Tree Board Meeting October 16, 2020

Detailed briefing

Tree Advisory Board Meeting — October 16, 2020 ATTENDEES: John Cuffs, Anna Mulder, and new student representative Brianna Goldsman were identified in roll call; CeCe and Mark Gilbert were identified as absent. • The board approved the September 18 meeting minutes after calling for comments and receiving a motion and support. No vote count was stated in the transcript. • Members reviewed the tree-inventory analysis for the developing tree plan. The inventory uses 2015 data and primarily covers city right-of-way trees, plus some park trees, rather than all trees in Harbor Springs. The review noted that maples make up a large share of the recorded inventory and that many recorded trees are relatively small by trunk area and canopy spread. • The board discussed improving inventory follow-through: entering newly planted trees by location, conducting health or condition assessments between full inventories, mapping species and trees near utilities or other infrastructure, and identifying potential planting locations. Members also raised the need to eventually fill major gaps in the current inventory, especially city property and rights-of-way outside the traditionally inventoried areas. • Safety and liability were emphasized as a priority for future inventory work. The arborist advised that trees on city property near roads should be identified before broader surveys of private or undeveloped canopy. Members suggested obtaining ownership and city-property GIS layers before committing to additional field survey work. • The board accepted the combined approved-tree list as its official suggestion. Members said it should remain a living document, could include practical notes such as sheltered-site suitability, and might be shared with residents and local landscapers. • Tree City USA recognition was discussed. The board said it has a tree board and likely has relevant ordinances, but still needs to document annual tree-program spending against the $2-per-capita standard and hold an Arbor Day observance. Members favored beginning with a simple event, potentially involving a farmers market table, tree education, or saplings. • Remaining tree-plan work was divided: Dan was assigned planting-guidance subsections described as 4B and 4D, while Victor said he would complete the remaining material and Section 5, with Ben’s input on maintenance. Two memorial tree donations were reported, but planting locations remain to be selected. Worth watching: • Whether the city can document enough annual tree-related spending to satisfy Tree City USA’s $2-per-capita requirement. • Whether staff and the board establish ownership, watering, and protection plans for new tree plantings. • Whether the inventory is expanded first to unrecorded city property and right-of-way areas with potential safety exposure. Upcoming: The board expects to revisit Arbor Day planning in winter and discuss locations for donated trees at a future meeting. Why it matters: The work is intended to turn the city’s tree efforts into a more complete, budget-aware plan for planting, maintenance, public safety, and grant readiness.

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