The upcoming tree giveaway event at the North fire station emerged as the centerpiece of the meeting. Board members deliberated over logistical aspects and raised concerns about potential participation challenges. Given the change in venue from previous years, the board acknowledged the necessity of reminding participants about the new location. Suggestions to enhance communication included posting signs near parks and collecting email addresses to facilitate reminders. A board member noted the challenge of participant outreach, saying, “It would have to either be text or email,” indicating the complexities involved in ensuring effective communication.

Additionally, the board confronted issues related to no-shows from previous events. There was an acknowledgment of a significant waiting list, yet many trees remained unclaimed, prompting suggestions to remove individuals from future distributions if they fail to collect their trees within a specified timeframe. This approach aims to foster more serious commitments and ensure that resources are utilized effectively. The board also humorously considered equipping staff with traffic control wands to manage the event’s drive-thru logistics, underlining the importance of smooth traffic flow during the distribution.

The importance of public engagement and effective communication strategies was a recurring theme during the meeting. The board expressed a desire for improved documentation and publicity of Tree Board events. Members discussed the potential for video and photo coverage to promote community involvement and recalled past media efforts that had successfully increased public engagement. Suggestions included coordinating with city staff for effective social media outreach to boost participation rates.

In the realm of leadership, the board conducted elections for the chair and vice chair positions as part of new business. Nominations were made and resulted in the unanimous election of Nick Kantola as chair and Marge Sagstetter as vice chair.

Tim, a staff liaison, provided updates on ongoing projects. Progress was reported following the buckthorn removal event, with activities focusing on stump grinding and restoration efforts. He also highlighted a reforestation project at Bethy Park, involving the removal of ash trees in preparation for spring planting. The sustainable approach included refurbishing walking paths using wood chips from the removed ash trees.

The board also touched upon the city’s efforts to address the ash borer situation. Tim clarified that the focus was on public land trees, with a discount program available for citizens to treat their private property trees, which would remain active until 2025. The board discussed various summer work orders that had been delayed due to frozen ground conditions, now completed.

Additionally, the board explored the intersection of urban forestry and stormwater management. A member shared insights from a recent webinar on mitigating stormwater runoff through careful tree selection, emphasizing the potential benefits of certain tree species in handling runoff due to their leaf structures and growth patterns. It was suggested that these strategies could be particularly beneficial on slopes, where rain gardens might be implemented.

The board revisited the tree track project at the Discovery Center Nature Reserve. One-third of the project was reported complete, and new maps were being prepared to enhance public engagement. The board expressed appreciation for the improvements, with one member noting, “People are very interested to learn about the trees out there,” underscoring the community’s enthusiasm for educational initiatives.