Call to Order

President Ken Simons called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Those present were Board Members:

§ Kirk Brown

§ Jim Hermann

§ Ken Holman

§ Gary Johnson

§ Michael Max

§ Bob Slater

§ Kimberly Thielen-Cremers

Those absent were:

§ Fletcher Johnson

Guests present were:

§ Geir Frisoe, Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Approval of Minutes

Member G. Johnson moved and Brown seconded the motion to approve the minutes of the February 9, 2004 regular Board Meeting as submitted. Motion carried.

Agency Reports

Minnesota Department of Agriculture

Guest Frisoe reported that MDA has been subjected to a 3% cut in Department funds in 2004.

He further reported that the Invasive Species Work Group has had three “brainstorming” meetings and has identified Emerald Ash Borer, Gypsy Moth and Soybean Rust as the invasive pests of greatest concern at the present time.

Old Business

Legislative Report

Guest Frisoe reported that the Governor has approved the initiation of forest protection legislation that would appropriate $200,000 to fund new staff positions in the Department that would be involved with the detection, monitoring and extermination of invasive pests.

Member Holman commented that the Democrat sponsored bill introduced by Representative Sheldon Johnson (S.F. No. 1692) differs from the legislation authorized by the Governor in that it would appropriate funds to the Commissioner of Agriculture for the purpose of making grants to municipalities to fund local invasive pest control programs.

President Simons stated that he will direct the MnSTAC Legislative Committee to review both legislative proposals, consult with the authors and sponsors of both bills, and promote a coordinated and comprehensive “forest protection” effort.

New Business

Board Meeting Procedures

Member Thielen-Cremers inquired about the possibility of using a “conference call” at Board meetings when a member could not be present but would be available to participate in and monitor the meeting from another location. Member Brown volunteered to investigate the requirements of conference calling and available phone facilities and report back to the Board with his findings at the April Board meeting.

Member Holman inquired about the possibility of changing the Board meeting starting time from 9:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Member Slater moved and Brown seconded the motion to change the Board meeting starting time from 9:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. Motion Carried.

MnSTAC Monthly Meeting

President Simons expressed concern about the MnSTAC monthly meeting time abutting a meeting of another group in the same conference room as evidenced by the problem of “overlapping” as experienced at the end of the February meeting. Member Thielen-Cremers will inquire about the possibility of moving the meeting starting time up to 9:00 a.m. to allow for a “time buffer” at the end of the meeting.

NUCFAC Annual Meeting (National Urban & Community Forestry Advisory Council)

President Simons reported that Lisa Burban of the USFS had inquired about the possibility of MnSTAC hosting a future annual meeting of NUCFAC, the only obligation being the organizations of an “all day” tour of the Metro Area.

Member Max moved and G. Johnson seconded the motion to authorize the President to officially inform Lisa Burban that MnSTAC would be honored to host a future NUCFAC annual meeting. Motion carried.

August Field Tour

President Simons requested the Board determine the topic and location of the annual August “field tour”.

Member G. Johnson proposed a tour of the University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources TRE Nursery on the St. Paul campus. Member Hermann moved and Slater seconded the motion to designate a tour of the U of M TRE Nursery as the program for the annual August field tour to be scheduled at 9:30 a.m. on August 19. Motion carried.

Adjournment

Member Slater moved and Hermann seconded the motion to adjourn at 11:00 a.m. Motion carried.

___________________________

President