no jurisdiction of the Tree Bylaw unless there is major construction or paving of a driveway is being done and in these cases only in the setback. Bob proposed a mobile app that could be helpful for the Tree Warden, local Tree Care Service providers, and interested homeowners to capture information. Discussion ensued about the use of the mobile app. See the pros and cons in Aft. 3 Only those trees taken down are recorded. The data would also be useful concerning storm water issues (relative to impermeable surface on lots). Brainstorming about how to collect information for trees not in the setback, in conjunction with the tree permit is needed. If the property is covered under the Bylaw (about 100 sites per year), Chris could collect data regarding the inches and size all trees removed on the lot as supplementary information. 7. Working with Citizens for Lexington Conservation (CLC), Keith Ohmart This organization arranges for walks in the Spring and Fall, and provides information for Candi- dates running for office. Keith has a Speakers Series under consideration. He is looking for a resident replacement on the Board which meets six times a year on Wednesday evenings. Keith wants to stay in touch with the Tree Committee. He has made a considerable effort to eradicate invasive bittersweet cutting it in half up high on the limb and at the bottom at ground level. This seems to make an impact with no return of the species at the site. Keith is interested in keeping open spaces of land available for public use. 8. Judy Baldasaro and Megna Outreach. The 2008 Inventory updated by Anne has been stopped. Chris said Davy Tree Service is doing the updating. Deadline is in question. Property lines/setback information in new inventory is not precise enough. Can they put the current in- ventory on-line and integrate the information? At a past meeting of Dave, Anne, Judy and Chris it was agreed there would be coordination of all parties but this has not happened yet Gerry will check with Tom Case, Director of IT as to whether Judy Baldasaro can demo the new inventory program at a future meeting. The program has a number of new features including tree canopy cover/measure for public/private land. In the future we may want to update the Tree Bylaw to reflect canopy not just DBH. One can Google articles on canopy measurement. 9. Comprehensive Plan -Tree Committee submission draft was approved. Gerry will also send a copy to Jill Hai for input to Special Permit Residential Development Committee. 10.Invasive Removals. Gerry has cut Bittersweet vines behind Munroe Center for the Arts. 11. Chapter 87 compensation. In the future, we may want to submit a bylaw change to cover tree removal on public land to supplement the Chapter 87 Massachusetts state law. 12. Tree Committee Priorities for 2019. Not discussed at this meeting. 13. Tree Management Manual update. Anne and John Fry (even though he is retired) have been working on a regular basis to update the Tree Manual. Much has been accomplished. Anne will consider whether the Tree Manual can be put online while proofreading continues. Meeting adjourned. ATTACHMENT 1 - QUESTIONS FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS FOR TREE WARDEN Best Practices - Can you send us the "work-in-progress" DPW Tree Planting Policies so we can start to compare with the Best Practice recommendations? 2017/2018 Tree planting lists(please see email below and the attached list of 2018 plant- ing sites we have annotated): 1. What accounted for the shortfall in trees planted? We couldn't identify any places where trees greater than 2" diameter were planted. 2. Were the Arbor day trees donated by Matt Foti as he has done in the past? 3. The 3 items with (?) where we couldn't identify the presence of plantings. 4. What was the siting/tree selection process used? 5. There were a number of locations in the right-of-way, parks or schools where orna- mental trees were planted where it appears large shade trees could have been planted. Please see bolded items in attachment. (Non-bolded items are setback trees where it is harder to mandate a species). Given our overarching goal to plant large shade trees in sites where they are appropriate, how can we ensure these types of locations are taken ad- vantage of in the future? • Status of Setback Planting (homeowner requests) 1. Are you still accepting requests from home owners? 2. Are you still soliciting requests from home owners? 3. Are you using the Google Sheet that was set up to track requests? Can you send us a copy of whatever list you are using. 4. What is the process you're using to communicate with homeowners who have request- ed trees? 2019 Spring Planting 1. What species have you specified for planting? 2. What is the timeline for contracting for the planting? 3. What is the timeline for location identification? 4. What is the end date goal for completing planting? • Use/Accessibility of Tree Related Information (Inventory, etc) Judy Baldasaro provided Gloria Bloom with a demo of the capabilities of the new inventory and we were quite im- pressed with Gloria's description of what she saw. In that context we have the following questions: 1. Has the inventory been updated with the trees planted in 2017/2018. 2. When is the goal for the inventory being completed (with and without the greater GPS accuracy)? 3. Can the new inventory be put on-line now even if the greater GPS accuracy is not yet implemented? • EAB update - We may not have been as precise as we should have been in specifying what we'd like in a scorecard. Here is what we'd like included (some of which you may have already given us verbally) 1. Total number of Town owned Ash trees. 2. Number of Ash trees inspected. 3. Number identified with EAB. 4. Number of Ash trees removed (independent of whether they were infested with EAB) 5. Number identified with EAB removed. 6. Number of Ash tree injected. 7. Expected number that will have to be inspected in the next 12 months. 8. Expected number that will have to be removed in the next 12 months. 9. Expected number that will be injected in the next 12 months. 10. Other items you think are relevant. • Notification to Tree Committee of Tree Hearings - Have you requested/received approval to notify the chair of the Tree Committee in advance of tree hearings? ATTACHMENT 2 -ANNOTATED 2018 SPRING TREE PLANTING LIST • >59 Webb St. 1 White Findge <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • > • >53 Webb St. 1 White Frindge <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • > • >7 Augustus St 1 White Frindge,1 Crab Apple, <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • street was potential large tree loc. • > • >418-420 Mass Ave 1 Crab Apple, 1 Sugar tyme <2"DBH setback ONLY 1 PLANTED? • > • >26 Soloman Pierce 1 Crab,1 Pink Spire <2"DBH setback ONLY 1 PLANT- ED? • > • >1332 Mass Ave.(Munroe Tavern) 1 Thunder Cloud,2 Crab Apple <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • > • >94 Hill St. 1 American Frindge <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • > • >29 Prospect Hill 1 American Frindge <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • > • >279 Emerson Rd. (across street) 1 Crab Apple <2"DBH street was potential large tree loc. • > • >475 Waltham St. 1 Crab Apple <2"DBH street was potential large tree loc. • > • >7 Shirley 1 Plum <2"DBH street was potential large tree loc. • > • >55 Middleby Rd.(Bridge School) 2 Pink Spire,1 Sugar Tyme, <2"DBH street was potential large tree loc. • beginning of circular drive-near recycle structure • > • >143 Mass Ave.(strip mall) 2 Sugar Tyme Crab <2"DBH street was potential large tree loc. • > • >328 Lowell St.(Harrington School) 2 Pink Spire,2 Praire Fire couldn't determine 2018 plantings • > • >64 Williams Rd. 1 Acer Trifiorum <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • > • >Lincoln St Athletic Fields 1 White Frindge, couldn't determine 2018 plantings • > • >Worthen Rd.near pool lot 1 London Plane <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • > • >1475 Mass Ave. (soccer field) 1 Elm,2 White Frindge <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • > • >Winchester Dr./Fiske Rd. 1 London Plane <2"DBH street was potential large tree loc. • (assume 2nd tree from corner facing end of 24 Fiske) • > • >21 Winchester Dr. 1 London Plane <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • > • >27 Winchester Dr. 1 White Frindge <2"DBH street was potential large tree loc. > • >Garfield St.Park Across from#52 1 London Plane,1 Elm <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • > • >37 Winchester Dr. 1 Elm NO PLANTING FOUND? • > • >Burlington/Simonds(152 Simonds) 1 Elm <2"DBH street was potential large tree loc. • • Lexington Comm.Center Donated? 3 Arbor Day Trees(species?) <2"DBH setback was potential large tree loc. • TOTAL 41 ATTACHMENT 3 - BOB CREECH PRESENTATION Slide 1 Tree Removal Measurement • Metrics for professional tree removal — Using a mobile app,capture tree removal activity performed by professionals • Submittal can be by either the vendor,homeowner or the tree warden — No permit needed—but vendors must have insurance and be known to the town—no charge for the license — $50 reward per job for compliance up to$500 per year for each vendor and each homeowner — $50 fine per job for non-compliance — Statistics to be compiled and shared with residents — Vendor info is not shared unless desired by the vendor • This could be a publicity incentive for the vendors Slide 2 Metrics for professional tree removal using a mobile App Marquis Demar Rd 25 •Keep it simple DBA 6 to 12 •data captured at the job site •Job Status DBA 12 to 18 •1)(E)stimated(required for DBA 18 to 24 subdivisions and for commercial properties) DBA GT 24 •2)(C)ompleted(required for all) •The scheduled date can be today Crane used? a Y/N •Homeowner App and Vendor App Job Status: ❑ SUBMIT Scheduled DATE: 5/23/2017 OR �illllllllllllllllllll Slide 3 Metrics for professional tree removal using a mobile App McDonough Holmes Rd 1 •Keep it very simple Diameter 6 to 12 •data captured at the job site •Job Status Diameter 12 to 18� •1)(E)stimated(required for Diameter GT 18 subdivisions and for commercial properties) •2)(C)ompleted(required for all) •The scheduled date can be today Crane used? E::]YEN •Homeowner App and Vendor App Job Status: ❑ SUBMIT Scheduled DATE: 5/23/2017 On K Something else very simple Slide 4 Tree removal metrics: Pros and Cons • Pros Cons — Simple data capture — Vendor must be licensed — No permits — Some vendors may not — Incentives comply(not insured?) • Money and Publicity — It will cost a little bit of — Comprehensive metrics money — Town-wide homeowner Compliance Incentives awareness Software — Verify that vendor is insured — Tree warden views all "estimates" Catch situations like the Cutting School? Slide 5 Measurement,Metrics and Resident Feedback Example for 2 months of simulation 5/1/2017 Main St 6 Johnson homeowner 6 12 8 8 5/1/2017 Mass Ave 2100 Miller vendor 6 6 5/2/2017 Grant St 116 Hall vendor 4 4 7 5/3/2017 Colony Rd 17 Benoit tree warden 50 4 2 5/3/2017 Grimes Rd 5 Juarez resident 14 2 3 5/16/2017 Demar Rd 25 Marquis vendor 6 12 8 1 6/6/2017 Main St 6 Miller homeowner 4 10 10 6 6/8/2017 Mass Ave 2100 Hall vendor 7 12 3 6/11/2017 Lincoln St 45 Benoit vendor 60 42 29 6/11/2017 Revere St 11 McGuire vendor 10 4 2 6/13/2017 Partridge Rd 33 Coletta homeowner 20 1 1 6/20/2017 Holmes Rd 1 McDonough tree warden 7 9 11 4 Monthy,quarterly and yearly totals:town wide,by precinct