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.