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12-09-14 Street Tree MinutesKALISPELL STREET TREE COMMISSION MEETING HELD December 9, 2014 Present: Members: Dave Jones, Lance Isaak, Bette Albright and Larry Roberts Staff. Fred Bicha and Lisa Simmer The meeting was officially called to order at 4:02 pm by David Jones. Agenda Topics: Public Comment Approval — October minutes Tree Board Strategic Plan 2015 Arborist Breakfast Arbor Day 2015 Group Input Public Comment There was no one present or correspondence from the public. Approve Minutes There was a quorum. Members approved the November 2014 minutes unanimously. Old Business Tree Board Strategic Plan 2015: Fred distributed a committee work plan worksheet packet for use by members, when discussing what they would like their priority projects and goals to be in the upcoming year. The group held lengthy discussion and decided their top priorities for the upcoming year are as follows: • Increasing urban forest safety, by raising awareness with city leaders • Developing a urban forestry management plan • Hosting an Emerald Ash Borer workshop & bike/ped tree tour around Kalispell in the fall • Ramp up Arbor Day • Continues bi-annual "Trees To Paper To Trees " Recycling Drive • Inventorying trees planted through the ARRA • Newspaper articles The group noted they would like to continue submitting articles to the Daily Interlake, however felt that this could be addressed at the next meeting and did not need to be included on this list. Members agreed it was important to discuss the articles with Andrea present, as she was the key person writing the articles and taking care of that project. It was also decided that reviewing and updating the mission statement would happen at a future meeting, after the ordinance is reviewed and possibly passed with the proposed committee name change. Members noted they may need to meet in summer to accomplish their goals. Fred informed the group that each item would need identified goals, tasks and a lead person Fred agreed to working on the goals portion of the worksheet, to support each item identified and bring it back to the group. Arbor Day 2015: Fred provided a brief description of the MT Tree City of the Year grant award and explained that Kalispell is sharing the award with Butte and will be receiving half of the money applied for. Fred said that the majority of the awarded grant money will be used to remove and prune hazard trees at Courthouse Parks. Fred said there is still grant money earmarked for busing of students to one park, under the proposal of expanding the celebration. Fred explained there is an option, should the board choose to not use that portion of money and keep Arbor Day the same. The group discussed the pros and cons of attempting to expand Arbor Day including busing of all 3rd graders to one park and inviting green industry businesses to attend. Members noted some elementary schools might be able to walk students to the park, depending on which park is used. Bette confirmed the proposed elementary school for 2015 is Hedges. After thorough discussion, it was agreed that the group and staff would move forward with an attempt to expand the celebration and look at having all School District 95 third graders at one park location and attempt different environmental stations. Bette volunteered to make contacts with the five elementary school principals, brief them on the proposed change, gauge interest and report back to the group. New Business Arborist Breakfast: Fred informed the group that he is having a no host breakfast at Perkins, December 16, 2014, 7:00 a.m. with the topic to be discussed being trees and their value. Mise Business Group Input: Lisa passed around some pictures of the FHS Wood Art that students loaned KPR for display at the KPR Art Walk. Brock explained the new pellet making program at the high school. Brock explained he got a grant for a pelletizer and is utilizing recycled oil from Frugals and the sawdust from the woods shop to make pellets for use in pellet stoves. Brock stated they processed 1800 lbs of pellets in four days. He said currently students are working on burn tests on the pellets, testing the pellets they are making versus the Purcells, RBM's and the Ligets pellets. Brock noted they DED pellets burn really hot and create more ash. The IB business classes are working on a marketing business plan for the sale of the pellets. Brock explained that the project is a lot of work, not easy and the hopper can be difficult and scary. Brock invited members to come and see the operation. Fred informed the group that crews have started working on DED removals and have been working this past week in the 900 block of 4t' Ave East. Dave told the group that DNRC has approved and awarded the City of Kalispell a $14,000 program development grant with the majority of the funding going towards removal of DED trees. It was clarified for members that this will be contracted work with the city meeting the match with both money and in -kind removals. The group discussed both Dutch Elm disease and Emerald Ash Borer, how it spreads, how it can be prevented, and how other towns take proactive measures to save trees. The meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. Minutes approved by the Street Tree Committee January 13, 2015.