10-26-88 Shade Tree Commission Minutes.0
• SHADE TREE COMMISSION MEETING
October 26, 1988
4:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bette Albright
Georgia Otten
Keith Engebretson
Pat Thomas
Parks Director Mike Baker
The meeting commenced shortly after 4:00 P.M. Mike Baker introduced
the new Commission member, Pat Thomas.
There was a discussion on designating a certain day of each month for
meetings, the second Tuesday of each month being decided upon. Since
the second Tuesday in November is Election Day, November's meeting
will be held on the third Tuesday, the 15th. December's meeting will
be on the 13th.
There was a short discussion on setting up agendas.
Agenda Item #1 . Introductions
Pat Thomas gave a brief history of his background. He graduated from
Oregon State University in 1973. After that he worked in the Oregon
• area until 1976. He said he'd been in the Kalispell area since 1979
working as a landscape architect for the Flathead National Forest and
in 1985 he was appointed to the Montana State Board for Landscape
Architects. Mike Baker said he had worked with Pat when he (Mike)
was with the Dept. of Fish, Wildlife & Parks and he felt that with
Pat's expertise and experience he would be very valuable to the Shade
Tree Commission's program.
Agenda Item #2. Select Chairperson
It was decided to wait until more members of the Commission were
present to select a chairperson.
Agenda Item #3. Goals & Objectives for 1988-89
Mike Baker began with a discussion of Tree City U.S.A. He said we
would have to plan our events to qualify us for re -certification this
year.
Mike went on to discuss last year's accomplishments, such as the
planting of trees around the Chamber Office and Haven Field with
donations from the Rotary Club. There were also trees planted in the
downtown commercial district, and on Montana Street in the street
reconstruction area. He said last year the Parks Dept. had planted
60-70 trees.
There was some discussion about the Demonstration Area which the
Commission members had begun last year. Georgia Otten said she would
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approach the lady again at 3rd Ave. & 3rd St. East who had some trees
she was refusing to let the city remove from around her house.
Mike mentioned that it would be nice to start a computerized system
for shade tree maintenance and inventory. He said Bill Wright had
talked about a program through the State Forest Dept. that he would
like to take a look at this year.
Georgia said there were a lot of places in town where the trees were
planted too many too close together, for example by St. Matthews
School on 7th Street.
There was discussion about getting one entry way to the city done.
The Highway 93 South entry was discussed, what improvements had been
made there and future improvements to be made with the cooperation of
the businesses out that way.
The area on Meridian Road by Buttreys and Roy Stanley where the
street was reconstructed was also put on the "target" list for this
year.
Mike said we should continue to look at areas where there are diseased
trees and also where trees were removed and there were large spaces
open on the boulevard in the residential areas. Northridge Heights
was also mentioned as a target area to be looked at. Mike said he
would have to check with the Public Works Dept. to see how much
right-of-way the city has there. He said there also might be some
conflicts with the kind of trees we want to put there, as a lot of
the trees already there are evergreens. The safety problem was also
mentioned, such as trees obstructing stop signs, etc. and the city's
liability there.
There was a discussion about starting a "Tips for Trees" public
service program, such as tips on pruning, when to plant, how to care
for them, etc. Bette Albright volunteered to gather information for
public service announcements and get it to the newspapers.
Mike then went on to talk about the pruning program for this year.
He said the sidewalk trees in the Tax Increment District are in bad
shape and he wanted to put some time in on those.
He said last year the Parks Dept. had bought $1500 worth of trees
which they haven't picked up yet, and this year they bought $1200
worth of trees which they put in the nursery at the treatment plant.
Mike said he is the only one authorized to expend the money and
select the trees, which he would be doing within the next two weeks.
The question was asked if the City had a lot of request for prunings.
Mike said yes, but there wouldn't be anything done until after leaf
pickup is completed. He said they would be using the big boom truck
again this year along with the small boom truck.
There being no further business, the agenda for the next meeting was
• discussed:
1. Select Chairperson
2. PSA Program. Bette Albright said she would have some information
available for the next meeting and contact the newspapers about pub-
lishing the public service announcements.
3. Computer Inventory. Mike said he would contact Bill Wright and
have him get a narrative about the State's computer program.
4. Key Pruning Areas. Mike explained the card system they use for
pruning trees and maybe this year instead of going on an individual
residence completed, go on a block completion program. He said he
would have something put in the paper so people would know when they
are pruning. He said his department will start a 10-year program for
pruning, so each tree would be pruned every 10 years.
The meeting adjourned at 5:10 P.M.
Shirley Hughes, Recording Secretary
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