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Commission plans BioBlitz, Arbor Day plantings, website updates and coordination with local partners
Summary
Commissioners discussed a planned citizen-science BioBlitz/tree inventory event, an Arbor Day planting, a tree‑bank planting partnership, and updating the commission’s web page and a service portal; event dates were discussed but the transcript records conflicting dates and points listeners to the city's Facebook event for confirmation.
The commission discussed outreach and events that would support tree inventory, volunteer plantings and public engagement.
Gene described a planned BioBlitz / partial tree-inventory citizen‑science event coordinated with the East Side library and hosted as a public walk to collect street-tree photos using iNaturalist. The event will include volunteers and experts (the transcript names potential partners including Rural Action, Athens Conservancy and Voinovich School) and the commission discussed using the collected data with the city’s GIS. Commissioners said the library had posted a Facebook event; the transcript contains inconsistent date references (speakers mentioned April 19 and April 27 for the BioBlitz at different points). The meeting noted the city Facebook event lists April 19, and the commission encouraged members to check the city page for the confirmed date.
Commissioners also discussed Arbor Day planting opportunities in April and suggested coordinating with Catherine Ann Jordan at Arts Park and Rec, which previously helped plant and maintain trees (including water and aftercare). Suggested planting sites included: the area behind the new firehouse along the bike path, a pocket park near Mound Street/Stimpson, Westside Park along the bike path toward the student farm, and near the new armory park. Commissioners discussed partnering with Arts Park and Rec, Voinovich School volunteers, the Arbor Day Foundation and other volunteers for planting and aftercare.
Separately, Gene reported that the Sustainability Commission is considering a web portal to receive tree-care and removal requests; commissioners agreed coordinating website updates and contact information (including forwarding and individual commission emails) would help direct requests to the Shade Tree Commission instead of losing them in other offices. The commission also reviewed Tree City USA materials (sourced from the Arbor Day Foundation) as a resource for reapplication and growth-award items.
Commissioners planned follow-up actions: Gene to coordinate with the library and partners, chair or staff to coordinate with Catherine Ann Jordan for Arbor Day/Earth Day opportunities, communications volunteers to update web contact information and check the city's event listings for the BioBlitz date. The commission noted another meeting would occur roughly a week before the planned April event and urged quick coordination.
