City of Ann Arbor  
301 E. Huron St.  
Ann Arbor, MI 48104  
http://a2gov.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Tuesday, February 10, 2026  
9:00 AM  
This meeting is Audio only. To speak at public comment call:  
877-853-5247  
Webinar ID: 943 5402 4789  
Electronic Meeting  
Elizabeth Dean Fund Committee  
CALL TO ORDER  
Chairman Wieland called the meeting to order at 9:01am.  
ROLL CALL  
Chairman Richard Wieland - home, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County  
Member Samuel Rosewig - Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor  
Charter Township, Washtenaw County  
Member Lynn Nybell - home, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County  
Member David Penland - Brunswick County, North Carolina  
Member Robertson Davenport - Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor,  
Washtenaw County  
Member Kimberley Sundy - home, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County  
Member Brooks Curtis - home, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County  
City staff present: Paul Matthews, Public Works Manager; Nicholas  
Jacob, Urban and Community Forester; Jamie Pauline, Urban Forest  
Partnership and Outreach Coordinator  
7 -  
Present  
Lynn Nybell, Richard Wieland, Kimberley Sundy, Brooks  
Curtis, Samuel Rosewig, David Penland, and Robert  
Davenport  
APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Change:  
- Add Lynn Nybell to the conflict-of-interest discussion alongside Richard  
Wieland.  
Member Nybell motioned to approve the agenda with the proposed  
change. Member Sundy seconded. Motion was approved  
unanimously.  
APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
EDFC Draft Meeting Minutes: January 13th, 2026  
26-0167  
Amend:  
- In "Meeting Guidelines" section, clarify that committee members may  
assist non-city applicants only.  
26-0272  
Meeting Minutes for the Elizabeth Dean Fund Committee - January 13th,  
2026 - Final  
Member Curtis motioned to approve the minutes as amended.  
Member Davenport seconded. Motion approved unanimously.  
BUSINESS  
Staff Report - Jamie Pauline  
- Pauline will add Citizen Pruner tools and Arbor Day plantings to the  
March agenda.  
- Member Curtis will forward the contact information for Jeannine Palms  
of Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow to Pauline for followup on the  
guards placed on the trees in the Buhr Park cherry/serviceberry grove.  
- Parks would like the EDFC to complete planting at Bicentennial Park  
before the May 12th opening.  
- The contractor for the new Mushroom Park playscape is currently  
working on designs.  
- Wheeler Park's vacant sites (as listed in GIS) are likely to be viable.  
- The grove idea needs to involve Victor Morales-Rios. Hillary Hanzel  
and Adam Fercho should be cc'd on any communications regarding this.  
EDFC Staff Report: February 10th, 2026  
26-0222  
Reappointments - Jamie Pauline  
Members Davenport, Sundy, Wieland, and Penland are up for  
reappointment this year. Member Penland announced that he would not  
reapply as he will be starting law school. The committee wishes him  
success!  
Pauline will ask Sarah Alanis for a list of applicants.  
Hikone Road Cherries Project Proposal - Jamie Pauline  
- Existing trees are old for cherries. The trees on the west side of the road  
are in worse shape than those on the east side.  
- Pauline spoke with Jennifer Hall from Housing Commission. Hall  
requested that the EDFC not plant on the west side of the road or in the  
park due to potential future construction. However, she said that the east  
side of Hikone Road could be planted.  
- Jacob visited the Hikone Road and reported that the trees will not be  
suitable for reuse as benches or anything similar as the proposal  
suggested. There is extensive rot in many of the trunks, and the logs  
would not be large enough to produce boards of sufficient size.  
- New trees could be planted between existing ones, and the old trees  
could be removed as they deteriorate.  
- Committee would like to organize a site visit with Torey Madura.  
EDFC Project Proposal Application Form: Hikone Road Cherry Trees (February  
2026)  
26-0199  
26-0216  
EDFC February 10th, 2026 Meeting: Hikone Rd Pictures  
Leslie Golf Course Orchard - Richard Wieland  
Pauline followed up with Parks staff regarding the EDFC's suggestions for  
public accessibility. Restricting tee times was deemed not feasible. The  
public has some access outside of tee times, and golfers also consume  
the fruit from the orchard.  
The committee decided to proceed with the project. Watering might not  
be performed by Margolis as is standard with street tree projects. Pauline  
will ask golf course staff/Parks about watering.  
Member Nybell motioned to approve the allocation of up to $25,000  
for the planting of trees in the Leslie Golf Course orchard. Member  
Rosewig seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.  
EDFC February 10th, 2026 Meeting: Leslie Golf Course Orchard Photos  
26-0219  
Mulchers - Brooks Curtis  
Member Rosewig left the meeting at 10:21am. Quorum was maintained.  
- Member Curtis suggested funding a mulcher/cutting head for NAP's use  
in removing invasive woody plants from heavily invaded areas.  
- Jacob advised that a mulcher will not discriminate between native and  
nonnative plants.  
- Matthews reported that Public Works is in possession of cutting heads  
similar to the ones Member Curtis suggested.  
- Pauline will reach out to NAP. Jacob will take the lead on gathering  
information about Public Works' cutting heads.  
Member Sundy left the meeting at 10:29am. Quorum was maintained.  
Conflict of Interest Review - Richard Wieland and Lynn Nybell  
- Member Nybell and Chairman Wieland both donate to Community  
Action Network, but they are not required to recuse themselves from  
votes or discussions involving collaboration with CAN so long as they,  
their friends, and/or their relatives will not financially benefit from their  
participation.  
- Member Nybell also is involved with the Sister Lakes Association and  
donates to it. She has been advised that so long as she is not benefiting  
personally, she does not need to recuse herself in matters that might  
involve this group.  
- Committee emphasized that disclosure of potential conflicts is  
important.  
Financial Overview - Richard Wieland  
Chairman Wieland voluntarily ceded his time in order to address other  
agenda items.  
EDFC Budget Report: February 2026  
26-0220  
26-0246  
Elizabeth Dean Fund Committee Longer Term Plan and Priorities - Version A -  
February 10th, 2026  
Tree Spading - Nicholas Jacob  
Efforts to find a local company to move small trees have not been fruitful  
yet.  
Member Nybell left the meeting at 10:41am. Quorum was maintained.  
PUBLIC COMMENT (3 minutes per speaker)  
All persons are encouraged to participate in public meetings. Citizens requiring  
translation or sign language services or other reasonable accommodations may  
contact the City Clerk's office at 734.794.6140; via e-mail to: cityclerk@a2gov.org; or  
by written request addressed and mailed or delivered to:  
City Clerk's Office  
301 E. Huron St.  
Ann Arbor, MI 48104  
Requests made with less than two business days' notice may not be able to be  
accommodated.  
No persons submitted or attended to make public comment.  
NEXT AGENDA ITEMS  
- Arbor Day plantings  
- Citizen Pruner tools  
- Hikone proposal followup  
- Parks updates  
- Financial overview  
- Mulchers  
- Elm treatments  
- Nursery (as staff report item)  
ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting adjourned at 10:45am.  
Member Curtis motioned to adjourn the meeting. Member Davenport  
seconded. The motion was approved unanimously (4-0).