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.