Urban Forestry

Menomonie Urban Forestry Board Minutes Wednesday, April 19, 2023 – 1:00pm – Lower-Level Conference Room 58 - City Hall Committee Members Present: Cindy Gilberts (Absent) Joe Jax (Chair) (3.0 hrs.) Liz Usborne (3.0 hrs.) Bob Giede (2.0 hrs.) Dennis Kropp (3 hrs.) Mike Schendel (2.0 hrs.) Mike Smith (1.0 hr.) Eric Sutherland (Absent) Monika Herrmann (2.0 hrs.) Others present: • William Graf, UW-Stout student • Ben Schmitt, UW-Stout student • Trevor Cleereman, UW-Stout student • Kevin Dietsche, UW-Stout professor • Megen Hines, Environmental Program Coordinator • Mike Morrow, Parks & Forestry Foreman • Dave Frank, Community Services Superintendent The meeting was called to order by Chairman, Joe Jax at 1:00 PM. Minutes: Kropp made a motion to approve the March 2023 Urban Forestry meeting minutes, seconded by Giede. Motion carried. Public Comment: None 2023 DNR Urban Forestry Grant Work Plan: Hines reported that trees have been ordered and will be delivered in early May. Work has begun on the gravel bed tree nursery by the Community Services staff. After the Arbor Day event, Hines will be dedicating some more time towards the educational components of the grant project. Bench Maintenance Plan: UW-Stout students presented a maintenance plan and a proposed adopt-a-bench program for the ash tree benches. The students created a maintenance plan for each bench and will be providing the city with both hard copy and digital copies of the plans. They propose a plan where residents or groups could “adopt-a-bench” to perform annual inspections and needed maintenance. The board discussed the possibility of an “adopt-a-bench” program and directed staff to come up with a draft outline of a proposed program. Professor Dietsche mentioned that Jerry Johnson would be interested in adopting a bench through the program and that there could be a possible collaboration with the UW-Stout TEECA group. Ordinance Update: Hines reported that the City Council approved the amended Urban Forestry Board ordinance at the April 3, 2023 council meeting. Arbor Day Celebration: Discussion and review of the program for the Arbor Day Celebration event on Friday, April 28th. There will be two events, an educational event with Wakanda Elementary 4th graders at 10 am in Wakanda Park and a public event at 11 am at the Dunn County Historical Society. Final updates to the event were discussed. Liz Usborne will speak during the public event on the city’s Tree City and Bird City status, efforts the city puts into birds and trees and what the public can do to help. Morrow and the Community Services staff will coordinate the planting of the trees. Hines will coordinate the logistics of the elementary education event and the public event. The promotion of the event was discussed. Department of Military Affairs Tree Cutting Report – Update: Much discussion on the Department of Military Affairs plan to cut many trees on their campus on 28th Ave. Several city-owned trees in the boulevard will be trimmed during this process. It is not known at this time when this work will begin. Items to add to the agenda – discussion only: Listed below. Urban Forester Report: Morrow reported that pruning is complete in an area from Park Circle to the hospital, including the Elmwood addition. Approximately 210 trees were removed this winter season. Community Services staff recently cut down all of the stumps that had been in the snowbanks, in preparation for stump grinding. City Council Report: Hines reported that Eric Sutherland, the Urban Forestry Board Council representative, was re-elected during the spring election and will continue to be the City Council representative for the board. The City Council recently approved two resolutions, one announcing odd-even irrigation bans during June-September and another for a pilot “No Mow May” program. The Council also approved a bid to purchase a new street sweeper. Items for Next Meeting Agenda: • Adopt a Bench program – outline for program • Arbor Day Celebration recap • Establish a parking lot for Urban Forestry ideas/projects – google drive? o Homeowner adopt a tree program, possible cost sharing program o Brochure updates o Tree Walk o Implementation Plan for enforcing updated UFB ordinance Next Meeting: Wednesday, May 17, 2023 – 1:00 p.m. in lower level of City Hall – Conference Room 058. Adjournment: A motion was made to adjourn by Schendel, seconded by Kropp. Meeting adjourned at 2:20 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Megen Hines Recording Secretary