2026-10-21 - Tree Board

01:00Yeah, they do.

01:01Yeah. Oh, yeah.

01:03>> the door.

01:03>> Yeah, okay folks, we're live. Oh,

01:06there's Casey over there.

01:08Are you joining us today?

01:10>> [clears throat]

01:15>> Uh is Ben coming or

01:16>> There he is.

01:18Right on time. Hi.

01:27How was your day?

01:29>> Awesome.

01:31Okay, so we're live. Uh

01:33welcome to our regularly quarterly

01:36meeting of the tree board.

01:39I'm Edwards, want to go around with our

01:40three That's our three committee

01:42members.

01:43>> I'm Karen Marish Otter, member.

01:45>> Dominic Russo, member.

01:48>> I'm a member of the City of Bangor Tree

01:51>> Sophie Cammann, City of Bangor Forest

01:53Technician.

01:55>> Uh

01:57Seth, have you all had a chance to look

01:58at the minutes that got sent out.

02:03>> With the name.

02:04>> Yeah. All in favor of approving it?

02:09I don't know if we ever

02:11talked about whether we needed to do

02:12that, but

02:13>> [laughter]

02:15>> Thanks for creating them, by the way.

02:18Um forestry division by the numbers

02:20report.

02:22>> All right.

02:24Third quarter at forestry division was

02:26pretty productive.

02:28Um

02:29Just like any other city division, we

02:31have uh secret fix requests that come in

02:33the office.

02:35Um this quarter, we were able to get 80

02:38ft secret fix requests closed in

02:41addition to all the other work

02:43that my staff did throughout the

02:45quarter.

02:46Quarter.

02:47Um preventive pruning, which includes

02:50identifying streets that need uh pruning

02:53in addition to um

02:56paving corridors that we already pruned,

02:59we were able to complete all of Webster

03:01Avenue,

03:03um 6th Street,

03:05all of West Broadway, and then all of

03:08Crestmont.

03:11In addition to preventive pruning, part

03:13of the um typical thing that we do is

03:17tree removals.

03:19Um

03:19we have a larger amount of tree removals

03:23due to the fact that we're implementing

03:25the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan.

03:28Um the plan calls for the removal

03:31uh

03:32poorly formed ash trees throughout the

03:34city.

03:35Um in total, the tree removals forestry

03:38division has done within the third

03:40quarter

03:42adds up to 41.

03:4429 of which my in-house crew has

03:48removed.

03:49Two First and Power was kind enough to

03:52remove due to the potential impact to

03:55their utilities.

03:57Um, and they were outside of our minimum

04:00approach distances that our in-house and

04:03contracted staff have.

04:06Um,

04:07contractor

04:09or through the bidding ads on hand. Any

04:12removals were completed by um,

04:16I've also listed the addresses and urban

04:20information

04:21followed by the F.

04:24After which trees were removed and

04:26where.

04:30>> Are the numbers the diameter of the

04:32tree?

04:32>> Yes. Yeah.

04:34>> Failed means they're completely dead.

04:36>> Failed means they were completely dead.

04:37Um,

04:39the other thing is um,

04:41poorly formed, but also those that are

04:43like in hazardous locations, such as the

04:46Versant ones, which were on

04:49Garland.

04:50>> Yes.

04:50>> Um, and they were [clears throat] over

04:52somebody's house, but also over the

04:54three-phase power. Um, so if they were

04:56to start falling and dropping big

04:58branches, they would have been

04:59dangerous.

05:01>> Are there a lot more ash trees that need

05:02to be removed? Yes.

05:04>> Yes.

05:07>> Do we have a ballpark we have?

05:09>> We probably have about

05:12200-ish more.

05:14Yeah, it's a lot. Um,

05:16I think staging it out the way we have

05:18been is good because it means that

05:22there's less of the landscape change all

05:23at once happening. So, um, it'll take us

05:26a couple of years.

05:28>> So, is that something you do through the

05:29winter or you won't do that? Yeah.

05:32>> Um, and obviously the rate at which that

05:34happens depends on folks and snow. Um,

05:38cuz our arborists do also plow.

05:44>> Okay.

05:47>> Um,

05:50And this includes the numbers who

05:53pre-plant, right?

05:55>> Yeah. Yeah. So,

05:57All right. I'll add that to there.

06:00Um but for trees that were outplanted

06:03this season, we planted 77.

06:08>> Which combined with what you guys did is

06:11more than has been accomplished since

06:142006.

06:15>> Yeah. No, it's noticeable.

06:16>> Yeah.

06:18So,

06:18we're very proud of that.

06:20>> It's amazing what you can do with staff.

06:22>> Yeah.

06:24Yeah, definitely. And we um switching

06:27over to the bare root was genius. I

06:30mean, it it makes everything go so much

06:32faster. Just even getting them out of

06:34the gravel pits and then getting them

06:36into the ground. Like, one person can do

06:39that instead of two people.

06:41Um which is excellent. And I think it

06:44also really will help with soil

06:46compaction stuff in the future.

06:49>> Do we have a number of like over the

06:51past number of years how with the

06:53removal removal of trees and planting,

06:56how are we moving ahead? How is Bangor

06:59faring? Are we

07:01making headway on um being

07:05on the plus side at some point? I mean,

07:07obviously with the ash trees, 200 more

07:09ash trees plus the one, that's not

07:11>> It's going to be a dip, unfortunately.

07:14>> I feel currently we're ahead as far as

07:17planting more than we can actually

07:19remove, uh but those firm numbers I can

07:22definitely

07:23share.

07:25>> Yeah, there has not been excellent um

07:28record keeping since Roland left. So, I

07:31don't know that we have any planting

07:34numbers after 2006.

07:36Um that I've been able to find in our

07:39records. And I don't know that we have

07:41removal records, either. So, it's hard

07:43to know um

07:44but I can also for the next meeting pull

07:47those numbers for 2023 onwards just so

07:49we can kind of have a full report if

07:51that's something you guys want.

07:53>> I think it would be interesting to hear

07:55that and I know things have been thrown

07:56to you in regard to different

07:59diseases and stuff like that.

08:01But I imagine that at some point

08:03hopefully

08:04we'll get through those and then we'll

08:06start to be on the surplus.

08:08>> Yeah. Yeah, more so. Yeah.

08:11>> And it would be nice to have have it as

08:12a chart so we can see it.

08:13>> Right, baseline or

08:15>> Yeah. Yeah, I can definitely prep

08:16something like that for you guys.

08:18>> Once now that we have the tree inventory

08:20>> Yeah.

08:20>> um

08:21you know, somebody could spend a little

08:23time to like

08:24show all the trees broken out into the

08:27different species and we'll see like ash

08:29trees going from 20% down to

08:31>> Yeah. Like Like over time. Yeah.

08:33>> 10%

08:33>> Yeah. Yeah.

08:34>> Uh and

08:35>> Yeah.

08:36>> some

08:36numbers like that would be

08:39>> Sure. Sure.

08:39>> uh

08:40more digestible for everyone. This is

08:42really helpful for us

08:44but I think everybody else

08:46>> Yeah, totally.

08:48>> And it can be something that we add onto

08:49the website, too.

08:50Yeah, I'll keep that in mind. Nice

08:52winter per desk project.

08:54>> Yeah.

08:55Um I had a question on State Street. Um

08:59I can only see like three that look like

09:01they're like over story like canopy

09:03trees. They're mostly

09:06Yeah. over story trees which

09:07like there

09:08there are areas with more vertical

09:10>> Yes.

09:11>> Yeah.

09:12>> Yeah, so the other piece like I was

09:14saying we're trying to sort of stage it

09:16out so we're not planting everything at

09:18the same time so we don't end up with an

09:20even age system. Um

09:22with State Street the esplanades not

09:25huge.

09:26So, it's hard to justify putting in

09:29something that's going to get super

09:30wide. So, we're opting for more narrow

09:33species that'll get tall such as the hop

09:35hornbeam even though they're listed as a

09:36medium species tree.

09:38Um

09:39and yeah, spaces will be filled in sort

09:42of as things continue. The

09:44easiest thing to do because it's such a

09:47busy road and we didn't want to do a

09:49lane closure was to sort of go up one

09:53side and down the other and just

09:55budget-wise it was easier to kind of go

09:57down towards

09:59downtown and do all the short trees on

10:01the side where the utilities are.

10:04Um but it's definitely on the radar

10:06because we want to get more shade on

10:07that road. Um and there are some spots

10:09where I know there's going to be We're

10:11talking about future pavement removal,

10:14but that corner on Oak

10:16not Oak, Broadway and State where it

10:18switches over to Broadway. Um that's

10:20getting developed as a bank and they

10:22have a really robust wet landscaping

10:24plan. We've seen that, so that will

10:26provide some shade sort of down towards

10:28that end. Um and I don't know if they

10:31have submitted plans for the

10:33new shoe place.

10:35>> Stratton? No, nothing.

10:36>> Yeah.

10:37So

10:38that'll also help.

10:39>> Yeah. I was just curious cuz I

10:42we lost a large oak tree there.

10:44>> Yeah.

10:45>> The esplanades are surprisingly large.

10:47>> Yeah.

10:47>> Or bank oaks.

10:48>> Yeah.

10:49>> There is clearly space.

10:50>> Yeah, we put a hop hornbeam in there.

10:53And that So that should get fairly tall.

10:55Um

10:56the other thing is

10:59probably ease of operability.

11:01Um

11:03especially along that road.

11:05Or maintenance and stuff, but yeah.

11:07Heard.

11:08>> All right.

11:08>> [laughter]

11:09>> Are there areas and just in general like

11:11where maybe a sidewalk might be bigger

11:13than it

11:14>> Yep.

11:14>> usually is that you could at least

11:16>> Do you want to talk to her about that?

11:17>> Yes, there is.

11:18We We have been in talks and Sophie has

11:21really been leading those talks as far

11:24as pavement removal and coordinating

11:28those efforts and ensuring that

11:31Forestry division puts it in

11:34to a budget because the manpower and and

11:36equipment hours needed for pavement

11:39removal would

11:41not only benefit forestry division, but

11:43it is something that we are asking for.

11:45Um so forestry division would foot the

11:48bill for the pavement removal and um

11:52we're really working with planning

11:55division um to ensure, you know, that

11:58we're removing all the the needs as far

12:01as funding and

12:02where we can source funding from and

12:04State Street is one of the highlighted

12:07areas.

12:08>> And talking to um

12:10engineering too to make sure they you

12:13know, are on board with that kind of

12:14stuff and then

12:16yeah, like Ben said, just the manpower

12:17of

12:18getting it done. Um we're also trying to

12:20sort of partner

12:22pavement removal projects with when

12:24those sidewalks are supposed to be

12:26redone anyway to sort of make it one big

12:29project as opposed to sort of

12:32we're going and we're doing this and

12:33then we got to go do something else and

12:35then we're coming back and redoing this,

12:36you know? Um plus that would reduce the

12:38amount of damage to newly planted trees.

12:41Um like say they just went and fixed up

12:44the esplanade and made it plantable, we

12:46put trees in and then they got to come

12:47back and do the sidewalks 2 years later.

12:50You know, the risk there is pretty high

12:52um if something gets hit, so.

12:55Yeah.

12:55>> I think it was 3 or 4 years ago when

12:57they repaved State Street.

12:59>> They were like

13:00>> Bentley nudged

13:01>> Yeah.

13:01>> Aaron and and engineering at the time

13:03and they removed a fair amount of

13:05asphalt. They weren't as aggressive as I

13:07would have been.

13:07>> Yeah.

13:07>> But they were open to it and

13:10>> Did they redo the sidewalks at that

13:11time?

13:12>> They like patched it.

13:13>> Okay. Yeah, so the sidewalks I believe

13:16where we landed in that meeting was that

13:18they are probably within the next couple

13:20of years due for a full

13:22redo. So that's sort of what we're

13:25waiting on cuz it's a DOT road, and

13:27there's some sort of complicated

13:29mumbo jumbo with that that I don't

13:31understand,

13:32>> [laughter]

13:32>> because I don't do roads.

13:34>> [gasps]

13:36>> Okay. So, um

13:38I

13:39had to communicate with Sophie. Somebody

13:41on our street pulled out a tree almost

13:43immediately. So, how much is that

13:45happening?

13:47>> That's the first one

13:49we've had since 2023.

13:51>> Oh, wow.

13:52>> where a resident has

13:53removed a tree. However, we have had

13:56residents

13:58cut trees without permission.

14:00>> In our neighborhood as well. Yeah.

14:02Not any of the neighbors that I know,

14:03but

14:04>> Um we also have had some issues with

14:09uh trees just kind of being hacked at on

14:12Union and First Street, which

14:15don't I I don't know why. There's

14:17another one missing from First Street. I

14:19drove by there.

14:21Um and I think that's just the hazard of

14:23being a tree downtown.

14:24So, uh

14:26yeah, we're keeping an I'm trying to

14:28keep a pretty close eye on them. I try

14:30to go out and see all of them like once

14:31a week just to make sure presence is

14:34seen around them.

14:36Um

14:37In my head, there's this idea that I put

14:39up a cute little sign that says, "Please

14:41don't hurt me." but um I don't

14:42>> [laughter]

14:43>> know how feasible that is.

14:46>> You could put an under surveillance note

14:48on it. Yeah. Yeah, even if it's not

14:50true, I suppose.

14:52>> We did that with the little The first

14:55year we did tree watering bags, we were

14:56like they were designed to be unzipped,

14:58and I was concerned someone would just

15:00unzip them and walk off, but so we like

15:02put a little cute sign on it that said,

15:04"I'm a little watering bag for this baby

15:06tree."

15:07>> I might try it in the spring and see if

15:09it gets us anywhere. Um

15:11Cuz I mean, you don't get what you don't

15:13ask for, so.

15:14I haven't asked them not to break the

15:16trees off.

15:17Stupid.

15:18>> [laughter]

15:22>> Um

15:23and that's it for numbers. Okay, any

15:25questions?

15:28Uh

15:29Nathan.

15:32>> So, forestry division

15:34um

15:35we have been pretty small for a number

15:37of years since I started. We have

15:41finally hired an arborist one to take up

15:44an existing vacancy.

15:46So, as far as tree service staff, we are

15:49full.

15:50So, now forestry division is composed of

15:54an arborist one, an arborist two, a

15:57heavy equipment operator one,

16:00downtown custodian,

16:02a downtown landscaper, Marsha,

16:06and

16:07in addition to that, obviously forestry

16:09technician and um myself.

16:12Um forestry division supervises the care

16:15and upkeep of the four municipal

16:18cemeteries.

16:20Um we lost our cemetery sexton

16:25probably the first week of August, so

16:27I've been doing double duty, um

16:30assisting with burials, um supervising

16:33cemetery maintenance, and

16:35supervising the crew. Um the crew has

16:37been very good about

16:39helping me with that job and and getting

16:42me the paperwork timely and and things

16:44like that, but we have hired an in-house

16:47candidate for the cemetery sexton

16:50position.

16:53And that was as of last week.

16:57>> Getting cool.

16:58>> Thank you.

16:58>> That's amazing.

16:59>> And that will be a big benefit for

17:01>> Yes.

17:01>> So, we're currently at full staffing.

17:03>> Yeah, I know. I know.

17:03>> Congratulations.

17:04>> happened in the 14 years I've been on.

17:16>> Um

17:18Yeah, that's great.

17:19>> Is it Is it like just because you put in

17:21the effort or is it also like support

17:23from

17:24>> Oh, public works.

17:25>> Support from everybody has been

17:26tremendous. Um

17:29>> And and it's something we can maintain.

17:31>> Yeah. Yeah, between um human resources,

17:35uh the union, and you know, staff of

17:38public works, we were able to modify and

17:40enhance

17:42our street division staffing.

17:44>> And it's a really good crew of folks.

17:47Which is nice.

17:51>> That's really good, guys.

17:53>> Um all right.

17:55Um moving on and

17:58I forgot Sarah was here.

18:00>> Sarah, are you here with us?

18:03>> I saw her.

18:04>> Yes, yes, I'm here.

18:10>> Uh yeah, our next up is the urban

18:12forestry management plan which we all

18:14have uh

18:15the latest draft sitting in front of us.

18:18Sarah, do you want to uh reintroduce

18:20yourself to everybody and and go over

18:22it?

18:23>> Oh, sure. Yeah, so I'm Sarah Lilly. I'm

18:26urban forestry consultant with Eocene

18:28Environmental and been working with all

18:30of you to some extent on this project.

18:34Um I did put together some slides that I

18:37can share. I'm not sure if I can share

18:39on a screen.

18:40>> You should be able to.

18:42Maybe?

18:45>> Um

18:47there we go.

18:49Can you see that?

18:51>> Um

18:53Hold on.

18:54Let me see if I can get it to work up

18:56here.

18:57>> My internet might be a little slow, but

19:01Oh, great.

19:03Yeah, so just a really quick run through

19:05of the document in about 10 slides.

19:09A summary.

19:11Um just a basis of how we started the

19:13project and we've been working together

19:15for um

19:17about a year or so. We're into this um

19:19nearing the completion. We looked at

19:21what does Bangor have as far as

19:24resources, what the city wants, and what

19:27the people want as far as managing the

19:29trees, how to get what is wanted with

19:33the trees, and

19:34incorporating some feedback in there to

19:36make sure that what you want is being

19:38accomplished.

19:40And I actually just switched this

19:41picture out because you're asking about

19:43tree species.

19:44Um, but we looked at the tree inventory

19:47data, which was updated thankfully, and

19:51there are just over 9,000 trees of 106

19:55species. And I included this the species

19:58and genus and family. There are a lot of

20:01maples, especially Norway maples, and

20:04those ash trees. I'm sure those ash tree

20:06percentage has decreased a little bit as

20:09ash trees have been removed thanks to

20:11the EAB response plan.

20:15There is a recent uptick of newly

20:16planted trees, and we ran the data

20:18through i-Tree Eco to find a $7.4

20:21million

20:23replacement value just of those

20:24inventory trees.

20:26And um

20:28from that some recommendations were to

20:30increase diversity. Of course, don't

20:32plant invasive Norway maples.

20:35Um, and continue I have a I have to move

20:39a window. Continue increase planting.

20:41So, I really enjoyed hearing the

20:43planting numbers that you shared. That's

20:46so exciting. And prioritizing

20:48maintenance and maintain trees

20:50proactively.

20:52Um, so there were maintenance

20:54recommendations associated with trees,

20:56but building in a prior prioritiz-

20:59prioritization level in there just to be

21:02able to better split them out on what

21:03needs to be done immediately versus

21:06potentially later. And then with full

21:08staffing, hopefully starting to maintain

21:11trees proactively.

21:15Uh

21:15we did a canopy assessment and found

21:18that Bangor has 51.2% tree canopy cover

21:22with the lowest being downtown. And

21:25canopy cover, we compared it against

21:27census block groups so we could

21:29incorporate population and income

21:32levels. So canopy cover is inversely

21:34related in general to population density

21:37and income.

21:38So some recommendations that came out of

21:40that is to plan for tree planting. We

21:43did a walking tour downtown and there

21:44aren't many places to plant trees. And

21:47as you heard, there are Sophie and Ben

21:49are already working with engineering, um

21:52streets, planning on incorporating tree

21:54planting into future designs.

21:57Maintaining existing trees because

21:59larger existing trees provide the most

22:01canopy and

22:03but also, you know, planting new trees

22:05to replace trees as they age out and

22:08die. And also creating protection

22:10measures for trees on private property.

22:13So the tree canopy assessment looks at

22:15all the trees across the city, not just

22:16the inventory trees. So trees on

22:18forested lands and in people's

22:20backyards.

22:23We did a review of Bangor's municipal

22:27code. This is just a snapshot of what

22:30that looked like and you'll see it in

22:31the plan. So just compared

22:34looked at the code for the different

22:36areas. So public trees, shade trees,

22:38trees in buffer zones. And we also ran

22:41the code through the urban and community

22:43forestry uh tree code assessment matrix

22:46to just to identify potential

22:48recommendations. And a few of those are

22:50on the right here.

22:54We benchmarked Bangor's program against

22:57a national survey and we compared it to

23:00either communities of a similar

23:03population size or trees in the north or

23:05cities in the northeast.

23:07Here's a snapshot of what that looked

23:09like and we looked at these five

23:11different categories for community and

23:13staff, budget, management operations,

23:16volunteers, partners, and contractors.

23:20And so this was just a snapshot of the

23:22tree management benchmarking. So how

23:24does Bangor compare as far as insect

23:26disease readiness plan? I would say you

23:28guys are above peer group because you

23:31have the REAB plan and red pine scale

23:33plan.

23:36We also conducted

23:37>> Who are Who are our peer group?

23:41>> So it was a population group. Um we

23:43compared to initially.

23:47And let me see.

23:50This doesn't show both of them, but um

23:53the population group was 25 to 40 to

23:5650,000 people. So I know Bangor is on

23:58the low side of that population group.

24:01And in some cases we also compared it

24:03against northeastern region.

24:07>> Thank you.

24:08>> Yeah, no, good question.

24:12Um so we also did interviews and SWAT a

24:16SWAT analysis, that's strengths,

24:17weaknesses, opportunities, and threats

24:20just to get a pulse of how the tree

24:23managers in Bangor, what they think of

24:25the program. And those are included in

24:28these benchmarking tables just at the

24:30bottom. I called them SWAT thoughts.

24:32So for example in this one for

24:34volunteers, partners, and contractors, I

24:37would say there's a really strong

24:39um coordination between the forestry

24:41division and you guys, the tree board,

24:44Bangor Beautiful,

24:45University of Maine and the Audubon

24:47Society.

24:52There was a large community outreach

24:54component to the plan. These are the

24:56different ways that we interacted with

24:58the community and

25:00based on

25:02discussions

25:04and from the public forum and the survey

25:07responses, we developed this vision

25:09statement.

25:11So, Bangor will be home to a resilient

25:13and evenly distributed urban forest that

25:16helps residents thrive in every

25:18neighborhood

25:20with a 55% tree canopy goal. Just a

25:22reminder, it's just above 51% right now.

25:25And that's across the city.

25:27Public trees will be recognized as a

25:29vital part of city infrastructure,

25:31providing environmental, socioeconomic,

25:33and health benefits for all present and

25:36future inhabitants.

25:38So, that kind of guided what came next

25:42as far as how to get there.

25:46So, there are a couple of different

25:48strategies. We did develop some work

25:50plan tables.

25:52So, just taking the inventory data and

25:55the EAB response plan and what's

25:57happening there as far as treating and

25:59removing trees to determine on a 5-year

26:02cycle if you wanted to tackle all that

26:05maintenance, just planning it out over 5

26:08years with costs that came from the

26:10forestry division.

26:14And then also we broke it out into three

26:16main goals and for each goal there were

26:19several strategies

26:21and then actions to build out those

26:23strategies.

26:24So, these three goals were to grow the

26:26forest to reach that 55% canopy goal,

26:29manage the trees for safety and

26:31efficiency,

26:33and then collaborate with the community

26:36for long-term success.

26:40And using those strategies and actions,

26:42we built out this implementation matrix

26:44to make sure that things are happening.

26:47So, I I grabbed the snapshot of the

26:49longer term time frame. So, there are

26:51things like update the canopy assessment

26:53on a 5-year cycle to make sure that

26:55you're moving towards that 55% canopy

26:58goal.

27:02And I just wanted to give a brief

27:05update. Um we're nearing the completion.

27:09[clears throat] I heard gathering

27:11evidence now and I wanted to thank

27:13everyone here. I think everyone here has

27:15played a part in this.

27:17And as you can have heard already, Ben

27:19and Sophie have already been hugely

27:20proactive in pushing the program forward

27:23and it's an exciting time in Bangor.

27:26And we're looking to present a to the

27:28infrastructure committee in December.

27:39>> Right.

27:40Questions? Thoughts?

27:43Random.

27:46>> Well, I I guess for me that question of

27:48maintenance is the biggest looming one.

27:52Um

27:53yeah, it's a lot of trees to plant and

27:56we've been having droughts the last two

27:58summers and

28:00um you know, how do we realistically

28:04even water all those trees, let alone

28:06any other maintenance that they might

28:08need?

28:09Um cuz I it certainly is is intuitive

28:12that if [laughter] you want to have tree

28:14cover, then we need to

28:16um preserve as many trees that we plant

28:18as possible.

28:20>> We have switched how we do plantings. Um

28:23we've done more and we'll do more

28:26corridor planting.

28:28Um so, [clears throat] I identify

28:29streets where trees can get planted and

28:33doing more bulk planting versus

28:36um former planting practices, which were

28:38scattered all about

28:40all throughout the city and and it was

28:42tough to maintain.

28:44Have our house staff

28:46check in on them, water them.

28:49Things like that.

28:50>> This is um

28:52It is a newer system. I think this is

28:54our

28:55first full year doing it, actually. Um

28:59I'm keeping a record of maintenance log.

29:02Um just so I know where everything is

29:04and when things get checked on. Um we'll

29:07see how it goes moving into the future

29:09because obviously like

29:12we have a lot of stuff to do and keeping

29:14up with

29:15>> Whatever it is. It is

29:16>> Um

29:17However, we're doing it sort of on a

29:19three-year

29:21period for each tree. So, from the year

29:23that they're planted, they get three

29:25years of sort of maintenance, which is

29:28restaking, trying to get them to grow

29:30correctly, preventative pruning. Um

29:34If they need soil amendments because it

29:36seems like they're just not getting

29:37enough water or nutrients or whatever

29:39and then uh going around with watering.

29:41And we've created a pretty ingenious

29:43watering setup that's actually really

29:45effective. [laughter]

29:46Um so, you'll see it tomorrow. Uh so,

29:49we're hoping that that uh makes things a

29:52little bit easier, but we are also aware

29:55that like if it's not working, we'll

29:57need to start to think about other

29:59other strategies that we can employ such

30:01as like signage for homeowners if they

30:03have a tree out front to say like, "Give

30:05me some water." Um kind of deal.

30:09But

30:10>> That was actually my going to be my

30:12first general business.

30:13>> If people want to

30:15>> at least state, you know, the power of

30:16the business owner. There's a business

30:17there. I don't think it would hurt. I

30:19know it takes time to ask a shopkeeper.

30:22>> Could you please throw a little water on

30:24it?

30:24>> Yeah. And some people have been doing it

30:26voluntarily, which is excellent. Um

30:29That being said, it is, you know, public

30:31property, so we can't make anybody do

30:32that. So, we can't necessarily rely on

30:34it, but it might help. Um so, that's a

30:36strategy that we're we're also thinking

30:38about employing if it seems to get too

30:40much for us in-house.

30:42>> Well, it would help their business

30:43having a healthy tree in front of it,

30:45too. So.

30:47>> The goals from the plan, 3A4, 3A5,

30:51provide education to homeowners in how

30:53to care for trees using resources from

30:55partner organizations and any trees

30:57community engagement opportunities. And

31:00it

31:01I This has the little that it's cheap to

31:04do that, the little one.

31:05>> Yeah.

31:06>> [laughter]

31:07>> Which if that's if you can get partners

31:10who are uh doing their time. But really

31:13to educate the city about the importance

31:15of trees and how to care for them is a

31:17big job. I think it would be an

31:19excellent job. I think we have better

31:21tree canopy.

31:22>> Sure.

31:22>> If we really, you know, adopt a tree in

31:25your neighborhood and here's how you

31:26care for it and somebody's checking up

31:28on it, but that really is time

31:30consuming.

31:31>> Yeah. And we are in

31:33I'll look at you, Tracy.

31:35Um since I'm jointly hired with Parks

31:37and Rec, there is like a outdoor

31:39education component of this that um

31:42I'm really trying to start working on

31:44some programming for.

31:46Um

31:47we're

31:48working on doing forest field tours and

31:51um we've been partnered with Maine SAF

31:54now for about a year as well. So,

31:56getting folks out to see sort of the

31:58urban forest and what we're doing is

32:00definitely a priority. Um

32:03but yeah, that's another sort of part of

32:05my job. That's a fun another fun winter

32:07project.

32:08>> Yeah, that is.

32:08>> I was thinking in my neighborhood you

32:10planted all these healthy trees that if

32:12somebody had gone through the

32:13neighborhood a couple weeks before and

32:14did little door hangers. We're going to

32:16be planting or you did the signs the

32:18trees are going to be taken down. It'd

32:20be just some signs and some of the parks

32:22where about to plant a tree here.

32:24>> Yeah.

32:24>> Um we could get that to go in the

32:26>> is is one thing. Um

32:34Well, anyway, just some public education

32:36Oh, oh, I know.

32:38Labels on the trees what they are cuz I

32:40know something about trees but I'm going

32:42up down the street wondering what this

32:44is. I wonder what this is. So, just even

32:46>> Yeah.

32:46>> Um saying this is a serviceberry. This

32:49is a

32:50totally fair. I think would be enough.

32:55>> And with the

32:56I understand the whole point of planting

32:58corridors and that's great. But like if

33:00there were

33:01stay

33:02in residential neighborhoods

33:05perhaps if people I don't know how again

33:08you would necessarily do this but are

33:10you still getting requests by homeowners

33:12to have a tree put in front of there?

33:14>> And we try. We plan our corridors like

33:17if we have specifically for example we

33:20had requests for

33:21two on two requests on West Broadway,

33:25one on Lincoln, and then one over on

33:27Boutell. So, those are all in the same

33:29neighborhoods. Like I treat that as a

33:31corridor cuz that it's just about ease

33:33of access for us um at that point. So,

33:36we do when we get enough requests then

33:39those requests are filled like by

33:41neighborhood.

33:42>> Um I guess the second part of my

33:44point is what Karen was uh

33:47uh saying that perhaps

33:50approaching these people who are putting

33:52in the request and say would would you

33:54be okay with being a guardian of the

33:56tree? I'm sure it's most important in

33:58the beginning few years of a tree.

34:00>> Yes. Yes. Totally.

34:00>> The watering part.

34:02And that's again easy to do if they have

34:04a garden in the front.

34:05>> Yeah.

34:06>> They could easily squirt a tree. You

34:08know, they but maybe that's part of the

34:12the process.

34:12>> Yeah. The gears are turning and I think

34:14formalizing more of a request program

34:17would be super useful um as well as our

34:20signage and stuff like that.

34:21>> have a little app and say I watered the

34:23tree today.

34:24I'll say this tree is watered.

34:26>> I don't think I'm smart enough to do

34:27that, David.

34:29I'm not an app designer.

34:31>> [laughter]

34:31>> I do think your

34:33is great. I don't know what your

34:34circulation is, but that's a great help

34:36to you.

34:37>> good. We have 180 subscribers.

34:40A big deal for me.

34:41>> [laughter]

34:42>> No, I think that's a good

34:43>> it.

34:43>> Yeah. Yeah, I try to keep it fun.

34:49>> And that there but there may be like

34:51communities that have um Facebook pages

34:54for the communities, a place to put

34:55information. We're going to be planting

34:57trees in your neighborhood. Does anybody

34:59want to adopt a tree?

35:00>> Yeah, we have a little Our hands are a

35:02little bit tied.

35:03Um cuz we can't use our personal

35:05Facebooks to do anything [clears throat]

35:07like that. Um so

35:09Well,

35:11>> [laughter]

35:12>> Yeah, it we would have to figure out

35:13what the logistics of that are. Um

35:16but you know, Tracy has contacts with

35:18all the people that are friends of

35:21whatever park that they're friends of.

35:22So those folks we've reached out to and

35:25spoken with on some occasions recently.

35:27Cheyne and Park, we had a long

35:29conversation about them.

35:31All the ash trees that unfortunately

35:32have to come down in there.

35:34Um

35:35because they're not looking great.

35:37Uh

35:39and that was really productive and they

35:41were very receptive to that. So I think

35:43that's super valuable as using community

35:45groups as well.

35:47>> And have tree block parties.

35:49After you planted then get everybody

35:51together, walk down, look at the trees,

35:53say what they are.

35:54>> like a you job, Greg.

35:56>> [laughter]

35:57>> I'm not volunteering to do it, but I

35:58think it's a great idea. This is if

36:00you're doing corridors.

36:02>> Yeah.

36:02>> Then you have the natural neighborhood

36:04thing.

36:04>> Yeah.

36:05>> Yeah. To bring people out and

36:06>> Yeah, absolutely. That's a great idea.

36:09>> So I have a question for Sarah. Sarah, I

36:12assume you've seen these plans be

36:14developed. What would be the best way

36:16for us to keep an eye on these goals and

36:20strategies and actions that we've

36:21outlined so that it just doesn't become

36:23a plan that sits on a shelf. Um

36:27can like could this come with a like a

36:29spreadsheet of the like a

36:32an easier to read version that Sophie

36:34and Ben could update us on like each

36:37year and then we could see if there's

36:39progress being made.

36:40>> Yeah, no, I think that would be great to

36:42add and really beneficial. I think that

36:44would be the best way to do it honestly.

36:47Maybe prepare this annually for a tree

36:49board meeting.

36:51>> Yeah, definitely.

36:53So we can talk about that when we meet

36:55next week cuz I think that would be a

36:56pretty easy worksheet to develop like

36:59just a yearly report.

37:01>> I also wanted to mention that I know

37:04there has been a lot of great ideas that

37:05have been discussed just in the past few

37:07minutes and I think going to the

37:09partners in community forestry

37:11conference Sophie you will get so many

37:13great ideas on how to promote trees and

37:17I love the Bangor block party idea. I

37:19think that would be really fun.

37:24>> I didn't have a chance to go through all

37:26of these calls and all but I like the

37:28one that says that

37:31fines and penalties should be attached

37:34to the actual value of the tree in some

37:38way

37:40because sometimes I mean these people

37:43around the corner from me who took down

37:44two huge mature trees that appear to be

37:48in fairly good health.

37:50And are they going to be fined $100? You

37:52know, those trees are worth way more

37:53than that.

37:54>> Yeah, that's a process we're working

37:56through right now is figuring out how to

37:58properly administrate.

37:59>> I think they should be required to plant

38:01X number of trees to replace the ones

38:04that took them.

38:05>> Yeah.

38:05>> I don't like punitive things but I

38:07>> I've been reading a lot of ordinances

38:09and we're we're thinking about

38:11strategically how to best approach that.

38:18>> Okay.

38:20Any other thoughts on this? I know it's

38:24>> And if you all get a chance to read

38:25through this and have comments,

38:28you can shoot me or Ben an email and we

38:30can just sort of throw them into the

38:32word doc for Sarah and she can address

38:34them.

38:36>> The new land use codes that are about

38:39ready to come out, do they meet all the

38:41recommendations?

38:43>> We've been working with Anya pretty

38:44closely. We're trying to

38:47What is the word?

38:48Unify our approach to things.

38:51>> Yes.

38:52>> We're making a more efficient municipal

38:56machine.

38:58My turn.

38:59>> You and me.

38:59>> Trying trying to you know coordinate

39:01efforts so we don't undo things that

39:04other departments do and and make sure

39:07you know ordinances are followed within

39:09the city ourselves because sometimes

39:12city departments actually end up

39:13violating city ordinances due to lack of

39:16communication.

39:17>> Or just like counterintuitive things

39:19that exist within our current ordinance,

39:23which is nobody's fault. It's just the

39:25idea of having a living document that

39:27changes all the time.

39:29Um

39:31Yeah. And planning department division

39:33seems super on board with all of this.

39:35Anya comes to all of our meetings for

39:37the development of this.

39:39>> And that reminds me, I do watch the

39:41planning board meetings. I watch all the

39:43meetings actually. But anyway, and I I

39:45think once in a while I do hear that

39:47they refer that Anya would say she is

39:50talking with you guys. And I guess I

39:52have a thought now. When a new like say

39:54the bank going in on the corner of

39:56Broadway and

39:57State Street and any new business that's

40:00coming in and planting following through

40:02with that,

40:03do they have to make certain that the

40:05tree survive? Like if a tree does die,

40:08do they replace it? And I I'm sure it

40:10depends on if it's on their property or

40:12a street tree. But like

40:15how does that work?

40:16>> Yeah, so is different.

40:18>> There there are screening standards that

40:21businesses, depending on which

40:24district they're in,

40:26um they need to maintain. Downtown

40:28district is um

40:31fairly strict, and I'm not in the

40:33planning office, so I'm here I'm

40:35kind of hashing over all the details,

40:37but um as far as maintenance, I'm not

40:41100% sure. Honor would be the better

40:45person to ask that specific question,

40:47but there's definitely

40:49um screening yards between different

40:52uses, and with us now being on the

40:56planning team, per se, we're

40:59we're able to look at different plan

41:02submissions, and give suggestions for

41:05what trees should go where,

41:07find all the little details.

41:10>> Yeah.

41:16>> Okay.

41:17>> Yeah, impressive.

41:19>> Thank you.

41:20>> Yeah.

41:21>> Good job, everybody.

41:23>> Not done yet.

41:25>> [clears throat]

41:26>> We've got to get it right.

41:27Doesn't mean

41:28Well, one committee meeting and one

41:31>> Yeah.

41:32>> One

41:33>> city uh

41:34city council.

41:35>> Yeah.

41:35>> Yeah.

41:36>> Yeah.

41:36It should be uh we're not concerned. Um

41:39we also have the operational plan, which

41:41I can send to you all individually, but

41:42we don't like have a meeting between

41:45now and when we bring it to council, but

41:47we'll send that out to you guys to check

41:48over.

41:49>> Yeah, is the operational plan just how

41:51the operations work, or does it include

41:53like planting standards?

41:55>> It includes planting standards, it

41:56includes our updated um

42:00species list

42:01uh for public.

42:03We can only mandate public plantings, um

42:05and then it also includes um sort of

42:10we're developing a yearly calendar of

42:12like when things happen.

42:14At what time, including like plantings

42:16and

42:17you know, like we know we need to check

42:18in with you at this month about what you

42:20guys are doing, you know.

42:22Um, so it's

42:24sort of just like a map of how

42:28>> [clears throat]

42:29>> which will be helpful for the new people

42:30coming in.

42:33>> Yeah, I remembered another question I

42:35had was about protecting trees on

42:37private property.

42:39Um, and how that gets accomplished.

42:44>> Yeah, we're trying something new out.

42:46Um, it's not required, but we did our

42:49first kind of trial run of it and it

42:51went fairly well. Um,

42:53Ben and I are both trained to do using

42:55aerial imagery to sort of determine tree

42:57species and location and whatever that

42:59comes. Um,

43:00and

43:02it that allows us to kind of look at the

43:04lots where things are going in, um, cuz

43:06we go to the meetings now, so we know

43:08what's coming down the pipeline.

43:10We talked with Anya and Ann about it and

43:11they said, um,

43:13they from now on in the pre-application

43:16meetings are going to offer to those

43:18landowners if you would like to have Ben

43:20or Sophie come out to identify trees

43:23that should be preserved, um, for like

43:26either to save you money on your

43:28screening purposes or they're like over

43:29a certain diameter. Um,

43:32they set up a time with them and they'll

43:33go do that and we did that for the first

43:35time on Broadway and it went very well.

43:38So, um, and that's all on lots on your

43:4020 acres just cuz it isn't like feasible

43:42for us to go out to a 100 acre property

43:44and like

43:46>> You don't have any of those left.

43:47>> Well, yeah, okay.

43:49>> [laughter]

43:50>> Um, I'm back thinking about the big

43:52woods. Uh,

43:53but no, so, um,

43:55that's hopeful at least and it seems

43:57like folks are

43:59at least in this one scenario they

44:01bought into it fairly easily cuz it's at

44:02no cost to them. So.

44:09Okay.

44:11>> Thanks, Sarah.

44:14>> Thank you all.

44:15>> Thank you.

44:16>> Thank you.

44:19>> Hey.

44:21Unless anyone has anything else, I'll

44:22move us on to Bangor Beautiful fall tree

44:24planting, which was going to be last

44:26Friday, but because of cold wet rain, it

44:28is tomorrow.

44:33Here. Here. Here.

44:34>> Uh Sophie emailed earlier today. We're

44:36not doing the one median that currently

44:38exists because they're planning to add a

44:40second median.

44:42>> Uh they're going to do all three.

44:43>> Oh, they're going to add Great. Even

44:45better.

44:46Yeah. They're going to build out the

44:47other two medians, which are currently

44:49just asphalt and

44:51traffic paint into fully functional like

44:54um storm water

44:56uh

44:57processing like islands.

44:59>> Bio swales.

45:01>> No, we're not doing full bio swales um

45:03just because that would cost a lot of

45:05money and also then we would have to do

45:08some very fancy drainage stuff. Um

45:11essentially where we landed is we're

45:13going to try

45:15doing just granite curbing. Um it'll

45:17hold up better against the uh

45:20snow machines and then it'll also um

45:23allow for us to create like kind of gaps

45:25in the

45:26curbing to like have water drain through

45:29it and then out the other side so that

45:30there's an opportunity for water to pass

45:32over the roots and whatever gets

45:33absorbed gets absorbed.

45:35Um but we are going to do all three.

45:37Uh

45:39everyone seemed very on board with it,

45:41so

45:42should be

45:43we're planning for next spring.

45:47But we'll see. And then if all goes

45:48according to plan, we'll be able to put

45:50trees in it next spring.

45:53>> So there'll be less to plant.

45:54>> There will be 15

45:56uh there will be 14

45:58>> What's that?

45:58>> around the 19

46:00>> around the park. There were five in the

46:02one median.

46:03>> Okay.

46:03>> Um but because they're they're talking

46:05about doing heavy construction in the

46:07area, uh it's best not to put trees out

46:10at all.

46:10>> So, we'll hold on to them and store

46:11them.

46:14>> Only 15, maybe you'll have them all

46:16planted by 10.

46:17>> Yeah.

46:17>> Just come and admire them.

46:18>> Cuz we got double the time this time.

46:21>> I thought we were doing twice the

46:22number.

46:23>> We were going over which, you know,

46:26I don't know. I'm not a professional

46:28volunteer uh coordinator, so maybe a lot

46:31of people will show up out of community

46:33spirit, but maybe we'll have the same

46:35kind of, you know, six six to 12 people.

46:37>> Some of us are noncommittal. We just

46:39show up with anyway. We don't commit to

46:41ahead of time saying we're going to

46:42help.

46:43>> I do know we have a main Audubon

46:44volunteer coordinator, so that's great.

46:46And a friend of mine's coming.

46:46[clears throat]

46:47>> Yay.

46:50>> Two of us going to be leaving like now.

46:52>> Yeah.

46:52>> All right.

46:53>> Thank you for uh serving our

46:55>> And pick any days I'm probably available

46:58for the next meeting.

47:00>> Okay.

47:00>> And this time has worked fine.

47:04Especially now that the Kmart bus is

47:05back to running 21. I can actually take

47:08the bus again.

47:12Hey there.

47:15>> We no longer have a quorum, but I don't

47:17know if that we're not actually making

47:18any decisions.

47:19>> No, we're

47:22>> Um um

47:25Can I get an update on the invasive

47:27species downtown? Because that was part

47:29of what we were thinking about doing in

47:30Abbott Square was addressing the large

47:33burning bushes growing on the hill.

47:35Uh

47:36and if you two if your department's

47:38tackling

47:40all of the invasives downtown, uh

47:42that

47:43>> So, invasives,

47:45um we're working with Downtown Bangor

47:48Partnership. I believe she has lists and

47:51locations

47:53of where the invasives that they have

47:56noticed are. um currently at least in

47:59Adams Square, my crew has very nicely

48:02pruned said invasive but decorative

48:05species, so I'm going to hold off until

48:07spring

48:08um as far as removing them, uh but we

48:11have identified, you know, burning

48:13bushes and barbarian things throughout

48:17downtown that are going to get

48:20pulled,

48:21um but we just need to have an idea of

48:24what is going to go in their place

48:27in those beds, um and some of those beds

48:30are also within um Parks and Rec's

48:33purview, so

48:34not holding anything until we we discuss

48:37with Parks and Rec and you know, other

48:39downtown

48:41entities.

48:42>> So the plan is to get them out.

48:44>> Yeah, cuz like the I mean, especially

48:46just the highly visible ones, the ones

48:47in front of City Hall.

48:49>> Yeah, those are already on the docket.

48:51>> And they're not huge. And the burning

48:53bushes, I mean

48:55just cut them down to stumps and treat

48:56the stumps and

48:58>> They also seem to pop out really easily.

49:01I've just noticed, which is interesting.

49:04>> Okay.

49:06Okay. Well, I was just curious cuz

49:08we um

49:09I mean, I just want to see those gone.

49:10And as we're doing perimeter plantings,

49:13um

49:14you know, we could put those close up to

49:16where the shrubs

49:17>> Mhm.

49:18>> depending on I know some of them are

49:19like down on a severe slant.

49:24>> Okay.

49:24>> Yeah. And I'll um

49:26be out there earlier than 8:00 tomorrow.

49:28If I mean, you don't have to join me,

49:30but I'm going to bring all the trees

49:32over

49:33and just sort of do some layout of like

49:34where things are going.

49:35>> Yeah.

49:36>> Um

49:37and

49:38you'll be there, right?

49:39>> Yes.

49:40>> Yes. Yeah, and then we also have Marsha

49:42and Tyler.

49:43Um

49:44so we should honestly kind of fly by.

49:47But I say that.

49:48>> Yeah. I mean, I don't know what the

49:51digging will be. The median I was

49:53expecting to be the hardest spot, but

49:54the perimeter I think probably It's

49:57still probably going to be filled.

49:58>> Yeah. There is in that meeting that we

50:01were talking about we're doing the

50:02islands where the pay or the scanner is

50:05with the arms when you go back into the

50:08permit lot, um there is a wire that is

50:11not mapped that goes under that little

50:14jet out. So, we need to kind of be

50:17either change the placement so that it's

50:18further back or just be super careful.

50:22>> Okay.

50:22>> Um so, and uh

50:25Park Emerson who

50:27uh

50:28not runs the thing, but he maintains all

50:30of our public parking lots.

50:32Um he's aware that we're

50:34doing it and there's a

50:36um

50:37sort of an informal parking ban that

50:39we're doing in the morning.

50:41So.

50:42Yeah.

50:44So, we should have some space.

50:49>> That's the last I mean, we have no

50:51resident tree removal requests. So, this

50:53is the last thing on the

50:55agenda. Um

50:57we're missing

50:59for tomorrow, I think.

51:02Should go pretty well.

51:03>> Yeah, I think it'll be great. And we'll

51:04have water, so.

51:07I Are you going to bring potentially?

51:09>> Potentially.

51:10>> Oh, no.

51:10>> Tomorrow is the snow plow program.

51:14I could bring bring my trailer with 90

51:17gallon water.

51:18>> I think you can fit it. It's probably a

51:20good thing that

51:21>> the whole the tank

51:22>> Oh my god.

51:23Oh my god.

51:25>> It'll work.

51:26>> Yeah, it will.

51:27>> So, one time like 10 years ago when they

51:29were re- redoing West Market

51:32Pickering Square West Market Square.

51:34When they were doing the construction,

51:36the

51:37sewer department had just a temporary

51:39like spigot locked spigot hooked up to a

51:42fire

51:43>> Yes.

51:43>> bank. So, like if you're doing corridor

51:45plantings, could you get a sewer

51:48department, a water department to go in

51:50and put a locked spigot on so that, you

51:52know, Marsha could fill up her truck

51:54right there as opposed to having to

51:56drive back.

51:56>> Yes.

51:57>> Like that would be

51:58>> And that is, surprisingly enough,

52:01something I have just talked about with

52:03the water department because we've been

52:05tasked with figuring square.

52:07Um so, they will

52:09provide us with a meter, um but we do

52:12need to provide, I believe, our own flow

52:15device.

52:17Which we had Marsha set up

52:19with a hose to fill her, but we were we

52:21did not have a backflow device, so.

52:24>> Okay. So, that is something that is

52:26possible and it can could even be done.

52:30Okay, cool. Cuz that's

52:33it's always getting, you know, water is

52:35really heavy.

52:36>> It is.

52:36>> And if you've got if you've only got an

52:3880-gallon tank,

52:39>> Mhm.

52:39>> you're not going to go that far.

52:41>> Yep.

52:41>> So, cool. That's nice.

52:44That would be cool. You could do that.

52:47Um

52:48All right.

52:49Well,

52:51I don't have anything else.

52:52>> Do we want to discuss scheduling?

52:53>> Oh, yes. Um

52:56We had a a pattern going.

53:00It was like second

53:02>> It was the second Wednesday.

53:03>> Second Wednesday, but this is

53:05third Wednesday.

53:06>> Yeah, someone had something last week.

53:08>> Uh it was school board. I think we

53:10>> Right. Cuz they had been

53:13elsewhere and then they came back, so we

53:15>> Yeah.

53:15>> And the bank was moved. So, third

53:18Wednesdays.

53:20Um

53:21Would 4:30 work?

53:23>> Yeah.

53:24>> What about for me?

53:29All right, and we're in October, so the

53:31next one would be

53:36January?

53:37>> It sounds right.

53:38>> Yep.

53:41>> And you're starting at first month of

53:43the quarter

53:45third Wednesday

53:464:35

53:48Is the main

53:49>> I agree.

53:51>> Yeah, so the main council chambers are

53:53free.

54:01>> Good job.

54:02>> Easy.

54:04All right, thanks for the room.

54:06Are you getting it?

54:07>> I will.

54:08>> Oh.

54:11Thanks for coming.

54:12>> It was great.

54:13>> [clears throat]

54:14>> And we have some of the tissues.

54:15>> Yeah, sure.

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