Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee

Membership Meeting Minutes

December 19, 2002, 9:30am – 11:30a.m.
MSHS Center for Northern Gardening
1755 Prior Ave., St. Paul, MN
www.mnstac.org

The meeting was called to order at 9:40 a.m. by Lorrie Stromme, President, on Thursday, December 19, 2002, at the MSHS Center for Northern Gardening in St. Paul.  [Prior to the Call to Order, people posed for a group photo.] 

Attendance:

Name
Affiliation

Chris Anderson

City of Ramsey

Bruce Bacon

City of Ramsey

Jason Bass

Strata Point, Inc.

Peggy Booth

MN DNR

Paul Buck

City of Plymouth

Lisa Burban

USDA Forest Service

James Burks                          

City of Crystal

Susan Burks

MN DNR - Forestry

Mike Carroll

MN DNR – State Forester

Jeff Cordes

City of Eden Prairie

Wayne Damerow

MN DNR - Forestry

Paul Domholt

Mpls Park & Recreation Board/Forestry

Dennis Fallon                                     

Xcel Energy

Shelby Gallagher

City of Chanhassen

Greg Groenjes

Affinity Resource Group, Inc.

Glen Hambleton

Tree Care Advisor, KEEY Program

Dave Hanson

U of MN

Rich Hauer

MN Dept of Agriculture

Jim Hermann

Mpls Park & Recreation Board/Forestry

Katie Himanga

Heartwood Forestry

Ken Holman               

MN DNR - Forestry

Fletcher Johnson

Xcel Energy

Kameron Kytonen

City of Andover

Janet Larson

Nativescapes

Tina Markeson

MN Dept of Transportation

Michael Max

EnvironMentor Systems

Sandy McCartney

Private Consultant

Janette Monear

Tree Trust

Don Mueller

MN DNR Metro Forestry

Jim Nayes

Living Sculpture Tree Care

Mike Prouty

USDA Forest Service

Gail Nozal                                           

Tree Trust

Mark Schnobrich

City of Hutchinson

Marc Shippee

City of Blaine

Ken Simons

Ramsey County

Jill Sinclair

City of Chanhassen

Barb Spears

Community Forestry Resource Center

Terri Stark

Tree Care Advisor, E-News Editor

Lorrie Stromme

Tree Care Advisor

Kim Sullivan

Tree Care Advisor

Rebekah VanWieren

Tree Trust

Kathy Widin

City of Stillwater

Rick Wriskey

City of New Brighton

Mike Zins                                

U of MN, Arboretum


Approval of Minutes. The minutes of the 11/21/02 MnSTAC membership meeting were reviewed and approved as corrected. Motion/Second/Carried: Michael Max/Mike Zins.

 

Announcements, Open Forum, Calendar Items, New Members:
After introductions all around, the following new members were welcomed:

*      Jim Nayes (Motion/Second/Carried: Janette Monear/Rich Hauer)

*      Wane Damerow (M/S/C: Peggy Booth/Paul Domholt)

*      Rebekah VanWieren (M/S/C: Gail Nozal/Katie Himanga)

*      Chris Anderson (M/S/C: Bruce Bacon/Michael Max).

 

Rebekah VanWieren showed a sample of the award statue for the MnSTAC’s new award category for Builders and Developers.  The basis for an award is a builder’s or developer’s efforts to preserve trees during development projects.

Lorrie Stromme reported that The Shade Tree Advocate newsletter would be published in early 2003.  Delays (finding a new editor, finalizing contracts, and the State strike in 2001) caused a hiatus of The Advocate. MnSTAC’s Legislative Report will also be printed and circulated in early 2003.

Paul Domholt and Jim Hermann introduced a new video recently produced by the Forestry Division of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board.  The group was treated to a viewing of the video, “You Have a New Neighbor: A Tree.”  The MPRB also made a few free copies available to MnSTAC members!

Gail Nozal reported on her recent conversation with Dennis Osment, LCMR Chair, concerning any anticipated cuts to the DNR/Tree Trust LCMR grant.  The LCMR will probably make a percentage cut from all LCMR grantees, instead of cutting individual grants for programs.

Don Mueller announced that the Minnesota Green Expo will be held on January 8 to 10, 2003, at the Minneapolis Convention Center.  The Expo is jointly sponsored by the Minnesota Nursery Landscape Association and the MN Turf & Grounds Foundation.  Registration is underway.

Agency and Committee Reports.
U of MN. Dave Hanson announced that the MPRB has produced a map and brochure for self-guided tours of the brownfield-trees project on Nicollet Island.  Dave said that results of U of MN’s planting-depth study conducted at Bailey’s Nursery during the summer of 2002 should be available in January 2003.

U.S. Forest Service. Mike Prouty gave an update from the US Forest Service.  The Forest Service spent over $1 billion in 2002 fighting forest fires in the U.S.  Mike urged MnSTAC members to write to Congress and request that fire suppression funds be reinstated.  Mike reported that Jill Mahon had been recently hired as the coordinator for the US Forest Service’s Midwest Center for Urban Forestry.  Mike offered assurances to the group that keeping track of the advancement of emerald ash borer was on the Forest Service ‘s radar.

Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture (MDA). Rich Hauer reported that MDA is doing an informal “visual survey” for emerald ash borer.  Survey reports from will be collected from communities statewide and distributed.  Mike Carroll, DNR, said that the DNR would like to help with that effort.

Report from Minnesota Society of Arboriculture (MSA).  Rich Hauer, MSA Chair, presented MSA Mug Awards to those who helped organize MSA’s Fall Workshop.  Recipients included:  Kirk Brown, Katie Himanga, James Burks, Paul Walvatne, Janet Larson, Kathy Widin, Lisa Burban, and Lorrie Stromme.  Rich also presented a Mug Award to Ken Simons, in recognition of his hard work and contributions on tree appraisal formulas and guidelines.

 

Elections Report.
Motion: Since there are only two candidates for two positions, Ken Simons moves that the non-designated members present at this meeting cast a confirming vote for Fletcher Johnson and Michael Max to serve as members of the MnSTAC Board of Directors for the 2003 and 2004 two-year term of office.  Second: Dennis Fallon. Motion Carried.

Motion/Second: Ken Simons moves that since there is only one candidate for MnSTAC Vice President the MnSTAC members present at this meeting cast a voice voice for Michael Max to serve as Vice President for the 2003 one-year term of office.  Second: Bruce Bacon.  Motion Carried.

Motion: Ken Simons moved that by this motion and putting their hands together, MnSTAC members express their gratitude and appreciation to retiring Board member, Kirk Brown, for his years of commitment to MnSTAC as a dedicated member of the Board of Directors.  Second: Mike Zins. Motion Carried to great, well-deserved applause for Kirk.

MnSTAC’s Communication Policy.  Michael Max circulated copies of the proposed Communication Policy for MnSTAC.  This policy was generated in response to requests, past and anticipated, for members’ contact information and for MnSTAC’s communication lists.  The general policy:  “Use of MnSTAC’s communications lists shall balance respect of constituent privacy with distributing information in support of its mission (“To advance Minnesota’s commitment to the health, care, and future of all community forests”) in a timely manner.  [The full text of the Communication Policy appears at the end of the Minutes.]

Feature Presentation.  The State of Urban Forestry in Minnesota: A Year-End Summary.  Presenter: Mike Carroll, State Forester, MN DNR. .
Mike Carroll did not sugarcoat his message to MnSTAC members: “This is not just a bad situation; it is as bad as it’s ever been,” referring to the looming budget crisis.  A $2.5 million shortfall in the federal pass-through program (because the money was diverted for fire suppression) and a $5.3 billion state budget shortfall present new challenges across the board for government agencies.  For example, 22 to 42% of DNR’s forestry budget is subject to cuts.

As for urban forestry, over 60 new legislators need to hear our messages about the importance of green space, trees as infrastructure, and quality-of-life issues.  Advocacy and coordinated efforts at the agency level is needed.  Mike encouraged us to inform legislators on key committees about urban forestry issues and needs.  A constituent-initiated, grassroots effort would certainly get legislators’ attention on this issue. A big unknown is the budget’s impact on grant funds. Rather than seeking grants for tree planting, our grants’ focus should be for forest health management and preventing problems (EAB, GM, ALB, etc.).

Mike also indicated that Governor-elect Pawlenty and his transition team are having a tough time selecting a new DNR Commissioner.  Steve Morris will serve as the interim Commissioner.  We should contact the transition team (Charlie Weaver) with names and suggestions. 

 

Adjournment.  The meeting was adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

 


Minnesota Shade Tree Advisory Committee’s
 Communication Policy

I. General Policy

Use of MnSTAC’s communication lists shall balance respect of constituent privacy with distributing information in support of its mission “To advance Minnesota’s commitment to the health, care and future of all community forests” in a timely manner.

II. e-Newsletter

MnSTAC shall publish an electronic newsletter on a monthly basis to keep its constituents apprised of breaking information, publications, conferences, web sites, etc. relevant to the diverse needs of the group.  Persons with information to share are encouraged to submit it to the e-newsletter editor.

III. Special Communications

1. From time to time special communications may be necessary for time critical MnSTAC business.

2. One-time licenses may be granted to MnSTAC designated agencies and non-profits for communications germane to its mission and consistent with this policy.  Requests shall be considered by the President or his/her designee.

3. Special communications shall not be used for commercial purposes.

IV. Privacy

All electronic communications shall use blind copies to ensure the privacy of the recipients.

V. GLOSSARY

1. "Communication lists" include all forms of communication – mail, fax, pager, and e-mail.

2. “Constituent” means MnSTAC members and other interested parties.

3. "Time critical MnSTAC business " includes communications such as requests for legislative contact, etc.

4. "Designated Agencies" are consistent with Article IV Section 3 of MnSTAC’s constitution.

5. "Non-profits" include MnSTAC members employed by not for profit organizations.