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01-11-11 Street Tree MinutesKALISPELL STREET TREE COMMISSION MEETING HELD January 11, 2011 --- 4:00 p.m. Present: Bette Albright, Andrea Davidson, Dawn Tacke, David Jones, and Lisa Simmer Next Meeting Date: February 8, 2011 — 4 p.m. Parks Department Items of Discussion: • Christmas Tree Recycling Erosion Program • Growth Award Criteria • Forest Health Monitoring Open House • Dead Tree Removals • Miscellaneous Tree Business Christmas Tree Recycling Program David brought with him a copy of the article the Flathead Beacon ran regarding the Christmas Tree Recycling Erosion Program, for anyone who might not have seen it. It was noted that the project is in full swing with the volunteer group picking up the trees on weekends from January 8 through January 29tn Growth Award Criteria Lisa gave the group copies of the 2010 Growth Award Criteria Eligible Activities so members could better understand what projects meet the program criteria. David passed around a Tree City USA 2010 spreadsheet showing cities across Montana per capita expenses and identifying which applications have been approved to date. David gave explanation of the process and the requirements and the process for approval. Lisa asked members to review the literature in their spare time, in case they want to discuss and start new projects. Forest Health Monitoring Open House The Forest Health Monitoring Open House will be February 15, 2011, at the City of Kalispell Council Chambers. The next meeting will be February 8, 2011. Council chambers have been reserved. Street Tree Commission members are asked to attend and meet and greet. David Jones will show up early to help set up the event. David explained that this workshop is educational. The group wants to start public service announcements and advertising the open house approximately two weeks in advance of the event. The group discussed all the means of publicizes the event, advertising in local newspapers and related costs, public service announcements to both the media and KPR's customer list of over 1000 people and the 50 free Stop, Look and Listen posters. Parks staff will acquire the finalized flyer/poster from DNRC with all necessary information for the PSA's and posters and forward to the Street Tree Commission members. The group agreed to send out public service announcements to media, with hopes that newspapers will run an article or offer a reduced rate ad, in addition to the standard Day Book and events notifications. Lisa will be sending the PSA to other entities that might be interested, Flathead County Extension Master Gardeners class, FVCC Montana Campus Corps, Montana Conservation Corp, and any others she knows of or has email addresses for. Additionally, staff will try to acquire information regarding times and dates of other workshops, so S.T. members can forward that information to interested parties. S.T. members decided refreshments are a nice addition to an open house. Lisa will check with Colter Coffee for coffee and will be responsible for bringing a jug of ice water. Bette will be responsible for bringing cookies. It was determined that asking people to RSVP might make the general public hesitant to commit. However the Parks Staff will ask groups such as the Master Gardener's group and Montana Conservation Corp to RSVP, just to have a basic idea of numbers from organizations. The group asked David to check with other cities and towns to see what type of numbers they have seen at their open houses. Andrea Davidson will take care of getting the Stop, Look and Listen posters made and will leave them at the Parks office so members can pick up and distribute. The group decided that posters should go up no more than two weeks before the event; however the members would like to get them earlier and have them on hand, in the vehicles, etc., for ease of distribution. Members determined which areas of the city and locations worked best for them for distribution of posters. Lisa will notify members when posters are available for picking up. Dead Tree Removals Lisa informed the group that currently parks crews are working on removals on right-of-ways in front of residential properties. She explained they wanted to work with the new boom truck in less busy locations to get a feel for the equipment before moving into a busy area. Lisa noted that the Parks crews will be beginning removal of the county complex trees on Sunday, January 23, at 7 a.m. Lisa will acquire specifics from Chad when he returns to the office and will email it to S.T. members, so they are up to speed in case anyone asks them about the project. Miscellaneous Tree Business Lisa mentioned the City of Great Falls Christmas tree recycling program and told members she would try and send them a link to the article via email. Members would like Parks Staff to get pictures of new boom truck being used and parks staff will try and get that taken care of before the next meeting. 2011 Arbor Day Grant/2010 Urban Forestry Excellence Award Lisa informed members that the Arbor Day Grant is on the Council consent agenda for January 18, 2011 at 7 pm. The group decided they would like to attend the February 7th, Council meeting to present the 2010 Urban Forestry Excellence Award plaque to council and thank them for approving the $1,000 funding from this grant, towards the purchase of the TreeWorks work order software. They will utilize the public speak forum. Bette will be spokesperson and introduce group and any and all members can take a turn speaking if they like. There was no other business and the meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.