Tree Advisory Committee

Regular Meeting

Norwalk, CT · August 26, 2025

Minutes

TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA AUGUST 26, 2025, AT 6:00 PM. BY ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING To allow public access, anyone may access a meeting by telephone, Zoom, and/or the City of Norwalk YouTube channel. Specific instructions and links can be found at : norwalkct.org/meetings Members of the public can call in and listen to a meeting. They will not be able to speak or see any of the meeting participants. Each meeting will use a unique Meeting/Webinar ID. Please find the information using the link above. Members of the public who wish to provide "live comments" will need to register in advance and use the Zoom meeting platform. All participants will be muted upon entering the meeting. To speak, click the “raise your hand indicator” and you will called on by the host of the meeting during the public comment section. Please find the information using the link above. Members of the public who wish to view the meeting, but are not participating, can view a live stream on the City of Norwalk YouTube channel. This stream is delayed by approximately 20 seconds. Please find the information using the link above. The meeting recording and minutes will be posted on the City of Norwalk website within seven (7) days after the meeting. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment are encouraged to submit those via email in advance of the meeting. For these comments to be read into the record, they should be submitted at least three hours in advance of the meeting start time. Please email Dilene Byrd at dbyrd@norwalkct.gov to provide written public comment prior to the meeting. Attendance: Erica Kipp, Chair Peter Viteretto Sonja Oliver Staff: Paul Sotnik, Deputy Tree Warden Sarah Cruz, Arborist/ Horticulturalist 1. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Viteretto called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 1 II. ROLL CALL Mr. Viteretto called the roll, and all those listed in the attendance were present. There was a quorum present. III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION A. Guests at committee meetings may speak to any item on the agenda. (Comments shall be limited to no more than three (3) minutes per speaker.) There were no public comments this evening. IV. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES A. Approve the minutes of the July 22, 2025, Tree Advisory Committee meeting. ** MR. VITERETTO MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. ** MS. OLIVER SECONDED THE MOTION. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. V. REPORTS A. Tree Planting Updates Ms. Cruz reported that over 50 trees were planted this past spring. The reason the number was so low was due to funding restraints. This year, the goal is to plant between 350 and 400 trees, and fortunately, the budget is not an issue. She has been communicating with Almstead Tree, so they are aware there will be a lot of orders in the fall. Ms. Cruz provided an update on funding and stated that, following the tree planting in the spring of 2025, there is just under $100,000 in the MLK/ECD account, which she would like to utilize as soon as possible. The 2025/26 DPW tree planting account was approved in the amount of $200,000, which is a historic and double the amount from the previous fiscal year. There is also $30,000 available in the GGP account, which she believes is money set aside from the SONO Collection to plant trees within the South Norwalk area. In the Recreation and Parks tree planting account, there is a remaining balance of approximately $30,000. Therefore, the total available balance is $360,000, which can be utilized between now and June 30, 2026. Ms. Cruz said for this fall, her number one goal is to address all of the outstanding tree requests, as there are over 250 of them, and emails have been sent to those where the tree unfortunately cannot be planted in the area that they had requested, but there are a lot of locations that are viable for planting. The second goal for the fall is to create 10 new tree 2 pits, and she prefers to plant those areas later in the fall when the weather is cooler. The third goal for the fall is to resume the tree inventory this year and to set aside a budget within that project to identify up to 2,500 potential tree planting sites. Mr. Sotnik said he and Ms. Cruz are working with the engineering division so that money is incorporated into the projects for tree plantings, rather than having to draw from the tree planting budget to maximize the amount of tree canopy. Mr. Viteretto asked who determined the 2,500 planting locations. Ms. Cruz said the consultant who performed the tree inventory was Plan It Geo. When they conducted the inventory, they added the trees in the right-of-way to their system. The staff provided perimeters and had requested that they identify potential planting sites. Mr. Viteretto said in terms of prioritization of those locations, it was mentioned that people had requested plantings, but what he is not hearing is the original goals and objectives, focusing on major arterials in the city as opposed to individual homes, and he does not want to see the money spent on individual homeowners. He would rather see some of the prioritization go onto the main streets, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. Ms. Cruz clarified that the tree requests are not all adopt-a-tree private tree requests, and, except for 12 viable requests, the rest are on public roads. However, she agrees with Mr. Viteretto that it will require more planning than just staking locations, but it is definitely a priority. Mr. Viteretto suggested scheduling a separate meeting to discuss a strategy that examines some of the criteria for how the money is being spent. Ms. Cruz said that now, there is a full canopy assessment from the Tree Master Plan, and it is possible to overlay the tree requests with that assessment. She noted it is limited in the South Norwalk area because there is so much pavement, so the tree pits are very important. B. Tree Watering and Replacements 2023-2024 Ms. Cruz said over the last several months, they have been unfortunately seeing significantly lower survivability in the trees that were planted, particularly in the fall of 2024 and the spring of this past year. There are some that are very obvious and are receiving a lot of service requests, and she has been in discussions with both contractors to determine the issue. They have been instructed to remove the dead trees as soon as possible, particularly those located at the schools. There was minimal watering in May through early July, as the months were wet. All trees still under guarantee will be required to be replaced in accordance with the terms of the contract. Mr. Viteretto said the dead trees should be noted. V. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Viteretto said it was discussed last month regarding the city's plans for moving forward with structural soils and whether the TMP department intends to use those specifications, particularly on Wall Street. He said it would be helpful to review and engage, as there are other support systems that are possible. Ms. Cruz said she had just received the details for the Wall Street project from TMP, and she also has another detail from a recent DPW project that is from 3 consultants. However, she questioned whether one could be created in-house as a city standard detail. Ms. Oliver asked if anyone on the committee had any information regarding the request for a Ginkgo tree for the library. Ms. Cruz said she has been in contact with Ms. Harris. VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Urban Forestry Goals 2025-2026 Ms. Cruz said that Ms. Kipp had asked about the goals for 2025-26. Ms. Cruz presented the 10-year roadmap from the Tree Master Plan and next steps, and asked the committee for their input on what should be prioritized or strategized to meet these goals. Ms. Cruz suggested that the winter of 2025 would be a great time to strategize about planting 1,600 trees at an average rate of 400 to 500 per year. Mr. Viteretto noted that planting 1,600 trees is approximately $1.2 million, given the contract and planting rates. Therefore, when the Tree Alliance plants trees, we need to take advantage of this opportunity. Ms. Cruz also encouraged homeowners to plant on their own as well as for development. Mr. Scheer suggested that the committee focus on the main arteries when possible and send him as many of the tree requests as possible, as those will mostly be planted on homeowners' properties. Ms. Cruz stated that community outreach and engagement are a priority for this committee, as well as for the creation of her position, which involves strengthening existing relationships and building a more robust outreach and education component into the city’s programs. Ms. Cruz said the Tree Master Plan was adopted in April of this year and will need to be integrated into the POCD (Plan of Conservation and Development). Mr. Viteretto asked if this is an area that the committee could help develop language and have it integrated into city policies. Ms. Cruz said, “Yes,” particularly with Planning and Zoning. B. Update on the Public Tree Inventory Ms. Cruz stated that the tree inventory is approximately 50% complete, based on the consultant's projection that there are 25,000 trees on public property. She said that benchmarking was used by comparing cities of similar size and geography. Ms. Kipp pointed out that while she understands there needs to be benchmarks, if they are going to look at statistics, they need to get real hardcore data, and she is more than happy to run statistics and get that information because they are probably in a much better position 4 than they look if comparing to a community much smaller than Norwalk. Mr. Viteretto suggested that Stamford should be the immediate comparison. Mr. Sotnik announced that the DPW's annual open house will be held on Saturday, September 27th, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the DPW Operations Center, located at 15 South Smith Street. He said he would like to invite the Tree Alliance to participate again, as well as the Tree Advisory Committee. Ms. Cruz said that anyone who would like to participate should contact Mr. Sotnik. Mr. Sotnik said that non-perishable food items will be collected to be given to the Person-to-Person food pantry. VIII. NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE UPDATES Mr. Scheer provided an update and said there were no meetings held over the summer, but that they have been keeping track of the trees and have planted 122 trees since last fiscal year, which does not include the fall planting, where they anticipate more trees to be planted. They will continue to look for ways to supplement the requests received by the city. Mr. Scheer said they have been organizing a scavenger hunt throughout the city, which serves as an educational tool to engage the community. The event, which is ongoing until September 2nd, has been a success. Mr. Scheer said they had hired a summer intern, and she did very good marketing work for them regarding approved native tree plantings. IX. ADJOURNMENT ** MS. OLIVER MOVED TO ADJOURN. ** MS. KIPP SECONDED THE MOTION. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting was adjourned at 6:59 PM. Respectfully submitted, Dilene Byrd 5

Agenda

Packet

REGULAR MEETING – TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA AUGUST 26, 2025, 6:00 PM BY ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING To allow public access, anyone may access a meeting by telephone and/or Zoom, or a recording in the City of Norwalk YouTube channel. Specific instructions and links can be found at norwalkct.gov/meetings. Members of the public may call in to participate. Callers will not be able to see the meeting participants. All participants will be muted upon entering the meeting. To speak, dial *9 on the phone and you will be called on by the host of the meeting during the public comment section. All speakers must state their name and address. Comments must be on a topic on the agenda, and are limited to three minutes. Anyone disrupting the orderly conduct of the meeting, including by using threatening, hateful, or sexually-explicit language, will be removed. Please find the information using the link above. Members of the public who wish to provide "live comments" may also use the Zoom meeting platform. All participants will be muted upon entering the meeting. To speak, click the “raise your hand indicator” and you will be called by the host of the meeting during the public comment section. All speakers must state their name and address. Comments must be on a topic on the agenda, and are limited to three minutes. Anyone disrupting the orderly conduct of the meeting, including by using threatening, hateful, or sexually-explicit language, will be removed. Please find the information using the link above. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment are encouraged to submit those via email in advance of the meeting. For these comments to be included into the record, they must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. the day of the meeting. Please email Dilene Byrd at dbyrd@norwalkct.gov with the subject line “Public Comment” to provide written public comment prior to the meeting. I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION A. Guests at committee meetings may speak to any item on the agenda. (Comments shall be limited to no more than three (3) minutes per speaker.) IV. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES A. Approve the minutes of the July 22, 2025 Tree Advisory Committee meeting. V. REPORTS A. Tree Planting Updates - Sarah Cruz B. Tree Watering and Replacements 2023 - 2024 - Sarah Cruz Page 1 of 12 VI. OLD BUSINESS VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Urban Forestry Goals 2025 - 2026 B. Update on the Public Tree Inventory - Sarah Cruz VIII. NORWALK TREE ALLIANCE UPDATES IX. ADJOURNMENT UPCOMING MEETINGS A. Regular meeting of the Tree Advisory Committee: 9/23/2025. Page 2 of 12 TREE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA JULY 22, 2025, AT 6:00 PM. BY ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING To allow public access, anyone may access a meeting by telephone, Zoom, and/or the City of Norwalk YouTube channel. Specific instructions and links can be found at : norwalkct.org/meetings Members of the public can call in and listen to a meeting. They will not be able to speak or see any of the meeting participants. Each meeting will use a unique Meeting/Webinar ID. Please find the information using the link above. Members of the public who wish to provide "live comments" will need to register in advance and use the Zoom meeting platform. All participants will be muted upon entering the meeting. To speak, click the “raise your hand indicator” and you will called on by the host of the meeting during the public comment section. Please find the information using the link above. Members of the public who wish to view the meeting, but are not participating, can view a live stream on the City of Norwalk YouTube channel. This stream is delayed by approximately 20 seconds. Please find the information using the link above. The meeting recording and minutes will be posted on the City of Norwalk website within seven (7) days after the meeting. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment are encouraged to submit those via email in advance of the meeting. For these comments to be read into the record, they should be submitted at least three hours in advance of the meeting start time. Please email Dilene Byrd at dbyrd@norwalkct.gov to provide written public comment prior to the meeting. Attendance: Richard Whitehead, Vice Chair Peter Viteretto Gay MacLeod Staff: Paul Sotnik, Deputy Tree Warden Sarah Cruz, Arborist/ Horticulturalist 1. CALL TO ORDER Mr. Whitehead called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. 1 Page 3 of 12 II. ROLL CALL Mr. Whitehead called the roll, and all those listed in the attendance were present. There was a quorum present. III. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION A. Guests at committee meetings may speak to any item on the agenda. (Comments shall be limited to no more than three (3) minutes per speaker.) There were no public comments this evening. IV. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES A. Approve the minutes of the April 22, 2025, May 22, 2025, and June 24, 2025, Tree Advisory Committee meetings. ** MS. MACLEOD MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF APRIL 22, 2025, AS SUBMITTED. ** MR. VITERETTO SECONDED THE MOTION. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. On page 5, item VII. Paragraph four, add “said” On page 5, item VII, Paragraph five, change “young tree training” to “developmental training.” ** MS. MACLEOD MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF MAY 22, 2025, AS AMENDED. ** MR. VITERETTO SECONDED THE MOTION. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. On page 3, Item VII A. change “substantial” to “sustainable” ** MS. MACLEOD MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF JUNE 24, 2025, AS AMENDED. ** MR. VITERETTO SECONDED THE MOTION. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. V. REPORTS A. Tree Planting Program- Spring 2025 2 Page 4 of 12 Ms. Cruz provided an update and said that Almstead Tree has confirmed that they are watering, but she has not heard back from Minutemen Landscaping, but she knows they have been watering because the trees they have planted look good. Some trees will need to be replaced due to the drought last year. B. Tree Preservation, Flax Hill The item was tabled. VI. OLD BUSINESS There was no old business discussed this evening. VII. NEW BUSINESS The committee discussed tree plantings in cemeteries. Mr. Whitehead said that, in general, when work is done beneath the tree’s canopy, it is considered to be the tree’s critical root zone. Work can be done within the critical work zone, and there is a direct correlation between the amount of disturbance and the work performed within the defined critical work zone. For example, if 50% of the roots were removed within the critical work zone area, the tree would likely have a 50% chance of survival. Mr. Viteretto asked what specifications were used for the tree pits on East Wall Street so they could look at how the trees respond moving forward. Ms. Cruz said she has not seen the specifications for that project, but she will ask the staff at TMP to review them. She noted that DPW can potentially develop an actual standard. VIII. TREE ALLIANCE REPORT There was no report given. IV. ADJOURNMENT ** MS. MACLEOD MOVED TO ADJOURN. ** MR. VITERETTO SECONDED THE MOTION. ** THE MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 PM. Respectfully submitted, Dilene Byrd 3 Page 5 of 12 10-YEAR ROADMAP AND NEXT STEPS Learn about the 10-year roadmap to achieve the strategies set forth in this Plan and learn how all members of the community can take part in the next steps. Page 6 of 12 Norwalk Connecticut Tree Master Plan 2025 | 101 10-year Roadmap and Next Steps Next Steps The following table outlines the high-level 10-year priority actions for Norwalk’s Tree Master Plan, emphasizing the need for a coordinated and strategic approach to achieve the City’s tree canopy cover goal of 53% by 2053. To effectively implement and monitor the Tree Master Plan, the City of Norwalk should identify both internal and external stakeholders, formalize internal communications, coordination, and protocols, and begin public messaging immediately to foster a shared commitment to a sustainable urban forest. While the priority actions require additional investments, the Tree Master Plan provides the necessary context to build support for these initiatives, including the Tree Planting Strategy, the Urban Forest Management Strategy, the Storm Preparedness and Response Strategy, the Pest and Disease Management Strategy, the Urban Wood Waste Utilization Strategy, among others. Solidifying the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders is crucial for the successful implementation of the priority actions presented in the table, ensuring that the City can achieve its long-term urban forestry goals. By 2053, Norwalk will achieve a 53% tree canopy cover, creating a resilient, sustainable, and vibrant urban forest that enhances the quality of life for all residents. Through strategic initiatives outlined in the Plan, the City will foster environmental stewardship, economic growth, and community engagement. This comprehensive approach will ensure that Norwalk’s urban forest thrives, contributing to a healthier, greener, and more connected community for generations to come. Page 7 of 12 102 10-YEAR ROADMAP Table 16. 10-year roadmap by implementation interval Immediate (Years 2025 & 2026) Priority Action Category Priority Action Description Lead* Supporting Role* Partners* Tree Planting Begin planting 1,604 trees annually, focusing on underserved DPW TMP, ENG, P&Z Norwalk Tree Strategy neighborhoods. City to lead 70% of plantings (1,122 trees per & Alliance, year). Apply the "Right Tree Right Place" principle by planting DRP Community trees appropriate for the site including above ground and below Groups ground considerations. Public Tree Complete a comprehensive public tree inventory to inform DRP IT Tree Advisory Inventory species and location decisions. Maintain a GIS-based inventory & Committee, management solution for tracking plantings, maintenance, and DPW Consultants removals among other key data for management decisions. Utilize the inventory to report on the ecosystem benefits and services provided by trees and the asset value they contribute. Urban Forest Develop proactive public tree maintenance and risk DPW Risk Manager Tree Advisory Management management strategies. Identify priority maintenance corridors & Committee Strategy beginning in underserved neighborhoods and establish a DRP formal maintenance strategy for trees planted toward the canopy goal. Climate Conduct assessments to address climate vulnerabilities and DPW, Sustainability & Environmental Vulnerability harmful pests/diseases. DRP, Resilience Agencies, Assessment Con- Universities Com Organizational Review and improve the City’s organizational structure for tree DRP City Tree Advisory Structure programs to align with the needs of this Plan, Norwalk's & Administration Committee Improvement programs, and the community. Plan for increased service DPW demands given an increase in tree canopy cover, increased community awareness, and the challenges of climate change. Community Launch campaigns to build a network of tree stewards utilizing DRP City Norwalk Tree Outreach and community partners and existing programs. Communications Alliance, Engagement Schools, NGOs Page 8 of 12 Norwalk Connecticut Tree Master Plan 2025 | 103 10-year Roadmap and Next Steps Updates to City Integrate Tree Master Plan information into City plans and P&Z, TMP, DRP Tree Advisory Plans policies like the Complete Streets Policy. ENG Committee Green Create more space and soil volume for trees by integrating with DPW ENG, TMP, P&Z, Environmental Infrastructure green infrastructure and stormwater management. Sustainability & Agencies Integration Resilience, DRP Ordinance and Review and update Chapter 112 Trees and 2024 Zoning DPW City Legal Tree Advisory Regulation Regulations as needed to align with the Plan's strategies. & Committee, Review Continue to support the Legacy Tree Program per Chapter 112. DRP Common Council Storm Develop and implement storm preparedness and response DPW Emergency Utility Preparedness strategies as recommended in the Plan. Utilize a Management, Companies and Response comprehensive public tree inventory. DRP Urban Wood Implement urban wood waste utilization strategies as DPW Sustainability & Local Waste recommended in the Plan. & Resilience Woodworkers, Utilization DRP Recycling Centers Invasive Develop and implement invasive species management plans DRP DPW, ConCom Environmental Species for public open space, parks, natural areas, and properties. Agencies, Management Begin by assessing the extent of invasive plant species of Community concern with a sample inventory or by other means. Partners & Organizations * DRP = Department of Recreation & Parks; DPW = Department of Public Works; TMP = Transportation, Mobility & Parking Department; P&Z = Planning & Zoning Department; ENG = Engineering Division; IT = Information Technology Department; ConCom = Conservation Commission; NGOs = Non-governmental Organizations Page 9 of 12 104 Short Term (Years 2-5) Priority Action Category Priority Action Description Lead* Supporting Role* Partners* Expand Tree Continue planting 1,604 trees annually, focusing on underserved DPW ENG, TMP, P&Z Norwalk Tree Planting neighborhoods with the City leading 70% of plantings (1,122 & Alliance, trees per year). Address invasive plant species prior to planting DRP Community in public parks and open spaces. Groups Monitor and Regularly monitor and report on tree inventory and health. DRP & Tree Advisory Report DPW Committee Public Expand public education on tree care and urban forest benefits. DRP City Schools, NGOs Education Communications Programs Enhance Green Further integrate trees with green infrastructure projects. ENG, TMP, DRP Environmental Infrastructure P&Z Agencies Funding and Align budgets and secure funding for ongoing and new DRP City Finance Agencies, Budget initiatives. Other Mid Term (Years 6-10) Priority Action Category Priority Action Description Lead* Supporting Role* Partners* Sustain Tree Maintain the annual planting of 1,604 trees by utilizing the Tree DPW ENG, TMP, P&Z Norwalk Tree Planting Efforts Planting Strategy in the Plan with the City leading 70% of & Alliance, plantings (1,122 trees per year). DRP Community Groups Evaluate and Evaluate the effectiveness of current strategies and adjust as DRP Tree Advisory Adjust needed. Utilize the Indicators of a Sustainable Urban Forest & Committee Strategies framework for evaluating and updating strategies. DPW Expand Strengthen community engagement and stewardship DRP City Norwalk Tree Community programs as a coordinated Citywide effort with strategies to Communications Alliance, Engagement remove barriers to participation by all members of the Schools, NGOs community. Advanced Implement advanced green infrastructure projects integrating DPW DRP, ENG, TMP, Environmental Green trees. P&Z Agencies Infrastructure Projects Comprehensive Conduct a comprehensive review of the Plan and policies. DRP & Tree Advisory Plan Review DPW Committee Page 10 of 12 Norwalk Connecticut Tree Master Plan 2025 | 105 10-year Roadmap and Next Steps LONGER TERM CONSIDERATIONS Long Term (Years 10+) Priority Action Category Priority Action Description Lead* Supporting Role* Partners* Achieve Ensure progress towards the 53% tree canopy cover by 2053 by DRP Tree Advisory Canopy Cover establishing a Tree Planting Strategy for years 11-20 and 21-30 by & Committee, Goal priority neighborhood described in the Plan. DPW Norwalk Tree Alliance, Community Groups Sustainable Maintain sustainable urban forest management practices. DRP Tree Advisory Urban Forest & Committee Management DPW Long-Term Develop long-term funding strategies for urban forestry DRP City Finance, Grant Funding initiatives and the resources (staffing and equipment) to Grant Agencies, Strategies address a growing urban forest with increased service demands Coordinator Private Sector and climate change challenges. Periodic Plan Regularly update the Tree Master Plan and related policies on a DRP Tree Advisory Updates 10-year cycle aligned with reassessments of canopy cover and & Committee updates to the public tree inventory. DPW * DRP = Department of Recreation & Parks; DPW = Department of Public Works; TMP = Transportation, Mobility & Parking Department; P&Z = Planning & Zoning Department; ENG = Engineering Division; IT = Information Technology Department; ConCom = Conservation Commission; NGOs = Non-governmental Organizations Page 11 of 12 106 Page 12 of 12