Contact(s)
Urban Forestry Advisory Committee
Committee Type
Advisory committee or task forcePurpose
As recommended in the Urban Forestry Management Plan the City of St.Catharines will assemble an Urban Forest Advisory Committee to advise and make recommendations for the care and preservation of the urban forest in St.Catharines and to complement municipal staff efforts.Vision
The advisory committee will serve an in advisory capacity on matters of environmental stewardship, specifically concerning the care and planting of trees and urban forest, by advocating sound arboriculture and urban forest management practices.The committee will be authorized to study, plan, advise, report and make recommendations on plans, programs or city by-laws, which Council or Recreation and Community Services staff determine as necessary or advisable for the care, conservation, planting, pruning, removal or disposition of trees citywide.
Goals
The St.Catharines Urban Forestry Advisory Committee provides advice and guidance to City Council on ways to help safeguard the environment of the City through the use of trees, forests and greenspace. Members assist Council by:1) Providing input into policies and budgets related to greenspace preservation and the management of urban and rural forests;
2) Recommending ways in which the City can meet its greenspace and forest-related objectives as outlined in other planning documents.
3) Promoting public awareness of the role of greenspace and forests in protecting and enhancing quality of life.
Membership
1) Residents of the City of St. Catharines who are 18 years of age or older are eligible for appointment.2) Membership will, as much as possible, reflect St.Catharines' diversity and demographics in such areas as gender, official language, geographic representation, race and disability.
Voting Membership
Committee members have voting privileges.Membership Responsibility
1) Providing a forum for citizens interested in forests and greenspaces to raise issues and concerns2) Providing advice and guidance to Council, through the Recreation and Community Services Department, on City policies, programs, by-laws, regulations and budgets related to forest and greenspace management
3) Advising on areas where the introduction of trees and tree cover would be beneficial to the environment or where their removal would have a negative impact on a site or ecosystem
4) Identifying issues that may impact trees, tree cover or natural systems and recommending ways to minimize the impact
5) Advising on the introduction of windbreaks, the shading of transportation corridors, the greening of streets, roads, parks and conservation areas, the preservation of tree cover and forest management in the City
6) Promoting and facilitating cooperation with local community groups and environmental organizations on education and other initiatives related to forest and greenspace management
7) Conducting advocacy on behalf of St. Catharines' forests and greenspace
8) Providing advice on the protection, management, acquisition and conservation of greenspace and other environmentally sensitive areas in St. Catharines
Membership Term
Members serve terms of four years with a maximum of two consecutive terms on the same committeeMembership List
Councillor Mark Elliott
Councillor Bill Phillips
Ron Calvert
John Dick
Steven Holmes
Peter Howes
John Sheehan
Elizabeth Chitty
Michael O'Neil
David Stevens
John Stevens
Bruce Zimmerman
Meeting Schedule & Location(s)
PLEASE NOTE:
The initial committee meeting has been re-scheduled for Thursday January 26, 2012 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Ante Room, third floor, City Hall, 50 Church St.
The meeting is open to the public.
Please note that time and location are subject to change.
View the minutes from the January 26, 2012 meeting
View the minutes from the February 16, 2012 meeting
View the minutes from the June 6, 2012 meeting
View the minutes from the August 1, 2012 meeting
View the minutes from the September 20, 2012 meeting
View the minutes from the November 1, 2012 meeting
