City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes  
Tree Board  
City Hall  
Wednesday, October 16, 2024  
5:00 PM  
Conference Room 1B  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
The meeting was called to order at 5:01 PM.  
City Staff present: Steve Fritz  
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
A motion was made to approve the agenda.  
7 - Kyd, McMains, Wright, Bybee, Quackenbush, Miller and Scheidt-Hahn  
Yes:  
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
A motion was made to approve the minutes of the last meeting.  
7 - Kyd, McMains, Wright, Bybee, Quackenbush, Miller and Scheidt-Hahn  
Yes:  
IV. TREE PRESERVATION AND CITY PROJECTS  
Wright spoke about the purview of the board and how it relates to individual city projects.  
He suggested the group discuss actionable items and information to share with council  
about the Ash Street Improvement Project, but more generally all city projects as it  
relates to tree preservation. Bybee shared his experience with the Historic Preservation  
Commission and drafting letters to council. Quackenbush volunteered to write a draft  
letter if the board could share talking points. McMains offered to provide canopy analysis  
for the project area. Wright offered to provide some talking points.  
A motion was made to draft a letter to City Council concerning the loss of tree  
canopy associated with the current design of the Ash Street Improvement  
Project.  
V. TREE BOARD BUDGET  
The board reviewed the new budget for FY25. Bybee mentioned an upcoming Arbor Day  
Foundation event as a possible training opportunity.  
VI. COMMUNITY FORESTRY COST SHARE PROJECTS  
Fritz share information from a recent meeting he had with Ann Koenig from MDC and  
limited funding for this grant period. No one on the board had suggestions for projects at  
the moment.  
VII. WORK CALENDAR  
The board looked over the next couple of months of the work calendar. Fritz relayed  
information about some recent openings at the farmers market. McMains mentioned that  
the group had previously discussed looking over the Urban Forest Master Plan during the  
winter months.  
VIII. REPORT FROM LIAISON  
Fritz confirmed purchases made end of FY24. He then informed the group of a  
cancellation and available space at the upcoming farmers market. Finally he shared  
information he had received from a boards and commissions liaisons meeting concerning  
virtual meeting attendance and posting agendas.  
IX. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
Bybee spoke about a recent meeting and tour he had attended on behalf of Missouri  
Conservation Corp., with MDC and Roger Still. McMains suggested that Still be invited to  
a Tree Board meeting. McMains then discussed his meeting with Meridith McAvoy  
Perkins, Executive Director, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri and future training opportunities for  
the Tree Board.  
X. NEXT MEETING DATE  
The next meeting will take place November 20th. Agenda items will include review of the  
draft letter to council.  
XI. ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting adjourned at 6:23 PM.  
Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to  
disability, please call 573-874-CITY (573-874-2489) or email CITY@CoMo.gov. In order to assist staff in  
making the appropriate arrangements for your accommodation, please make your request as far in  
advance of the posted meeting date as possible.  
USB DRIVES PROHIBITED: Due to cybersecurity concerns, flash drives and other media devices  
are no longer permitted for delivering files or presentation materials. A speaker who desires to  
display a presentation must upload the presentation, in advance, to the city network using an  
upload portal. To upload your files and learn more, visit CoMo.gov/upload. (Effective Jan. 1,  
2023)