Shade Tree Committee

PARKS & RECREATION SHADE TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES Tuesday, September 27, 2022 Activity Center 12:00 P.M. MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Ken Knoch, Matt Hill, Rich Potter, Brian Stevens, Ronnie Campbell, Sam Ellsworth, Wid Ritchie, Jon Russell, Mayor Rebecca Casper and Terrie Safford CALL TO ORDER – MATT HILL Matt Hill called the meeting to order at 12:04 p.m. CITY REPORT • Update on Heritage Park - currently waiting on irrigation vaults that were ordered, have been held off working on park for a while. About 84 trees have been ordered and a plan for where they go has been done but they cannot be installed until vaults are in to allow trees to be irrigated. Most of the groundwork has been done by a small group of 3. There is no budget for the next year for Heritage Park so funding and staff will continue to be an issue but will be using O&M budget for irrigation system. Pathway has been installed. Will investigate grant writing with Laura in Community Development. • Ryder Park - moving forward and once topsoil has been delivered will finish final grade, installing final pump for sprinkler system and trees can be installed, will also transplant some trees from Old Butte next spring. • Next meeting is scheduled for October 25, 2022. • Monthly Meeting Schedule for 2023 approved by Matt Hill, 2 nd by Ken Knoch. May move October 31 meeting to different day but will see when it gets closer. APPROVAL OF MINTUES May Minutes Approved by Ken Knoch 2nd Matt Hill. CURRENT CITY FORESTRY STATUS • Windstorm & Tree Damage - 15’ Spruce tree tipped over at a drainage pond and a Cottonwood on Boulevard took a powerline down. Horticulture did remove a Spruce and some Honey Locust trees in Tautphaus Park for a new road. Will re-plant some trees in Tautphaus. • Tree Grant Update – have not heard from Laura on any grants but will investigate. Tabled discussion. GENERAL TREE DISCUSSION • Emerald Ash Bore – Kim Johnson was going to get some more information, but he was unable to attend meeting. Matt would like to table discussion until Kim can give report. Emerald Ash Borer is very tough to treat and costly. Mayor Casper would like to get a plan together and with the help of the PIO for the City, get the information out to residents to keep a watchful eye out and start budgeting money for funding. Mayor mentioned she can help facilitate getting the Shade Tree Committee in front of council to share all information. Josh Embrey the Ammon Parks & Recreation Director is the Emerald Ash Borer expert and we should get together with him. • Ronnie mentioned making a Master Plan for Urban Forestry. Mayor likes the idea and suggests that it gives concrete evidence and will be well received. • A tree inventory has been started and needs to be finished. ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT • Upcoming Agenda Items – Sam Ellsworth suggested City Wide Tree Inventory, Forestry Master Plan, Emerald Ash Borer, Tree Grants. Meeting adjourned and motioned by Sam Ellsworth and 2nd by Rich Potter. Next meeting will be October 25, 2022 Meeting recorded by Terrie Safford and Hollie Pettingill