May 19, 2023 Tree Board Meeting

Detailed briefing

Tree Advisory Board Meeting — May 19, 2023 ATTENDEES: Roll call recorded Victor Ropeloff, Dan Molder, Dale Brown, Jamie Melton, Patrick Wise and Theresa Johnson; public participant Nancy Dwan of Petoskey also spoke. • The board approved the prior meeting minutes. It then selected Theresa Johnson as chair. The transcript indicates a vice-chair appointment was also approved, but the name is inconsistent in the record and should be verified. • Staff reported that 19 street trees have been ordered. Planting is awaiting delivery of crabapple trees, which had to be ordered because it was too late to dig nursery stock. A board member will ask whether the crabapple choice can be switched to a dark-pink, disease-resistant variety matching trees across from Bay Bluffs. • Arbor Day Fest planning was largely finalized for Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Plans included student drawings at City Hall, hot dogs and refreshments, 100 seedlings, a possible pruning demonstration, disc golf, a scavenger hunt with crayons for bark rubbings, and a tree walk-and-talk. The board discussed using the larger grill, promoting the event through signage, the Harbor Light and social media, and recruiting additional volunteers. • The board discussed combining the tree walk-and-talk with the scavenger hunt while retaining a self-guided option for families. It also planned farmer's market outreach, with staff to coordinate seedling preparation and delivery arrangements. • For the street tree plan, members agreed to inspect State Street, Arbor Street and Uptown East before the next discussion. The review is intended to identify canopy gaps, potential planting areas, species diversity needs, available space and utility or other infrastructure conflicts. • At 121 Traverse Street, the board considered removal of two trees: one in the proposed driveway location and another beneath electrical lines that has been heavily trimmed. Members supported investigating a feasible replacement location away from the power lines, potentially across the street. Staff said the property owner offered $600 toward another tree. Worth watching: • Whether the ordered crabapple trees can be changed to the requested dark-pink variety. • Whether Arbor Day Fest staffing, pruning demonstration and seedling distribution arrangements are confirmed. • Results of site reviews for State Street, Arbor Street and Uptown East, including utility constraints and replacement-tree locations near 121 Traverse Street. Upcoming: Arbor Day Fest is planned for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; the board also discussed a possible July Tree Canopy article on threats to trees. Why it matters: The board is moving from event planning into block-level decisions about where new trees can expand canopy while avoiding conflicts with streets, sidewalks and utility lines.

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