Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee

Membership Meeting Minutes

February 20, 2003, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Carl W. Kroening Interpretive Center
North Mississippi Regional Park

4900 Mississippi Court, Minneapolis, MN

Call to Order: President Lorrie Stromme called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. on January 16, 2003, at the MSHS Center for Northern Gardening in Falcon Heights, MN.

Name	Affiliation
Bruce Bacon	City of Ramsey
Paul Buck	City of Plymouth
Bob Condon	Tree Care Advisor
Glen Hambleton	Tree Care Advisor, KEEY Program
Rich Hauer	MN Dept of Agriculture
Jim Hermann	Mpls Park & Recreation Board, Forestry
Ken Holman	MN Dept of Natural Resources, Forestry
Janet Larson	Nativescapes
Michael Max	EnvironMentors
Janette Monear	Tree Trust
Don Mueller	MN Dept of Natural Resources, Forestry
Mark Schnobrich	City of Hutchinson
Glen Shirley	City of Bloomington
Marlys Shirley	Retired
Ralph Sievert	Mpls Park & Recreation Board, Forestry
Mark Stennes	Top NotchTree Care
Lorrie Stromme	Tree Care Advisor

Approval of Minutes: The Minutes of the 1/1/2003 Membership Meeting were reviewed. Motion/Second: Michael Max/Janette Monear. Approved as corrected.

Announcements, Committee Report, and Agency Reports:
Lorrie Stromme reminded everyone that the deadline for MnSTAC awards nominations and Builder’s Award nominations is February 21, 2003.

Rich Hauer announced that he had taken a new job as an urban forestry assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. He starts his new job in August. We agreed that we should advocate that the MN Dept of Agriculture fill his position, which involves providing training and certification for Certified Tree Inspectors in many Minnesota communities.

Rich also announced that the Minnesota Society of Arboriculture (MSA) would hold its annual fall conference in September 12, 2003, at the Hennepin Technical College in Eden Prairie. The Tree Climbing Championship (TCC) will be held the following day.

Paul Buck said that the City of Plymouth is sponsoring a Yard & Garden Expo on April 26, 2003, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Plymouth Creek Center & Dome. The Minnesota Native Plant Society will provide information about landscaping with native shrubs (after buckthorn has been removed from a landscape).

Ken Holman said that he is looking for distribution ideas for DNR’s publication, “Minnesota Invasive Non-native Terrestrial Plants.” Ken reported on the annual NE Minnesota Urban Forestry Workshop on February 20, 2003, in Cloquet. Ken reported that speakers were good and the audience was enthusiastic.

Janette Monear announced that the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and Tree Trust are presenting community workshops about tree care in various locations in Minneapolis. The workshops are free and open to the general public. Janette also announced that she had been invited to speak at the Great Lakes Forestry Conference in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, on June 10^th.

Jim Hermann said that Minneapolis’ Annual Arbor Day celebration would be held on May 17, 2003, at the historic Pioneer Cemetery in Minneapolis. Ralph Sievert described the 2002 Minneapolis Arbor Day event at the Carl Kroening Interpretive Center, where 650 volunteers (including 200 high school students) helped plant trees. It was the best-attended Arbor Day event to date. Entertainment included bucket truck rides, the police band, and a display of forestry equipment.

Glen Hambleton (KEEY: Kids, Environment, Education, and You program) described his upcoming tree-seedling giveaway program. On Friday, April 25^th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., over 172 McDonald’s restaurants will each provide Norway Pine seedlings to its customers. Glen is seeking help to inform the seedling recipients about how to plant and care for the young trees.

Janet Larson asked Glen Shirley if his position would be filled after his retirement (on 2/21/03). Glen said that it’s unclear, in light of the legislature’s proposed cuts to Local Government Aid (LGA). The group agreed that MnSTAC should encourage communities to send letters of to local elected officials and city administrators and enlist the aid of Tree City USA communities, churches, and the League of Cities, advocating the importance of retaining urban forestry programs and stressing the long-term benefits of urban trees.

Bruce Bacon announced the City of Ramsey’s Arbor Day events on May 3, 2003, including a Green Business Expo and an Environmental Education Fair.

Feature Presentation: Retirement Celebration for Glen Shirley. The group took turns sharing funny and poignant stories to honor Glen Shirley on the eve of his retirement as Bloomington city forester. Glen is one of MnSTAC’s past founder and past presidents. Then, we feasted on a great potluck, the highlight of which was Paul Buck’s amazing home-baked bean casserole.

Adjournment: M/S: Mark Stennes/Glen Shirley. Approved. Adjourned at 8:20 p.m.