Tree Board Meeting 5.17.2024

Detailed briefing

TREE ADVISORY BOARD — MAY 17, 2024 ATTENDEES: Talia; Kathy Liu; Anna Mulder; Kathy Macho; Carol Willard; Victor; Ben; remote listener Nancy Dwan. • The board unanimously approved the prior minutes after correcting the meeting date at the top to March 15. No vote count was stated. Carol Willard was welcomed as the board’s newest member. • The city has 24 trees available for its street-tree effort: 12 supported by previous donors and 12 through a council contribution. Priority areas discussed included Lake Street and portions of Traverse, Spring, and Pine streets. Members favored spreading the trees among priority areas while placing a larger share on Lake Street. Staff will assess species and sites, send letters seeking information about location conflicts, and update the board. Fall was described as a more practical planting period, but no planting date was set. • Harborview Park has lost about 15 trees, with additional removals still expected. Parks representatives emphasized restoring shade, especially near the pickleball courts and parking area, through mixed, informal groupings of evergreen and shade trees rather than recreating straight rows. The Parks Board is expected to prepare a sketch showing approximate locations and the number of trees. Funding remains unresolved and could involve donations, available parks funds, a future budget, or a council request. • Proposed M119 trees near the skate park are on hold for further review. Members noted possible conflicts with planned wheelway construction, power lines, slope conditions, and skate park landscaping. Staff said Benchmark should be consulted before planting proceeds or locations are finalized. • The board discussed adding a three-year survival requirement for privately requested or city-required right-of-way plantings. Draft language would require owners to replace trees that die within three years. Members also favored directing owners to notify the city about suspected disease or insects rather than independently applying pesticides on city property. Final wording still needs revision. • Pest updates included an expanding Michigan boxwood quarantine and the presence of hemlock woolly adelgid in Harbor Springs and Traverse City. Members advised caution about adding boxwoods because of likely maintenance needs and discussed holding off on new hemlock planting. No formal vote was recorded. • September 14 was selected as the working date for an Arbor Day event, potentially at Harborview Park, with a planting demonstration, tree giveaway, sponsors, and a barbecue. Serviceberries and other giveaway species are being explored, but fall availability and costs are uncertain. Worth watching: 1. Whether the Parks Board produces a Harborview sketch and secures funding or donors. 2. Benchmark’s guidance on M119 planting conflicts. 3. Final language and approval of the three-year right-of-way tree guarantee. Upcoming: Tentative Arbor Day activities on September 14; maintenance training is also being considered for July or August. Why it matters: Tree survival, shade replacement, species diversity, and construction coordination will determine whether current planting investments provide lasting public benefit.

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.