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>> Yeah. Right. Next. Next. Um it doesn't we we can move on to me and wait for Josh and >> All right. So up first I'm gonna have the presentation by town engineer Kier Moimer on local law number three vehicle and traffic regulations. So Keith the floor is yours. >> Okay. All right. Good evening. Um we have a um an agenda item for a public hearing coming up um at our uh board meeting after this to have a public hearing for some changes made to uh chapter 320 uh vehicle and traffic. Um we have three sections where we are making some updates. Um these are all ads. It's going to be section 3201. No stopping, no standing, [snorts] no parking regulations.

32 uh-4 intersection designation are designated. This is actually for um some lane restrictions. Um in this particular case, it's protected left turn lanes. And then finally 320-6 um locations designated. This is actually for stop sign control off on the minor approach of a couple of intersections. >> Okay. Uh the first one, no stopping, no standing, no parking. This is going to be for Tour Road. Uh this is actually um for everyone's reference, Tibbor Road was recently reconstructed. Um and this was all part of the uh new fairife project that we have out there. Um we are um installing no stopping signs uh on T-R the entire length of T-R um from on the north and south sides from Basket Road to the Fairlife truck access.

Uh this is so that we don't have any overnight parking um or large vehicles parking on either side of Tour Road. um and impeding traffic flow. It is a fairly narrow road with um limited shoulders. So, we feel like this is the best um regulation for that. >> Can I ask a quick question on that or do you want to wait till the end? >> You >> Yeah, ask away. No. >> So, Tardo Road runs east and west, right? >> Yep. >> So, where are the no stopping signs going to be? They're going to be on the north and south sides of Tore Road. >> So road east runs east west and then on the north and south side. So >> Okay.

>> Right. >> So it has nothing to do with having stop signs on basket road. So more trucks coming out of there don't have to stop. >> No, no, no, no. Okay. No, no, no, no, no. This is a no stopping is a So these are restricting just so everyone understands. The stopping, no standing, and no parking are in relationship to if a vehicle want if a a motorist wanted to to stop or park along the edge of a road, there are three regulations set out by the uh mun uh manual of uniform traffic control devices and they go from the least restrictive to the most. So the least is no parking. Then the next restrictive is no standing.

And then finally the the most restrictive is no stopping, which means you're not allowed to stop there at all. Right? You there's just no opportunity. There's no reason for you to be there at all stopped. And we're uh we have uh that road is um to be posted with no stopping. >> Thank you, Keith. Sorry. >> So Keith, a quick question while we're on Tour Road here. >> Yep. If there's a backup in Fairlife where there's a backup of trucks getting in Yep. >> and it backs up, is there going to be a backup plan or you have to tell Fairlife and your trucks, hey, if we're overflowing in Fairlife parking lot because there's a truck stuck in the bay that can't get out, >> where do they park instead?

Do they, you know, trying to imagine like the bottleneck? >> Yep. Yep. And that was all discussed, I believe, as part of they they're all of their queuing, >> okay, >> of truck traffic, the milk tanker trucks and things is all to occur on site. So there it's none of they're they are not to be queuing in for a substantial amount of time on T-Bore Road itself. So yeah, they will be coming they should be coming through the gate. They get checked in and then they move on. And if they're waiting for a bay to open up that all that queuing is to be occurring on site. It's not to occur on Toro Road at all.

>> There's a pretty long loop on the Fairlife property for that queueing to take place. A very very very large loop. >> Good. Just as long as we got a backup where we know that there's enough in there and this should not right >> cause a contra. >> Oh, trust me. This was a >> long drawn out conversation with Fairlife to make sure that they accumulate they accommodated all their trucker trailer traffic on their site. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Okay. >> Okay. Uh the the next section is uh 320-4. It's called intersections designated. In this case, it's for stop sign control. So, we've [clears throat] got at least uh four new intersections that have resulted from various um developments.

Primarily, these are all residential developments. And so, with this, you uh we are putting stop sign controls on what I'll call the minor approach to a major um roadway. So, you'll see here, for example, Alyssa Way um is a southbound is a road that runs north south. So on the southbound approach which is on Alyssa way at Schlaggel, it would be stop stop sign controlled. The others just kind of follow the same suit. Okay, we have a couple of slides here for um section 320-6. This is locations designated. This is for in this particular case there's two types of designations for lanes. It's either a left turn lane um or pocket or a right turn lane or pocket.

Um in this case tonight um all we're um we have is left turn lanes and these are all associated with the Bay Road um road diet project. So these all came through from Monroe County um and they were all and I backed them with their plans themselves. So these represent where um at some of these intersections you're going to have such as a back basis road you're going to have opposing left turns um meaning there's uh protected left turn lanes for north and south and then just continuing on at other intersections there'll be locations where there is just a uh a protected north northbound um left or at other intersections where it's a southbound left.

And a lot of that is just in relationship to how that side road comes into the either on the east or the west side of Bay Road. >> So Keith, just to visualize this, will some of these be like in in like be like a middle turning lane? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Yep. Yep. >> Sorry, just trying to >> Yep. No, that's a good question. It's so as we all understand the um the Bay Road is is going through what they call a road diet, which means it's going from a four-lane section to a threelane section. And they're utilizing some of that pavement. They're not taking away any pavement, but they're going to reutilize some of that pavement out there to create what's called a center turn lane or refuge lane.

And at many of the intersections along Bay Road, they will actually get designated as a true uh left turn pocket >> through striping, I presume. >> Yep. All through striping, right? >> Yep. Yep. >> Can you hear me? Am I too far from the >> No, you're you're good. >> Okay. >> My kids tell me I'm deaf, so if I can hear you, you're all set. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yes. Yes. Yeah. I expect that this this change alone will help a lot with um rear end type of accidents, sideswipes, and um even um frontal or head-on collisions. >> So, are these all then with the Bayro Diet like final stages of that project once everything's done striping?

>> Yep. >> These then go live once that's >> Yep. Yep. And the whole process of going through this this um amendment is so that all of these um changes can be enforcable as part of our town code. >> Makes sense. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you, Keith. Yeah. And Keith. Um >> should I move on with my next traffic engineering? >> Yes. >> You're on a roll. [laughter] >> Yeah. Up next uh will be a discussion by town engineer Keith Mortimer on a proposed request for disability signage. Um I know Keith, you've been working on this one for a while and I think you came up with something pretty damn good here.

>> Thank you. Thank you. Yes. So almost exactly uh a little under a year ago, we had a resident um who came to us with a request um to post a warning sign for um uh autistic children in the area. And re in research um I come to realize that we really didn't have any kind of formal process for um really any of these uh disability types of signs and and how to apply them consistently. Um so went out did did a fair amount of research and and I'll be I'll give the um city of Buffalo you know 99% of the credit. this is their form with a lot of this is their form with our letter head across the top of it.

So took advantage of of all the work that they have done um and it is consistent with like I said what what was the impetus behind this was the um children with autism but we also chose to um look at the deaf child as well as the blind child um situation. So what I will kind of bring your attention to and it's really the criteria for this is fairly straightforward but is important. Um the first thing is is that they have to you know the the the requesty has to provide a completed application of course and they need to provide a note from their doctor that says that you know this is a verified condition.

And then once those two things are provided, then we go through these four criteria and these are actually established criteria by the New York State supplemental to the manual of uniform traffic control devices. And they are just as simply, you know, is the child with autism under the age of 18? Um, does the street traffic have less than 2,000 vehicles a day? So to kind of put that in context, if you assume a a typical residential street, which is kind of what the characteristic they're talking about here, in the peak hour, you wouldn't expect expect more than maybe 100 or 200 vehicles at any one time.

Um the speed limit um has to be 35 miles per hour or less. And again, the big kind of the overriding criteria here is the roadway has to be residential in nature. So, we expect to see a lot of or we don't expect to see a lot um but we would expect these types of signs to be posted in areas where you know it's a residential neighborhood um at play and um assuming that that is all met um you know it goes through the approval process. We do require the applicant um to come back to us every year and and sort of confirm that they are still residents on that street um and that their child is still um 18 or younger without that verification on a yearly basis.

We then have the the you know we have the availability to remove that sign. So there is some bonus put back on the applicant to just keep us a breast that they're they're still they're still present on the street. And at the bottom there's just some of the resources that we've used to to pull this together. But again, this is sort of a one of the many formal I'll call it formal processes that we want to the engineering department want to put in place to be consistent across the board. So this is sort of our first toe into that pond right now. >> Any questions? >> Anything from the board? >> Is there any plan to consider other potential aspects?

I I know I've seen some signs about, you know, blind children in the area or blind person. Is there a process for other types of scenarios like this? >> I would think we could apply this the same situation. So this is primarily and I I will admit or I [snorts] will kind of this is very much geared towards um I guess a minor. >> So that's sort of the uh the impetus but >> I I don't know that we actually have a >> is he mailing these >> um I would have to look into to what criteria would have to go into if we're going to consider for say a um an adult. >> Sure. Just curious. Are how would the parents get these?

I'm sorry. >> Yep. Go ahead. >> How would the parents get notified that these are going to be available? >> Well, we don't have a we we don't have a formal advertising process. I do have a resident who has been waiting for us to establish this pro this criteria. >> No, it's I think this is fantastic. I am 100% behind you. My question, my my concern is h how are parents with a deaf or blind child or autism, how are they going to know about this availability? >> Yeah, I mean it is I mean I I think you know we could I don't know how you know um efficient it is or but I mean our website is certainly a place to start.

>> Yeah. You know, certainly. >> Have you I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> Well, no, I'm just I mean I I kind I uh I requested to do this here at the at the board meeting workshop to start that >> acknowledgement. Great. Like I I >> you know it it is just a policy that you're a policy. It's not a policy. It's a process that we've developed within the engineering department. Um, but I wanted to bring it to the board's attention and the public's attention as well. >> It's fantastic. >> I think Luke and Bridget would be great resources for this Facebook, the website. >> Um, >> I don't know if it goes out into the We have regular correspondents that go out right to the community.

>> It could be in Webster today as a a page >> in the newsletter. Yeah, >> there's there's multiple ways. >> We have our e newswsletter that goes out every month. >> The e newswsletter as well. >> This may be a crazy idea, but our school district, I'm sure, is well aware of all their students and any disabilities they may have. Mhm. >> So, I'm just going to throw it out there that perhaps we contact the school district and see if they would be willing to work with us to get this information out. They don't necessarily have to let us know who the student is, what his disability is due to HIPPA, >> but there's a resource that could directly send these applications to the parents of these people.

I'm just that's >> I think I think that's a good idea because you're you're avoiding the HIPPA of like it's not saying hey we want a list of the students with it. It's saying hey school >> take your list >> here's the application please make sure they all get it. That's a good idea. >> I don't think the town would have a problem in in in paying the postage either for those. >> Right. Okay. Yeah. >> That's a fantastic thing you're doing here. We uh we have a I mean as part of our I mean we're in in in I'll call it very um deep coordination with the the school district anyhow on the uh >> uh Webster transportation and infrastructure project.

I mean we were meeting with them regularly just for coordination purposes and certainly the superintendent is at those meetings. So yeah, >> he seems like he'd be the right >> person to start with, right? So yeah, we can definitely do that. >> Okay, awesome. Yeah, I don't think we would need to mail these hard copy either. You just they could mail them through the digital. >> They just do parents square. Yeah, they don't mail anything home really much. >> I don't know where to go to find it. >> Get with the times, John. >> Yeah. >> Keith, would you have these available, I'm guessing, at the building department where you turn in and pick up permits or >> Yeah, we can do that.

Yep. Yep, we will. Yep. We hadn't until we had this conversation, but Yep. >> There's about 10 different ways, so we're good. There we go. >> Yeah, I think we're covered. >> Got all that. Luke, >> well, I think he Thanks for I know you rescheduled this from two weeks ago because we ran long. So, thank you for that. A couple questions. >> Yep. >> Like when residents apply, what's time what's the time frame, do you think like what's their expectation? Should it be like? >> Yeah. So, I would expect the I would expect engineering would be the intake on this. >> Um, and certainly we'd work with the highway department.

they would be the ones that would actually, you know, implicate the implicate or implicate would be do the installation. Um, so >> I I mean these signs are all fairly standard. You know, they're not a unique sign. They're not a unique So, you know, I I would hate to speak for the the um resources and and um scheduling of the highway department, but I don't it's not I don't think it's months. >> Okay. >> I mean, that's probably the big [cough] it's less than six months, you know. >> Yeah. Oh, yeah. I would I would like I said, I'm not speaking out of term without without, you know, Pat here from But I would think that's a reasonable.

>> Okay. And then can you see like if it was to get denied, would they be able to appeal or is it just like denied and done because the criteria is so >> the Well, I'll tell you the criteria is set by New York State. Yeah. >> Right. So, um and that I believe I incorporated in your packet that that um amendment that came through. >> Um it is a it's a pretty set criteria. Yeah. >> By by the state to uh >> um so we would we would hold to it. >> Yeah. I the only the only place I would see this get is if someone says, "Well, I live on hard road, you know, and I would say, well, you're definitely going to probably not meet the criteria." >> Yeah.

due to traffic and the >> due to traffic and and and that that kind of a thing and not keeping within that that that characteristic that's expected for these signs, >> you know, but I would expect, >> you know, outside of that, [clears throat] you know, most most if not all residential communities of some, you know, neighborhoods and stuff this. >> What does Buffalo do for that situation? Do they do any kind of appeal or like like in like that hard road thing? Do they do like a the Tom board can issue a waiver to kind of be like, "Okay, it's a quasi residential road and that traffic's high, so like >> I I don't know." >> Yeah, I'm just curious.

>> Yeah, I don't know. Um Um Yeah, I don't know. I I'll be honest with you with the uh with the city of Buffalo. Um we just we reached out and they referred us to this and once we found it, we're like, "Oh, >> this is gold. We'll take this and run with it." So, >> okay. >> Have you have you sourced a I'm sorry, Garrett. Are you done? >> Uh, you can go while I take my notes. >> Okay. Have you had an opportunity to source a vendor to come up with a cost per sign? Maybe. >> I have not. >> Okay. >> No. >> Well, there's there's two sign companies in Webster, just to let you know. >> Yep. >> Okay. That's good to know.

I I'm sure again you know that would [clears throat] be a uh you know not to sherk the duty but I mean it would be something I would expect the highways team is probably they well we have our own sign making abilities at the highway department >> really >> another thing I'm just learning tonight that's fantastic >> yeah I believe >> I'm sure they >> Jennifer knew that though didn't you >> I I did not know that I'm the highway liaison and I will admit that I did not know that, but I do now. But I have to believe these signs um have to meet a certain standard. They have to be a certain kind of metal.

There has to be a certain reflective device. So I >> Anything issued by the state, you know, is >> Yeah. >> What's that? anything issued by the state, you know, is going to be >> well, yeah, they I mean the the the characteristics of the signing are >> are more the it's more of the lettering and symbol of being has to be standardized. >> Yeah. um you know and you can get into all kinds of types of you know they can be just a standard reflection you know reflectivity high reflectivity you know it's the myriad of things I but um I mean I I don't if I were to think back well I'll go back 10 years ago when I was doing this kind of work I I think we used to to say it was about $150 to buy and install a pedestrian crossing sign.

So >> that means it's triple that now. >> Hey, hey, hey. At the very least. >> That was only two years ago. >> You said 10 years. >> I know. [laughter] >> That means it's probably five times, but whatever. >> Yeah, it's gone up. It probably has gone up, but yeah. >> And then so what's the process to figure out like what other signs? You just got to kind of keep that on your radar of what other ones might be applicable to add? Yeah, I mean we can we can I mean >> when it comes to so regulatory signs, stop signs, things like that, yields. Yeah. Anything that's got a more regulatory and again those are going to be the ones that are like red or um whatnot.

They the manual manual of uniform traffic control devices has a very specific criteria of how you implement those and how they go in. Um, warning signs are are a little more subjective or can be a little more subjective. Um, but we can certainly, you know, and we can take we can add more to this. We can create a greater library of of of of standardizations of how we apply these signs. I I don't based on my experience. I mean, other types of signs that we might see are um curve signs, you know, um and those are pretty it's pretty obvious why you need a curve sign, right? Um and usually curve signs can or cannot come with a sort of a recommended advisory speed limit and there's a very standard process for setting that speed.

So, um, you know, and pedestrian crossing signs are, you know, it, like I said, for the most part, they are they have actually also some prescriptive ways. you know, you you install uh an actual crossing sign at a crossing location and it has one look to it and then you can install advanced crossing signs, you know, in in advance of that crossing for greater visibility and they have a little different look. >> Okay. >> Um but certainly we can keep our mind open to other unique situations. I would imagine if somebody had a different sign that they wanted to request, they might approach it via this form and they can be evaluated as they come in as a request.

>> Yeah, that could. >> And then Keith, I would assume that's going to be on highway to take them down if they don't like reertify. >> That'll be on their list of >> Definitely. Yeah. Yeah, they are are >> Yeah. >> Yep. Yeah. or if they become damaged or you know whatever. >> Replaced. >> Yeah. Replaced. Yep. >> All right. Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely. All right. Now we can go back um to beginning here. Uh we have now I promise this is for real this time. Charlotte Cabelli of the Conservation Board um on the Tree City USA program and what she's been working on with them.

Thank you. >> I was like imagining myself. >> Whatever you prefer. >> Hi everybody. I'm Charlotte Kabili and I'm here representing the conservation board of the town of Webster and thanks for hearing me out. I've got about 15 minutes of presentation material for you. Um was planning to just sort of run through it. It's a lot of information, but I can see you all. So, if you want to stop and talk midway, that's no problem. But we'll happy to discuss anything at any point. So, next slide. Josh, thank you for steering. So I've set out some topics for today. Uh really today is anformational session to talk about Tree City USA.

So can talk about the program at a glance, the purpose of the program is, why we think the program is a good fit for Webster. There are four standards to becoming a tree city, and I'll talk through what those standards are that we would have to fulfill and how we would go about applying to become a tree city. And I want to think through what next steps could be for us uh the conservation board to work with each of the town council members um to talk about this more. Next slide. So you can see here with the logo, Tree City USA is a program by the Arbor Day Foundation. They oversee it. It's their kind of web splash page that you would go to and learn about Tree City USA.

And really, Tree City USA is a program that recognizes a community's commitment to annual planning and management of tree resources and efforts to raise awareness of the value of community trees. It also includes those basic standards for communities and celebrates improvements. And so, there's a two-pager that I've given you and the link is here as well. Um, I think that just to sort of set the stage, it's not on the slide, but I wanted to be really clear on a couple of things for those of you that don't know the Tree City USA program. And one is that it pertains to trees on town property. It's public lands, not privately owned property.

Um, and the second thing I would say is that we have had conversations with the town. Um, and our assessment is that the town is resource ready for this. we have capacity to move forward with an application and really um to become and pursue Tree City status would require minimal additional cost to the town. Next slide. So, what's the purpose of becoming a tree city? I think there are a couple things here and I'm going to unpack these. Um it's the fun part [laughter] I think for conservation board members to think about what the value ad is. So the first is to inspire our town to prioritize planting and caring for trees to build our nation's tree canopy.

And the second is to help our town be stronger, greener, and more vibrant place to live, work, and play. Okay, I think things that we can get behind. Next slide. So what does planting and caring for trees mean? I think any of us that works in the garden or landscaping can, you know, think about these things pretty readily, but I did want to talk through what they mean according to Tree City USA. So, planting intentionally would be the first thing we're going to be thinking about the trees that we plant for, whether they're hardy, uh, how tall they are, the spread of the foliage, how much sun they need, what the soil conditions should be.

We certainly wouldn't want to be encouraging landscaping or or tree plantings that aren't going to thrive. Uh would the trees be decorative? Uh would they provide cooling shade? Would they serve as a windbreaker? We have a lot of March wind storms. We know we want to be thinking about strategic locations for trees and uh public property. Uh another key element here is to be proactive with the tree care and management. thinking about the proper mulching, watering and pruning, giving some health checkups and seeking out guidance when needed. So, for example, if there are pests or blight or drought that we would be going to say an arborist or cooperative extension, master gardeners to think about ways that we can care for the trees [snorts] and we know that repair and recovery is needed after storms clean up.

Um, so just wanted to kind of lay out what we're thinking there. Next slide. Tree City USA inspires towns to be stronger and greener. Trees do improve air quality. I think on a day like today to have these lungs of the earth, if you will, um especially resonant um trees also prevent erosion and tame storm water runoff. So, there's a little graphic here from the Nature Conservancy about how that works. Um they invite and support wildlife habitat. Just the other day, I was taking a jog near the lake and I saw a woodpecker I had never seen in New York State, a redheaded woodpecker, and it was showing off for me.

And it was swooping down this tree up and down and on the way up into my run towards a lake and then back on the way down and I was like, "Oh, it was just gorgeous." I had to stop and look at it. Anyway, and then also as a conservation board member, I was on a recent site walkth through and learned that trees can uh be a [cough] [clears throat] a foraging and um you know, kind of a roosting place for bats. Uh so just really nice to think about what they can do for habitat even in the BBS. All right. More vibrant place to live, work, and play. I think it's important to think about costs and uh savings.

So, the visual appeal of trees maintains and increases property values. Tree shade diminishes temperatures and reduces building cooling costs. Next slide. Um, trees reduce stress and encourage physical activity and play. I wanted to point out that these are pictures from conservation board members. Those are my kids riding bikes on the Hojack Trail. 10 degrees cooler on that trail. Um and then one of the conservation board members, beautiful dogs, uh headed out also on another um part of the Hojac Trail. So great resource all around. Next slide. And in case you're curious about what others are doing in Monroe County, I thought it'd be nice to have a visual of our neighbors, what they're doing.

You might be also curious about the village of Webster. So we know at this moment in 2026 there are 11 uh municipalities that are tree cities at the time being um Arandcoy, Penfield, Rochester, East Rochester, Brighton, uh Penfield, the village of Pittsburgh, you know, you you get the picture. Uh village of Webster did have a news announcement for being a tree city in 2018. that was what I could find online and we put a call out to the mayor to see if uh they could lend insight on whether there's still a tree. Um but online data says not at the moment and the reason being there that we would have to um reestablish reapply each year to to show to demonstrate that we're fulfilling the standards of being a tree city.

So sometimes those um applications lapse. So Rand quite doing it seven years, Brighton 24 years, Penfield 2 years. It really varies. Next slide. Um, as far as thinking about how becoming a tree city aligns with our town, I think that uh becoming a tree city can help fulfill the town's long-term vision and near-term activities uh in alignment with a comprehensive plan. We know next slide that the comprehensive plan is being updated. Um you all are well aware of that. Um, but I just thought I would say for the public as well, um, uh, just to give a little shout out to the comprehensive plan, uh, planning process that it does serve as an official guide for the town's planning efforts and decision-making.

And here the screen grab is showing a draft plan description that one of the purposes of the comprehensive plan is to establish policies to protect natural resources, open space, and promote sustainability and climate resiliency. Next slide. So there's actually a call out in the comprehensive plan about climate resiliency and I uh highlighted one of the bullets that falls under that and that bullet says talks about expanding the green infrastructure and commercial and industrial redevelopment and increasing the town tree canopy and reducing heat island effects in parking areas. So even though this bullet is yes related to commercial industrial land um there are opportunities I think to work hand inand uh with this on public properties that are adjacent uh in support of this goal of more of a tree canopy.

Keep keeping with the comprehensive plan examples. Here's another part of the community development strategy and one of the action items is to continue to implement and bolster the town's street tree program to enhance the visual appearance of the Route 404 corridor and provide traffic calming. So I think here intentional tree planting and tree care work uh could nicely align with this goal of a street tree program. And we do recognize the conservation board talked about the 404 corridor being a state jurisdiction, but that's um we think we can still as a town have influence over that corridor.

Next slide. And then the last example I wanted to point out is a priority item under neighborhood living. This is something that we'd like to accomplish within one to two years of establishing the comprehensive plan. And this involves reviewing and revising town zoning code to require mature tree preservation and buffering and screening with residential development, including the composition of long-term maintenance plan for buffers. It's a it's a mouthful. Um, but again, opportunities for public properties to fall in line with these residential area priorities. Um so those were some examples of alignment with comprehensive plan.

Now I want to talk through what the four Tree City USA standards are. In other words, uh what we as a town would need to fulfill to become a tree city. There are four standards. We would have to meet them all. And I think it's not just the conservation board that's expressed interest. We've, you know, certainly on the community de development side with the town, there's interest, but our our uh community groups are very interested in joining efforts with us to meet these standards. The Webster Arboritum, Color Webster Green, Friends of Webster Trails, Webster Open Space Committee, there's a lot of interest in uh conservation board and the town serving as a hub to pursue this.

The first standard involves um establishing an active tree board or tree department. So distinction being the distinction being that a board would be volunteer department uh typically paid staff. Um so establishing a tree board or department. Um this accomplishes having a legal authority uh to have over the responsibility uh over public tree care decisions. Um really we can call this group whatever we like. There's a lot of uh options for this. Um it's just a matter of having a board or a department that has that legal authority. It can be um you know multiple people. The second standard is to have a tree care [cough and clears throat] ordinance.

And when I think of ordinance I think of like you know a single you know paragraph or a page. and that really isn't required. We could have ordinance language scattered throughout our code to demonstrate tree care. Uh so this again we're all familiar with the code but you know this would have a give us a legal basis for establishing you know the conservation and protection of community trees and forests. The third standard involves demonstrating with documentation The town has a minimum of $2 per capita annual expenditure on community tree care related activities. Um, simple math is we're looking at about $90,000 of m municipal spending over the course of a year.

Um, but this value could be for contracted work. It could be for volunteer time. um it's really uh we can we can come to that amount uh through both paid and unpaid or inind labor. So when we're thinking about what what would fall under, you know, what would count the criteria that would count for that per capita $2 per capita spending, we can think about planting, tree management, tree removal, maintenance along utility lines, um uh really any other tree related expenses. Um we have as a conservation board had some initial discussions of what spending has looked like so far in 2026 and uh we feel that we do have to explore more but we have plenty of avenues to explore and we're optimistic that we could meet this uh standard of $2 per capita.

So, we might look at town highway department spending, town park district spending. Um, but we could also look at volunteer hours spent for tree planting by Friends of Webster Trails, uh, arboritum work. Uh, parks and wreck volunteers have been doing some work. And so, I think tapping into uh, the work of our partners would be a way to explore, you know, qualifying that we we've met this benchmark. The fourth standard is an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. And it doesn't have to be in April for Earth Day or Arbor Day. Uh it could be at any time of the year, but it's really intended for a municipality to demonstrate that we're promoting our tree canopy and and it's a celebration of sorts.

And uh this could be an event with the town supervisor, the town board, but something that you know the town is uplifting commemorative event. Uh we've tossed around some ideas. I know that Josh has a couple of trees uh on hold ready to be planted to replace some trees that were removed on TR town property. um and we could you know make an event and publicize it um in [snorts] honor of being trees you know of of trees. [clears throat] So I think I'm ready for the next slide. Okay. So what does this involve to have us become a tree city? I think that fulfilling each of the four standards is the big one.

conservation board would love to contribute uh our efforts towards four of the standards. You know, we would love to um either become or you know partner with a tree board. We would love to draft ordinance language. We could work on that. we have some expertise and we would also like to help with the organizational efforts of finding an event uh for that observance and proclamation for Arbor Day. Uh we do think that documentation of expenditures towards trees falls with town staff. Um so we think that that would be appropriate there. An application goes in in New York State December 2nd to the Arbor Day Foundation.

and we would partner with town staff to push that application forward. And certainly there's, you know, the work each year. Again, we would qualify as Tree City each year. And so, um, we were thinking that having a yearly work plan would be appropriate here to maintain that Tree City status. So, certainly there's a development of a work plan with tasks, staff leads, completion schedule. somebody would implement that work plan and we would bring that work plan uh under annual review and approval with the town board. We're absolutely open to however we'd like that to look um as far as as who leads the way.

Next slide. Okay. So, the thing I wanted to leave you with is um an offer to talk more. The conservation board recognizes this is a lot of information and we would love to get feedback from individual town board members on whether and how to proceed with town with Tree City USA. Um I am offering to uh have calls or video conference calls with each of you with another conservation board member. His name is Greg Lawrence. is one of our new additions to the conservation board and we'd love to hear your thoughts individually if you're open to it. Um, and again, uh, this would provide some a chance for you to give us feedback, but also just to ask some questions.

You know, what's this about and what are we envisioning and and kind of make it more of a conversation. And certainly, we'd love to bring that feedback back to this group as a second workshop to the board. But this would be um mainly what did we learn from those conversations? Do we think we would make a recommendation to move forward? If we did, then what might this this plan look like? I think that's that's what I've got for now. >> I I don't really have any issues conceptually. My my concerns are um organizationally because there's so many questions that >> and I don't know who should be answering those questions whether it's the conservation board whether it's Josh's department but there's a lot of things that need to be set up I would assume from an organizational standpoint before we move forward like, okay, who's responsible for this?

Who's setting up the board? Is this $94,000 per year annual spending, is that mandatory? Is it mandatory set up by the sent down by the state of New York? Um, I like I said, conceptually, it's a great idea. I don't know that we need to set up an entire board to do this, but I would like some of these organizational questions, which I think are reasonable um to to have some answers before we move forward. And it just seems and this is nothing against you, okay? But I I I am all for planting trees. We got 50 acres down in Yates County used to be um grazed with goats. And when I was a young kid, my siblings, there's four of us, and my father planted hundreds [snorts] and hundreds of pine trees, and they were four feet tall for years.

Well, now they're like 20, 30 feet. So, I'm I'm in line with you with respect to planting trees. I And this goes to New York State. I just find it absolutely 100% hypocritical of this state to at the same time they're pushing for this, which I am a pro proponent of, at the same time clear cutting for solar panels. I just wanted to put that out there. >> Now, Charlie, is this a state program or who who administers this program or is it federal, state, nonprofit? So, I'd love to speak to this. Um, I can hear the love for the Yates County property. It's just really cool to watch >> trees and land change over time and um, it's a it's a place to grow with.

So, thanks for sharing that. >> Um, yes, this is a lot to set up. you've got a pretty passionate conservation board and I think um one that's really willing to partner with town staff to find a way to figure this out if this is something we can move forward with. Um I would really love to consider those questions of organization. Um they're important ones. You know, how this gets done is is definitely key. Um, as far as mandatory spending, it's a demonstration of spending that would be happening anyway. Uh, I just want to make clear, we're not asking the town to spend any money. Uh, we're asking to share documentation of town spending that's happening already, including uh potentially um quantifying volunteer hours.

So there is some book work to maybe quantify hours that we wouldn't necessarily, but the the conservation board would like to help with that exercise to show that we're and recognize that we're doing that spending. We are not beholdened to the state or the Arbor Day Foundation here. This is something for Webster to to enjoy. >> So that makes it a not a not a federal, not a state, just a nonprofit >> Arbor Day >> program. Y And the one point about clear cutting trees in New York State, this is just town property, not what individuals choose to do on private property. >> Well, now that we understand it's not being mandated by the state.

>> It's not. >> But I still feel the same way. >> I I get understand the feeling, but this is focused on town owned property. Is that correct? >> That's right. We're not mandated to set to spend $94,000 a year, $2 per capita. >> To become a recognized tree city, we must demonstrate that we have spent in 2026, $2 per capita. If we can't demonstrate that, then we would not move forward with an application. >> It'd be it'd be nice to know what we have spent >> per year in the last just two years in the budget. >> Uhhuh. those questions are are bubbling up and we have some some numbers already thanks to Josh and team um but we don't have a complete picture but uh we have enough of a picture to know that we could we could cobble it together.

>> Yeah, I'd like to see those those numbers. >> Okay, fair I have a question for Josh because we have a contract with Birch Crest not to exceed I think it was $35,000 for tree management, but that's more for cleaning up like trees that have decayed, died, fall. Does that count? >> Yes. >> Who would qualify? Yes. >> Okay. >> Yep. >> Well, I I think it is a a great idea. >> Um and I would love to support something like this. My concern is the highway department has some open positions and they're stretched very thin. >> Okay. >> Um and the things in the presentation that caught my attention is the proactive care management management, mulching, water, pruning like the the highway department has a very reactive tree management program.

This is a very proactive tree management program. and having the resources in the town of who who would do that. Um, and if we had to rely on volunteers that that can be challenging. >> I think the highway department is one avenue and one source of demonstrated spending, but I was just on Hojac Trail the other day and I saw the new plantings by Friends of Webster Trail that are protected. Um, so yes, I I used the word proactive in that uh slide deck just to show that we are forward thinking and and wanting this. Um, but certainly what the highway department is already doing is wonderful work and we want to reflect that.

We're not asking them to do >> to stretch them. Yeah. >> Has Josh or anyone from your committee um met with Pat Stevens regarding the potential implementation of this? because you're definitely going to need some equipment. >> Okay. >> I I I'm just asking the question if they've been looped in. >> We haven't >> not at this point. Uh we did reach out and get some preliminary data from them on recent spending, but we did not approach that. >> Yeah, it's just my opinion that they should be part of the the conversation. >> That's great. Thank you. Yeah, more the better. >> Our parks department should be as well.

Great point. As long as well as friends of Webster Trails because they do phenomenal work. >> Yes. >> I think we have the largest trail system in Monroe County if I'm not correct. >> I think that's going to be our our gold mine. >> It's Webster. Darn it. >> Yeah. >> Yes. Agree with all of that. Thank you. >> Thank you so much for the information. >> Any other questions? >> Yeah. So Charlotte, I think with the volunteering probably just to keep in mind on and this is a question for for legal as well, like the liability for some of that work. Like they can probably plant and help prune, but they probably when it comes to like cutting and taking them down, >> the town's probably not going to have a liability to have the volunteers cut down trees.

>> It's interesting >> just a thought like just because then if if it's on town land and we're willing to volunteer do it, >> we know we got to talk to insurance just to see where that falls. I think something that's bubbling up today that I think is so important is that we want to reflect work that's already being done uh for this per the purposes of the application. But I love thinking ahead to if we were to want to grow, you know, go beyond m maintaining what we're already doing. These are important considerations. Um, so I will think about that liability as as far as >> well the liability aspect of it, but uh with the contract with Birchest employees, I imagine that we could utilize their services since it's covered by that contract and it also sounds like it goes towards the >> and it counts the spend.

We also have a couple of people in attendance today that are interns, right, that are working on issues related to tree protections and identifying trees in Webster and I think right here in the town. Um, but no liability issues to speak of that I know of there. >> And then you said you tried to reach out to the village, but they didn't get back to you. >> Uh, it was a recent. >> Okay. You want some Do you want some help making sure they get back to you? >> I'm We're good. >> Okay. >> Thank you. And then in terms of the ordinances, is that something that we'll bring legal and Kyle involved with?

Is is tree ordinances? >> Yeah. So, what it sounds like is it to create this tree board in and of itself would require an ordinance or local law and then in conjunction with that um taking it a step further and actually having an entire ordinance that that sets forth the the priorities and and the obligations. And um you know I was just looking at Fairport as a kind of a model a guidepost there but yes that would be required. >> Yeah. So I mean so it sounds like then Charlotte that might be something that we can lean on Kyle to handle with the legal expertise of point it together versus if you guys start it I would imagine sometimes for Kyle like you know it's easier for him to frame it out and with your input then if you guys start it and he butchers it with red lines.

>> That sounds great. you know, >> but before we would really start, we'd want to make sure that there's >> interest from the full board. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> No, it's a good idea. >> We have a lot of resources right here. >> Okay. Um I think I'll plan to contact you via your town emails and invite you to a conversation. It's voluntary. Um but that's how you would hear from me is via email to set up a halfhour conversation. It's going to be evening. at work all day or a weekend. Um, if that works for you or a lunch break, that works. All right, >> thanks for coming in. Appreciate it. >> Thanks everybody.

>> All right, with that um I will close up the town board workshop and we will be back here in four minutes for the town board meeting. Thank you.