Tree Advisory Board

City of Joliet 150 West Jefferson Street Joliet, IL 60432 Meeting Minutes - Final Thursday, February 10, 2022 3:30 PM City Hall - 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 February 10, 2022 Page 1 of 1 Tree Advisory Board Meeting Minutes - Final February 10, 2022 As of August 30, 2021, Governor Pritzker announced a statewide indoor mask mandate for all Illinois residents, regardless of vaccination status. In compliance with Governor Pritzker’s mandate, any individual appearing in person must 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 - Foresty Division and Councilwoman Quillman. Present William Bromer, Karen Fonte, Willie Jaeger, Ralph Schultz and Rita Renwick Absent Betsy Satcher and Mary Schoenheider 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A motion was made by Willie Jaeger, seconded by Ralph Schultz, to approve the Minutes of the November 4, 2021 Tree Advisory Board. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Bromer, Fonte, Jaeger, Schultz and Renwick Absent: Satcher and Schoenheider Tree Advisory Minutes - November 4, 2021 ID-609-20 Attachments: November 4, 2021 Tree Board Minutes 3. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON AGENDA ITEMS No citizens present at this time. 4. ARBORIST REPORT Jim Teiber discussed the saplings that were ordered and small tree plantings. The board discussed the possibility of small trees that could be handed out at a Slammers game. Jim Teiber discussed other meetings and grants. Rita Renwick discussed the inventory of trees in the City. 15% of the City's parkway trees were inventoried. Great Lakes Urban Forest Management gave their report on what trees need to be removed, etc. for maintenance. Tree canopy was discussed and how to increase our tree canopy. Councilwoman Quillman suggested having the Tree Inventory contractor give a presentation to City Council. 5. ELECTION OF OFFICERS The Board nominated Rita Renwick as Chair of the Tree Board. A motion was made by Karen Fonte, seconded by Willie Jaeger, to appoint Rita Renwick as Chair of the Tree Board. The motion carried by the following vote: Page 1 of 3 Tree Advisory Board Meeting Minutes - Final February 10, 2022 Aye: Bromer, Fonte, Jaeger, Schultz and Renwick Absent: Satcher and Schoenheider Karen Fonte was nominated as Vice Chair of the Tree Board. A motion was made by Willie Jaeger, seconded by William Bromer, to appoint Karen Fonte as Vice Chair of the Tree Board. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Bromer, Fonte, Jaeger, Schultz and Renwick Absent: Satcher and Schoenheider 6. NEW OR OLD BUSINESS, NOT FOR FINAL ACTION OR RECOMMENDATION a. Tree Maintenance Rita Renwick and Jim Teiber discussed a new Ordinance that is being worked on and will have to be approved by Council. The board discussed having tree trimming personnel properly trained. Tree trimming is also a safety issue and best practices should be followed. Also discussed was adding members with different expertise regarding trees in the future. Ralph Schultz came to meeting at 3:46 p.m. b. Tree Preservation Ordinance Rita Renwick discussed the Tree Preservation Ordinance that Chris Regis is in the process of working on. Approval must be done a few months before the July deadline for reimbursement of grant funds. Jim Teiber cannot begin the in-kind match grant until this Ordinance is approved by City Council. Jim Teiber left meeting at 4:07 p.m. c. Grants - US Forest Service/BCN Jim Teiber discussed this $20,000.00 Grant. The Urban Forest Management Plan has to be done and part of this Grant. This will be used to trim and replant trees. The Ordinance has to be completed and voted on before this money is received. All necessary documentation has to be completed by July 1, 2022. d. Openlands - Treekeeper Program Rita Renwick discussed this Openlands Treekeeper Program. You can have 3-5 people to form a chapter. Training this Spring is at Thatcher Woods in River Forest and is four weekends of in person training and four evening zoom meetings. This will also be offered in Fall. This program is good for HOA's. This training program focuses on the pruning of small trees. Rita suggested the Board look into this. Councilwoman Quillman left at 4:15 p.m. e. Arbor Day 2022 Plans Page 2 of 3 Tree Advisory Board Meeting Minutes - Final February 10, 2022 Rita Renwick and Karen Fonte discussed the Thomas Jefferson School poster contest and logistics for judging. Awards and Proclamation will be on April 19, 2022. f. Meeting Frequency Discussion Jim Teiber suggested we meet more often as a Board. We used to meet monthly but that was too much. Four times a year is the minimum so Rita suggested we can call another meeting if needed. 7. PUBLIC COMMENT None at this time. 8. ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Karen Fonte, seconded by William Bromer, to adjourn. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: Bromer, Fonte, Jaeger, Schultz and Renwick Absent: Satcher and Schoenheider Page 3 of 3