Tree Board

REGULAR MEETING OAKDALE TREE BOARD City of Oakdale JUNE 15, 2021 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Oakdale Tree Board of the City of Oakdale was held Tuesday, June 15, 2021. The meeting was called to order by Chair Kantola at 5:02pm. The opportunity was provided for the Tree Board, staff and the public to participate by telephone in response to the City of Oakdale’s Local Emergency response to COVID-19. CALL OF ROLL Chair: Nick Kantola Vice Chair: Marge Sagstetter Members: Cathie Schreifels Glen Giacoletto Dallas Pierson Absent: Mike Saarela Stan Karwoski Also Present: Loren Cota, City Forester Mayor, Paul Reinke, City Council Liaison Deb Moeller, Washington County Master Gardener Liaison Quorum Present: YES ☒ NO ☐ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE COUNCIL UPDATE Mayor Reinke updated the board on the following: • New Finance Director, Jason Zimmerman, started June 14. • Bethesda Cornerstone Group site near Helmo BRT Station planning a 71 unit apartment with a portion of the units dedicated to developmentally disabled adults. This is the first in housing unit in Washington County to offer this program. Due to site cleanup and rising construction costs, Oakdale will help cover costs by using an Interfund Transfer TIFF and collect principle and interest over 26 years. • Slumberland / 4Front Campus – Council approved modified zoning requirements to allow Slumberland to have more warehouse/manufacturing space if it provides employment opportunities. Slumberland working with Washington County for road access in and out from south side. Oakdale Tree Board Minutes June 15, 2021 Page Two APPROVAL OF MINUTES A MOTION WAS MADE BY VICE CHAIR SAGSTETTER AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SCHREIFELS TO APPROVE THE REGULAR MINUTES OF MARCH 16, 2021. Ayes 5 Abstain 0 Nays 0 Motion Carried OPEN FORUM Vice Chair Sagstetter asked that a formal vote be taken regarding Goat Grazing and formally close discussion. Mr. Cota mentioned he received quotes from two companies for approximately $800/acre. Chemical removal is approximately $150/acre. In response to Member Schreifels’ question how often goat grazing would be needed, Mr. Cota responded it is recommended to do twice in a season for at least two or more seasons. Seed bank is in ground for seven years and birds continually deposit seeds so buckthorn is a perpetual problem that needs to be addressed often. A MOTION WAS MADE BY VICE CHAIR SAGSTETTER AND SECONDED BY MEMBER PIERSON TO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH GOAT GRAZING AT THIS TIME. Ayes 5 Abstain 0 Nays 0 Motion Carried OLD BUSINESS Spring Planting Oakdale Bark Park Mr. Cota stated that ten Hackberry trees were bought and planted and are doing well. Vice Chair Sagstetter provided the following comments from interviews she had with visitors in the dog park: • More benches needed • More picnic tables • Non-resident stated Oakdale Bark Park is the best dog park in the surrounding communities Mr. Cota mentioned council recently approved the process for donating benches and trees to Oakdale parks and will email policy to board members. Mayor Reinke stated the policy is very clear about donations and Jeff Koesling makes the final decision regarding donations. Maintenance costs are considered before approval. Oakdale Tree Board Minutes June 15, 2021 Page Three Arbor Day Tree Giveaway Mr. Cota noted almost 200 trees were given away and all extras have been planted within the city. Question was raised how board would like to proceed with giveaway. Mr. Cota would like to have trees ready by 8:45am next year due to the amount of residents that arrived early to pick up trees. Suggested shortening pickup time from 9:30-11:30am. Chair Kantola liked the drive up option but thinks traffic could be managed a little better. Suggested less time slots per time window but less time windows so traffic is distributed more evenly. Vice Chair Sagstetter mentioned there were many volunteers and that next year we might not need as many employees working. Suggested volunteers direct traffic flow in parking lot to queue cars in trees lines rather than waiting on street. Master Gardeners like the opportunity to educate residents on tree care as they pick up trees. In response to Member Schreifels’ question how the tree giveaway is advertised, Mr. Cota responded it’s was on social media, city website, digital board and possibly in Oakdale Update. A resident who always participates mentioned to Member Schreifels that he had not heard about the tree giveaway this year. Vice Chair Sagstetter stated she didn’t see advertisements and is not signed up for city alerts. Member Pierson did get text message via city alert system. Vice Chair Sagstetter suggested offering a shrub next year along with the trees. Residents visiting the Tree Board table at the Farmers Market has expressed an interest in something smaller than a tree. Member Giacoletto stated he thought the process went well and heard positive comments. NEW BUSINESS Farmers Market Table Vice Chair Sagstetter was able to reserve five dates for the market. 23 people visited and discussions involved tree giveaway, tree trek, Kentucky Coffee Tree seeds, Boxelder bugs and Honey Locust trees. Full report at end of season. Fall Buckthorn Event Mr. Cota stated it might be better to wait until next year to work with volunteers. There is a parcel in the northeast quadrant of Mud Lake has old growth buckthorn that needs to be addressed. Homeowners will be contacted regarding access to property. Mr. Cota will bring motion to council if needed. Oakdale Tree Board Minutes June 15, 2021 Page Four MOTION WAS MADE BY VICE CHAIR SAGSTETTER AND SECONDED BY MEMBER GIACOLETTO TO RECOMMEND CANCELING 2021 BUCKTHORN EVENT. Ayes 5 Abstain 0 Nays 0 Motion Carried Arbor Day 2022 Tree Selection Mr. Cota advised board that tree selection is needed by September meeting. Vice Chair Sagstetter will forward shrub selections gathered from interviews. Ms. Sagstetter will also follow up with contact who is growing 20 Kentucky Coffee Trees from seed to be donated to Oakdale. These are easy to care for trees that need humans to help populate. Fun fact: the only predator (ground sloth) able to open the nut from tree went extinct 11,000 years ago! Member Giacoletto mentioned Kentucky Coffee Trees are a good option and the fruit tree this year was popular. Mr. Cota noted evergreens have been good choices for giveaways in the past. Chair Kantola believe the Eastern Red Cedar would be a good evergreen option. Spring Planting 2022 Due to time constraints, Mr. Cota would like to re-work existing landscapes. Parks and plants can be decided at the January meeting. Chair Kantola suggested more discussion at the September meeting. In response to Vice Chair Sagstetter’s question regarding the Honey Locust trees by the movie theater, Mr. Cota replied they were pruned in spring but due to many suckers they couldn’t all be pruned. Would like to hold off on plants around base until trees are more established and healthy. COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS Vice Chair Sagstetter mentioned she is working with Glen Bearth re-establishing the Lion’s Garden. More shrubs and a few perennials will be added and two Plum trees will be moved for spacing. Maintenance list is being developed for garden. Mayor Reinke spoke to board regarding removing a dead arborvitae tree at Eberle Park entrance. Mr. Cota replied he has been watching that tree and it has one stem on one side that needs removing. Vice Chair Sagstetter has offered to prune two trees near the City Hall parking lot the next time she works the Farmers Market. Oakdale Tree Board Minutes June 15, 2021 Page Five NEXT MEETING AGENDA ITEMS/DATE Next Oakdale Tree Board meeting will be Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 5pm. The following items will be included on the September agenda: A. Arbor Day Tree Selection B. Spring Planting 2022 ADJOURNMENT MOTION WAS MADE BY MEMBER PIERSON AND SECONDED BY MEMBER SCHRIEFELS TO ADJOURN THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TREE BOARD AT 5:47 P.M. Ayes 5 Abstain 0 Nays 0 Motion Carried Respectfully submitted, Teresa Buhl, Recording Secretary