call the June 17, 2025 meeting of the tree board to order. We will start with a call of roll. Um, in the room we have Tim Melhorn, city forester. I can take care of that, chair. You got it then. I got it. Let's
go, Corey. Thank you. Chair Pearson. Uh, no. or I'm sorry. Uh, Commissioner Pearson, sorry. Here. Uh, Commissioner Jacalto here. Commissioner KD here. Commissioner Seagetter here. Commissioner Bender
here. Commissioner Serella. Chair Canola here. We have a quorum. You can go ahead. Awesome. Uh, then next up on the agenda is the pledge of allegiance. Why don't you take it away? I pledge
algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. Um, next up, everyone should
have received the agenda prior to the meeting. Um, does anyone have any amendments to make before seeking an approval? A motion for approval? I move we accept as as presented.
Second. All in favor? I. All opposed. Then we will run forward with this agenda that we've got in front of us. Thank you, Corey. Uh, and then the next thing is the approval of the minutes from the March 18th meeting. Did everyone have a chance to go through that?
Then I would look for a motion to approve the minutes as they are written from last meeting. Make a make a motion that we approve the minutes of our last meeting as presented to us. I second that. All in favor? I.
All opposed. Motion carries. All right. Next up is our open forum. chair. Here's where you can ask anybody in the crowd if they would uh have any comments um discuss with the tree board
or information that they would like to um provide to the tree board that's not on the agenda. Fantastic. Well, we have an audience member with us. Is there anything you'd like to bring before the tree board? Oh, last night was so entertaining to come again. Oh man, what a great day. Well, hearing nothing, I would move that
we uh move on from this agenda item on to uh our review of old business 7a. Just close the open forum. I'm going to close the open forum. Okay. Chair, I can I can start with this. So, in the old business section, um we just wanted to provide a brief
update. Last uh uh commission meeting we had a pretty in-depth discussion about Emerald Dashboard and the current um city code as written. Um we took the comments to the city council and uh provide or receive some feedback and are actively working um with our legal team
to to make some adjustments to that and it's primarily focused around that deadline of timeline. So, um the process for notifying the um property owner would stay the same where our forester would do an inspection on the property if they find
that they're um it meets any of the uh aspects of what our code considers a disease tree. We would report that to the city council. If they concur with that decision, they would be um notified that they do have to do removal. Uh uh right now where we're going to move
forward with is that will be extended to a 45day term. Um that's the that's the tenative plan is we're going to propose to council. Um they would it would need to be adopted at that yet. So it's not finalized but um in in that we're also
going to provide our city forester Mr. Mel Horn the uh flexibility to work with the property owner um in that if there is a proof of intent to do the removal if that 45 days um lapses and that is
not um has not been removed there's another option for an extended 45 days again as long as there's proof or intention that um that work would be uh tree would be abated at that point if it's still not done then we would follow um the code as written for um you know
where the city would take over that removal and um again the city staff themselves will not do the removals. We would work through a private contractor to do that and any associated fees and related would be assessed to a property owner um for those. The council uh did
uh we did discuss the terms of that. Uh that interest rate would be at um the same base rate as our recent bond rating. Um and uh they would have three years of an assessment to reimburse the city through a special assessment role
for those expenses. Excellent. Thank you for the update. Yeah. One one additional thing that is not related to EAB is that um working with our forester, Mr. Mel Horn, we've um we've received some inquiries from
some residents related to uh dead trees that don't meet what our current code consider a nuisance. Um in chapter 7 of our city code, we can address that for commercial properties or rental properties. Uh there is a
definition of what's considered a um a dead tree and that is any deciduous or coniferous vegetation containing foliage on less than 50% of the tree or shrub um it's considered a dead tree and they at that point it would require them to do
removal. the way the code is now. We don't have that authority on a private residence and uh again we've received a handful of complaints that are relevant about concerns. So we will be um adding
additional language proposed to the city council that would use the same language that's in chapter 7 for a a dead tree. incorporate that into um what it you know along with a disease tree as
chapter 22 on trees describes and then it would fall under the same terms and conditions for removal and abatement as what we're already talking about for EAB. So really our hope with that is to um by making those minor adjustments, transferring it
uh similar language that's in the uh property maintenance chapter 7 into this residential side. It'll give Mr. Melhorn, our forester, the ability to uh help address those questions and concerns that and in inquiries that
other private residents have. Um it's just another tool to to be able to help us address those safety concerns. um that one property owner might have about another. Awesome. Thank you. Yes. So certainly open to any feedback on any
of that. I mean, a couple different things there, but that's that's uh that's the direction we're going. Again, nothing has been adopted by council yet. Uh we will be looking at um right now we're shooting into August by the time um we'll get that finalized and get back in front of council for approval.
Beautiful. any um anyone have any comments, questions, concerns? That sounds very reasonable to me. Thank you for the followup. Yeah. Yeah, I appreciate you guys' feedback on that um previous one. So, if there's no other business in
there, I can move on to new business. Um we can give some um our forester and I will kind of uh tag team this one a little bit. We've had uh as those that were in attendance um knew the we had an obvious another successful uh 2025 tree
giveaway event. Um we just got some facts here. I'll I'll breeze through here. Um out of the 200 trees, 191 of them were claimed um during the day of the event. Um the remaining ones were replanted in other places. Um we did have a couple people that came um Monday
asked if they could get a tree, but ultimately it was a success. Um 75% of the trees we estimate were claimed by 9:45 a.m. So within the first 45 minutes, although the um we had steady traffic continue until approximately 11:00 a.m. After 11:00 a.m., any
resident who had not received a tree or registered for one of those um could choose from any remaining available stock. It's hard to determine exactly how many of those were because there was some people coming in for both, but point is that the majority of the trees were um were taken. the uh there was
some questions about how the online registration and system worked well. The the Google form that we reverted back to here again in 2025 ultimately worked very well um for city staff. There was significantly less calls for questions and you know
wanting to know if they were uh if the registration was fulfilled. And then we also did two forms of follow-up. So the day after the registration followed up, hey, you're registered. And then again um just before the event to remind people um of that that there was and and
arguably we did have a a a fair amount of people that later on decided to not take the tree, but in essence there was others, you know, with the ending being able to allow people once we uh got through those that had reserves to come and get I think that 191 out of 200 still a pretty good success. Um so
certainly some discussion for uh you know a future uh commission meeting and that of is there interest in addressing those that might continually sign up never take a tree. Is is there any you know concerns there? There's there's some opinions either way. Not something we're
looking for action or feedback on right now. Just something to be aware of on that. Um the master gardeners were obviously present at the event um offering tree care tips and up to about 150 seedlings to anybody that wanted one. We did host it at the north fire
station worked really well um through the drive-in um drive out system and then obviously with the separate event being the ecoair right adjacent to that at the school uh worked out to be a a pretty good location for us. I'm not completely confident on what 2026 will
bring, but um certainly uh should we finalize plans and stuff like that that are similar to 2025, it seems like a reasonable location to maintain their um that location. So, um individuals seeking uh to pick up a tree came in
various vehicles and and uh anything from convertibles and and one person even came on a bicycle to claim their tree. So, there was a lot of different a lot of different things there. So, um, that's really where where the event went in 2025. If anybody has anything to add,
I know some of you were there and any feedback you wanted to provide or, um, you know, certainly we'll talk about future suggestions for 2026 here in a moment. If I could mention the master gardener um, area that worked out really well to have the people come around to the side and pull off and I don't think
we ever had waiting lines. It was just seemed to move pretty well. Good. Um, yeah. And then we we did try to recommend people to go over to the ecoair as well. I don't know how that you know the feedback on that event went but um yeah went very well. Yeah. Very
well. Positive. Excellent. Yes. All right. Thank you. I thought it was good. Two thumbs up. Awesome. When I got I mean considering the the change of venue and as and the um well the weather was good but I mean I I have we ever given
out 191 of the 200. I think that's by far the record. So, uh, uh, and, uh, I think the followup before, right before is is a great idea because, you know, people get busy about things and so
that's I think that really was effective. Yeah. One thing, you know, to add to that is we did also hand out every person as they came to the, you know, drove up to the registration table for the trees to claim their trees, they were given a packet that had various
information on the tree types of all different species that we were handing out, not so specific to them. Um, planting in, you know, instructions, long-term tree care stuff, and we also had a map in there so they could see how to get to the master gardeners. And then we also had a flyer for the ecoair in
there. So, um, with hopes that people it would be easier to see where people were and most people took it. So, hopefully it helped um get them to um the master gardener table and to other places. So, um good good information. Thanks for the
feedback on that. As we look forward into 2026, um there was some consideration on using again some different platforms for that registration, but we're we're uh at this point we're going to maintain through the through the same system that we had last time. um this this last year with
an online sign up and stuff. And really the the best easiest part of that aspect of that is you don't have to create your own login um through there's some other platforms that are available but every person that registers for a tree has to create their
own essentially username and login and not everybody wants to do that right and it causes a lot of confusion to different people that aren't familiar with that stuff you know for all different age groups and things so we'll maintain um as I said there we're going to um you know there's some
consideration in um you know working to help connect you know better connect how we know which tree they're getting through like color coding and stuff like that. Nothing um more just to help streamline efficiencies and and
confusion as people go into there. Um considering the unclaimed trees um the a number of unclaimed trees, we don't know that a weight list is really a value um for us. And because we didn't we didn't track anything off the weight list at
the time that we knew people once we got close to that time if they came up and said, "Hey, I'm not registered. Can I still get a tree?" We just let them get a tree. We didn't check to see if there was. So there it's just another form of tracking that we didn't utilize and it's it's extra work on that. So if it's not
unless we're checking it off and we're going to at that point, you know, go off a list from top down, but what does it matter if somebody claimed a tree, they were outside that that window. Um and then also, you know, given the influx of individuals that um chose time slots, um
we're considering doing more defined pickup during a window because remember, like I said a little bit earlier, the majority of people claim in the first 45 minutes and although we had time section spread out over the whole time. Uh we're considering just stating if you if you
res reserved a tree or registered for one that this is the window it you know whether that is from 9 to 10 o'clock or 9 to 10:15 and then after that feel free anybody can come and get it because again it was a lot of um a lot it went
well um I think that the staff and feedback that we received that traffic moved well through it and that stuff but just try to tighten that up and then broaden that opportunity for others that maybe missed the registration or deadline to then come and claim a tree.
So, um certainly something we're looking forward or considering um at 2026. I have a question. Was there ever a backup traffic backup on Hadley very far? Uh there was I mean to I would say probably I'm just going to make an estimation
maybe 75 yards or so. We had uh um with the use the width of that roadway obviously people were on the shoulder able to utilize that so we didn't impact other traffic flow and then we had a city staff member that was working alongside them to ensure that they were
in line for a tree had they registered for a tree and if they didn't register for a tree and and with the the ecoair going on and stuff there was some confusion is that the entrance of the ecoair you know they didn't even they weren't even there to register with a tree so I think that helped a lot in in getting people up there but with us
consolidating the traffic to the one side only access and you know with the roundabout it worked well. So if you came from you know the south or the east and it's simple to go up to the roundabout turn around and come back and then just wait in line but it it went really good you know really swiftly. I
we didn't hear any complaints. No complaints. Good. Yeah. Good question. Um, so yeah. Any other um feedback on on that stuff? Um, for at least the the tree board or the tree giveaway from anybody for 25 or 26? I think this is
one of the easiest ones I've ever done. I mean, things seem to be smooth and uh, as Mike said, it's, you know, it's the first time we came close to giving away every tree. That's Yeah. And you know, credit credit really um our our
forester, Mr. Melhorn, did a ton of work um him and the other forestry team, especially um in the first few days, you know, or the days leading up to the event, prepping the trees and everything like that, getting everything in line. Um the public works um admin, Kaitlina, and also our communication specialist,
Sarah Cornell. They did the heavy lifting on the registration stuff. So, couldn't have done it without them um and their work to ch, you know, communicate with residents and and stuff like that. So, make sure we'll we'll share that information with them, but give give that credit to them. They they really stood up so that, you know,
people like me could just walk there and and show up and pretend like we were, you know, helping. So, yeah, the city staff made it Yes. super easy. And I hope they know that it doesn't go unnoticed. Instrumental. Yeah, we'll appreciate that and uh be certain to
share that message with them. Thank you. Yeah, 2025 was a great event. I thought it went super well. It was really fun. Yep. Sounds good. If there's no other comments or questions on uh on tree b on
tree giveaway, we can um can move on. The the next item that we have just to um briefly talk about here is the spring planting event. That was another event that we recently had. Weather wasn't the uh warmest of the event, but I think it it turned out well. Um you know,
throughout the um throughout the whole thing, we they planted the teams planted seven white pines, four ironwood, one blue beach, three Ohio Buckeye, three swamp white oaks, um three zestar apple, and two river birch. And then
additionally um forestry staff did plant additional yellow wood and hackberry in the wooded lot um you know outside of the time of the the thing. But uh and then all trees of the either the day or followed up after all stake chipped um
and fenced for protection. and um our forestry team will make sure that they um continue to um ensure the that those trees that we planted remain successful and and are watered and stuff throughout the the growing season here. So, it's a really good location to do that. Uh
again, credit to the forestry team and Mr. Mel Horn did a lot of of removal in that area last year of um correct how many trees do you estimate of ash that you removed out of there? somewhere between 100 and 110. So, this was it's a
really good event. I know we received a lot of feedback. Um, at the time of the removal, there was a lot of concern from residents that were driving by. What are you doing? You know, it's a w now it's wide open and um, you know, good thing as as our as our city forester would, you know, calls it a reforestation. And
that's, you know, it's nice to have the other community members be a part of that stuff like that. So, in, you know, 5 10 years, we can see the fruits of that labor. So again, good event. Um next year, um spring planting options, we're
considering doing some work uh maybe not related to specific for tree planting, but some maintenance and cleanup of some existing native landscape areas and stuff like that. our our city forester and forestry team have a few different areas in mind that they're they're doing
some evaluation on um in that kind of thing, but uh got some areas that are overrun with some some different grasses and stuff and it would be a good opportunity to use some some native plugs and other things to provide some color into those grass areas and stuff like that. So, um nothing set in stone
on that quite yet. It's just some things that we're considering, but certainly happy to take any feedback from from the commission if there's uh there's ideas or suggestions whether that's now or at our next meeting or any time like that. Could I just make a comment about the
dates? Um we didn't have a big representative uh representation from the master gardeners this year because it falls on our big annual spring um plant sale. And so that's kind of all hands on deck and I don't know if um I
know you know with Mother's Day may just get so busy, but um that that was one of our gaps. I know from the master gardening standpoint is it's hard to get the volunteers when they're all have have to be at the county fairgrounds. So that's just something to think about for
timing next year. I thought it went fine with the people we had and the staff were so helpful and you guys who were there. Um, I don't know that it was a problem, but in the past we have had better attendance. So, just Yeah. And that's a change. Our sale used to be on
Sundays always for the master gardeners, and now they moved it to that Saturday. So, I don't think it will go back to Sunday. Heads up. Okay. Thank you for the feedback. Yeah, that was another excellent event and
another one where the city staff was fantastic. You did a great job getting everything set up, ready to go. Made it easy for the people who wanted to come help stick trees in the ground. Just show up and do it. Yeah, thanks for that. Certainly again, uh, credit to our forestry team and our parks team that
help help set that stuff up. Any uh Have all of them survived? Are we seeing transplant shock yet on any of them? Yes, the Ohio Buckeye is struggling out there. So, it also had been leafed out for
3 to 3 and 1/2 weeks. So, I'm hoping next year it might bounce back. I'm going to wait and see. But that was the only species. The rest of them are all doing really well. Okay, that's all I had. Anyone else have any
comments or questions about this past spring planting or any suggestions for next year? Okay, last uh last thing we've got under new business is just the upcoming um Buckthornne removal event. A reminder of that that uh we will have another uh
commission meeting before then um be our our last one of the calendar year but it is part of of your adopted work plan. So this is as a reminder the second Saturday in October which will be October 11th of 2025 from 9 to 11. It'll be back here at Walton Park and it'll be
an extension of continuation from where uh efforts um commenced last year um just behind the Walton ball fields and stuff like that continuing to the north uh wrapping around to the east as far as we can get. Um obviously uh searching for any volunteers or anybody interested
in helping through that event. Um they can come to the city's website um and contact myself or our forester Mr. Melhorn be happy to uh provide any follow-up information or supportive information on that. But again, we'll have another meeting um with this commission before that actual event. But
just as a reminder that that that is our next um organized event coming up that the uh the tree board represents questions or feedback on that. I'm happy to take those. I would just like to say that one is I think the most fun. You get to you get
to do the most stuff as a volunteer and arguably make the biggest difference visually. Yeah. It's it's ecologically it's a nightmare. Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely. Certainly. Okay. Chair, that's all I have under um
under new business. Fantastic. Before we move on to um the other stuff on the agenda, uh item eight, other does anyone have any last minute uh additions to any of the new business?
We're good to move on to the next agenda item then, Corey. Okay, I'll start with the the staff updates and I'll uh I'll pass this on to to Mr. Mel Horn. just I want to um I want to emphasize that you know I see the work that the forestry
team does daytoday and I I think that I want to recognize them for their work. They're a very small crew and they get we get calls constantly for stuff. Um, we get inquiries through our Cclickix platform which we're happy to receive,
but uh, they get pulled in a lot of different directions in this community and are always willing to help out and stuff like that. So, as we talk about these events, um, they've been very busy doing those and and I want to let our our forester, Mr. Mhorn, just kind of give you an update on on the various different things that they have on their
plate right now. um um obviously with Summerfest coming up, they're really um all hands on deck with a lot of that stuff, but you know, there there's just an incredible amount of different things that they're they're being pulled in a lot of different directions. Just want to make sure to point that out and maybe you can go ahead and provide some
background to the stuff that you guys got going. Yeah, the forestry staff has been very busy uh probably the last five weeks or so with doing landscape bed maintenance, cleanup, um mulching at all the parks. Um especially here at Walton
the last few weeks. Um and during time frames where I get a chance to go out, I have a a lot of work orders that come onto my desk um regarding tree inspections, both public and private.
Um, and a lot of EAB code enforcement. Um, yeah, and and then we, like Corey was saying, we kind of get pulled in different directions. We'll, you know, get a work order on my desk regarding a path and with all the
new growth that already has come in now throughout the spring, the path needs a lot of clearance, pruning, and that'll take us a few days. And, um, but yeah, we've been doing a lot of that. um haven't focused in the last year as much
as I'd like to on all of our landscape heads. So now we're kind of playing a little bit of catch up with them, but we are getting them back into the a nice looking um shape, I would say, I guess. And um yeah, we're trying to pay more attention to those and get through that here in
the next month or so and then move on. One one additional thing aside of their work stuff, we're waiting for some feedback, but we did apply for a a grant to help with some EAB removal and stuff. There was specific criteria um that we had to meet with that grant on on
different areas. It it couldn't just be anywhere in the city. Um but we're we're optimistic. Um Mr. Mr. Mel Horn and our team did a lot of work to to put a lot of stuff together on Fort, but that'll um significantly help uh addressing, you know, our remaining EAB canopy that is
in the community that whether it's, you know, still surviving at this point or as we're deteriorating to to go with that. So, we're we're optimistically awaiting some feedback on that. Hopefully, by the next uh um the next commission meeting, we'll be able to bring some good news to that.
That's all I have then. Thank you, Corey. Would you have any questions about any of that? I have compliments to the um the pruning that happened along Helmo down by Tempth. Good job. They look good. Thank you. And the center median
there was it. Yep. Yeah. Thank you. I had heard that was had been mentioned in the past and I did notice them and yes, we were I drove by them. I'm like, we just got to stop and do this quick here. Yeah. Yeah. They look they look very nice. So good. Thank you. And as always
to add into all of that, we get weather events that cause large trees to come down in roadways which always so you guys always respond fast to that and we appreciate it. Yes. Thank you. Of course. Good. Uh time to move on to board member
updates then. Okay. Well, I would open it up to any of the board members. Anything you guys want to bring before the tree board? I've got something. Yeah, go ahead, Mike. I took the um well, I I came up with um a list of
trees that we might be able to give away next year. And as a little background, um I've been through Dutch elm disease, oak wilt, and now um emerald ashbor. and
these big trees in people's yards, it costs these people a lot of money to remove them. And a lot of these people get hit hard. So, I'm I'm making a a suggestion that the trees we give away, and this would be for quote unquote the next generation,
that we don't uh uh give away trees that get so big. So, if the something comes in, it won't cost so much to, you know, to take them down. And kind of on that note, with the exception of the white pine, um,
all the trees that we gave away this year were all, you know, smaller trees, too. So, um, I made up a little packet. If you want to take one and pass it down. Mike came prepared with packets. Well, if I
would have been better prepared, I would have had it on the screen. Um, there's eight trees that I've uh picked out, but I know we can only have four. I mean, I've got my four ideal ones, but there there
was maybe a suggestion from the mayor that we do more in 2026 or a request that we do more quantity. Quantity. Yeah, I mean we'll um we're working through the budget cycle now and that council's aware of that and um you know
if uh opportunity prevents itself presents itself and certainly that will be um receive some consideration. Cool. So maybe a chance to do more than just four depending on what council approves. Well um the ones that I I uh that I did
have have got the uh the yellow or orange X on them. That's the ones I'm recommending. I can't and if it works, I'll just read the uh descriptions for you and and the audience and the the people online. Yeah, sure. Uh happy to do that and appreciate the the feedback
that you're providing. Just want to just remind the the commission and and those that are listening, you know, as an advisory body looking for feedback like this. We weren't going to make any decisions tonight on ensuring that one spe tree species or anything would be picked, but this is what you're here for
and what we appreciate is that feedback that you're you're providing. So, right. Because when it comes time to order, they might not even be available. So, Yep. Yeah. So, but happy for happy to receive the feedback. So, please uh go ahead. Okay. Um the first one I I'm
suggesting is um Apollo sugar maple gets 25 feet tall, 10 ft wide. uh likes full sun. It's narrow and and columnar dark green foliage in the summer. In the fall, it's supposed to get a yellowish
orange to red. It's a compact columnar se selection of the sugar maple with symmetrical growth and dense branching. Ideal for limited spaces. Dark green foliage in the summer turns intense arrays, let me correct it, should turn intense
arrays of brilliant orange, red, and golden yellow hues. Um, I'll never guarantee fall color. I've learned from my mistakes. U, the next one is inferno sugar maple. Height is 30 to 40 feet. Um, 20 to 25
feet wide. Likes full sun. um upright in oval, dark green in the summer. Um supposed to be orange, red, and yellow in the fall. It's um a cold hearty selection with a fiery orange fall color. This maple prefers rich, rich,
well- drained soil and a sheltered location with an overall ascending habit. This tree is relatively low maintenance. Emphasis on relatively. What's that? emphasis on relatively.
Um the next one is um Fire King Musa wood which is a beach a family of beach um gets 25 to 30 feet high 20 ft wide um likes full sun and some shade green
foliage in the summer. Supposed to be reddish orange in the fall. An excellent choice for areas with restricted space and sunlight. a fast grower. Um consist consistent orange red uh fall color in full sun adapted to a range of soils
best grown with a ring of mulch around the tree roots. Um then um it's the Minnesota strain of red bud uh 20 to 30 feet tall uh 20 to 25 ft
wide. Vshaped dark green in the in the summer uh foliage is um bright yellow but in the springtime uh around April is when it blooms it's nice pink blossoms. uh a V-shaped tree with eye-catching
purplish pink flowers blooming in spring before the light green heart-shaped foliage appears. It is a spectacular fall color, a hearty a cold hearty selection grown from seed collected in Minnesota.
And then it's amir choke cherry um 20 to 30 feet tall, 25 to 30 feet wide. uh likes full sun. It's rounded in shape. Got white flowers and small black fruit. Um
I've never seen it fruit very much. So I would take that with a grain of salt. Beautiful golden brown to reddish bark that has glistening metallic look that peels with age. This small tree with an upright rounded form produces white
flowers and small black flute fruit. It's a good wildlife plant. Th this bark or the the trunk um exfoliates like the river birch does and it looks really pretty. Beautiful tree.
Um then it's chinkapin oak. It's 40 to 60 feet tall. Uh 50 to 70 feet wide. uh likes full sun, open and rounded, dark green with a whitish undercast. Uh fall
foliage is yellow to orange. It's a medium-sized oak that has open rounded crown and interesting sharp tooth tooth foliage is a is a dark green above and a whitish cast on the
underside. striking yellow orange fall foliage adaptable to many soils. And then it's um prairie stature oak which is 30 to 40 feet tall, 25 to 30 feet wide, likes full sun. It's a
pyramidal shape. Emerald green uh foliage in the summer, reddish purple in the fall. An outstanding tree in a landscape featuring emerald green semi- glossy leathery foliage with reddish
coloration in autumn dense pyramidal f form that is ideal for boulevards and parks. And the last one is um contender peach. Uh 12 to 15 feet high. Uh 15 to 18 feet
wide. Likes full sun. Um the nice thing about this, it is self-pollinating. You do not need two plants. It's got fruit on it. It's a freestone. Um it's a freestone peach. It has bright
yellow flesh. Cold hardly and tolerant to spring frost. Sweet extra juicy fruit is an absolute delight for fresh eating, canning, baking, and freezing. Self-f fruitful contender ripens mid to late August.
Thank you, Mike. I appreciate that input. Some very cool selections. Can I make a suggestion and I'd like to know what you think. Um but pagoda dogwood um how would you rate that? I think believe it's a native and um it's
a small tree. Uh yeah, it's it's I would call it more of a dwarf tree than a small tree. Okay. Uh I think the biggest one I've ever seen is only 12 feet tall. So Oh, I had one probably 20 feet and like Elmo.
Okay. Um, yeah, I just like the structure of it and it's, you know, beautiful spring flowering tree. Um, and native to Minnesota. I had a prairie there and I burned and I had like 25 those beautiful dogwoods come in to into
the burn area. Was a beautiful tree, but then of course the deer got most of them. But whatever. I just was wondering what you think of that that tree. Too small. Well, to me,
um, in a designed fashion, they've got a certain place for them. Um, to me, a a pagota dogs was woulds just don't fit everywhere. Okay. You know, they they're not so universal,
right? Yeah. I like the structure, the habitat, you know, the little lateral structure of that tree. Um, but okay. I just wanted to throw that out there. I've always wanted to have that on our list of giveaways, but I like all these choices. And the contender peach, isn't that not the peach that people go to out
there at Everly Park to pick up and fight over? Can't be giving that away. Oh, sorry. I'm just like, is that the tree that we should have more of? But if we had emails, okay, if we had more of those trees, then people wouldn't have to fight over it, right? Getting the the
peaches off of there. So, I I think in a tender peach would be an awesome choice. Yeah. if if we can get it. I think it and yeah. Okay. I won't say anything more about it. That was one of my rationale was was to get this on the table early enough so we can get the
order in soon enough. So maybe we can get some of these excellent choices. I've I've heard many of them out at the U as recommend recommendations. Jinkaping pin oak. Um yeah, a bunch of these. So thanks
exciting. Can't wait till next year. Get a cool three. Thank you. Thank you, Mike. Any other um board members have any updates for the three board? I have an update, but I did have a
question. Uh, I played Oak Marsh Golf Course this morning and of course it's a city-owned course but I think it's managed privately and a lot of dead trees and I was wondering is is uh there a uh and
there looks like there has been some removal and replacement and is there a plan in place that is it by the city or is it by the management there that is is uh taking care of that? Yeah, good good question commissioner Jacalto. Um so the
administrator and I are actively working um with them trying to connect uh set up a time that we can uh communicate with actually meet in person with the the people that are operating that course. The there's some contractual agreements that outline who's responsible for what
those different aspects of of maintenance and repair are at that entire uh facility. And so we're uh the intent is to just clarify that so that we make sure. But you you are correct. they um they had a tremendous effort this last winter. Um obviously a little
bit more attractive for them to be on a golf course with heavy equipment doing stream removal during that time. So um you know in their defense it's recognizable that they're making an effort but it's pretty sizable um this the amount to come on there. So, uh, not not ready to comment on any, you know,
final action or agreements or anything like that, but I can stay, uh, you know, let the commission know that the city administrator and I are actively working to, um, connect with them, uh, while we haven't yet. um we had one and scheduling just caused it to be changed
and um we haven't met the second second appointment yet but we are aware and uh actively trying to work with them as community partners to how can we you know resolve the issue. Yeah. The only reason I'm bringing up too is it is a amenity as far as with
trees and such on golf courses and people come to you know courses that are good-looking and they are an income generator. Sure. And so, uh, it's a it's a very it's very, uh, noticeable there
of what's going it's going on. And, uh, anything I think that would, I don't know, I guess move things along to to, um, you know, get it the course improved with replacement of some of these and some of those are are fairly large that
have died back. U, so I'm glad to hear that, you know, things are are progressing with that. Yeah, we're working we're working alongside them to try to help uh come up with a solution that's good for both both them and you know us as far as our city code and
those responsibilities that are outlined in the contract for that facility. Thank you. Last chance for board member updates before we move on. Okay, we're ready to move on to council
leazison update. Hello commissioners. Uh Krie Moore, your city council leaison. I want to apologize for being late. I tried so hard to get here by 5:00. Um but I wanted to let you know um thank you for the comments, Commissioner Bender, about
big trees and giving them away. Um, some of you may know I'm working with a resident right now to try to find a solution for tree removal at his house and they are three very large trees. So, um, I have dove, I think, head first into treeboard um, business which, uh,
was unexpected but exciting to work with a resident to try to find solutions. Um, the council is, as Corey said, working on budget issues right now. Yes, there is interest if we can in increasing the number of trees given away. We
recognized the incredible popularity of the tree giveaway. Um, thank you to all of you for your work on that event. It was absolutely incredible. It was so much fun to be out there and to work with you guys. Um, I did get a tree from the master gardeners that day and it is
a white pine. Its name is basil and I have not had time to put it in the ground. So, it is in a little pot until it gets planted and it looks like it's thriving, but since I'm not an expert on the issue, I um don't know that I can say that it is necessarily. But basil
looks great. You guys, thank you so much for all of your work. Um we really appreciate it. As the budget moves on, we will certainly keep you um informed of what we have going on um with with the things that we do for you. So, thank you so much. Do you have any questions for me?
Oh, wonderful. Thank you. Don't worry about being late. You weren't the only one. What's that? Don't worry about being late. You weren't the only one. I wasn't the only one. Okay, wonderful relief. And if Basil's green, it's probably still okay. Basil is green. It has little like looking like he's growing on the top. Charismatic. You
would know if he wasn't happy. Yeah, I would know. Oh, no. Then he's happy. He's doing great. Thank you guys so much. Everything to adjurnn. Second. All in favor? I. All opposed. Then we will adjourn the June 17th, 2025
treaty board meeting. Thank you everybody. Thanks every