Tree Board Meeting 3.19.2021

Detailed briefing

Tree Advisory Board Meeting — March 19, 2021 • The board discussed where to place eight donated trees now available for planting. Suggested areas included Lake Street, State Street, Layton Park, City Hall, Ann Street, Marina Park, and neighborhoods above the bluff. Members repeatedly cited barren spots and declining or poorly performing trees on Lake Street. • The Tree Grate project is not an option for this year after City Council put it on hold because its cost was about $250,000. The board instead focused on other city locations and on distributing tree benefits beyond the most heavily inventoried areas. • Staff will review Lake Street, State Street, and Layton Park for viable planting sites and return to the board. Marina Park trees, including temporary planter ideas, will wait until the Marina Park Committee develops its plans. • Tree maintenance emerged as a major concern. Ben said grant requirements call for a reasonable three-year maintenance plan and said the city needs stronger practices for watering, pruning, species selection, and staff training. The board discussed tree gators, watering logistics, proper pruning training, and grant support that could help fund training and Arbor Day activities. • The city was reported to meet the first three Tree City USA standards. The remaining requirement is an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The board tentatively discussed using the last Friday in May, with possible school involvement, seedling distribution, tree-planting education, sponsorships, and public information about the city’s tree plan and inventory. • The board agreed to rethink a proposed “species to avoid” list. Rather than label trees as simply bad, members supported a location-based guide explaining trees of concern and suitable alternatives for conditions such as street rights-of-way, wet sites, dry sites, utility corridors, and salt exposure. • A motion to apply for an Arbor Day Alliance tree-planting grant failed because it did not receive a majority. Some members said the board should first establish a maintenance plan; others said the application could build on previous work and may support fall planting. Worth watching: • Whether the board develops a practical, funded three-year maintenance approach before expanding planting. • Staff recommendations for planting locations for the eight donated trees. • Whether Arbor Day planning produces a public event, school activity, or tree giveaway. Upcoming: A ReLeaf grant site visit is planned for next Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the spillway in front of City Hall; Arbor Day and planting-site details are expected to return at an April meeting. Why it matters: The board is balancing public demand for new trees with the staffing, watering, pruning, and site-planning needed for those trees to survive.

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