Municipal Beautification Commission — Charleston, WV
Date: 2025-05-06
Time: 13:00

City of Charleston, West Virginia
 Municipal Beautification Commission/Tree Board
 City Services Center Conference Room - 915 Quarrier Street
 Tuesday, May 6, 2025
 1:00 PM

 AGENDA
Call to Order

 • Approval of the April 1, 2025, General Meeting Minutes
 • Treasurer’s Report (May 2025)—Donna Graham


MBC General Matters

 • Cherry/Flowering Tree Initiative – Anna Forbes
 • Charleston Tree Initiative Committee – Brenda Craig Ellis, Lisa Dobbins, Donna Graham
 • Living Wall Update – Jane Powell and John Casto
 • Greenbrier Street Garden—Barbara Rose, Marlene Dial, Jason Testman, Chris Higgins
 • City Hall Urns—Jason Testman, Lisa Dobbins, Barbara Rose
 • City Gardens Committee Update—Lois Crichton, Lisa Dobbins, Donna Graham, Barbara
 Rose
 • Dickinson Street Garden—Marjorie Cooke, Jane Powell, Donna Graham
 • Mary Price Ratrie Greenspace—Jason Testman & Susan Shumate
 • BID Update—Lois Crichton
 • Ruffner Park Update—Mike Davis

Tree Board Matters:

 • Tree Inventory Update—Brenda Craig Ellis & Anna Forbes
 • Arbor Day Ceremony Update—Brenda Craig Ellis, Lisa Dobbins, Donna Graham

Public Grounds Report—Mike Davis, Deputy Director of Public Grounds

Additional Business

Adjournment

MUNICIPAL BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION/TREE BOARD
 May 6, 2025, Meeting Minutes


Time: Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 1:00 pm

Place: Charleston Municipal Parking Building #1

Commissioners: Anna Forbes, Chair
 Brenda Craig Ellis, Vice Chair
 Marjorie Cooke, Secretary
 Donna Graham, Treasurer
 Lois Crichton
 Marlene Dial
 Lisa Dobbins
 Jane Powell
 Susan Shumate (absent)
 John Casto
 Barbara Rose
 Jason Testman

Staff and Guests: Brent Webster, City Public Works Director
 Mike Davis, City Public Grounds Deputy Director
 Sid Gillis, BID Ambassador
 Renate Pore, Friends of Ruffner Memorial Park
 Ashley Perham, Gazette Reporter
 Anne Silbernagel, Kanawha Garden Club President
 Rev. Jack Lipphardt
 Lisa Barnhart Reed
 Maliah McCann-Coles

Call to Order: Anna Forbes called the meeting to order at 1:03 pm.

Approval of Meeting Minutes: The minutes of the April 1, 2025, MBC meeting were circulated prior
to the meeting. A motion to approve the minutes was made and seconded and the Board approved
the minutes.

Treasurer’s Report: Donna Graham presented the report noting interest earned of $655.55 and a total
balance of $284,007.32. Current earmarks total $79,041.51. There remains a balance after earmarks of
$204,965.81.



 1
 MBC General Matters

Cherry/Flowering Tree Initiative: Anna Forbes proposed MBC undertake a flowering tree initiative
that aims to plant flowering trees (predominantly cherry trees) throughout the city. A few years ago,
MBC members discussed significant city project ideas. One of those ideas was to plant cherry trees
throughout the city beginning with Kanawha Boulevard. Because of the Capital Connector project was
in its planning phases, development of the cherry tree project was paused until the Capital Connector
plans were finalized. Now that the Capital Connector plans are formalized, Anna proposed MBC move
forward with this initiative. She advised this idea has great community support.

In attendance at the meeting were Reverend Jack Lipphardt and his daughter, Lisa Reed, who both spoke
in strong support of the project and suggested creating a cherry blossom festival to promote the city.
Reverend Lipphardt, a former mayor of Wheeling, recently met with Anna to explore this initiative.
Anna advised the vision includes connecting public spaces such as the Kanawha Boulevard, Patrick
Street and Daniel Boone Park, while also encouraging tree planting on private properties. A maintenance
endowment might be needed to support the ongoing care of the trees. Additionally, there is interest in
offering memorial or honorary tree plantings, which could include commemorative plaques.

Anne Silbernagel, president of the Kanawha Garden Club, also expressed strong support for this project
on behalf of her club.

Anna is in contact with Casey Trees, a Washington, D.C.–based organization with expertise in flowering
cherry trees. Anna has formed a subcommittee for the project, which includes Jason Testman, Donna
Graham, Lisa Dobbins, Brenda Craig Ellis, with Anna serving as chair. Anna expressed a wish to have a
ceremonial tree planting this fall.

Potential funding opportunities exist through private donations, state grants, and the Kanawha Garden
Club (KGC) Founders Fund Grant ($40K or $10K). One funding idea is to establish a tree fund through
The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, including funding for long-term maintenance. Brent Webster
suggested a field trip to identify potential planting locations.

Brenda Craig Ellis made a motion to approve moving forward with the Flowering/Cherry Tree
Initiative; Marlene Dial seconded. Motion carried unanimously.

Charleston Tree Initiative Committee: Brenda Craig Ellis, Lisa Dobbins, and Donna Graham continue
to explore potential tree planting locations and reported on a recent field trip to North Charleston. The
committee is considering incorporating cherry trees into the broader initiative. Suggested locations
include the old Stallard project site and property along the railroad, if approved.

Beautification Project Updates:

 • Living Wall: Jane Powell and John Casto reported red, white, and purple petunias will be
 installed in early May.
 • Greenbrier Street Garden: Barbara Rose, Marlene Dial, Jason Testman shared updates on this
 long-term project, noting the presence of invasive weeds and beautiful evergreen trees. A
 suggestion was made to plant 3–5 additional trees. Jason has contacted Davey Tree.
 • City Hall Urns: Jason Testman, Lisa Dobbins, and Barbara Rose reported the urns have been
 planted. American flags are still needed for the upcoming bike race.

 2
 • City Gardens Committee: Lois Crichton, Lisa Dobbins, Donna Graham, and Barbara Rose
 noted that red, white, and blue bunting and flags are ready for installation. Mike Davis and his
 crew will aim to complete planting and flag installation by May 16th.
 • Hanging Baskets: Baskets are expected to go up soon. A suggestion was made to spray paint
 white watering tubes green for improved appearance.
 • Additional Beautification Efforts: Bunting will be added along Wertz Avenue fence and
 shelter area, and across Elk River Bridge. A new Charleston WV bike race banner for the
 greenery fence near the Clay Center has been printed by Charleston Blueprint. Thanks to Jeff
 Pierson for his design work. Appreciation was expressed to Hartline and city crews for their
 work planting window boxes in city parking garages.
 • Dickinson Street Garden: Marjorie Cooke, Jane Powell, and Donna Graham reported the
 removal of a split magnolia tree in garden bed. Red and white plant material has been ordered
 and will be installed before the upcoming bike races.
 • Mary Price Ratrie Greenspace: Jason Testman suggested planting creeping thyme and
 creeping jenny—durable, colorful groundcovers that can withstand foot traffic. Creeping thyme
 will take 3–5 years to fully establish.
 • BID Update: Lois Crichton shared BID’s request for planting ideas in the shady area on
 Brawley Walkway. Options discussed included pachysandra, boulders, and hellebores. Sid Gillis
 reported Terra Care will soon begin planting. MBC requested preserving the dogwood tree, if
 possible.
 • Ruffner Park: Mike Davis reported that the concrete urns delivered are too large for Ruffner
 Park. Donna Graham requested one of these urns be placed in the Lee Street Garden near Capital
 Street. Terra Care will plant materials already in the City’s possession, with planting to begin in
 early May. A memorial cherry tree will be planted in the park by the city.


 Tree Board Matters

 • Tree Inventory: Brenda Craig Ellis reported that the City is finalizing a contract with Davey
 Tree, approved by the WV Division of Forestry. Once signed, Davey will begin inventory and
 identify planting locations.
 • Arbor Day Ceremony: Brenda Craig Ellis, Lisa Dobbins, and Donna Graham shared highlights
 from the event. Six commissioners attended the tree planting. Brenda was commended on her
 work on this event. Wertz Avenue residents held a fundraiser. A proclamation was announced
 recognizing Charleston as a Tree City USA.



Public Grounds Report: Mike Davis noted that his crew will be focused on preparations for the
upcoming bicycle race over the next several weeks.

With no further business, Anna Forbes concluded the meeting.


Respectfully submitted,
Marjorie Cooke, MBC Secretary



 3