January 22, 2008

Members present: Bill Ruppert, Roger Vonder Bruegge, June Hutson, Susan Renard, Paul Loida, and Judy Wickersham. Guest: Alan Hopefl.

I.                    Call to Order: the meeting was called to order at 7:07 pm.

II.                 Citizen Comments: none.

III.               Secretary Report: the minutes from 11-27-07 were approved as corrected

IV.              Chair Report

A.     Bill Ruppert received an email from a woman in Independence, Missouri, wanting to know if our tree code offered any protection for Landmark Trees.

B.      Bill Ruppert called Alan Landberg who serves as liaison from Public Works to the Landmark Commission. Bill suggested the Landmarks Commission may want to pursue the question from Independence MO. Bill  indicated the current DRAFT Tree Code makes no provision for “Landmark” or “historical” trees.

C.     Since Alan manages the digital mapping for Public Works, Bill indicated to Alan the current interest of the KUFC to pursue a grant to update the Kirkwood tree survey in digital format. While Alan was not aware of the current tree inventory, he was quite interested in the potential of digitally documenting the data using GPS technology.

V.                 Council Liaison Report: Councilman Joe Godi was absent and is recovering from surgery.

VI.              Guest Introduction: Rob Emmett, Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Urban Forester.

Bill Ruppert said with the DRAFT Tree Code and tree manual in a holding pattern, the Commission has some time to establish goals for focusing our future efforts. The last KUFC Strategic Plan was dated June 2003. Bill Ruppert asked Rob Emmett for his insights or suggestions regarding goals for the KUFC to incorporate into an updated strategic plan. Rob Emmett said that as an independent organization, “You guys have more going than any other tree board in the state.” Almost every other tree board is a façade for Tree City, he said. “I think you’re more proactive than anyone else. You are a unified board. The public talks to you and you take it upstairs,” he said. “You’re only limited by your imagination. Just taking on Jr. TreeKeepers is fantastic.”

Updating and managing a public tree inventory is a big thing, Rob Emmett said. However, there seems to be a “disconnect” between Public Works, City Hall, and this Board. The tree survey was going to be entered in the computer system at Public Works as an AutoCAD layer, but this was never accomplished. “As a watchdog group,” Rob Emmett said, “if it’s going to get done, you guys have to get it done.” Somebody needs to manage the tree inventory as a coordinated effort of Kirkwood Public Works, Kirkwood Electric, and Kirkwood Parks and Recreation. Bill Ruppert said we are in a lame duck situation due to pending elections for the mayor and council positions. Urban forestry was Kirkwood’s weakest category as part of the America in Bloom judges’ evaluation this past summer. We are at a disadvantage because we don’t have a professional forester on staff. Rob Emmett said we could contract someone to do the GPS tree inventory. It is a legitimate use of the TRIM Grant money. The Missouri Department of Conservation would cover 75%. Bill Ruppert indicated Kirkwood Electric is a potential resource for the remaining 25%. Rob Emmett said we were the first to do a tree inventory, at least for a city this size. “That put you on the map,” he said. “You’d keep your name on the map if you’d update your inventory.” The TRIM Grant applications come out in mid-March; money is available sometime about July 1. Bill Ruppert asked if Kirkwood Parks has ever pursued a tree inventory. Rob Emmett said no; it was Kirkwood Public Works first. He said he would rather see the public street tree inventory done first and updated before we consider including Kirkwood Parks.

Bill Ruppert said we are working on revising the Street Tree Selections for Kirkwood booklet. We are thinking about adding tree planting information and rights and responsibilities regarding the planting, care and removal of public street trees. Rob Emmett said that state-wide, this is one of the better documents.

Bill Ruppert asked Alan Hopefl, because of his many visits to city meetings, if he knew of any other Board or Commission that provides its own secretary to take the minutes. Alan Hopefl said as far as he knows, KUFC is the only one that is not provided with a secretary to take notes.

Rob Emmett encouraged us to pursue the TRIM Grant to upgrade the tree inventory and offered to help us. He said Kirkwood hasn’t received one in awhile, so that works in our favor. He also recommended any projects that will keep our name out front like the one we did a few years ago identifying Heritage Trees as part of the Kirkwood Sesquicentennial celebration.

VII.            Activity Reports

A.     Jr. TreeKeepers: Paul Loida.

All is going well. The teachers are asking for more classes. We need to order 1600 seedlings for Arbor Day; Bald Cypress has been recommended. They have not received any donations for awhile, but he thinks they have enough money for graduation certificates and seedlings. He will try to reach some contacts in local garden clubs. Susan Renard said the Fiskars Company has a grant program for schools and communities called the “Orange Thumb Program.”

B.     Planning & Zoning: Roger Vonder Bruegge.

There is a large development plan currently under consideration by P & Z located off Marshall Road. We have nothing to input at this time. There is a P & Z subcommittee meeting tomorrow night at Timberlake.

C.     Tree Survey: Susan Renard

Without having a volunteer coordinator, finding knowledgeable volunteers is difficult. Bill Ruppert said the survey needs to be recreated in a digital format. Susan Renard said it needs to be layered into a GIS system. Judy Wickersham said this could forge a partnership with Kirkwood Electric.

D.     Greentree festival: June Hutson. Nothing to report at this time.

E.      Tree City & Growth Award: Judy Wickersham. We are waiting to hear from the Arbor Day Foundation about our application for Tree City U.S.A. We did not apply for the Growth Award because we didn’t have enough points to qualify.

F.      KUFC Annual Report. Bill Ruppert will email commission members with a final draft for commission approval at the February meeting. Upon KUFC approval, the report will be forwarded to the city clerk for distribution to the mayor, council, and city administration.

G.     Tree Code. Bill Ruppert said the Mayor indicated the documents would be reviewed by legal counsel in February. Bill Ruppert said the pending review of these drafts documents has been a very long process. We need further input from Public Works and the city attorney. Until we get that, we don’t have anything to present to the Council. He said he will continue to pursue this. In an effort to clarify administrative authority associated with Kirkwood’s public trees, Bill shared a draft of a statement he thinks may need to be incorporated in the Tree Code. At this point in time, there is nothing further for the Commission to discuss relative to this issue.

VIII.         Commission Items: There are no public tree impact requests at this time.

IX.              Old Business

Bill Ruppert asked everyone to look over the old KUFC Strategic Plan and come to the next meeting prepared to discuss it.

X.                 Next meeting: February 26, 2008.

XI.              Adjourn: the meeting was adjourned at 8:47 pm.

The City is interested in effective communication for all people. Upon request, these minutes can be made available in an alternate format, such as audio tape, by calling 314-822-5894.