Shade Tree committee asks council to approve Bayne Park arboretum; estimated start‑up costs under $3,500

Melissa Sturgis, co‑chair of the Shade Tree Advisory Committee, asked Fairview Park City Council for permission to establish a Level‑1 accredited arboretum in Bayne Park and to authorize related small expenditures.

Sturgis said the certification body (referred to in the presentation as an accrediting organization sometimes called “Arboretum”) requires identification and labeling of about 25 trees for a Level‑1 designation and an annual software subscription to host tree data. “To do the 26 trees, it's about $700. If we label all the ones I have found, we're looking at about $1,200,” Sturgis said, and she noted the PlantSoon software runs about $360 per year.

Why it matters: an accredited arboretum would create a public, searchable record of tree species in Bayne Park, support educational visits from local schools and scouts, and potentially make the site eligible for small grants.

Financial and logistics details: presenters and staff gave line‑item cost estimates during the meeting. Tree tags were quoted at about $17.50 each when ordered in quantities and hardware at roughly $2 per tag. A simple entryway sign would cost about $12.75 and a sign with a map about $920; one staff estimate put the total to get the arboretum fully up and running at less than $3,500. City staff and committee members confirmed there is roughly $3,000 currently available in the Shade Tree Advisory Committee account and that parks funds might be another source.

Next steps and council response: Councilmembers and staff asked a range of practical questions about ongoing maintenance, whether small trees would require stake signage rather than tree‑mounted tags, and whether additional ordinance or a resolution would be required to designate the arboretum. The council president and law director indicated that if city money were expended a piece of legislation would be appropriate; one council member said a resolution to “designate space” would likely suffice.

What the committee asked the council to do: Sturgis sought formal authorization to proceed with Level‑1 accreditation, labeling of initial trees, and use of committee funds to cover the initial costs. Councilmembers thanked the committee for the presentation and agreed to draft appropriate legislation or a resolution; no final legislative action was taken at the meeting.

Community interest: committee members reported volunteers and local schools have expressed interest in participating in labeling and education activities. The committee asked council to allow it to proceed with the pilot project around the cabin area of Bayne Park and to bring an ordinance or resolution forward for formal approval.