Call to Order

President Ken Simons called the meeting to order at 9:15 A.M. Those present were Board Members:

§ Kirk Brown

§ Ken Holman

§ Fletcher Johnson

§ Michael Max

§ Bob Slater

§ Kimberly Thielen-Cremers

Those absent were:

§ Jim Hermann

§ Gary Johnson

Guests present were:

§ Lara Newberger, Chairperson, MnSTAC Awards & Publicity Committee

Approval of Minutes

Member Holman moved and Thielen-Cremers seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the March 8, 2004 regular Board Meeting as submitted. Motion carried. Member F. Johnson abstained.

Agency Reports

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Member Thielen-Cremers reported that the Governor’s legislative initiative to appropriate $200,000 to fund invasive pest related staff positions in the Department had been reduced to $191,000 in the House of Representatives and failed to get funding consideration in the Senate.

Announcements

· Member Holman reported that Dave Bloniarz, Coordinator of the USFS Northeast Center for Urban & Community Forestry, had inquired about reasons why Minneapolis should be selected over Burlington, Vermont as the location for the “Stratum Project” (USFS research project on the random sampling of trees to quantify benefits). Reportedly, Member Holman’s response convinced Bloniarz to acquiesce and accept Minneapolis as the more suitable location for the project.

· Member Holman distributed multiple copies of the “spring” issue of the Advocate to Board members for distribution, at their discretion, to persons who normally do not receive the quarterly newsletter. Member Holman reported that an additional 1000 copies of this issue had been printed and the Arbor Month Partnership will include this issue of the Advocate in a special Arbor Month mailing to Minnesota Tree Cities USA and MnReleaf Grant recipients. Member Slater suggested that the special mailing should also include a copy of the MnSTAC Awards category information sheet/application form.

Old Business

Legislative Report

President Simons reported that members of the Legislative Committee had met to identify and discuss potential legislative issues for the 2005 Legislative Report. Two issues, 1) the relationship of carbon sequestration and trees and sustained funding for tree planting and 2) invasive species threats, came to the forefront. During the coming months, the Committee will focus on collecting pertinent information and data, and making personal contacts. The bill introduced by Representative Sheldon Johnson (S.F. No. 1692) did not get a House Committee hearing during the legislative session.

MnSTAC 30^th Anniversary Celebration

Member Brown reported that the Minnesota Society of Arboriculture had requested that MnSTAC and MSA coordinate their respective events (MnSTAC’s Anniversary Celebration and MSA’s Annual Meeting and Conference), and that the coordinated event be held at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum during the end of September or first part of October. Member Brown noted that the Tree Houses & Tree Places Exhibition, a MnSTAC endorsed event would be present at the Landscape Arboretum until October 10,2004.

Member F. Johnson moved and Max seconded the motion approving the coordination of MnSTAC’s Anniversary Celebration and MSA’s Annual Meeting and Conference, and co-hosting of the joint event at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum during the last week of September or first week of October with the stipulation that MSA awards should be presented during the lunch hour. Motion carried.

President Simons directed Awards Committee chairperson Newberger to inform MSA Committee chairpersons James Burks and Lisa Burban of the Board’s decision and to work closely with MSA committees assigned to planning the joint event.

Awards Committee chairperson Newberger reported on the status of Award nominations and indicated that the awards would be presented to the recipients during the April MnSTAC monthly meeting. The Committee had a poor nomination response, with no nominations in several award categories.

Member Slater suggested that the Awards Committee should review the nomination form distribution plan, and explore additional promotional options and recipient lists.

Chairperson Newberger reported that 30 MnSTAC members or persons instrumental to the formation of MnSTAC would be recognized and honored at the Anniversary Celebration, with each honoree representing one of the active years, likened to “annual rings”. The recognition ceremony will be similar, in format, to a commencement. With the approval of the location and approximate date by the Board, the Awards Committee will proceed to determine the details for the event.

Member Holman advised Chairperson Newberger that $4,500 had been budgeted for the Anniversary Celebration and that additional funds to cover related expenses would have to come from registration receipts and donations.

President Simons indicated that Chairperson Newberger should appear at the July Board meeting to provide an “event planning update”.

New Business

Annual Budget

Member Holman presented the draft of the MnDNR FFY 2004 Urban & Community Forestry Program Budget that will be submitted in May to the State Forester for approval. (Note: a copy of the proposed budget is attached and on file in the MnSTAC archive at Tree Trust office.) The proposed budget totals $260,400.00, which is received from USFS Urban and Community Forestry funds, and appropriates $44,400.00 for MnSTAC Activities Support.

Member Max moved and Brown seconded the motion to submit the proposed MnDNR FFY 2004 Urban & Community Forestry Program Budget, as presented to the Board, to the MnSTAC membership for concurrence at the April MnSTAC monthly meeting. Motion Carried.

Reactivation of Committees & Task Forces

President Simons distributed copies of the MnSTAC Strategic Plan (year 2000 revision) to Board members. The Board reviewed all task assignments designated in the Plan, and confirmed the designated assignments or reassigned by consensus selected tasks to a different committee or Board member.

President Simons will submit a comprehensive list of Committee and Task Force assignments with Chairperson assignment recommendations to the Board for approval at the May Board meeting.

Adjournment

Member Slater moved and Brown seconded the motion to adjourn at 12:00 p.m. Motion carried.

___________________________

President