CITY PARKS, RECREATION & CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Meeting held Tuesday, February 4, 2020
PROCEEDINGS BY AUTHORITY
State of New York, City of Jamestown
The regular meeting of the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Commission of the City of Jamestown, New York, was held on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 at 5:00 in Jamestown New York.
Those present representing the Commission were:
Commissioner Dave Anderson
Commissioner John Bauer
Commissioner Russ Diethrick
Commissioner Cindy DiNapoli
Commissioner Kim Ecklund
Commissioner Adam Irgang
Commissioner Chris Prinzi
Commissioner Jennifer Williams
Commissioner Bob Whitney
Others Present:
Dan Stone, Arborist
Julia Ciesla-Hanley, Recreation Coordinator
Morgan Phillips, citizen
Absent:
Commissioner Vickye James
Commissioner Dave Reinhardt
The meeting was called to order by Cindy DiNapoli.
Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting.
A motion was made by Commissioner Bauer and seconded by Commissioner Whitney to approve the minutes of the January 7, 2020 meeting. Carried.
Opportunity for Persons to Address Commission.
None
Reports of Committees and Projects.
Report from the Riverfront Management Council/Riverwalk: Dan Stone said more concrete boxes are going in behind the Board of Public Utilities. Originally, they were going to put in a permeable/porous pavement but the concession was to do the boxes to slow water draining. Dan said the boxes would be planted with trees and flowers with some of the boxes remaining slightly above ground. He said the boxes are located on either side of the path in order to catch run-off best. He said logs for turtles have been placed in the pond/swamp area by Panzarella Island. Dave Anderson asked if there will be money left for signage. Dan believed so. He said the path is still walkable even with construction. The rip rap goes all along the south side of the basin. Dave asked if work will be done on the north side. Dan said there is no money for work on that side at this time and the focus of this grant was the south side of the basin. He added that both sides of the basin were sprayed for poison ivy though, which was a contracted job approved by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Dan said he will be cutting down three Ash trees at the Keelboat Landing, which will be replaced with brick. He wants to see future plans for the Riverwalk before he plants new trees in their place.
Tree Update: Russ Diethrick asked if the tree population has increased or decreased in the city. Dan Stone said we’ve been able to replant and keep the numbers the same, despite all the Ash trees that had to come down last season. Dan said thanks to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, funding from the city, and donations, we’ve been able to keep planting going. Dave Anderson said he hopes to see that support continued under the new mayor and with new city council members. Kim Ecklund said council is still supportive. Dan said the city is receiving the Tree City USA designation again and we have the Sterling City designation. He’s hoping to also receive a grant he’s applied for, which he should hear by Arbor Day on the status of that. Dan said he ordered 250 trees in the Fall and plans to order more in the Spring. The Allen Park Women’s Club made a donation to do plantings in Allen Park and he’s also looking at doing some plantings on Elizabeth Avenue. Dan ordered a bigger spreading variety of Crab Apple tree for Veterans Park. He said he bought the most amount of American Elms he ever has to plant in place of the Ash trees that came down. Dan will be planting with local schools and Jamestown Community College is receiving the Tree Campus USA designation again.
Dan provided an update on the West Third Street “Cathedral” Oak trees (see supplemental document). He said he took down 6 trees last week on West Third Street. Dan said not every tree taken down will be replaced due to soil condition, lack of sun, and old root systems. He said the existing trees are fighting for space, so they are taller versus being wider. Russ Diethrick asked if Dan had seen a photo of the street when the trees had been planted. Dan said that section of West Third was much narrower and that the street was widened in the 1980s. He said he thinks the trees on the south side of the street have had a harder time due to an old gas line that National Fuel replaced. He did try to treat a few trees using grant money, but it doesn’t make sense for the long-term. Russ asked if there were any other streets in the city that could take a hit like the West Third Oaks. Dan said Beechview with its Norway Maples is at risk. He could cut down every tree from Buffalo Street north. He’s also been trying to deal with take-downs at the Stadium. Russ asked if any of the parks are at that kind of risk. Dan doesn’t think there’s anything in the immediate future that would have to be done like that. He said Beechview is the only street that comes to mind as a street that will be hit hard for tree take-downs next. Dan said it’s hard for him to cut down trees and he doesn’t feel bad about the ones coming down on West Third. In the last wind storm, we didn’t lose any city-owned trees but there were private trees that came down. Dan said Doug Hoisington did a great job in the Parks with diversifying trees. He foresees that all the Oaks on West Third Street will have to come down in the next 5 to 10 years. They’re at the end of their life cycle and they can’t make enough nutrients to stay alive. Dan said he’s stockpiling the wood of the trees they’ve taken down. It’s not good for a saw mill because of the amount of metal in the wood from nails. They plan to make bleacher boards or benches out of the old wood. Dan is looking at planting an Elm by Lind’s Funeral Home. He wants to maintain the canopy if he can. Dan is also looking at a tree inventory program that can give the dollar value of the trees, including environmental impact, and cost benefits to homes.
Skate Park Grant Update: Julia said the Request for Proposal is still being worked with hopes that it’ll go out later this week. She said Department of Public Works has been working to clean up the site.
Veterans Park: Julia passed out a packet of correspondence related to Pete Carlo’s request to place a tank in Veterans Park. Former Mayor Sam Teresi had forwarded recent communications he received and had sent regarding Mr. Carlo’s request. The consensus is that the Parks Commission is still in agreement that they do not recommend Veterans Park as the location for the placement of a tank and recommend Mr. Carlo seek out alternate non-park locations.
City Rec Baseball Sign-Ups: Julia said sign-ups will be March 16th with the manager’s meeting scheduled for mid-February. Kim Ecklund said she wants to do a press release on the scholarship to bring more attention to that being available. She’d like a notice to be sent to the Jamestown Boys & Girls Club too. Russ asked if the scholarship fund needed any additional donations. Kim said it’s at a healthy level for now. Bob Whitney said that the Jamestown Babe Ruth League is expanding their base for ages 13 and up to include kids who live outside of Jamestown now.
Good of the Order:
PRC Chair Cindy DiNapoli requested a moment of silence in memory of Commissioner Jim Ventura who died recently. Jim had been a member of the PRC for a number of years and had prior served as a City Councilmember.
Adjournment
The next meeting is Tuesday, March 3, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Julia Ciesla-Hanley
