Urban Forestry Tree Board (Meets as needed/quarterly)

URBAN FORESTRY TREE BOARD Minutes August 25, 2022 Regular Meeting The meeting was called to order by Chair Ludwig at 4:32 pm on August 25, 2022 in Government Center Room 204. 1. ROLL CALL Members Present: Ruth Ludwig, Jane Anklam*, Nick Nelson*, Richard Kaufman, Robert-Jan Quené Members Absent: Meghan Gil-de-Lamadrid City Staff Present: Linda Cadotte, Russ Behlings, Jodi Saylor Others Present: Lance Burger 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1. Urban Forestry Tree Board (Meeting held February 17, 2022) MOTION by Anklam, second by Quené and carried to approve the minutes from February 17, 2022. 3. OLD BUSINESS 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.1. Davey Management Plan Parks Superintendent Behlings thought it was a good high level plan. It is a good accumulation of the data in one spot which allows us to now dig in to come up with the implementation of the actual work. He felt there was a good break down of the different species, diversity, and data on compared to national average/recommendations. The group felt overall it was a good start. Director Cadotte recommended that the group send feedback or changes they would like to see prior to the October meeting, at which time the committee can choose to vote on accepting the plan. Councilor Ludwig would like the City Council to be given a presentation on this report and how much is recommended for time, energy and resources. MOTION by Ludwig, second by Anklam, and carried to hold this item until the October meeting. 4.2. Policy for planting private trees on public property Director Cadotte has had a few requests from people that want to donated trees, or funds, to plant trees on City property like parks. These people do not want a plaque or ceremony as the Tribute Tree Program offers. She recommended putting a policy in place so that the requests are handled consistently and with guidance of this advisory board. The City would have to do the planting to ensure the planting standards were adhered to such as species, line of sight, utilities, height, and proximity to other trees or buildings. A suggestion was made to modify the current Tree Planting Permit to better accommodate for this type of request. *Attended the meeting virtually Urban Forestry Tree Board August 25, 2022  MOTION by Ludwig, second by Kaufman and carried to hold this item in committee until the October meeting. 4.3. Old Growth Forest Network Application Director Cadotte was contacted and asked if City would be interested in putting forth an application for the Old Growth Forest Network. They are focusing on adding some of the State Natural Areas (SNA). This adds another layer of preservation to the City’s SNA. The City could choose if the application would be just for the SNA or entire Superior Municipal Forest. There is no cost. They will hold a celebration to get us on the map and announce our joining of the network. Committee members felt this would be good advertising and awareness of the forest. It was suggested that perhaps a winter event could be planned for when the trails are set and people could get out in the forest on cross country skis or snow shoes. MOTION by Quené, second by Kaufman and carried to submit an application for the Old Growth Forest Network. 4.4. Discount for more than five Tribute Trees (without plaques or ceremony) A couple of people have contacted the Parks Department with an interest in having trees planted in parks by people that want multiple trees but do not want a plaque or recognition. For example, one request was made to plant trees that would provide shade to an area playground. Director Cadotte suggested offering a discount for trees to people that purchase five or more trees with the caveat that the City would choose the location and species, taking into consideration if a person requested a specific area, and that there would be no plaque or recognition. This would not be advertised but instead an internal policy on how to handle these requests. MOTION by Quené, second by Kaufman and carried to approve offering a discount to people that want to purchase five or more trees to be planted on City property at the current market price and not including plaques or recognition. 4.5. Retirement of Holiday Tree in Center City Park This year will be the final year with the current Holiday Tree. The Park staff had some ideas on how to commemorate the occasion by making ornaments out of the branches of the tree. They would cut rounds and put a brand on them with either a hanging hook or a magnet that could then be sold or given out at the Holiday Tree Lighting event. There would be a limited number of ornaments made in-house based on the resources available. There was a suggestion to give the ornaments to those that make a donation to the City of Superior Tree Fund. These would be made available at the celebration the following year. *Attended the meeting virtually Urban Forestry Tree Board August 25, 2022 5. RECURRING BUSINESS 5.1. Director’s Update 5.1.1. Woody Invasive Species flyer went out in the July utility mailer as part of the City’s Arbor Day Celebration for the Tree City USA requirement. 5.1.2. Superior Municipal Forest Master Plan draft was received. Director Cadotte asked members of the committee to review it and send her any input. There is the opportunity to have a Community meeting prior to it going to the City Council if desired by this committee. Lance Burger left the meeting at 5:43pm 5.1.3. Superintendent Report 5.1.3.1. Still have trees in the gravel bed 5.1.3.2. Pulled a bunch of stakes and the success rate of new planting looks great. So far it looks like only 2-3 were lost from planting this year. The crew is going to try some enrichment around planting sites, additional water storage for next year, etc. Director Cadotte was given some sample products help keep moisture in the ground so they will be trying that out next year. The crew now has equipment to transport trees with water. 5.1.3.3. Barker’s Island planting will be taking place soon, hoping to hold off until the weather cools down a bit more but due to contractor needs, they may start planting at the corner of the hotel and then do the rest once the weather cools down. 5.1.3.4. We now have a certified tree climber on staff. He has done some higher trimming and pruning that the bucket truck was limited on. He has also offered some training to the other tree crew members. The EPA also utilized the new climber to put listening devices at Pickle Pond. It has been a busy year for tree crew. 5.1.3.5. The new bucket truck is in assembly and could be ready soon for review and inspection by our staff. It has more capabilities and maneuverability than the current one and is made for a tree crew. 5.2. Future Agenda Items 5.2.1. Davey Management Plan 5.2.2. Davey Software Demonstration 5.2.3. Tree Permit update/Policy on City property 5.2.4. Center City Holiday Tree Planning 5.3. Confirm next meeting date as October 20, 2022 at 4:30pm in Room 204 of the Government Center 6. ADJOURNMENT Councilor Ludwig announced the meeting adjourned at 6:20pm. *Attended the meeting virtually Urban Forestry Tree Board August 25, 2022 Keep Our Superior Forests and Neighborhoods Free of These Invasive Species. Conserve our trees, water, and habitat. These species are regulated by the State of Wisconsin’s NR-40 rule, meaning they should not be bought, sold, planted, or transported. Please remove these species if they are on your property. Buckthorns (glossy [Frangula alnus] & common Eurasian bush honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.): Multi- [Rhamnus cathartica]: Shrub to small tree. Simple egg- stemmed bush. Leaves are simple, opposite, without shaped leaves with prominent veins. Inconspicuous yellow- teeth, and egg-shaped. Bark is shaggy and branches are green flowers, red to dark purple berries alng stem.Glossy: hollow. Flowers are pink, white or yellow irregular-shaped, Leaves without teeth & no thorns. Common: Leaves with and grow in pairs. Berries are red or orange. fine teeth and thorns at end of branches. Common buckthorn Glossy buckthorn Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii): Ornamental Amur maple (Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala): Small multi- shrubs. Birds spread seeds into forests. Small sharp spines stemmed tree. Leaves are opposite and maple-shaped at each leaf node. Leaves are alternate, small, spade- with a large middle lobe. Seeds are samaras that are shaped and often turn red in the fall. Flowers are yellow- persistent in the winter. The leaves are bright red in the green at leaf-axils along stem that develop into bright red fall. berries. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia): Trees with Siberian pea-shrub (Caragana arborescens): Shrub or thorns on branches and white, pea-like flowers. Leaves small tree. Pinnately compound leaves with a small spine have pinnately divided leaves that are entire (no teeth). at the tip of leaflets. Flowers are yellow, pea-like, and on a Fruit are large flat brown pods. New plants can sprout from long stalk. Fruit is a brown 1-2 inch pod. roots. The Northwoods Cooperative Weed Management Area assisted in developing this flyer with DNR WMA-PFG and USFS-GLRI-CWMA grants. For more information go to: www.northwoodscwma.org. Online Virtual Flora of Wisconsin. 2022. wisflora.herbarium.wisc.edu.index.php. Accessed on May 01. Photos: Steve Garske (black locust, Siberian pea-shrub flowers), Kelly Kearns (Siberian pea-shrub pods), Michael Clayton (Amur maple leaves), Paul Drobot (Amur maple bush).