Arbor Committee

Chair Address: Mary Parenteau 12800 Arbor Lakes Pkwy Committee Members Maple Grove, MN 55369 Marilyn Arnlund Bob Henke Phone: Frank Kampel 763-494-6040 Zak Klehr Rachael Lamsal Arbor Committee agenda August 8, 2024 7 p.m. Website: Darlene Lindgren maplegrovemn.gov Sarah Piket Mayor’s Conference Room Ellis Richards Donald Varney 1. OPENING BUSINESS A. Call to order 2. A. Approval of agenda B. Approval of minutes – June 13, 2024 regular meeting 3. SPECIAL BUSINESS A. Welcome new committee members 4. OLD BUSINESS A. Arbor Committee vacancies B. Maple Grove Days parade recap C. Parking Lot Subcommittee update D. Fall tree sale update E. Fall tree planting 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Tree condemnations update B. Maple Grove Government Center planting plan 6. AREA REPORTS 7. ADJOURNMENT  REQUEST FOR ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION MEETING DATE: August 8, 2024 PREPARED BY: Shane DeGroy, City Forester AGENDA ITEM: Approval of agenda and minutes – agenda item 2A and 2B PREVIOUS ACTIONS: None RECOMMENDED ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION: Call by Chair ________________ for any additions or revisions to the agenda. Motion by Committee member ________________, seconded by Committee member __________________ to approve as proposed or approve as amended the agenda for the August 8, 2024 regular meeting. Motion by Committee member __________________, seconded by Committee member ______________ to approve the minutes of the June 13, 2024 regular meeting as presented or as amended. COMMENTS: Click or tap here to enter text. ATTACHMENTS: June 13, 2024 meeting minutes  Maple Grove Arbor Committee regular meeting minutes June 13, 2024 Mayor’s Conference Room 7:00 p.m. 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, Sarah Piket, Don Varney, Marilyn Arnlund, Bob Henke, Rachael Lamsal, Frank Kampel and Darlene Lindgren Members absent Apeckchya Karki, Cody Lensing Also present Shane DeGroy, Staff Liaison Approval of agenda Parenteau corrected the discrepancy on the order of agenda items. Motion Piket, second Varney to approve the agenda for June 13, 2024. Vote all ayes. Motion passed. Approval of minutes Arnlund noted a typo. Kampel noted two others. Parenteau noted an omission in attendance and noted a typo. Motion Arnlund, second Kampel to approve the minutes from May 9, 2024. Vote all ayes. Motion passed. Old Business Maple Grove Days parade Committee members shared whether or not they would be attending, and whether or not they would be able to walk in the parade. DeGroy added his intention to attend and participate. Kampel announced that Parenteau will be Grand Marshall of this year’s parade, and the committee congratulated her. The committee held a vote on participating in the parade. Vote all ayes. Pollinator garden update DeGroy shared that the city is waiting on a plan to be presented from Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens. Parenteau explained that the Arbor Committee and Rotary Club would like input on the plan. Arnlund inquired as to the possibility of getting signs. Henke expressed concern that the signs could get stolen. Parking Lot Subcommittee DeGroy indicated that he had feedback for the subcommittee. The subcommittee decided to email in the next week and find a time to meet with DeGroy to discuss  their work. Members traded examples of parking lot vegetation that did and didn’t look good around the city. Arbor Committee Goals The Arbor Committee reviewed their goals for 2024. Piket suggested that the list was long, and that the committee may be more successful with a more refined list. After some combinations and eliminations, the committee ended up with the following list of goals for 2024: • Explore new ways to spend T-zone cash-in-lieu money and plant gravel bed tree seedlings • Utilize Tree City USA flags and signs in public places and Maple Grove entrance points, as well as a sign at the site of last year’s planting event • Host educational classes and a public tree planting demonstration • Work with City Forester on a Forest Preservation Management Plan The Committee will continue updating their goals and work with the City Forester towards achieving them. New Business Fall tree sale The committee went through the list of tree species provided by Grove Nursery and discussed the viability of each species in regard to ecology, representation, and public demand. DeGroy will reach out to the nursery with the ten species that the committee selected. Arbor Committee vacancies DeGroy reported that there has been at least one application for the two vacancies, with eleven more days until the application window closes. Tree seedlings planting Parenteau inquires whether Parks would want the seedlings. location DeGroy will find out. Arnlund asks why a new T-zone couldn’t be created by planting the seedlings on non-park city property. Conservation Partners DeGroy reported that there is interest from the city in Legacy grant applying to this grant again, but the application window doesn’t open until spring of 2025. Area reports Parenteau reports that Dan Sanford checked in on the trees that were planted near CSAH-30, and thought the trees looked “fabulous,” aside from a handful that died.  Loraine Gresser, an Arbor Committee founding member passed away. DeGroy will check with Parks on the potential for a memorial tree or bench in the City Arboretum. Adjournment Motion Piket, second Varney to adjourn the meeting at 8:23 p.m. Vote all ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Shane DeGroy, City Forester City of Maple Grove Arbor Committee  REQUEST FOR ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION MEETING DATE: August 8, 2024 PREPARED BY: Shane DeGroy, City Forester AGENDA ITEM: New Committee Members – Special Business - Agenda Item 3A PREVIOUS ACTIONS: None RECOMMENDED ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION: Welcome the new Arbor Committee members, Zak Klehr and Ellis Richards. COMMENTS: City Forester DeGroy and Chair Parenteau held interviews with four candidates to fill the vacancies on the Arbor Committee. Both Zak and Ellis have a passion for tree preservation and are enthusiastic to serve. Zak has resided in Maple Grove for a year and a half, has a background in sustainable community development and currently works as a small cities grant specialist with MN DEED. Ellis is a four and a half-year resident with a background in engineering and design, and currently works as an analog design engineer with a firm in the western suburbs. With their backgrounds, skills, and passion for the environment, Zak and Ellis will make excellent additions to the Arbor Committee. On August 5th, 2024, the City Council approved of appointing Zachary Klehr and Ellis Richards to the Maple Grove Arbor Committee. Please welcome Zak and Ellis to the committee. ATTACHMENTS: None  REQUEST FOR ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION MEETING DATE: August 8, 2024 PREPARED BY: Shane DeGroy, City Forester AGENDA ITEM: Vacancy Update – Special Business - Agenda Item 4A PREVIOUS ACTIONS: None RECOMMENDED ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION: Chair Parenteau and the City Forester should select and reach out to one of the recent applicants. COMMENTS: After serving on the Arbor Committee since 2019, Cody Lensing has made the decision to step down and resign from his role. Cody was an asset to the committee and his absence will be felt. He wanted to share that he is excited to see what we accomplish in the future. Chair Parenteau and the City Forester will work on filling his vacancy. ATTACHMENTS: None  REQUEST FOR ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION MEETING DATE: August 8, 2024 PREPARED BY: Shane DeGroy, City Forester AGENDA ITEM: Maple Grove Days Parade – agenda item 4B PREVIOUS ACTIONS: Plans for the Maple Grove Days parade were discussed at the previous meeting. RECOMMENDED ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION: Reflect on the committee’s participation in this year’s Maple Grove Days parade. COMMENTS: The Arbor Committee participated in this year’s Maple Grove Days parade. Early thoughts were positive, with some saying this was the committee’s best showing yet, despite the absence of Grand Marshal Parenteau. Is there anything that the committee would do differently next year? ATTACHMENTS: None  REQUEST FOR ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION MEETING DATE: August 8, 2024 PREPARED BY: Shane DeGroy, City Forester AGENDA ITEM: Parking Lot Subcommittee – agenda item 4C PREVIOUS ACTIONS: The Parking Lot Subcommittee met with DeGroy on June 24, 2024. After working together to make some edits, DeGroy forwarded their work on to city staff. COMMENTS: Members of the subcommittee (Arnlund, Piket, Varney) have presented their updates to the landscape ordinance (Sec. 36-831) and are soliciting feedback from city staff. The City Forester will provide updates on this process. ATTACHMENTS: None  REQUEST FOR ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION MEETING DATE: August 8, 2024 PREPARED BY: Shane DeGroy, City Forester AGENDA ITEM: Tree sale update – agenda item 4D PREVIOUS ACTIONS: On June 13, 2024 the Arbor Committee selected tree species for this year’s tree sale. RECOMMENDED ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION: Estimate how many trees of each species the city should order for the fall tree sale. COMMENTS: Unlike previous years, the city must predetermine how many of each species to purchase and sell during the fall tree sale. Below are the species selected for this year, and attached are the sale numbers from last year. • AUTUMN BRILL.SVCBERRY #10 CLUMP $108 • DAK.PINNACLE BIRCH #5 SINGLE STEM $68 • HACKBERRY#5 $59 • TREE FORM VAN.STRAWBERRY HYD TREE #7 $105 • IRONWOOD #5 $56 • NORTHERN RED OAK #5 $65 • BOULEVARD LINDEN #10 $122 • PRINCETON ELM #10 $122 • HONEYCRISP APPLE #5 $65 • BLACK HILLS SPRUCE #5 $38 Attached are the numbers and species of trees sold at 2023 tree sale for reference.  2023 Fall Tree Sale Numbers Below is a tally of the trees that were ordered during last year’s tree sale event. 115 trees were ordered in 2023 compared to the 83 trees that were ordered in 2022, and 74 trees ordered in 2021. Trees Species Trees Ordered Available Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple 20 20 Norway Spruce 9 10 Heritage River Birch 4 10 Parkland Pillar Birch 17 25 Skyline Locust 4 5 Swamp White Oak 10 10 Greenspire Linden 15 15 White Pine 3 10 Limelight Hydrangea Tree 20 20 Sweet 16 Apple 5 15 Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry 5 5 Grand Total 115 Trees  REQUEST FOR ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION MEETING DATE: August 8, 2024 PREPARED BY: Shane DeGroy, City Forester AGENDA ITEM: Fall tree planting - Agenda Item 4E PREVIOUS ACTIONS: The Arbor Committee was gifted 100+ bare root tree seedlings and have planted them in the gravel bed next to the Public Works garage. The Committee then considered potential planting locations. RECOMMENDED ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION: Determine a location for the tree seedlings to be permanently planted. COMMENTS: The Arbor Committee previously considered the attached city owned properties as potential tree planting sites. Some sites were eliminated, but no site was settled on. Sites #3 and #31 are highlighted on the attached maps, as well as a new location suggested by Parks with a list of positives and negatives for each site. Other suggestions of city owned property are welcome. ATTACHMENTS: Tree planting sites  Site #3 Northwest quadrant of Vicksburg Lane & Elm Road (area shown is approximately 1 acre) + Good visibility from Elm Road + Parcel is not large enough for future development + Easy access for tree watering and maintenance + No existing trees - Small parcel - Would have to avoid storm pond  Site # 31 End of Weston Lane adjacent to Interstate 94 (area shown is approximately 1.26 acres) + Parcel is not large enough for future development + Easy access for tree watering and maintenance - Power lines present - will have to avoid planting in the easement - Cul-de-sac from Weston Lane is present - heavy tree coverage in some areas - Existing trees may hinder visibility from interstate  Park Site Linear Park with Recent Removals (area shown is approximately 0.6 acres) + Parcel was recently clear cut due to EAB and is in need of trees + Some water access from Meadowlark Ln + Neighbors have indicated willingness to water - Less visibility than sites along busier roads  REQUEST FOR ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION MEETING DATE: August 8, 2024 PREPARED BY: Shane DeGroy, City Forester AGENDA ITEM: Tree condemnations update – Agenda Item 5A PREVIOUS ACTIONS: None RECOMMENDED ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION: None at this time. COMMENTS: I wanted to provide an update on the city’s condemnations of hazardous trees. The city has condemned 182 hazardous trees on commercial properties near Elm Creek Boulevard. I have finished condemnations for the year, with plans to resume during the growing season in 2025. See attached memo for more details. ATTACHMENTS: Tree condemnations memo To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Copy: Heidi Nelson, City Administrator Joe Hogeboom, Community and Economic Development Director From: Shane M. DeGroy, City Forester Date: July 10, 2024 Subject: Hazardous Tree Condemnations REQUESTED ACTION: None. This memo is intended for informational purposes. The emerald ash borer (EAB) is an invasive pest that kills ash trees. Minnesota has more ash trees than any other state, and they have been planted heavily along roads, sidewalks, and parking lots since the 1970s. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has declared all of Hennepin County to be a “generally infested area.” This means that any ash tree within Maple Grove (that hasn’t been treated with insecticide) is harboring the beetles, and slowly succumbing to them. Ash trees become incredibly brittle as they decline, starting with the tips of their branches and moving inward. Because of their brittleness, they can become unpredictable and dangerous to remove. This means that the longer they stand dead, the more difficult and expensive they are for tree care companies to remove. Due to their brittle nature, they tend to fall apart as they decline. Michigan was ground zero for EAB in the US, and at least 15 people have died from falling ash trees since the beetle first arrived. As well as being a hazard to public health and property, standing dead and declining ash trees are a blight on the landscape and diminish the aesthetic of the surrounding businesses. For these reasons the city has begun condemning hazardous trees on commercial properties. Condemnations began in mid-June at the former JC Penny, and have moved along Elm Creek Boulevard toward the Maple Grove Government Center from there. The condemnation process is as follows:  1. I find a dead or declining tree on commercial property that I determine to be a hazard so as to adversely affect the public safety. 2. I make notes on the condition and location of the tree, and I measure the DBH (Diameter at Breast Height- industry standard for calculating price and equipment necessary for removal). 3. I mark the tree, typically with a ring of green spray paint on the trunk. 4. I send the property owner a letter that includes the reason for the condemnation, their options for removal, information on the appeal process, information about replacing the tree(s), my contact information, as well as a map that shows the location, DBH, and information on how the tree was marked. 5. The property owner has 90 days to abate the hazard. If the hazard has not been abated after 90 days, then the city will remove the tree(s) at the expense of the property owner. 6. I work with the property owner to come up with an updated landscape plan and timeline for planting the replacement trees so as to be in compliance with the city’s landscaping ordinance. While out marking trees, I have encountered some business owners who have been grateful that the city is condemning trees. Some of these businesses have praised the city for taking action, since the property owners aren’t always local (sometimes not even residing within the US), and otherwise wouldn’t address the issue. This year, 182 hazardous trees have been condemned across 31 different parcels. See the attached map for locations, and photos for examples of trees which are a hazard to the public or property, as well as a blight on the landscape. Attachments: Map, photos of ash trees that were condemned  REQUEST FOR ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION MEETING DATE: August 8, 2024 PREPARED BY: Shane DeGroy, City Forester AGENDA ITEM: Government Center planting plan – Agenda Item 5B PREVIOUS ACTIONS: Click or tap here to enter text. RECOMMENDED ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION: Please review and provide feedback to this planting plan draft. COMMENTS: The City is planning to plant remove and plant trees on the Government Center campus. Please see the attached draft and provide feedback. The current timeline involves removing trees this summer and planting trees this fall. One ash tree is being treated for EAB, with the others being too far declined and are slated for removal. ATTACHMENTS: Draft planting plan Good condition, healthy honey locust tree (29) Dead or dying (8) Poor condition, poor structure, or unsightly (13)  REQUEST FOR ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION MEETING DATE: August 8, 2024 PREPARED BY: Shane DeGroy, City Forester AGENDA ITEM: Area reports – agenda item 6 PREVIOUS ACTIONS: None RECOMMENDED ARBOR COMMITTEE ACTION: The area reports section of the agenda provides an opportunity for any Committee member to report any item in the city that needs staff attention. Arbor related items will be forwarded to the appropriate staff member with a response provided at the next meeting. COMMENTS: ATTACHMENTS: None