Tree Board Meeting 3.18.2022

Detailed briefing

Tree Advisory Board Meeting — March 18, 2022 • The board approved the prior meeting minutes by voice vote. No vote count was stated. There were no public comments reported. • Staff said about 33 tall pine trees near Bay Bluffs and the skate park will need to be removed in spring or summer because they interfere with the electric utility. The board was asked to begin thinking about replacement trees. Members emphasized choosing trees that will not grow into utility lines while still improving the area’s appearance. A possible need for plantings that help separate Bay Bluffs residents from the busy road was also raised for future discussion. • Members completed a preliminary scoring exercise for the urban-forest implementation matrix. They ranked many actions from 1, highest priority, to 3, lowest priority, including tree inventory work, hazardous-tree removal, planting standards, development requirements, public education, grants and annual city funding. Several entries were identified as duplicative, combined, or unclear and may need revision. No final priority list was adopted at this meeting. • The board continued planning its Arbor Day Fest for May 28. White pine trees have been ordered. The working schedule discussed includes an 11:30 a.m. history walk, ongoing nature-art activities, bird-feeder building, a tree-climbing activity, and trail cleanup near the end of the event. Tree walks may be offered in short, staggered sessions between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. • Event planning also covered school artwork, student volunteers, tree-identification placards, signs, a banner, liability forms, advertising, a farmers-market table and food. Johansen's and David Hoffman were identified as sponsors. IGA’s manager said the store was willing to work with the board on hot dogs, buns, snacks and related food needs. The group discussed planning for roughly 100 people and using lemonade dispensers rather than relying solely on single-use water bottles. • For April outreach, a member agreed to draft a Tree Canopy article about what trees need to stay healthy, including root protection and watering during dry periods. The article may feature white pines and remind residents about Arbor Day Fest. Worth watching: • Staff will average the implementation-matrix scores and return with the highest-ranked priorities for further discussion. • Replacement-tree planning is still needed for the Bay Bluffs/skate park area after utility-conflicting pines are removed. • Arbor Day Fest details, including food commitments, signs, artwork, volunteers and site layout, remain to be completed. Upcoming: The next Tree Advisory Board meeting is April 15; Arbor Day Fest is planned for May 28. Why it matters: The board is linking near-term event planning with longer-term decisions on tree care, planting, infrastructure conflicts and city funding.

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