Full Document
1 MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC WORKS & SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE FEBRUARY 17, 2026 COUNCIL CHAMBERS Present: Councilmembers Bullock, Baker, and Evans Also Present: Councilmember Bixenstine, members of the Tree Advisory & Education Board Rita Stevens and Allison Welch), and Council staff. Call to Order: 6:04 pm Approval of the minutes of the January 20, 2026 Public Works & Sustainability Committee meeting. Motion made and seconded to approve the minutes of the January 20, 2026 meeting of the Public Works & Sustainability Committee. All members in favor. Motion passed. Minutes approved. Tree Advisory & Education Board annual report to Public Works & Sustainability Committee per LCO Chapter 152.05 Chair Bullock welcomed everyone and thanked the Tree Advisory & Education Board ( TAEB) for tackling the matter of urban forestry. Councilmember Evans added that it was a privilege to be the Council Liaison to the TAEB last year. Rita Stevens ( Chair of TAEB) began the presentation with a review of the Board members. She shared that Katie Kelleher was recently appointed to fill the vacancy when Linda Grandstaff stepped down. She also confirmed that there is currently one vacancy since Matt Bixenstine was appointed to Council. She then reviewed a map from the Cuyahoga County Urban Tree Canopy Assessment 2019 Update, which showed that Lakewood had the largest percentage of canopy loss compared to the rest of the County. She said that this study informed the current Tree Action Plan which established the goal of increasing canopy coverage from 23% to 33% by 2035. She explained that the TAEB decided to focus on the private property side of increasing tree canopy coverage since the City already has resources focused on growing the public side of the tree canopy. Chair Stevens went on to review the three key program areas of the TAEB: Community Canopy: She spoke about the Tree Giveaway program and shared that they have distributed 610 trees to be planted on private property since the program began in Fall of 2024 and will distribute another 400 trees in 2026. She also thanked the various partners of the program including the City of Lakewood, the Arbor Day Foundation, the Healthy Lakewood Foundation and NeoGraph. Ms. Stevens also spoke about their plans to pilot a planting assistance program with trained Tree Stewards for 2026. Docusign Envelope ID: 422E9E9F- BB08-4D50-8C33-CA78061203F2 2 Public Engagement: Chair Stevens then provided an overview of the community outreach events that the TAEB participates in such at The Lakewood Community Festival, Library Story Walks, Lakewood Garden Club and events with Friends of Madison Park. She also provided more background on the Tree Stewards program that is based in Cleveland and their plans to expand the training program to include Lakewood residents. Chair Stevens then spoke about a new initiative to establish a community arboretum at the Cove Community Center through a partnership with the ArbNet Accreditation Program. Regional Network: Chair Stevens reported that Lakewood has just achieved its 50th year as a certified Tree City USA through the Arbor Day Foundation. She also spoke about the City’ s partnerships with the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, the North Coast Urban Forestry Conference and the Cuyahoga County Tree Summit and Tree Board Network. In closing, Chair Stevens reviewed the 2026 needs and priorities of the TAEB. Vice President Baker provided some ideas for collaboration to expand the tree canopy, such as planting trees on the limited access land plots along the highway that the City is working on acquiring ownership to. Chair Stevens responded that the TAEB is willing to collaborate on his ideas and shared that there is currently a program in place to allow residents to purchase and plant a tree at the same price that the City has contracted for planting trees. She also shared that she and another member of the TAEB have experience developing tree ordinances in other communities and would be interested in exploring how that would work in Lakewood. Chair Bullock said he supported Vice President Baker’ s ideas and mentioned that the City has kicked around the idea of offering storm water rebates or incentives for private tree plantings. Councilmember Evans provided feedback, and he shared that he appreciates that the TAEB is able to find the sweet spot between being aspirational and being realistic. Councilmember Bixenstine marveled that by the end of the year the TAEB will have facilitated the planting of 1,000 trees on public property. Chair Bullock thanked the TAEB for their efforts and praised their impact on the community. Public Works & Sustainability Committee adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Approved: Tom Bullock, Chair Public Works & Sustainability Committee Maureen M. Bach, Clerk of Council 3/9/2026 Docusign Envelope ID: 422E9E9F- BB08-4D50-8C33-CA78061203F2 Annual Update City of Lakewood Tree Advisory and Education Board Rita Stevens, February 17, 2026 Shagbark Hickory Agenda 1. Background 2. Key Programs A. Community Canopy B. Public Engagement C. Regional Network 3. Priorities and Needs TAEB Update White Oak The TAEB Rita Stevens, Linda Grandstaff, Matt Bixenstine Mary Kennedy, Matt Bixenstine Background: Linda Grandstaff, Allison WelchKatie Kelleher Lakewood’ s Canopy Issue: Canopy in decline Goal: Increase canopy coverage from 23% to 33% by 2035 Background Public and private trees together create canopy References: Cuyahoga County Urban Tree Canopy Assessment 2019 Update https://www.countyplanning.us/projects/urban-tree-canopy-assessment-update/ City of Lakewood- Tree Action Plan 2022 https://www.lakewoodoh.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ Tree-Action-Plan-2022-1.pdf Docusign Envelope ID: 422E9E9F- BB08-4D50-8C33-CA78061203F2 Key Programs 1. Community Canopy 2. Public Engagement 3. Regional Network TAEB Local Tree Huggers enjoying shade during the July 4 Parade Community Canopy Held Spring and Fall since 2024 Shout out to our Partners City of Lakewood Forestry, Planning and Social Media The Arbor Day Foundation Healthy Lakewood Foundation NeoGraph Key Program #1 Volunteers ready to distribute trees at Bernice Pyke ParkTree Giveaway Program Headed home with a new tree Demo tree planting Tree Giveaway 2024- 2025 610 trees Participation throughout the city 2026 Plans 400 trees over 2 events Pilot planting assistance with trained Tree Stewards Highlights: Distribution of trees by species for the 2025 events Spring 2026 portal opens April 8 to reserve a tree for pickup on May 2 Public Engagement Outreach Events New- Tree Stewards New- Community Arboretum Key Program # 2: Story Book Walk at Madison Park Docusign Envelope ID: 422E9E9F- BB08-4D50-8C33-CA78061203F2 TAEB Social Media and Demos associated with Tree Giveaway Lakewood Community Festival Collaboration Library Story Walks GardenWalk Lakewood Lakewood Garden Club Friends of Madison Park Public Engagement: Reserve your Tree starting April 8, 2026 Outreach Events Tree Stewards Partner with Cleveland- based tree stewards for the spring 2026 Tree Giveaway Mid-2026, explore options for expanding this training program to include Lakewood Public Engagement: Sherwick Tree Steward Training. Photo credit WRLC. https:// wrlandconservancy. org/ reforestourcity/ sherwick- tree- steward- training/ Community Arboretum Public Engagement: The Lakewood Arboretum is committed to cultivating a community that deeply values trees by demonstrating their ecological, economic, and community health benefits. Through living examples of “ right tree, right place,” immersive outdoor learning, and community participation in reforestation efforts, we empower residents to preserve and expand our urban canopy. As both a sanctuary from the built environment and a model for biodiversity in a densely populated city, the arboretum strengthens Lakewood’ s identity as a place where nature and people thrive together. Vision https://arbnet.org/accreditation/ Community Arboretum An Arboretum Plan A governing group (TAEB, Cove CC) At least one staff member or volunteer who manages the arboretum (Cove CC, City Forestry) A labeled collection of at least 25 woody plants Public access and at least one event per year Public Engagement: L1 Certification Reference: https:// arbnet. org/ accreditation/ First priority for certification: Cove Community Center Docusign Envelope ID: 422E9E9F- BB08-4D50-8C33-CA78061203F2 Regional Network Tree City USA WRLC- Tree Stewards North Coast Urban Forestry Conference Cuyahoga County Tree Summit and the Tree Board Network Key Program #3 As of 2026, Lakewood has certified as a Tree City USA for 50 Years ! Focus of Cuyahoga County Tree Summit in 2025 Remember that we are growing canopy for future generations 2026 Priorities and Needs Plant and Preserve Residential Canopy Refine the Tree Giveaway program Create basic materials to encourage tree preservation Engage Residents Certified Arboretum at Cove CC Refine tree-related City web content Continue to offer educational events Grow capacity Tree Stewards Partnerships and Funding TAEB Reach the TAEB at Lakewood.Canopy@gmail.com Docusign Envelope ID: 422E9E9F- BB08-4D50-8C33-CA78061203F2