01-26-2015 TBMCITY OF HUTCHINSON
TREE BOARD
Monday, January 26th, 2015
5:00 p.m.
City Center
Meeting Minutes
Members present: Newton Potter, Anne Kosel, Dale Redetzke,
Others present: John Olson, Mike Babe, Shelby Gamache (GreenCorps Member),
Adam Wegscheid
Absent: Gary Forcier
Meeting began at 5:00 p.m. There was a quorum of members present.
1) Tree Board Members
Newton Potter (to 01/17, 1st full-term) Dale Redetzke (to 01/16,2 nd full-term)
(Open Seat) (to 01/18, 1st full-term) Annie Kosel (to 01/18, 1st full-term)
Gary Forcier (Council representative) Mike Bahe (PRCE representative, ex -officio)
John Olson (Public Works representative)
Quarterly Meeting schedules: 01127115, 04127115, 07127115, 10126115.
For meeting schedules & interestforms for serving on the Tree Board, see www.ci.hutchinson.mn.us
2) Review Tree Board Minutes
Annie Kosel's name and term were updated on the minutes as they were printed incorrectly on the
initial copy.
Minutes approved with corrections.
3) Standing Reports
a) Bahe reported to the board that Corey Stearns would not be serving his second term.
b) Mike Bahe presented the year end presentation.
i) Highlights:
(1) 4 Arbor Day programs (3M, Park Elem., New Discoveries and St. A's).
(2) 35 Year Tree City USA Celebration with notable speakers (Gary Johnson, U ofMN,- Ken
Holman, MNDNR; andMark Schnobrich, retired City Forester for Hutchinson).
(3) GreenCorps member Kirstin Taggart served 11 months working with Hutchinson's Urban
Forestry Program doing public outreach/education and developing the Forestry
Diversification Project for the City.
Redetzke asked how people find out about volunteering. Bahe stated that requests for volunteers are
printed in the Park & Rec. brochure, classifieds in the Hutch Leader and outreach to civic groups.
ii) Forestry Diversification Project:
(1) Expenditures for 2014 were $22,356 39 of $25, 000
(2) Removed and replaced 24 BLVD trees
(3) Planted 70 Park trees with dozens of volunteers of all ages
iii) Numbers
(1) There 13, 741 trees on public property
(2) The City planted 373 trees last year and removed 210
(3) From Nov. 2011 through present 2,446 trees have been pruned
(4) Forestry expenditures were about $148K in 2014
Bahc stated that the increase from the year before was in large part due to the Tree Diversification Project
and additional contract pruning.
iv) Energy Tree Program
(1) 38 applications were received resulting in 120 private property plantings
(2) 19 trees were planted at schools
(3) 222 trees in total were funded by Hutchinson Utilities Commission as part of the program
Bahc stated that 120 private trees is the 3rd most planted in the 22 year history of the program.
v) Natural Resources
(1) Parks and Public Works crews worked together doing river bank vegetation maintenance to
help reduce competing trees and undesirable species.
(2) The planting of an additional 2 acres ofprairie at Robert's Park was completed in the fall
and was partially paid for by a grant with the Soil and Water Conservation District.
Koscl stated that the area adjacent to the retention pond, south of the camper stalls at West River Park
would be another possible spot for a native prairie planting. She stated that currently is not used
recreationally and a native planting would help increase the use of that area.
vi) Potential Projects
(1) Forestry Diversification Project - Round 2
(2) Arbor Day with 3M
(3) Re -seeding sections ofMiller Woods
(4) Native prairie planting west of archery range
Comments on presentation: Koscl commented that we could possibly notify daycares of volunteer
planting projects to help foster appreciation of trees at a young age. Potter asked how we publicize the
Energy Tree Program. Bahc stated that we put it in the paper, the Park & Rec brochure and in the
community bulletin. Rcdctzkc asked how we decide who gets a boulevard tree. Bahc stated that if a
homeowner requests one, we can usually accommodate the request. Our normal program is to replace any
tree that is removed.
4) Oucrational Issues and Oucn Proiccts
a) Door hangers for communication prototypes. Babe presented the board with the 7 different hangers
that will be used for forestry maintenance issues. The 7 types are:
(1) A New Tree is Coming!
(2) You Have a New Tree!
(3) Tree Removal Notice
(4) Tree Removal Near Your Property
(5) Your Energy Trees Have Been Planted
(6) Your Neighbor Received an Energy Tree Today (for promotional purposes)
(7) Your Tree has Dutch Elm Disease
There were no corrections to the hangers and the Tree Board agreed on their usage. Bahc said that he
would set up the printing.
5) Other Discussions/ New Business
Babe presented and briefly went over the Hutchinson's Urban Forest Street Tree Benefits sheet.
6) Meeting adjourned at 6:OOPM
NEXT MEETING: Monday, Apol 27th @ 5:OOPM