06-13-18 Street Tree Committee MinutesKALISPELL STREET TREE COMMISSION
MEETING HELD June 13, 2018
Present: Members: Judy Rosenfeld Cox, Andrea Davidson, Terry
Richmond
Guest: Martin Rippens
Staff: Fred Bicha, Joshua Keene and Lisa Simmer
Introductions
As a new staff and a member of the public were present, everyone went around the table
introducing themselves and providing a brief background and reason why they are on the street
tree board. Josh provided a description of his work background as it relates to forestry.
Public Comment
Martin explained he retired from an arborist background, moved to Kalispell and is trying to
learn and educate himself about the trees and urban forest. Martin said he had contacted the
urban forestry department with a question for Fred and Fred had invited him to attend some
board meetings to see if it interests him to join.
Approve Minutes
Members unanimously approved the April and May minutes.
Current Business
Host Tree Board Educational Awareness Event
Fred explained in Tony's absence that Tony was going to research the Farmer's Market event
that is made available to services groups and is believed to be held in late August. Fred said this
event may be good timing to promote the 50150 cost share fall planting. When asked Fred
replied that he thinks approximately 35 trees were recently planted under the cost share program,
27 of which were funded through the program development grant. Fred told members
canvassing the neighborhood worked well and that he honored the $75 cost to homeowners
above and beyond the grant funding for those citizens who received the brochure offering the
one time deal. Martin told members that he was a participant in the 50150 tree planting and he
thought the contractors did a very good job.
Recognize and Educate Good Tree Work
Terry provided members with a background on the thought process behind this project,
explaining the board has been kicking around this idea for some time. Terry explained that the
board is thinking of giving awards to people, businesses and/or organizations who have done an
excellent job with both tree planting, care and landscaping, if it includes trees. Terry expressed
his desire to make this project happen. Fred said he feels now is the perfect time to get this
rolling and make it happen. Terry mentioned that the FHS woodshop class is on summer break
and would not be able to make plaques at this time. Fred said he'd like to partner with the public
and the paper and see about getting notices for nominations in the paper and see if the paper
would help with the advertising. It was suggested the project might be called The Best of the
Kalispell Urban Forest Awards and maybe awards could be presented at a council meeting.
Terry said if a council meeting isn't possible then board members could go to the business and
members could present the award.
Fred said he'd like to see a tree stewardship award be given as he feels stewardship is very
important. Members agreed it would be worth a try and opening it up to the public is a good
idea. Members brainstormed the criteria they would like to see. Members suggested they might
even start off with one award to get the proj ect going.
Fred said two awards he would like to see happen sooner than later are one to the Middle School
orchard project and recognition of the teacher who got it started and then the mother and Eagle
Scout who organized a tree planting on the 700 block of 4th Ave East that had been devastated
from DED. Terry mentioned he felt Jackola Engineering went above and beyond with their
trees and landscaping when they built their new office. Lisa suggested the idea of awarding
three awards based on the boards picks with the business award to Jackola, the stewardship
award to the 4fh Ave E people and the public facility award to Kalispell Middle School orchard.
Discussion was held regarding this proposal to get the program out there, with the hope of
gaining momentum and public awareness and nominations for future awards. Members made a
motion and voted to award these first three The Best of Kalispell Urban Forest awards for the
categories Business, Stewardship and Public Facility. Fred said he really wants the high school
woodshop to make plaques and he will look into it and the timing of getting them made. Andrea
suggested someone get pictures while the trees are leafed out and that September would be a
good time to award. Fred told the group by the next meeting he will have answers on when he
could get plaques. Members expressed a desire to award at a September council meeting. Fred
suggested that a letter be written to the awardees in advance to notify them they have been
selected.
Engage Citizens in Volunteering for Tree Maintenance
Andrea said she did not have anything new on the letter. Fred suggested if the letter is ready to
go that Andrea let him know who to distribute it to and he will make it happen.
Promote Trees at FVCC
Judy stated that she had reviewed the requirements for the Tree Campus USA certification and
feels because it is fairly substantial she will approach someone on the FVCC board about it.
Fred stated it will take a year to get and isn't easy and feels they are probably already meeting a
lot of the requirements, however aren't being recognized for it. Fred explained that it does
require the college to have a tree board and he would like to see members of the Street Tree
board sit on that board. Judy said she would pursue this discussion with a FVCC board member.
Misc. Business:
• Tree removal contract — Fred told members the tree removal contract is completed with
approximately 88 trees having been removed, stumps ground and grass seed spread.
• Tree pruning contract - Fred said there were two contracts, totaling 500 trees and Trees
For Life got both contracts. Fred said they have completed approximately 300 trees with
approximately 200 remaining. Fred said he thinks they just finished up 51h Ave East,
however he is not sure where they will be working next.
• Stump grinding — Fred said the contract is finished with approximately 120 stumps
ground out and grass seed spread.
• Inventory — Fred explained that last week the consultant was in town inventorying trees.
Fred explained the contract is for approximately 20% of the urban forest and this past
week the consultant finished up about half of the work and will be back in July. Fred said
this work will be used to determine removal and pruning contracts next year.
Lisa informed the board that all of the Arbor Day sponsor thank you's had been delivered
including a letter and t-shirt. Lisa said that all but five were hand delivered with the remaining
ones being mailed.
Members discussed the future of Tree Cycle. Andrea suggested that perhaps a walking map
identifying mature species on the approved boulevard planting list might be a better use of time.
Members discussed that people could take the tour on their own time and see what a species they
might choose through the 50150 cost share program looks like full grown. Fred said he might be
able to utilize the past three years Tree Cycle brochures to make a walking map of approved
species. Judy said she thought it was a good idea, however maybe doesn't need to replace Tree
Cycle. Fred suggested the board table the discussion until the next meeting.
Terry asked for clarification on the last meeting which he missed, asking if it had been decided
that Arbor Day 2019 would be at Woodland Park. Members explained they all had discussed
what a great location it was for the celebration but had not decided it as next year's definite
location. Members briefly discussed other possible locations.
There was no other business and the meeting adjourned at 4:58 pm.
Approved unanimously at the July 11, 2018 meeting.