Tree Advisory Board

City of Joliet 150 West Jefferson Street Joliet, IL 60432 Meeting Minutes - Final Tuesday, April 6, 2021 3:30 PM City Council Chambers Tree Advisory Board Commission Members Rita Renwick Karen Fonte Willie Jaeger Betsy Satcher Mary Schoenheider Ralph Schultz Bill Bromer Tree Advisory Board Meeting Minutes - Final April 6, 2021 Page 1 of 1 Tree Advisory Board Meeting Minutes - Final April 6, 2021 Pursuant to Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity's Guidelines recommend best practices that limit an in-person meeting to 50 people or less (Council Chambers allows for 18 members of the public) while adhering to social distancing guidelines. During meetings, any member of the public physically present in the Council Chambers in excess of the limit will be asked to wait in another room with live feed to the meeting until the Citizens To Be Heard on Agenda Items section or Public Comments section of the meeting has commenced. Speakers will be rotated into Council Chambers to allow everyone an opportunity to speak. Pursuant to the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s Guidelines, it is recommended that any individual appearing in-person wear a face-covering to cover their nose and mouth. Citizens who are unable to attend the meeting can email comments in advance of the meeting to publiccomment@joliet.gov. 1. ROLL CALL ALSO PRESENT: Jim Teiber, Arborist - Forestry Division. Present Rita Renwick, Karen Fonte, Willie Jaeger and Mary Schoenheider Absent Betsy Satcher, Ralph Schultz and William Bromer 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Karen Fonte, seconded by Willie Jaeger, to approve the Minutes of the Tree Advisory Board Meeting from February 2, 2021. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Renwick, Fonte, Jaeger and Schoenheider Absent: Satcher, Schultz and Bromer Tree Advisory Minutes - February 2, 2021 Attachments: 2-2-21 Meeting Minutes 3. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON AGENDA ITEMS No one is in attendance and no one called in. NOTE: There is a new temporary procedure for public speaking. Details can be found on the Joliet.gov "Public Comments" web page. 4. ARBORIST REPORT Rita Renwick inquired about planting for the season, amount of funds, etc. for this year. Jim Teiber stated hoping to start in mid-May or June depending on weather. Jim Teiber discussed funds that they have and trees that were not planted last year. Jim stated trees will be planted this spring and fall and all flowers are ordered. Jim Teiber discussed the grants that the City has. The City spent more on trees last year from storm damage. There are still thousands of trees needing to be planted. 5. NEW OR OLD BUSINESS, NOT FOR FINAL ACTION OR RECOMMENDATION a. Change in Board Meeting Day Page 1 of 3 Tree Advisory Board Meeting Minutes - Final April 6, 2021 There are two board members that can never make the first Tuesday of the month meetings. There was discussion about moving the meetings to the first Thursday of the month. The other board members had no objections to moving the meetings to the first Thursday of the month. Rita will see if these meetings can be changed in August and November. b. Arbor Day 2021 Most of the events last year were cancelled however, Jim Teiber did quite a bit for Arbor Day and there was a Proclamation. This year the Proclamation is set up with the Mayor for April 20, 2021. Woodland School is the participant and Poster Contest winners were selected by Woodland School. Rita Renwick stated Jim Teiber is going to arrange for the students to plant trees. ComEd donated trees and Jim Teiber is going to use those trees for Arbor day. On Earth Day, April 22, 2012at 1:00 p.m. there will be a ceremony at Woodland School. c. Grants (U.S. Forestry, CN, Bank of America) Rita Renwick discussed the $20,000.00 US Forestry Grant administered by the Morton Arboretum. Jim Teiber discussed the management plan that will be based around the inventory. Residents should be encouraged to plant trees to increase Joliet's tree canopy. The other grant discussed is a C/N Grant administered by America in Bloom. This grant is a $25,000.00 grant for creation of pollinator/milkweek planting gardens and a "Food Forest. This will be at the Broadway Street Greenway and Bi-Park. Also discussed was a Bank of America Grant for $50,000.00 that was applied for. This would be for trees and fruit trees in the Forest Park neighborhood. Rita stated does not know if the City will receive this grant. d. America in Bloom 2021 This grant requires participation in the America in Bloom judging. There was further discussion regarding the work involved in this grant which includes holding a required media event - most likely in Bi-Park. e. Tree Preservation Ordinance Rita Renwick stated she would like to get this done this year. There was discussion about changes that might need to be made by the working committee. There was discussion regarding missing plaques in the City of Joliet hallway for Tree City USA. Jim Teiber stated he has Arbor Day flags for the schools. 6. PUBLIC COMMENT There were no public comments. Jim Teiber stated there would be help needed for the America in Bloom Grant. There are not too many people involved in the horticulture program at Joliet Junior College. Need to try and find some other schools or groups to get involved in the program. Volunteers are needed for planting in June and maintaining plants at the Greenway and Bi-Park. A Press Release should be put out for events the first week of June. Page 2 of 3 Tree Advisory Board Meeting Minutes - Final April 6, 2021 NOTE: There is a new temporary procedure for public speaking. Details can be found on the Joliet.gov "Public Comments" web page. 7. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Mary Schoenheider, seconded by Karen Fonte, to adjourn . The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Renwick, Fonte, Jaeger and Schoenheider Absent: Satcher, Schultz and Bromer This meeting will be held in an accessible location. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact Christa M. Desiderio, City Clerk, 150 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432 at (815) 724-3780. Page 3 of 3