Arbor Committee

MAPLE GROVE ARBOR COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING JULY 9, 2020 VIRTUAL ONLINE MEETING 7:00 PM Call to Order The regular meeting of the Arbor Committee was called to order by Chairperson Parenteau at 7:00 p.m. Members Present Mary Parenteau, Frank Kampel, Sarah Piket, Steve Courtney, Julie Gamber, Cody Lensing, Don Varney, Bob Henke Members Absent Dan Sanford, Ed Reichow, Marilyn Arnlund Also Present Judy Hanson, Council Liaison Joe Bennet, Streets Supervisor Jesse Corrow, Staff Liaison Approval of Agenda Chairperson Parenteau asked if there were any additions and Minutes or revisions to the agenda. Committee Chair Parenteau requested the addition of 3D – Forest Preservation Area Conservation Easement, Committee Member Piket requested the addition 4A – Advanced Collision Repair. Hearing no further additions or revisions, Committee Member Kampel made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Courtney and passed unanimously on a voice vote. Chairperson Parenteau asked if there were any revisions to the June 11, 2020 minutes. Hearing no revisions, Committee Member Kampel made a motion to approve the minutes of the June 11th meeting as presented. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Gamber and passed unanimously on a voice vote. Old Business Planned Ash Tree Joe Bennett, Streets Supervisor with the City of Maple Removals Grove joined the meeting to discuss areas of infested ash trees and their planned removal. The ash trees around Boundary Creek and the trees north of Rice Lake are showing signs of infestation. The infestation is growing quickly in these areas. Arbor Committee Meeting Minutes July 9, 2020 Page 2 The city originally gave residents the option to treat boulevard trees (at their expense) or have the city remove them. Because the tree care companies will no longer warranty the treatments, the city is moving ahead with removing all of the trees, whether infested or not. Boulevard trees that residents previously chose to treat will be grandfathered in and not removed if residents continue to treat them. Residents may keep ash trees on private property only if they choose to treat them. The city is not planning to replant removed public trees in residential areas. Residents are encouraged to plant new trees on their own properties and outside of the road right of way. The trees south of Co. Rd. 30 that are part of U of M study are also showing signs of disease. At this time, the only trees being removed in this area are ones confirmed to have EAB that the residents are not treating. Outside of the two heavy infestation areas, all ash trees on major roadways and collector streets in Maple Grove are being treated by the city. The city can remove about 100 trees annually while also continuing normal tree care throughout the city. Landscape Plans Follow-up information was provided by Staff Liaison Previously Reviewed Corrow regarding concerns raised over previously reviewed landscape plans. • It was acknowledged that a memo from the Arbor Committee should have been included in the staff report the Markets at Rush Creek. • The city does not require developers to submit updated plans before the permitting stage when final plans are reviewed. Developers may implement recommendations from the Arbor Committee but it may not be known till the final plans are presented. Arbor Committee Meeting Minutes July 9, 2020 Page 3 • Staff will not be asking applicants to respond to Arbor Committee comments if they choose not to implement certain recommendations. It was noted that not all of the recommendations by the Arbor Committee are required by ordinance and a response is not necessarily warranted. Fall Tree Festival The Arbor Committee continued to discuss and plan details around the Fall Tree Festival. The Parks Department are working on a map of unique trees that are in the arboretum. Identified trees within the Arboretum will not be visible by car and visitors will have to walk around to see them. The committee questioned whether there would be many interesting trees outside the Arboretum that would be visible from public roadways. Committee Members Lensing and Piket were going to visit city parks prior to the next meeting to identify some interesting trees. Other committee members are encouraged to also identify additional trees if they have an opportunity. There was discussion around if the Fall Tree Festival should be an “event” on a specific day or if it should be something that spans multiple weeks. Due to the ongoing pandemic, is was decided that a more organized event may draw large crowds and may not be appropriate at this time. Chairperson Parenteau created a draft announcement for the city’s fall newsletter. The group decided to remove reference to a “city-wide” map and simply indicate there will be a map. This will give flexibility to identify trees throughout the city or only in the Arboretum. Forest Management Chairperson Parenteau and Vice Chair Kampel spoke Land Trust with Kristine Mauer, a Land Protection and Restoration Specialist with Hennepin County to discuss the possibility of conservation easement over the Forest Preservation Areas in Maple Grove. The following updates were discussed: Arbor Committee Meeting Minutes July 9, 2020 Page 4 • Hennepin County would cover most if not all the costs involved, and any cost to city would be minimal. • The city would still own the land after an easement is in place. • A pre- application must be submitted for review of the Conservation Easement. The application is a short questionnaire and is non-binding. The group from Hennepin County will meet next week and again in November. • Documentation of bond referendums and title searches regarding land ownership are needed if the process moves forward. Deeds to the individual parcels that make up the Forest Preservation Area are also needed to determine if there are any pre-existing easements on the property. • Council Member Hanson offered that if the application process progresses, that a resolution should be drafted for the City Council to consider the easement. Committee Member Kampel made a motion that the Arbor Committee move forward with the pre-application for the Hennepin County Habitat Conservation program. Committee Member Lensing seconded and the motion passed unanimously. New Business Advanced Collision The proposed landscape plan for Advanced Collision Repair Repair was presented by Staff Liaison Corrow and the following comments were provided by the committee: • The number of spruce trees and swamp white oak exceed the maximum allowed (eight trees) of any one genus. • There was discussion again about if the 20% calculation should be made against the minimum number of trees required or the total number of trees proposed. Chairperson Arbor Committee Meeting Minutes July 9, 2020 Page 5 Parenteau and Committee Member Piket were fairly certain the committee had decided it should be against the total number of trees proposed. • City staff are likely going to request more perennials and shrubs to be planted along the perimeter of the building. Area Reports Staff Liaison Corrow provided an update on previous area reports. The committee noted the following new area reports: Committee Member Henke mentioned there are some young trees near the Hirschfield’s site that are in bad shape and should be inspected and replaced, if necessary. Committee Member Lensing reported a park path connecting East Fish Lake Road to Cardinal Circle has a large hole forming and should be inspected by staff. Adjournment Committee Member Cortney made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:29 P.M. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Henke and passed unanimously on a voice vote. Respectfully submitted, Jesse Corrow, Staff Representative City of Maple Grove Arbor Committee