04-28-2014 TBMCITY OF HUTCHINSON
TREE BOARD
Monday, April 28th, 2014
5:00 p.m.
City Center
Meeting Minutes
Members present: Newton Potter, Laura Poser, Dale Redetzke, Corey Stearns, Steve Cook (Council)
Others present: John Olson, Mike Babe, Kirstin Taggart (GreenCorps Member)
Absent: (None)
Meeting began at 5:00 p.m. There was a quorum of members present.
1) Tree Board Members
Newton Potter (to 04/17, 1st full-term) Dale Redetzke (to 04/16, 2nd full-term)
Corey Stearns (to 04/15, 1st full-term) Laura Poser (to 04/15, 1 st full-term)
Steve Cook (Council representative) Mike Bahe (PRCE representative, ex -officio)
John Olson (Public Works representative)
Quarterly Meeting schedules: 01127114, 04128114, 07128114, 10127114.
For meeting schedules & interestforms for serving on the Tree Board, see www.ci.hutchinson.mn.us
2) Review Tree Board Minutes
No comments
3) Standing Reports
a) Michael Babe presented Forestry updates:
i) Currently 2 pruning contracts active with Savatree. Mike reported that the contracts are for $17K
each and will total about 600 trees pruned.
ii) 19 trees tagged for removal
iii) 9 Energy Tree applications to date
iv) Tree stock will be arriving soon
v) Official City Arbor Day will be May 20tH
(1) The City will be holding three Arbor Day programs
(a) May 7th - New Discoveries School; May 20th - 3M Arbor Day (Official City Arbor Day
also); May 22nd - St. Anastasia School; June 4th — Park Elementary;
(b) Newt Potter asked that the Tree Board members be notified as the programs get closer so
members could participate if it worked for them.
4) Operational Issues and Open Proiects
a) Mike updated members on the Jefferson St. project related to trees. It was noted that 38 trees will be
removed and 32 trees replaced. Mike noted that the City did allow a last minute moving of 12 trees
from last year's Arbor Day with 3M. Mike also noted that this was a tree friendly project with 1
replacement for each removal where possible.
b) Kirstin updated members on the Forestry Diversification Project. Kirstin reviewed the neighborhood
meeting held on March 26th which gave residents an opportunity to give input on the project. 8
residents attended the meeting. Some of the comments from the meeting were:
i) Include on map where trees not being removed are located and which are ash
ii) Indicate that not all ash will be removed prior to meeting. Residents were under the impression
that all ash were being removed.
iii) Multiple requests to change which tree will be removed due to the marked tree providing more
shade to their house than the adjacent tree. Requests where accommodated if the condition of the
trees were comparable.
iv) Can residents choose their own tree species? Changes were allowed if they fit into our
diversification parameters.
v) Notify residents when trees are going to be removed.
c) Mike informed the board members that the initial project implementation quotes had to be nullified
due to errors in the initial quoting process. The project will be reopened for quotes in the next week.
5) Other Discussions/ New Business
a) Kirstin presented the plans for the Tree City USA 35th Year Celebration. It will be held June 16th at
6:30pm. This will be a Music in the Park event. The band will be the Arborators which is a brass
band made up of arborists. Speakers will include Ken Holman, head of community forestry for the
MN DNR, Gary Johnson from the University of Minnesota and Mark Schnobrich from Arbor Life
Consulting. There will also be children's activities and giveaways. Following the event there will be
a reception at Main Street Sports Bar where we will provide pizza and pop for the participants and
speakers.
6) Meeting adjourned at 6:OOPM
NEXT MEETING: Monday, July 28th @ 5:OOPM