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Committee to post arborist job and defer major plantings until spring; donor funds remain available
Summary
The committee said the dedicated arborist position has been approved and is expected to be posted soon; members decided to defer large-scale plantings until early spring, noting an unspent $10,000 donation and nursery credits that can be used later.
Committee members reviewed staffing and funds for tree work. The chair said the arborist position has been approved and that staff expect to post the job soon, run a two-week application period and complete interviews so the new hire could be in place for the next planting season.
On funding, the chair noted an unspent $10,000 donation and existing nursery credits; the donor has requested a report because the money has not been spent. Members discussed whether to use the donation and nursery credit for fall plantings but raised concerns about irrigation water quality and plant survival.
David and other members explained that pressurized irrigation (PI) water in parts of the city is high in salts and alkalinity, which damages new plantings and can make fall plantings likely to fail. Given irrigation and temperature concerns, the committee agreed to push larger plantings to early spring and to ask members to scout potential planting locations in the meantime.
The chair asked staff to post the arborist job, report back on the donor request, and prepare a planting plan for early spring that accounts for PI vs culinary water availability.
