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1. Help make policy that may affect trees. The City manager has requested citizens to apply to various City boards and commissions. Nearly all of these committees interface with trees in some way. The decisions of these groups do have an impact on trees and their maintenance, or the lack of well maintained trees in our city. There is a need for experts and non-experts. Apply by writing a letter to the City Manager by January 22 to Robert Healy, City Manager, 795 Mass. Ave., Cambridge MA 02139. For more information, contact Lisa Peterson at 349-4300 or lisap@ci.cambridge.ma.us.
The Boards currently seeking members are: Advisory Board of Environmentally Desirable Practices, Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, Affordable Housing Trust Board, Animal Commission, Arts Council, Board of Zoning Appeals, Board of Survey, Cambridge Housing Authority (elderly applicants preferred), Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, Central Square Advisory Committee, Commercial Parking committee,  Commission on the Status of Women, Consumer Advisory Committee, Disabilities Commission, Half Crown Neighborhood Conservation District Commission, Harvard Square Advisory Committee, Historical Commission, Human Rights Commission, Human Services Commission, Library Board of Trustees, Mid- Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission, Peace Commission, Planning Board, Police Review and Advisory Board, ( East Cambridge applicants needed), Public Art Committee, Recycling Advisory Committee, Traffic Board, Water Board.

2. Hearing on Fresh Pond plan and Neville Manor is set at City Hall for Thursday January 14 at 5:30. A plan has been developed which assumes that Neville Manor nursing home and a new assisted living facility will be on the Fresh Pond reservation. Some people want to understand WHY it is necessary to build this here. The response is that the assisted living people want to be close to the nursing home. Another argument is that Neville Manor is a historic building. Another is that the size needs to be 100 units to be fiscally viable, and be attractive to wealthy folks who will subsidize the affordable units. Some of the soccer advocates are upset at loosing the Lusitania Soccer Field to a meadow, although the plan involves the creation of another field. This is a hotly contested issue. We need affordable housing for elderly, for assisted living and for ordinary folks in Cambridge. And we need trees and open space for everyone. We have research which proves that access to the view of trees does “Patients recovering from surgery in a room with a view of trees reportedly required fewer strong pain relievers, experienced fewer complications, and were released from the hospital sooner than those without a tree view.”

3. Did you see the picture in the TAB on page 3 of the students from Haggerty School and Buckingham, Brown and Nichols who did tree maintenance and mulching around Haggerty School? Congratulations to Karen Kosko, Jean Rogers, and the scores of others involved in making a great event! Greg Garber, our new head of  Parks, put together a tree maintenance kit for community groups to borrow when they need to use tools for maintenance of public trees. Call Karen if you wish to schedule a public tree mulching and tree care program with your community organization. at 547-1413.

4. Greenspace Committee met Tuesday January 12 and heard reports on a collection of strategies for open space acquisition. And a committee to celebrate and educate Cantabridgians about the green space and community gardens which we currently have. Next meeting is Feb. 9 7 p.m. For more information, contact Debbie Kershner 868-8481.

5. The work of two supporters of the Cambridge Tree Project is highlighted in the latest Sanctuary, the magazine of the Audubon Society. Prilla Smith Brackett has some powerful paintings: Remnants: Old Growth in the White Mountains #2 and Remnants: Communion #10. [So many Cambridge artists draw trees and work with wood. Where could we have a show this spring or next fall? Who might be interested in working on this? Reply to this email] Vera Cohen, who did some great research on trees in Cambridge many years ago, wrote “Of POPS and People: Lack of full scientific knowledge is not a reason for inaction when something threatens irreversible harm to health of the environment.”
6. Tree Removal Hearing set for Thursday Jan. 28, 5:30 p.m. in the Ackermann Room of City Hall.  The hearing is about the removal of a Norway Maple, 18 inches in diameter, located on Putnam Avenue behind 784 Memorial Drive. This hearing was postponed because the tree posted for removal was not the tree in question. Some think a City Tree Replacement Ordinance would help set a basis for these issues should the removal be indicated.

7. Some think a City Tree Replacement Policy would help set a basis for these issues should the removal be indicated. A draft has been circulated to Public Planting Committee:
     Basal Area Tree Replacement Policy

     Trees will be replaced by determining the number of 2 1/2” diameter trees which would fit in the area (at ground level) of the trunk of the tree to be replaced.

     Where ignorance, accident, negligence and repeated acts are indicated, additional replacements or fines may be required. Definitions and penalties will be developed later.
 

[Arborist Larry Acosta proposes Goals and one change in wording:
Goal is to demonstrate to citizens that the city is proactive in developing legislation that protects public trees.

To establish precedent for the replacement of  trees so that each case doesn’t’ have to be argued as extensively on a case by case basis.

To establish a city standard for tree replacement

1. Some think a City Tree Replacement Policy would help set a basis for these issues should the removal be indicated. A draft has been circulated to Public Planting Committee:
 Basal Area Tree Replacement Policy

Trees will be replaced by determining the number of 2 1/2” diameter trees which would fit in the area (at ground level) of the trunk of the tree to be replaced.

Where ignorance,  negligence and repeated acts are indicated, additional replacements or fines may be required. Definitions and penalties will be developed later.
 

8. Our web site needs a new home . Do you have any suggestions. http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/DoanePerry/homepage.htm

9. We have begun collecting a Cambridge Tree Handbook, including some of the contract language used related to trees. We have included pruning and park contract language. Some members of the Public Planting Committee are reviewing the contract specifications. If you know of any guidelines, contract language, rules or suggestions on trees, please let us know so we can incorporate them in the Handbook. We are interested in successful models from other cities and states.
Cambridge Tree Project Calendar:

Jan. 13 Public Planting meeting. Hearing on Backyard Zoning.

Jan. 14. 5:30 Hearing on Neville Manor and Fresh Pond Reservoir at City Hall

Jan. 15-16 Mass. Municipal Association Annual Conference Contact 617-426-7272

Jan. 20 Hearing on Open Space acquisition led by City Councillor Michael Sullivan. Kennedy School, East Cambridge

Jan 20-22 Financing  the Urban Forest National Conference, Nebraska City, NE. Contact National Arbor Day Foundation 402-474-5655.

Jan 28-30  New England Grows, Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Mass. Arborists Assn. 508-653-3309.

Feb. 2-3    Tree Wardens Conference, Danvers. Contact Louis Cassasanto 508-365-2842
Larry Acosta, our arborist, will present on preventive maintenance programs.

Feb. 2-3   Trees Utilities National Conference, Nebraska City, NE. Contact the National Arbor Foundation. 402-474-5655.
Feb 9   7-9 p.m. High School, Debbie Kershner 868-8481
Feb 19      Trees in the Urban Landscape. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston. Contact Doug Williams, 508-869-6111 x21

Feb.26    Ecology and the Managed Landscape, Boxborough. Contact Ecological Landscaping Assn. 978-897-7490.

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