Urban Forestry Tree Board (Meets as needed/quarterly)

URBAN FORESTRY TREE BOARD Minutes January 19, 2023 Regular Meeting The meeting was called to order by Chair Ludwig at 4:34pm on January 19, 2023, in Government Center Room 217. 1. ROLL CALL Members Present: Ruth Ludwig, Nick Nelson*, Richard Kaufman*, Robert-Jan Quené Members Absent: Meghan Gil-de-Lamadrid City Staff Present: Linda Cadotte, Russ Behlings, Jodi Saylor 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.1. Urban Forestry Tree Board (Meeting held November 17, 2022) MOTION by Quené, second by Nelson and carried to approve the minutes from November 17, 2022. 3. OLD BUSINESS 3.1. Davey Tree Management Plan Presentation At a previous meeting, the board requested that the City Council be given a presentation about the software including what it is, how it works, and how it is of benefit to the City. Behlings shared the presentation with the Tree Board who offered some feedback which will be incorporated into the presentation and shared at a future City Council meeting. 3.2. Update on Center City Holiday Tree Director Cadotte had an opportunity to talk with Mayor and the Parks Crew regarding the current holiday tree. The Mayor does not intend to have a retirement ceremony for either taking it down or planting a new one, but instead prefers to have the new tree ready for next year’s Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony. The old tree will be used to create 125 ornaments and 125 magnets with a wood burned design commemorating the tree. These will be given out for a recommended donation, but ultimately free, at the 2023 Holiday Tree Lighting community event. Director Cadotte said the Mayor would like to plant as late in the summer as possible. The board would prefer to plant when it is best for the tree. They recommended removing the current tree in March or April and planting the new tree in April or May. 3.3. Superior Municipal Forest Master Plan Rettler provided an updated draft of the master plan. Any changes that were sent to Director Cadotte should have been incorporated in this new draft. There was discussion regarding putting the draft forward for public comment, after which time it would go to the City Council, likely in May or June, for approval. The board would like to see the suggested action item recommendations put into more of a bulleted format. Once that is done, they are comfortable releasing the plan to the public. The plan would be released *Attended the meeting virtually Urban Forestry Tree Board January 19, 2023  on the City’s Facebook page and website for feedback as well as a legal notice placed in the Superior Telegram. MOTION by Ludwig, second by Quené and approved to post the plan for public input for 60 days, with the changes that were discussed. The public input will then be brought back to the Tree Board at the April meeting. 4. NEW BUSINESS 4.1. 2023 Arbor Day Celebration As part of the City’s “Tree City” recognition, there is an annual celebration of Arbor Day. The board discussed a few ideas on how to do that this year. They decided to have a “Summer Tour of Trees” in which we create a tour of some of the bigger trees in the City that residents can visit. This would highlight the trees as well as talk about the value of having trees in the City. Another idea that was discussed was the possibility of incorporating a scavenger hunt for kids that could be lined up to coincide with the City’s Summer Playground Program. A second part of the Arbor Day celebration would be a pruning demonstration and “how to”. The City staff would invite the public to a walk on the Osaugie Trail where they would demonstrate how to properly care for and prune trees. A video would be created of this walk that can then be published on the City’s website for people to watch at any time. It was decided the walk would take place on Friday, April 28th, which is Arbor Day, with a rain date of Friday, March 5, 2023. 5. RECURRING BUSINESS 5.1. Director’s Update 5.1.1. Working with SWL&P on plantings along the new fence. Currently consider some sort of vines due to utilities over and under the ground in that area. Snow removal is also a consideration as a significant amount of snow gets piled up there in the winter. 5.2. Superintendent’s Update 5.2.1. Slow time of year for trees. Not a lot of work being done as the bucket truck is currently down. The new bucket truck is in production in Minneapolis is in final assembly. 5.2.2. Currently have a vacancy on the crew as they lost their tree climber. Looking at some training opportunities to train people on the crew on these techniques. 5.2.3. Created a FT Foreman position. Michael Maruska who is a Certified Arborist that has been on the crew for 5 years was selected to fill this vacancy. 6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 6.1. Tree Tour Outline 6.2. Feedback from Public Comment on Maser Plan 6.3. Update on Holiday Tree *Attended the meeting virtually Urban Forestry Tree Board January 19, 2023  6.4. Pruning Demo 6.5. Introduction to new Foreman and Board members 7. Confirm next meeting date as April 20, 2023, at 4:30 pm in Room 217 of the Government Center 8. ADJOURNMENT Meeting adjourned at 6:22pm. *Attended the meeting virtually Urban Forestry Tree Board January 19, 2023