Welcome everybody. I'd like to call to order the Tree Advisory Commission meeting for Thursday, May 7th, 2026. First item on the agenda is roll call. Um Joe, you want to start? >> Yep. >> Joe Stadim, New City Engineer. >> Lee Kov, chairman.
>> Jordy Vite, commissioner. Miriam Waldner, commissioner. >> Joey Schugle, New Park and Recreation Director. >> All right. Thank you everybody. Um, next item on the agenda then is the approval of the agenda. So I'd be looking for a motion in
second. >> Second. I'll I'll make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Okay. Okay. We have a motion in second to approve the agenda for May 7th, 2026. Any other questions or discussion? Right. All in favor say I. >> I. >> I.
>> Post. Motion carries. Next item on the agenda is item 4.1, which is the approval of minutes for the March 5th, 2026 meeting. And if they look okay, then again, I'd
be looking for a motion in second. >> I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from March 3rd or excuse me, March 5th. >> Second. >> Okay. Have a motion and second to approve the meetings for the March 5th, 2026 meeting. Any other questions or
discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> I. Motion carries. Next up then is old business um the city reimbursement programs and budget updates. >> All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair and commission members. Uh just a quick run
through of the budget to date uh for 2026 here. So we started the year with about almost uh $90,000 in the program uh funding amounts there. So we have uh
76,000 in disease tree uh reimbursements available and to date we've paid out about 2,300 uh 2800 our carryover for once we get past the uh first half of the year. So that unused amount is sitting at 73 or
74,000 roughly. So, >> um, the only other expense that we've had other than the disease reimbursement was the home show expense for the booth at the home show for $350. So, plenty of funds available for members of the public uh with those ash removals and
also we have $10,000 available for uh boulevard plantings as well. So, we would encourage uh members um of the public here to uh utilize those funds that are available. >> Thank you. Any questions or discussion?
>> All right. Thank you. Uh moving on then is item 5.2, park and recreation department update. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair, commissioners. Uh the first thing I I wanted to highlight in this report is uh the city of New Alm was once again in 2025 uh designated as
a tree city USA. Uh so if you recall that that process is an application process that uh meeting a certain criteria so much dollars spent on urban forestry um spent on uh tree maintenance
plantings removals uh in addition having an arbor day program which we'll talk about in a little bit and uh new alm this would be the 22nd year new alm has been awarded that uh so that that is a a thing that uh this commission I hope is
proud of and and the city uh of New is certainly proud of. But part of that I I did want to show a video today. Uh that kind of explains a little bit more of what what uh this designation means. Hi, I'm Dan Lamb, chief executive of the
Arbor Day Foundation. I want to congratulate you on earning Tree City USA recognition. This achievement places you and your community among a growing network of leaders and cities across the country committed to building healthier,
greener, and more resilient places to live from coast to coast. This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Tree City USA program. What began in 1976 with just 42 cities has grown to
more than 3,500 communities nationwide. Your recognition adds to this proud legacy, and we're excited for what's to come as more communities throughout the US take part in creating a brighter future. Here's to continuing this extraordinary
journey together, building the communities that we all deserve, tree by tree and street by street. Let's keep growing. >> All right. So that that um this this commission plays a part in that as well.
So uh without uh experts and um allocated commission and staff that again is part of that application process. So appreciate your time serving the commission and and making it possible for the city of New to be designated. Once again, one of the cool things as you see the map, um Minnesota
is is represented pretty well there, but there it looks like there's a lot of opportunity to spread around the state even more. Um but we certainly are have been represented for a number of years. Uh the next thing, so I did mention Arbor Day. So Arbor Day uh today when
this meeting is happening, it was a couple weeks ago. uh due to weather uh our arbor day program has been was delayed and really that is actually going on right now. So we are planting a tree in Lincoln Park today. Lincoln Park
had uh removals uh due to emerald ashbor in the park. So we're we're filling in um some space there where we had some removals. A red maple was chosen this year. And the way we chose uh what was a tree this year was we let our afterchool
program kids pick. So they had multiple we had pictures. We had multiple species there and they came they chose the red maple uh River Creek Nursery did donate that tree. Uh so thank you to Mr. Goober and staff there. And uh the cool part is
that after school program those kids get to officially plant that tree now too. So they get to not only pick it but then they're planting it right now as part of that program. So uh hopefully and then the journal will be there. So there should be some more coverage on that as well.
And then uh the other thing I wanted to highlight is the asht tree uh treatments in parks. So we do have some ash trees in city parks that have been treated over the years and those trees have been doing okay. Um the two parks that that
uh the treatments happen in are German park around uh the amphitheater that provide shade for uh different uh events going on down there. So they will we're up again this year to uh do treatment. And so that treatment has happened. Uh and the other location is North Park in
between uh fields two and three there where really is a gathering space for a lot of spectators for ball games and things like that. So uh that treatment will um has been done again out at North Park as well. So uh in addition to that,
we've had some removals. We've had some more removals in German Park. We lo uh we uh took down four trees, four ash trees on the um on the walkway with the PA walkway in in German Park. Those stumps will be grinded out uh very soon as well before
a lot of activity happens uh in the park in the in the coming months. Any questions on anything from the park and wreck report? >> All right, thank you Joey. Um, public works update. Do we have anything to
>> Yes. So, uh, uh, Mr. Chair, commissioners, uh, Mr. Huffman was unable to attend today. He did, uh, give me one item to report on. Uh, street department's been busy stump grinding. They've done 40 stumps on private property uh, just within the last few
weeks. Uh, they they will be hitting some public locations as well, some of our parks locations that need some stump grinding as well coming up very soon. >> All right. Thank Thank you. Um, moving on then, item 5.4, private tree service
update. Um, I don't see Tony. Um, did you have anything? All right, cool. We will move back on then to item 5.5, emerald ashbor update. >> U, Mr. Chair, the only real update is just an update on what we have left on public property. So, that would be city
rights of way, uh, park and public utility property. uh we're down to 243 ash trees left um in those locations. So we will, you know, wait for the DNR grant to be uh authorized once again and
we'll keep applying and see see what kind of luck we get. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Thank you for that. I think that's been great work that we're sitting that that good at this point with all the ash trees we started with. So >> yeah, definitely.
>> All right. Any other questions or discussion? All right. We will move on then to item 5.6 or utility billing information inserts. >> So Mr. Chair, commissioners, the utility insert did go out and that had the big
tree contest on one side and the um the tree uh removal program, disease tree removal program on the other side. Same items that we had at the home show, too. So >> All right. Okay. Good. Any other questions? All right. Item 5.8 then, home show
recap. >> 5.7. >> Oh, 5.7. Big tree contest. Sorry, >> commissioners. So, big tree contest. As a reminder, this year you chose the hackberry. Uh, at this point, we have four submissions in. Uh, we still have
over a month and a half yet. Uh, I'm I'm spacing on our deadline for that right off the top of my head, but we do have time left. So, if anyone's out there and wants to get a hackberry measured and submitted for that contest, there is time. Uh, when it does come time, we
would be looking at uh um someone to measure those for us and and go out and and see who our winner is. >> Good. Any other questions or discussion? So, we'll have one more meeting about our next meeting would be about the time
then we'll we can talk about measuring. So, yeah. >> Yep. All right. Now, item 5.8, the home show recap. Um, so we did have a booth at the home show. Um,
Friday was, I think, fair fairly busy. Um, especially at the start, so I think that worked out really well. Saturday was very busy in the morning as well. Um, Lee helped out for a while as well. >> Yep. I think what was it? Saturday afternoon was it kind of d died down
like it usually does, but uh there's still interest. >> Yeah. Yep. Yeah. I felt like um granted I was there longer this year than the previous year, but I felt like I got a lot more interaction this year. Um a lot
of questions. Well, my ash trees gone. What do I plant and replace? Um some questions related to invasive species and the some of the oak stuff that we had. on display. So, yeah.
>> Well, commissioners, I wanted to thank you for your time being part of that and um I know we're not uh have a full commission right now, so there was a little extra um in that, but uh and also Mr. Guggisburg was around to to help out as well. So, >> y
any other questions or discussion? All right, then moving on to new business. Um item 6.1 um would be a DNR community tree report. Um this was a
kind of I guess they've had this in the background for a while. Um this is kind of they have a public facing um interface with this now. Um so I did some training it would have been I think towards the end of March I did the online version. They're holding it over
several several months with some inerson some online. Um so this is just kind of a report of kind of comparison from 2010 to 2020 the state of the trees in Newm um you can see the 2020 survey estimated
about an 11% drop in trees in city limits and as how they do this is they use um public survey data um they use satellite data um so you can see if you look at the report and if you have anything specific or questionwise guys,
uh, let me know. Um, but you will see, you know, from the 2020 survey, big chunk of the trees are maple. Um, they do break them down by species. Some of these, you exact science, you know, so these numbers might be slightly off. Um,
but, you know, maples make up a pretty good chunk of our tree population. Um, and this is estimating everything on public and private property based off of their satellite images and that stuff. So, when we did the tree inventory years ago, that would have been mainly the
public boulevards, parks, um, the public areas. So, this just kind of gives you a different view with that. Um, can also kind of see if you dive into it a little bit more, some of the changes over the years. Um, I got to catch up where I'm
at. So, you can get estimations of different tree sizes, the numbers and percents, um, and kind of how those trees are doing. The other interesting thing is as the city applies for some of their grants
and some of the stuff through the DNR and the state, this is some of the data they look at to determine what species are allowed to be planted in the city. you know, trying to look at some of that diversity. Um, so you kind of get to see just some background information
on that. Um, but yeah, there's a lot of information, kind of interesting information in there. Um, good chunk of the kind of looking at appendix D. Um, good chunk of the maples
have not seen a decline noted. um other ones, you know, overall a lot of them, some of them have, but majority have not. Um if you dive down into that, depending when they took their data, I'm sure the ash is would be the big one. Um
that we'd have the bigger decline in, but you know, some of the data is going to lag behind with that as well. So, this was something new they did. Um I think there was I have the numbers. Yeah, they got 303 communities as part of this right now. Um, and I believe
their hope is to be able to follow these communities and add more communities over time as long as funding allows so they can track those canopy changes over time. Questions or or if you think of
questions later on too, you can let me know. But just thought it was kind of a topic of interest. So, is this available on their website or something? >> Yes. >> Yep. >> Yep. And if anybody's interested, I can
get the link to that. Um, we did find out in the training that um since this was new, apparently they were not equipped to handle a bunch of people on it at the same time. So, we kind of crashed the crashed the site when we all went on it at the same time. But yes, the website is there. Um, and there is on the website there is a map that kind
of color codes those changes. I believe if I remember right, the red areas is where the canopies kind of declined some and then the green is where it's increased as well. So yeah. >> Okay. >> Mhm. Good.
>> So this is dated 2020. So when was this actually put together? So, some of the data was um compared 2010 to 2020 and they worked on this from 2013 to 2023. >> Okay.
>> Um if I dive into there, I can probably see if there's something specific to New Alm. Um but they did look at some of the remote remotely sensed data. um was looking at 2013 to 2023.
So, yep. Any other questions? Nope. All right. Then we will move on to item 6.2, two, which is the 2027 Tree Advisor Commission budget request.
>> Yes, Mr. Chair, commissioners. Um, annually this commission uh makes a recommendation for the 20 27 uh tree advisory commission budget. Uh and then um that recommendation goes to the city manager Dalton and ultimately is decided
if it's included by the city council in the in the 2027 overall city budget. Uh so uh on this item I did include exact budget from 2026. So these numbers that you are seeing are in our 2026 budget. Uh I didn't um increase anything but
this is up to the commission on um your wishes. I I will say as as Mr. Stoddime um presented the the overall budget, I think budget numbers are doing really well. I we anticipate we'll still have some disease removal funds remaining at
the end of this year to be carried over again to an additional year and maybe even years. Um and um also the boulevard um program as well that comes out of directly out of this budget has healthy funds at the moment. So, and over the
last few years it it's some years we've spent that all of that and some years we've had opportunity to carry over some as well. >> Right. I I would say the last couple years we've had money to carry over that um then get used at least for the
replanting. Um so I would with uh seeing how the um reimbursements have come in I would feel comfortable with those amounts moving forward. um especially with the amount that we have left in the diseased removal um amount
there. So, >> right. >> And then obviously the other things that you can see in in there are home show. If there's a desire to continue to be part of that um now's the time to um make that recommendation. >> How are how have we been doing with the
printing and pamphlets with costs going up? Are we? >> So, uh, last year this commission made made the choice to to double-sided and not do color and that has put us in line with this budget number.
>> Um, so that that is accurate. Um, adding color to anything other than colored paper substantially increases that for the utility insert. Any other questions or discussion or we want
to continue with those numbers or make any changes? >> I would make a motion to continue with uh the 2027 budget as outlined below with the uh 2026 members. Keep everything the same as second.
Uh motion in second um to go ahead with our proposed 2027 budget. Any other questions or discussion? >> All in favor say I. >> I motion carries. Um and I'll stick in a quick update here
before we go on to the next meeting. Um this past Saturday, the new alm bike group, um I think we had about probably a dozen or so volunteers, maybe more at some point, um donated and planted 50
tree samp saplings. Um 25 oak and 25 hackberry. Um some of the oak are actually pretty decent size. They're over I'd say they're over the two to three feet that um we had planned on getting. Um the hackberries are definitely slower. Um, so that was in
the area of the bike trail um on city property in the easement for the old water street. Um, if that makes sense from about 12th north to 17th north. Um, I think we're a little shy of the 17th north, but that's the general general area. Um, so they've been put in
the ground, they've been watered a few times. Um, they also have some mulch around them. um in process of um getting some chicken wire to help protect those from deer and other things as well. So, just so you're aware of
that took place this last Saturday. Um >> Okay. >> Any questions or >> No, I'd just like to thank you Jordy and the bike group for um spearheading this and uh out of the city engineers office,
Mr. Jeff Anderson helped out with placement of trees and and such to hopefully as many of these can be successful as possible. It's a good area to add add some trees into. >> Yep. >> All right. Thank you. Um then uh next
item on the agenda is just a reminder for our meeting. The next meeting would be July 2nd, 2026 since we meet the first Thursday of the months. Um, anybody else have any other questions or comments? No. Okay. Otherwise, with that said,
then we are adjourned.