02-14-89 Shade Tree Commission Minutesi
SHADE TREE COMMISSION MEETING
February 14, 1989 4:00 P.M.
Attending the meeting were Parks Director Mike Baker, Betty Albright, Pat Thomas,
Keith Engebretson and Bill Wright.
There was some dicussion regarding the newspaper article that was in the Daily
Inter Lake, what it had accomplished, and different responses received from various
people. Letters Mike and Bill had received from Ian MacCallum and Chris Moritz
regarding pruning were discussed at length. It was suggested to invite Ian to the
next meeting. Bette agreed with that and said she felt the Committee should not
pursue answering the letters. Pat seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Pat will contact Ian to come to the next meeting and put on a program of some kind
about 15 minutes in length.
The articles to be run in the Kalispell. Weekly News in February and March were
discussed. It was decided the article for April would be about planting because
of the Arbor Day celebration in April.
PRUNING
Mike Baker said they started pruning yesterday with the big truck. He said there
had been a breakdown on the truck so he was going to demand two days' credit from
HCL. He said if he was not satisfied with the truck within a week he would send
it back and go to Spokane and get another truck.
• Mike said he wanted to get all the trees pruned that he has gotten calls on, so
they would have to hop around a bit and not be as efficient as usual. He also
said when they are in an area where pruning needs to be done, he would go to each
house and ask if they mind if they prune or remove the trees.
ARBOR DAY
Mike said they did get the renewal from the National Arbor Day Foundation for Tree
City, U.S.A. and at the March meeting the Commission needs to plan the Arbor Day
celebration.
Bette mentioned planting a tree at a school and getting the kids involved. Mike
said they planted 7 trees at Elrod School last year. He said he would talk to
some of the teachers and maybe even get a class to sponsor a planting. _ It was
suggested to have one grade each year. This will be discussed further at the
March meeting.
Pat said he would be willing to go to the schools and give some talks on the
importance of trees. He agreed to do this and it was decided to discuss this more
at the March meeting and Pat will have an outline of what he will present to the
kids.
Mike said the Commission should target a certain age group. He said he is in the
process of putting together a slide show covering different topics, and he wants
isto do one on shade trees, and he might possibly have something by April.
Shade Tree Commission Mtg.
Feticuary 14, 1989
Page 2
. MATCHING FUNDS
Bill said we need to submit something relatively quick. There was a discussion on
different grants. Mike said he had been informed that Butte had received $100,000
for a re -forestation program and urban forestry program through the Reclamation
Program. He said next year we should apply for an urban forestry grant. He
stated Lawrence Park would be a good area to re -forest.
It was decided that Mike and Bill would pursue the grant and go for what we can
get. The inventory would be the first thing to be taken care of. Pat suggested
hiring a co-op ed student or volunteer through the Forest Service to do the
inventory. He will check into it more and report on it at the March meeting.
BUDGET
Bette said the Shade Tree Commission should make a presentation to the Council
regarding the budget. Mike said he had the City Accountant put in line items for
forestry and nursery which would come from the Parks General Fund. He said they
need to emphasize how much money they are spending on the program and this is how
important it is. He thought April would be a better time to get together with the
Council.
Bill stated that he and Mike should get together with Mark sometime next week.
Mike said he would be gone all next week to a school, so it was decided to meet
the first week in March.
There was a short discussion about the full page article in the Inter Lake. Bette
said they would be ready for another full page article in two or three months.
Keith suggested having a note at the bottom of the article requesting comments,
suggestions, etc. Bette mentioned putting the Shade Tree Meetings in the Community
Events and offered to take care of it.
The next meeting is scheduled for March 14, April's is on the llth, and the last
meeting will be May 9th.
Meeting adjourned.
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