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Tree and Sidewalk Commission asks Rochester Downtown Partnership to decide on downtown tree plantings
Summary
The commission agreed it can supply small trees this fall if the Rochester Downtown Partnership commits to a planting and maintenance plan; members also authorized staff follow-up with cost-share applicants who missed deadlines so funds can be reallocated.
The Tree and Sidewalk Commission said it will supply replacement trees for downtown tree pits if the Rochester Downtown Partnership (RDP) clarifies its intent and species choices, and members asked staff to press cost-share recipients who have not completed agreed sidewalk work.
The commission’s chair opened the discussion saying the board would be ‘‘more than happy to plant trees’’ but needed RDP to state whether it intends to restore pits removed earlier and what trees it prefers. Members raised concerns that trees planted without a shared plan risk growing into buildings or being removed, wasting limited public funds.
An agency official reported several recent removals and identified three empty tree pits on the south side of the Smith Sawyer building as candidates for new plantings. Committee members suggested small, upright species such as dogwoods or crabapples as possible options and said soil probes and pit inspections will be needed before purchase.
The commission also discussed recent cost-share sidewalk awards. Members noted the program’s completion deadline (projects must be finished by July 31) and agreed that Dwayne (agency staff) will contact awardees who have not acted and give them a final reminder or deadline so unused funds can be returned to the sidewalk program or used for a late-season city project.
The commission emphasized coordination among the mayor’s office, RDP and the board to avoid duplicative or conflicting actions downtown. Chair said the group should ‘‘get everybody’s head together’’ and present a single plan so funds and plantings are not wasted. Members tentatively agreed the board could plant trees this fall if RDP commits and provides design direction.
The commission approved the March minutes at the start of the meeting and later adjourned without further formal votes on planting or reassigning funds; members said those items will return for follow-up at a future meeting.
