Arbor Committee

MAPLE GROVE ARBOR COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 VIRTUAL ONLINE MEETING 7:00 PM Call to Order The regular meeting of the Arbor Committee was called to order by Chair Parenteau at 7:00 p.m. Members Present Chair Mary Parenteau, Vice-Chair Frank Kampel, Sarah Piket, Steve Courtney, Julie Gamber, Cody Lensing, Don Varney, Bob Henke, Marilyn Arnlund and Dan Sanford Members Absent Ed Reichow Also Present Judy Hanson, City Council Liaison Jesse Corrow, City Staff Liaison Approval of Agenda Chair Parenteau asked if there were any additions or revisions to the agenda. Chair Parenteau requested the additions of 4B – Vicksburg Street Clean-up, 4C – Buckthorn Removal and 4D – City Email. Hearing no further additions, revisions or removals Vice-Chair Kampel made a motion to approve the agenda and seconded by Committee Member Henke and passed unanimously on a voice vote. 9/0. Committee Member Arnlund joined late. Approval of Minutes Chair Parenteau asked if there were any additions or revisions to the minutes. Hearing none, Committee Member Gamber made a motion and seconded by Committee Member Piket and passed unanimously on a voice vote. 9/0. Committee Member Arnlund joined late. Old Business Forest Preservation Chair Parenteau has researched old documentation that Area Conservation she has specific to the land and sent it to Joe Easement Hogeboom, director of community and economic development, Kristine Maurer from Hennepin Habitat Conservation Group and Kristina Geiger from Minnesota Land Trust. At some point the City Arbor Committee Meeting Minutes September 10, 2020 Page 2 Attorney will need to do some research on the various pieces of the land being considered. Chair Parenteau is beginning to call councilmembers to socialize the idea; to-date she has spoken with Councilmember Judy Hanson and Councilmember Kristy Barnett. Chair Parenteau will be attending a future council work session to discuss the easement but is waiting to hear a date for the session. It will not be discussed at the September session due to an already full agenda. Chair Parenteau is concerned that the Hennepin Habitat Conservation Group has another round of application review in November and that we may not have council support prior to those reviews. Chair Parenteau suggested Arbor Committee members also reach out to councilmembers to express their support and will send her talking points to the committee. Councilmember Hanson suggested contacting someone from Three Rivers Park district to rally support from them as some of their land is adjacent to the Forest Preservation Area. Section 6.4.3 of the 2040 Comp Plan references conservation easements. Healthy Tree Canopy The application date for this grant has passed however Grant the committee had a few questions about the conditions of the grant. It was hoped that the city might be able to get this grant to use for replacement trees for the ash trees currently being removed due to EAB. Committee Member Henke initiated discussion regarding if public trees on the right-of-way are considered trees in a “public area”. Committee Member Henke suggested that the gravel bed could possibly be used for replacement trees that residents and the city could share the cost for. Committee Member Arnlund indicated that you can purchase bare root trees for $4 - $12, and suggested that Arbor Committee Meeting Minutes September 10, 2020 Page 3 the city could dictate the type of trees and where they could be planted. Councilmember Hanson mentioned that Ken Ashfeld, public works director/city engineer, may not be in favor of replacing trees in the public right of way which may be a consideration. Multiple committee members expressed that a fundamental aspect of a city is an urban forest and replacements should be pursued. Jesse Corrow, city staff liaison, will get clarification on the policy and follow-up with Public Works about the gravel bed idea. Fall Tree Festival The committee decided on a design for the informational flyer. It is still not verified if we can use the city website for publishing maps and event details. An Arbor Committee Facebook page will be the backup plan if we cannot use the website. There will be 8 prizes for the scavenger hunt. The top 3 prizes will be a cutting board and $25 gift card from a nursery or similar business. The remaining 5 prizes will be just be $25 gift card. The committee decided against participation prizes for children (Home Depot kits, etc.). Committee Member Lensing will pick the scavenger prize winners after the event. The committee reviewed and finalized the scavenger hunt details. Committee Members Piket, Henke and City Staff Liaison, Jesse Corrow, will place the fun facts on the trees on September 25th. Committee Member Henke will distribute the flyer at various locations (similar places to where the Arbor Day event has been advertised). Arbor Committee Meeting Minutes September 10, 2020 Page 4 New Business Approved Tree List City staff will update the ordinance language to remove reference to the U of M tree list and add reference to the existing landscape tree suggestions document which is published on the city website. Vicksburg Street Committee decided on Thursday, October 1, 2020, at Clean-up 5:00 p.m., for the next Vicksburg street clean-up. Buckthorn Removal Committee confirmed Saturday, October 24, 2020, from 9 to noon, for buckthorn removal at the Forest Preservation Area. City Staff Liaison, Jesse Corrow, will check with the city contracted tree care company who has done buckthorn removal to see if there is a better chemical than round-up that can be used. City Email Chair Parenteau receives calls from residents from time to time regarding tree-related issues and some have commented that they would have reached out via email if she had one that was published. She requested a city email for another avenue for residents to contact her. Vice-Chair Kampel also requested a city email. Committee Member Henke noted that the Arbor Committee page on the city website needs to be updated as it currently shows several members terms expired. Area Reports Follow-up from August Area Reports • The dead trees at the new Caribou by the hospital are being inspected by the city. • The city will seed the area where utility work was done on Lawndale Lane. • City Staff Liaison, Jesse Corrow, will bring the landscape plan for Cook Lake to a future meeting. New Reports • Committee Member Lensing noted that there is a tree down on Maple Meadows Trail. Arbor Committee Meeting Minutes September 10, 2020 Page 5 • Vice-Chair Kampel asked if someone can take a look at the depth of mulch around trees on Dunkirk from 86th Ave to Sam’s Club. The mulch looked too deep and some may need to be removed. • Committee Member Courtney noted a few dead trees in the median near Menards and the hospital. • Committee Member Courtney thanked the city keeping shrubbery trimmed and sight-lines clear on Weaver Lake by the westbound entrance ramp to I-94. Adjournment Vice-Chair Kampel made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:03 p.m. The motion was seconded by Committee Member Lensing and passed unanimously on a voice vote. Respectfully submitted, Jesse Corrow, Staff Representative City of Maple Grove Arbor Committee