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CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK <br /> Committee Chair McBride stated, One (1) of the reasons I asked you to come in is because there <br /> is some action needing to be taken on these ordinances to reflect the needs of the EAC and the <br /> Park Board. <br /> Mr. Sass continued, That brings me to my last slide. We are recommending the EAC works with <br /> the Council in any way they can to help rewrite these ordinances to figure out how we improve the <br /> system of our planting in our City. I also wanted to introduce myself and the EAC to the Council <br /> because we are required to do so by ordinance. <br /> Councilmember Davis stated, I will join anybody to cosponsor something to update this. Let's get <br /> together in the next few weeks. <br /> Committeemember Erin Patzkowsky asked, So this isn't just residential, this is all properties, <br /> correct? <br /> Councilmember Davis interjected, Yes, it is throughout the whole City. <br /> Mr. Sass replied, There is a really good opportunity to clarify a lot of this. It is decades old and, I <br /> tell Aaron all the time, South Bend is in a great situation to be a State-wide leader in advancing <br /> some of these ecological policies. We are a tree city but looking into that, they don't distinguish <br /> what kind of trees are required. <br /> Councilmember Davis left the meeting at 4:19 p.m. <br /> Councilmember Broden stated, So as we go forward, we often have petitioners who can't use <br /> perimeter landscaping trees. They ask because they can't do it to volunteer planting trees <br /> elsewhere. I would hope perhaps your Committee would look at that. If there is a one (1) to one <br /> (1) relationship and those kinds of things. If that property isn't hitting that mark, I want to make <br /> sure those plantings can be made. And then other than just trees in considering within the tree <br /> lawn,the Bowman Creek Initiative is actually promoting rain gardens. For some individuals,their <br /> tree lawn could actually be a place for a rain garden. So maybe rain gardens instead of trees because <br /> then you do have an ecological benefit. So there are some trade-offs in some situations for rain <br /> gardens or even natural landscaping might be allowed. <br /> Committee Chair McBride opened the floor to members of the public. <br /> Sue Kesim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, stated, I am a Purdue Master Gardener. I have over five hundred <br /> (500) people in Michiana gardeners. I've worked with Unity Gardens for years and one (1) of the <br /> suggestions I made to Aaron at one (1) of the Park Board meetings is that the Park Board license <br /> arborists. I've seen a lot of bad arboring done in the City and I would like, as part of the tree <br /> licensing procedure that happens annually, these petitioners should get updates on invasive trees. <br /> There is also a horrible thing called volcano mulching because it actually rots the base of the tree <br /> and kills it in about three (3) years. I see that a lot. Topping trees and banning trees in the middle <br /> of streets and things like that. I think since the City holds that licensing, I think it would be easy <br /> for them to hold a two (2) or three (3) hour seminar they are required to attend to get updates on <br /> things I've mentioned as well as best practices. I would be glad, as I am a Master Gardener and <br /> having over five hundred(500) people follow me as a gardener, to help with that. <br /> EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT <br /> 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Bvld I South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 if574.235.9173 TTD574.235.55671www.southbendin.gov <br /> 4 <br />