Municipal Beautification Commission — Charleston, WV
Date: 2025-09-02
Time: 13:00

City of Charleston, West Virginia
 Municipal Beautification Commission/Tree Board
 City Services Center Conference Room - 915 Quarrier Street
 Tuesday, September 2, 2025
 1:00 PM

 AGENDA
Call to Order

 • Approval of the July 1, 2025, General Meeting Minutes
 • Treasurer’s Reports (August 2025)

MBC General Matters

 • Ruffner Park – Anna Forbes, Marlene Dial, Lois Crichton, Susan Shumate, Barbara Rose
 • Cherry/Flowering Tree Initiative – Anna Forbes, Jason Testman, Brenda Craig Ellis, Lisa
 Dobbins, Donna Graham
 • Greenbrier Street Garden—Barbara Rose, Marlene Dial, Jason Testman
 • City Gardens Committee Update—Lois Crichton, Donna Graham, Barbara Rose
 • BID Update—Lois Crichton
 • Nominating Committee Formation

Tree Board Matters:

 • Tree Inventory Update—Brenda Craig Ellis & Anna Forbes

Public Grounds Report—Brent Webster

Additional Business

Adjournment

Municipal Beautification/Tree Board
 Tuesday, September 2, 2025


Time: Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 1:00 pm

Place: Charleston Municipal Parking Building #1

Commissioners: Anna Forbes, Chair
 Brenda Craig Ellis, by phone, Vice Chair
 Donna Graham, Treasurer
 Lisa Dobbins
 Lois Crichton
 Marlene Dial
 Mimi Dinsmore
 Jane Powell
 Barbara Rose
 John Casto
 Jason Testman
 Susan Shumate


Call to Order: Anna Forbes called the meeting to order at 1:00 pm.

Approval of the Minutes: The minutes of the July 1, 2025, minutes were previously circulated
prior to the meeting. A motion to approve the minutes was made and seconded and the
Commission unanimously approved the minutes.

Treasurer’s Report: Donna Graham presented the report with a total of $278,264.81. There is
$154,198.01 in total earmarks for projects. A $500 donation from Kanawha Garden Club goes to
the cherry trees. There is a $12,528.35 fund at The Greater Kanawha Foundation for city
beautification.


 MBC General Matters
Ruffner Park: Ruffner Park is reaching completion. Terra Care is managing maintenance and
planting successfully. The city is doing an excellent job of watering. Four Eastern Pines and


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eleven Rhododendrons are being sourced. 46 Tuscan Blue Rosemary are under review for cold
hardiness.

The concrete pad installation has been delayed. The Bennett Life railings are progressing through
the city procurement process with engineering oversight planned.


Cherry Tree Initiative: The MBC cherry tree sub-committee reported on its progress. The
major flowering tree program has launched with a fall 2025 implementation targeting 20-22 trees
across three high-visibility downtown locations. Casey Trees secured at a competitive $175 per
tree pricing for 10-12- foot trees with 15–18-inch root balls, ensuring immediate visual impact
and spring flowering capability. The goal is to plant 1,000 trees over the next couple years
beginning next spring with the planting of 200-300 trees. Davey Tree will advise on site
selection. The trees will be planted in all sections of the city. The working initial budget
estimates a unit cost of $400 per tree, which accounts for tree cost, shipping, planting,
maintenance, and potential replacement costs. The unit price may need to be adjusted as we go
through the competitive bid process.

There will be a species diversification strategy which will include but is not limited to cherries,
flowering plums, serviceberries, and dogwoods to prevent monoculture risks and extend seasonal
interest. City Hall will likely receive spring snow crabapples due to space constraints.

The ceremonial planting will be coordinated with the mayor’s office for late October.

The tree initiative will be funded by a variety of sources. The commission has designated
$100,000 for the project. A $40,000 grant was awarded from the Jacobson Foundation
distributed in two phases. Kanawha Garden Club donated $500. Additional applications for
funding are being explored.

There will be an April 2026 educational programing coordinated with peak cherry blossom
season for maximum community impact and tourism potential. Kanawha Garden Club has
expressed interest in helping develop this programming.

Private donations will be accepted at The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation via The
Appalachian Spring Fund, a new fund whose primary purpose is to support the flowering tree
project.

A memorial tree purchase system is being explored. The city does not currently have an online
mechanism that would allow people to purchase a tree honoring a friend or family member. The
sub-committee will continue to work to find a solution.

There was no objection to the sub-committee’s report.

Greenbrier Street Garden: The treatment for knotweed has been successful. It will be closely
monitored before fall planting. There will be three to five flowering trees planted.



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City Gardens: The large reservoir hanging baskets were very successful. They provided super
sustainability and visual impact. The partnership with Gritts Nursery, who planted the baskets
prior to hanging, was very successful. The red wing begonias were the strongest performers.

BID Update: BID is advancing multiple projects. A $35,000 trash can project, funded through
BID resources and city grants will allow for 13-15 new trash receptacles with weather protection
and side loading access. There will be a new wrap for electrical boxes.

The City Center stage is being redesigned. The redesign will address the issues of too much sun
exposure and weather protection. This is being led by Lewis Payne and a subcommittee.

Security lighting installation has been contracted with GAI creating a safety corridor from City
Center to the Riverfront.

Nominating Committee: Barbara Rose, John Casto, and Susan Shumate agreed to be on the
Nominating Committee. Anyone wishing to serve as an officer should reach out to them.

Tree Board: There is movement in the tree inventory contract with Davey. The contract with the
city is about to be finalized.

Public Works: Brent Webster reported 32 applications for the City Publics Grounds Deputy
Director has been narrowed to 4 applicants. The final applicants will be interviewed by Mayor
Goodwin.

Brent Webster and the Public Grounds staff have managed watering and the public spaces with
excellence.

Additional Business: The International Society of Arbor Culture of WV, MD, VA, and DC
vice president Amy McMillan informed the Commission was nominated for the Gold Leaf
Award for Aboriginal Day programming and ongoing beautification efforts. The awards
ceremony is on October 6 in Ellicott City, MD.




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