Morning. [Music] Good afternoon. We'll call to order the Tree Advisory Commission meeting. It's 4 p.m. on Thursday, September 4th, 2025. And we'll begin with taking role. So,
welcome all. Welcome guests. We'll introduce you as you come to the mic later, but we'll go around the room. Joe Sadam, city engineer. Miriam Walner, commissioner. Lee Kov, commissioner. Greg Derson, commissioner. Pauland, commissioner.
Jordy Vite, commissioner. Joey Schugle, park and recreation director. Jeff Huffman, public works superintendent. We'll seek approval of the agenda today. I move that it be approved. I'll second.
Motion and second to approve the agenda. All in favor say I. I. I. Any opposed? No. The the agenda is approved. Uh, now I'll seek approval of the
minutes from May 1st of 2025. I make a motion to approve the minutes of May 1st, 2025. Thank you, Lee. Second. Second. Motion and a second to approve the minutes. All in favor say I.
I. Any opposition? Same. No. The minutes are approved into our agenda item number five. Then our old business uh city
reimbursement programs and budget update. Joe. Right. Thank you, Mr. Chair and commission members. Good evening. Uh just quickly run through where our reimbursement program sitting currently. Um we have uh quite a bit of funding
left over yet uh for diseased uh tree uh removals. We've of the 100,000 that was budgeted for that reimbursement program for the disease tree removals, we've gone through about $21,000 of that. So, we're sitting at almost $79,000 remaining in
that account. And the Boulevard uh planting reimbursement program, that was a $10,000 budgeted amount. We've gone through about 3,500 of that. So, 6,500 remains in that account as well. So, um
overall budget is uh quite healthy at the at the present time um with about uh just under $97,000. But again, most of that is in the reimbursement program for the asht tree removal. So, happy to answer any
questions you may have. All right. No questions from the commissioners. Thank you, Joe. Yep. Our 5.2 is park and recreation department update. Join. Thank you, Chair Deerson. Commissioners,
uh, a few updates today. So, uh, wanted to go through and and get you an update, um, where the parks stand with the emerald ashbor trees. So, we've um really focused on some of the larger removals and hiring some consulting um services
um or I should say vendors to uh professional vendors to take those down. Uh and then our crews also hitting some of the smaller ones that were able to with our equipment. But as it stands um today where we have 61 total ash trees
left in city parks which is um far more manageable than where we were at. Uh most of our large removals are done. So this uh this fall winter depending on uh weather. Our goal is to hit a lot of these uh and see where
we're at uh come early next year um with our staff. So, um, we do still treat some, um, in German Park, uh, next to the Banchell, and those are kind of the only ones we're still treating. Uh, we're also holding on to
some at North Park that are, you know, in relatively, and the some of the larger ones at North Park that weren't in good shape have been removed already as well. So, uh, so that's our ash inventory right now. Um, in addition of
uh we we have also replanted uh a fair number. Uh early this summer I reported on actually in our May meeting we we had our plantings in already. Um just recently we put a couple memorial trees in. One at Lincoln Park, one on the Civic Center. So people are still
interested in, you know, recognizing or memorializing um either a family member or someone significant to them uh in our park system. So that that's been great. Um but yeah, so other than that, any questions on
anything parks and recreation related? Of the 60 that are left, are there any that are in real bad disease shape or is it is it we know that they're there and monitoring? Yes. So, um none none really in bad. I
mean, we are we have a um a contractor who's taken some of the worst ones down at North Park. still has a couple to go that are in pretty tough shape. Those will go yet this fall. Um but the the smaller ones have been um not quite as
as deteriorated to this point. So um but a lot of these will be taken down this winter is our goal. And then there's a lot of stump removal to happen. Well, depending on the snow. That's right. Last year they made a lot of progress
and so we'll see. Um, thank you Joy. Uh, to that uh public works update for 5.3, Jeff Hoffman. Yeah, thank you Mr. Chair and commissioners. Um, stump cutting right
now is probably going to start up midepptember when we get our summer projects done here. So, we're looking at midepptember sometime starting that. And on the list right now, we have about 130 of them just boulevard trees that we have. That's not including the park
trees. So, we'll have we'll be pretty busy, but we we're going to try if we can get two both stump cutters going and and uh try and knock a bunch out. Hopefully, we get some decent weather, we can do it. So, that's where we're
sitting on that. So, and then I I forgot. So, uh back to um present number of trees. The cemetery area that location, the trees and stumps all out or trees out, some stumps cemetery, I think they got six like six,
five or six small trees yet that are handable or were we'll be able to handle this winter and take them out. But yeah, as of now, everything that is down, the stumps are all cut out on them. I think there's like four, five, six trees left out there that take and they're smaller ones that we can handle. We'll do this
winter when we have time. Y So, yeah. And this was a good year for a lot of those replants and this year's plantings. Uh, some of the trees that have been put in the parks have really taken off, so to speak. So
filling back in uh 5.4 the private tree services update. Uh Tony's not here as a guest today as and has no other additional uh 5.5 the emerald ashbor update. Is there anything
additional? Uh Mr. chair and commissioners other uh I mean I can certainly touch on the uh DNR grant program right now or we can wait until um the new business item. So we'll just put in the new business portion. Yeah, I'll put most of my or all my
information in that item. So okay uh 5.6 the big tree contest uh the GKO was this year and the submission deadline was July 31st. We received four entries and the tree measurements need
to be done to determine the winner. Um Paul's going to on that. So if one or two commissioners want to go along and check his work I need a witness at least one maybe two. I can do this.
Okay. Just tell me where and when. Okay. We need the list. What the we need to establish a day so that we can communicate on a weekday maybe the day before. Yes, commissioner. So if it if it's um Paul and Lee if if if you are the two
doing it if you guys could coordinate okay some times that work for you and then Denita can provide that list you know during business hours and equipment um that that's needed and uh we can go from there. If it's not during business hours that's okay. we can just uh just give us
some notice um so we can have things ready for you as well. But I'll let you work that date and time out. Um we'll get it for the next meeting. Oh, sure. What about the prizes? How is that? Uh
uh that's predetermined and the we just have to provide the name. Yep. Yep. Okay. Yes. Because that's a that's towards a new replanting of a new tree. Yes. And they can the the winner can declare where that goes. So we've accepted them
before. Yes. So we've accepted them in parks before or you know any city-owned properties or you know or with private owner approval or in their yard. Yep. Okay. But if they've already got a
really big ginko, they maybe maybe don't have room for a tree. So they need to maybe so go somewhere else. Uh so they'll work through that, communicate with Denita and it'll be
solved by our next meeting, our 5.7, our walkabout program recap. So, we've got a couple guests today that uh have some pictures to share. So, if you would please, do you want to take the microphone?
Right. Was I supposed to do pictures? Uh, we've got them in a file, so they can be put uh so that Yes, there are pictures in the packet. Um Okay. Um well, first I wanted to I'm Deb Egglund. Um I wanted to thank the
commissioners for participating. We thought it was kind of an interesting idea and I got tired of Paul telling me all about trees when he and I went for a walk. So I thought we should share the joy. So anyway, I I appreciate your commitments to uh to be part of it. And I was interested in any comments you
might have back to us because we'd like to try it again if you're willing. So any any suggestions or things that you thought could be changed or done differently? Could we do a fall? Well, we were that was going to come up. We I thought it
would be nice to do one um sometime early in October because it'd be nice when the trees were starting to lose their leaves so we could see branching better and then they you could tell the people about pruning techniques and they could see the actual branching that would determine what to prune and how to
do it. So, that was I was going to bring that up. So, since you brought it up, um, does that seem to work if it would be sometime early in October? You can think about that and maybe get back to me and we'll figure out a date. Sure.
And I think how time-wise it seemed like the one that was on a weekend, there was a Saturday morning one that I don't remember who led that seemed to have the most attendance and that. So I was thinking we might try to do more on Saturday morning afternoon, Sunday
afternoon, maybe depending on when in October it could be an evening early evening type thing. So if you want to be mulling those things over so that we can talk again and decide that would be helpful.
So um that basically was what I had was to see if you had comments back. Did you feel like we should have done anything differently? Well, I did a early Saturday afternoon one and I thought it went pretty good. So, we even had um I think it was two
people come out of their houses as we were going by asking questions. So, yeah. So, we had the main group and then there was a couple others that came and asked questions as well. So, I thought it went over really good. Um, a lot of good questions and and a lot more to
talk about than there was time for, but when we heard comments afterward from people that had heard about it and thought, "Oh, I should have gone on that." So, I'm hoping maybe um there'll be more the next time. One gentleman even came out of his house to complain about all the trees that we
have too many. That was at Nells Park. I took that complaint. Yeah, you were there. You were you were there. If we could, could we get that could we get those images on the screen? We can.
Is that possible? Because there's a real nice view of of Paul giving a given a group and that looks like it's at Nails Park. Yes, I believe. So, yes. Yes. Be the first one was Nails Park and then
looks like uh right by Harmon Parking Garden Street. Yep. So that might be a location where we have we would repeat a walk like that, especially as we've got some new trees
planted in there. And it would be neat to watch that over time. Joey, another thing that could be done when you're doing the walks and when we're advertising them is again re remind people that you've got that program incentive program for helping pay for
trees. I think that would fit in sort of good point. And there's a pretty good group of species up at Nails Park. So, it's I thought about that with the MLC campus is there's some trees that you could see
examples of, not necessarily when they're real small, but when they're half grown or full grown. So, knowing what knowing which species it is or what you're looking at is sometimes useful for somebody when they're thinking about putting one in their yard. Mhm.
Well, that might be something as a commission you might think about doing is making a little um handout that we could give to people with tree suggestions or even um pruning maybe some pruning suggestions, but definitely tree suggestions both for caring for new
trees as well as types of trees. So, so anyway, yeah. Um there you go. So, commissioners, um, one thing I thought about, if there's a desire to to do this in the future, you know, one of
the biggest, um, times of year when you're in front of people is at the home show, if you choose to continue doing the home show. Um, so if that if that is a desire to do in 2026, you know, maybe having those dates and the program, you know, far
ahead of time of when we had them this year could be a something to get people um just for some extra time to um recognition of the program. Just an idea, Mr. chair and commissioners, if we do get some dates
selected, we can share that with the mayor and the city manager so when they do community affairs on KUJ, they can spread the word on that as well. Yeah, community affairs would be Y. Perfect. Anything else?
I would I'd be willing to conduct a couple more. Okay. You're the one that knows everything. Yeah, Paul's committed for five years, I think. Eight. I got to stick to lean on. I'm doing okay. Well, let me let me know and we'll get
back with you. Um, our committee will be meeting again one of these days and um we'll come up with some dates in October. Like I said, I thought we'd maybe lean towards weekends and one evening or so. Not a whole lot of walks, maybe three, I don't know. Um, but if
you have any ideas on that, let Paul know or let me know and we'll get together and reshape how we do it. But I do appreciate your uh willingness to give it a shot. So, thank you for organizing and uh and chasing people
around and help helping us to be able to uh share some of these. It's it was enjoyable. So, well, and a lot of people seem kind of interested in actually finding out what their trees are, you know, and so yeah, it's a good thing. We if we have too many trees, we might
as well enjoy them and that's and show them off. So, that's good. Thank you. We might also consider is there a way to um either with a an image or a map of the trees at nails or to ID some of them
along the walkway. So it's so it's easy to identify them for a self tour even. Yes. I mean, yes, all that would be possible with a enough time. And I'm like I'm thinking of uh Herman Heights where that the row of cherry
trees along the sidewalk. That's a pretty neat um view. Absolutely. If you know what they are, you'd know what to to call them. But even some of the uh red buds I think right now are are really
they've got some fall beauty too. So right. Thank you. So our old business concludes with 5.7 and then number six is new business. So 6.1 uh Minnesota DNR tree grant and
Joe's going to explain some of that for us please. Yeah, Mr. Chair, commissioners, I can give some numbers and some background and then I'll let uh park and recre Director Schugal kind of go over the letter portion of uh the request here today. So, previously the city back in
2019 and 2021 um applied for and received um DNR uh grant program funds for removal of ash trees and um back in 2023 we once again applied and um ultimately were unsuccessful with that grant
application. So, we're going to try again. The DNR has reopened their relief program uh grant opportunity. Um, so we are going to um to try to see if we can um get some funding from the state to
kind of uh this would end our boulevard removals and city park property, city parks and city property uh removals. So we estimate there's 382 um ash trees remaining within the city
boulevards, parks, and u city property. Um, so as Director Schugle alluded to, there's 61 park trees and then about 27 trees on other city- owned properties. Uh, vast majority of those are at the wastewater treatment plant on the south
end of town. Uh, 294 of those trees are on the boulevards. Um, so we are estimating, you know, $550 per tree to remove the boulevard trees and the park trees and city property trees. So, our
estimated removal cost is about $210,000 and then new plantings about $153,000. So, our grant request from the DNR is going to total $362,900. Um, the grant application I just finished up
today in draft form. uh staff will take some time and review that and refine that um um garner or gather our support letters and then hopefully get that submitted off to the DNR and um we are hopeful that we would receive the
funding and we'd be able to, you know, tackle this and kind of be done with our boulevard ash problem that we have. So, uh that's my summary for now. I'd be happy to answer any questions and I'll turn over to Director Schug.
Commissioners, as as as part of that application, in the past, this commission has provided uh a letter of support. Um that the last letter of support is in your packet today. Um there would not need or there wouldn't be much needed to change. Um so staff
would update that. If this commission would like to um make a motion to support that today, um then we would we would work on that step and have our chair sign that for us. I would move that we draft the the
subject letter and uh get it ready for Greg's signature. He signed it last time, I believe. I'll second that. Motion and a second. Any discussion or any questions?
I'll call it then. All in favor of drafting a letter of support for these grants say I. I. I. Any oppose? Same sign. Motion passes. Um, and I'll I'll be in communication
with your office and and sign that off. Um, because that would that would go a long way to finish this process out and it would probably impact that last group of people that's being impacted.
Yep. That is that's the hope. So, we'll we'll see how the DNR feels when they review our application. And I, you know, recalling last time I I believe the amount of applications and dollars assigned to those was
astronomical compared to the amount of money there. So, we we anticipate that again. But, you know, there'll be a bunch of communities that received the last cycle. So, now maybe we're back in line again, too. I think that was the one item in our disadvantage last time is we had two cycles of grant funding
before. um you know, we've successfully delivered those DNR grants, so we have that in our favor as well. Um I did forget to mention that the uh grants um pool that we are applying in has $7 million available. So
would they are they separate as one is simply listed as tree planting and the other one is relief or is that this this program um includes the removal and replacement? So we are this one application will fund um both the
removal and replanting. Very good. Well, we'll follow up with that as that letter is ready and we'll share it and hopefully we'll get some word back. Usually it was over the winter. Yeah, we would be um Mr. chair and
commissioners, should we be successful in the funding, we are ready to turn this around almost immediately and get out for bids and get the contract going. So, thank you. It's a lot of leg work behind when the city's writing these, so it's
takes a bit. So, thank you for your effort. Uh, number seven is commissioner reports. Anything new or anything added? We'll certainly consider the October kind of time frame for uh some of those tree walks in the next year and I think
adding that u maybe preparing and adding that information in would be good. uh the some of the other city summer celebrations may or may not align and the use of the parks may or may not align or time out well but that might be
something to try to coordinate as well. So the other thing too I had just thought of um I had done a cast presentation. I've done a few of them now. In the last one I was at we were talking about the tree walk and there may be some interest
in um there probably be more of a spring since we'd have more time to plant it out but maybe doing a kind of presentation on trees with cast before the walks. So you could maybe see if they want to coordinate um you know could do some information at that that
maybe it's not as easy or as handy to be showing out in the field. There's some background information. So that just be kind of another thought that I heard that came up with that as well. So refresh us. Uh cast is
CAST is the community in seniors together if I have the abbreviation. Yep. So yeah. Yep. Yeah, I've done a few invasive species. I've done last year did a trees and climate change. So, yeah,
in some of those locations, both Nails Park and Herman Heights, there's a lot more or it's easier for accessibility in some of those. So, those might be prime locations. So, thanks, Jordy. Yeah.
Our date of our next meeting, November 6th, the Thursday at 4 PM here. Uh, please have agenda items emailed one week prior. Seeing no further business, we
will be adjourned.