Shade Tree Committee

PARKS & RECREATION SHADE TREE COMMITTEE MINUTES Tuesday, February 28, 2023 Activity Center 12:00 P.M. MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE: Matt Hill, Kim Johnson, Gerry Bates, David Vest, Rich Potter, Sam Ellsworth, Wid Ritchie, Lee Washburn, Duston Edwards CALL TO ORDER – MATT HILL Matt Hill called the meeting to order at 12:07 p.m. CITY REPORT  Next meeting is scheduled for March 28, 2023. APPROVAL OF MINTUES January Minutes Approved by Sam Ellsworth 2 nd Kim Johnson. CURRENT CITY FORESTRY STATUS  Tree work is being done along the East and West bank of the Riverwalk. A rotten tree along the Riverwalk parking lot on Memorial was removed. There was work done in the greenhouse. Even with the separation in the division members are helping each other to accomplish these tasks. GENERAL TREE DISCUSSION  Review Shrub & Tree City Ordinance - Lee passed around a sheet of approved right-of- way trees. The reason for the list is to give better guidance to contractors who could plant any of the approved trees in a new development. Lee also removed some of the less desirable trees from the existing list such as Ash trees. The list was broken down into 4 categories: Class 1 being up to 30’ tall, Class 2 being up to 40’ tall, Class 3 being above 40’ tall, and finally Utility. The Canadian Choke Cherry Tree is just under utility trees with the thought that homeowners can still plant them in their yards. The reason 1  they were removed from the other lists were due to suckering problems and clearance issues. Lee mentioned that this is not a final list and that any suggestions could be looked at. There are no conifers on the list and the list is broad enough to include different varieties under the same species. Matt asked what will be done with this list once it is complete and Gerry suggested it be made a reference to the city ordinance and the current list be removed from the ordinance. Gerry motioned that the process to change that be started and changed and Rich 2 nd the motion.  Tree Plotter - Gerry went over the tree plotter program with current forestry and horticulture staff. Some trees were moved and removed from the tree inventory. Lee is still working to find interns to help with the tree inventory. Gerry offered to help try and find some at BYUI and Sam had a contact with ISU that he was going to pass Lees contact information along to. Whomever the intern is needs to be good at tree identification and the position will be paid.  John Radford Resolution – No John Radford at this meeting and will bump him to next meeting.  EAB Pest Preparedness – Gerry stated that the plan is not yet ready. His boss was pulled away to work on some Federal grant funding for the forestry service. The preparedness plan outline should be finished by the end of the week and Gerry can share it with us at the next meeting.  Inflation Reduction Act - The federal government has this new act out and one of the line items is for urban and community forestry funding of 1.6 billion dollars. The Idaho Department of Lands started looking into large projects that would fit into this funding such as silva cells but found out they are capped at 2 million spending authority. They are only able to apply for 1 million dollars with which they would use to enhance the tree plotter program. They would add features such as tree appraisal and work order system for free that would typically cost users between $1,000 - $1,500 to obtain on their own. The other thing they would use the money for is competitive grants in underserved city areas which is about a third of Idaho falls. Any unclaimed funds, the city can apply for with no limit for the funds it just has to go towards the underserved areas.  Arbor Day 2023 – Lee talked with the CTE instructor and they are going to help with Arbor Day. He contacted the mayor’s office and May 15th is the date that will work. It is going to be held at the 2nd Ryder Pond. Lee also passed around John Russel’s tree list and plan. The plan was to make a small arboretum that could potentially have placards saying what trees are out there. Sam wanted to include the large tree spade so that students could see how one is operated and the size of trees it could move. Lee mentioned that it would be on site for a tree planting. Gerry mentioned that the Arbor Day grant should be out the end of this week and is due last Friday in April. 2 ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT  Gerry to get the finalized Idaho EAB Pest Preparedness Outline.  Resolve Shade Tree Ordinance and Street Tree list.  Tree damage report for future meetings.  Park tour for future meetings. Meeting adjourned and motioned by Rich Potter 2 nd by Sam Ellsworth. Next meeting will be March 28, 2023. Meeting recorded by Duston Edwards 3