Powell Operations Committee Meeting – March 17, 2026

The Powell Operations Committee met on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers, 47 Hall Street, Powell, OH 43065. Committee members present were Lee Carlson, Carlos Crawford, and Matthew Harvey. Amy Gestosani was absent after notifying the committee she could not attend. The meeting focused on two primary items: the Tree City USA program requirements and a review of storm damage from the prior weekend.

Oath of Office

• Matthew Harvey was sworn in as an Operations Committee member, taking the oath to support the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Ohio and to faithfully discharge the duties of the office.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the Operations Committee meeting held on February 17, 2026, were approved with no comments or changes. A roll-call vote was requested; the minutes were approved.

Discussion Items

• Tree City USA Requirements: Staff presented Powell's standing in the Tree City USA program, which the city has held for over 27 years. Applications open September 1 and close November 1. Of the four program standards, the city currently meets two (per-capita tree care spending and Arbor Day observance) and is noncompliant on two: the absence of a dedicated tree board and the lack of a public tree care ordinance. The existing Arbor Advisory Subcommittee (under the Parks and Rec board) has been inactive; staff recommended terminating it and creating a standalone tree board of at least five or six members. The board would advise on tree planting, maintenance, removal, invasive species, and urban forestry initiatives. Staff also noted the board would need to meet at least six times per calendar year, with a possible narrow virtual-meeting exception to facilitate attendance. A member proposed that the tree board's meetings could be combined with other committee meetings, and one committee member offered to help solicit community specialists for the board. The committee discussed a target timeline: prepare legislation for the next council meeting, repeal the old subcommittee by ordinance, create the new board by resolution, and use the summer months to prepare for the following budget cycle.
• Storm Damage Review: Following the Tree City discussion, the committee addressed storm and wind damage from the prior weekend. Staff reported the largest issue was just outside city jurisdiction (a roof loss at the YMCA), with significant trees down along the trail from City Hall to Liberty, including one large tree that fell next to a house. No injuries occurred, and staff (including Lauren and Aaron, with Charles out of town) provided steady feedback throughout the event. One committee member noted the city has historically trimmed trees and donated the material for animal feed, and suggested a new park with significant invasive species could be an early focus for the tree board.

Key Outcomes

• The Operations Committee directed staff to begin drafting legislation to terminate the existing Arbor Advisory Subcommittee (by ordinance) and create a standalone tree board (by resolution), with the goal of bringing the legislation to the next council meeting.
• The committee supported moving forward with the tree board creation and soliciting community input on board membership, with a timeline that allows for preparation before the following budget cycle.
• The committee acknowledged the city's strong standing in the Tree City USA program and viewed the restructuring as a compliance matter to maintain good standing for the coming year.