Meeting Minutes for January 20, 2000; Minnesota State Horticultural Society

Chad Behrendt - University of Minnesota
Kirk Brown - Tree Trust
Paul Buck - Plymouth
James Burks - City of Crystal & Robbinsdale
Susan Burks - DNR Metro Forestry
Steve Cook - Cook Company Inc
Jo Colleran - City of Apple Valley
Jeff Cordes - City of Eden Prairie
Scott Gilbertson - Davey Tree Expert Co
Tony Gliot - Davey Tree Expert Co
Jeff Hahn - University of Minnesota
Jim Hermann - City of Mpls Parks & Rec
Ken Holman - DNR Metro Forestry
Bekky Hargrave - University of Minnesota
Rich Hauer - MN Dept of Agriculture
Katie Himanga - Heartwood Forestry
Ben Johnson - Rainbow Tree Care
Gary Johnson - University of Minnesota
Jenny Juzwik - USDA Forest Service
Steve Kunde - Kunde Co
Anne LaPlante - Private
Chris Larson - Davey Tree
Janet Larson - Private Consultant
Brian Loeffelholz - DNR Metro Forestry/ U of M Student
Michael Max - EnvironMentor Systems
Jean Mouelle - DNR Metro Forestry
Don Mueller - DNR Metro Forestry
Dwight Robinson - MN Dept of Agriculture
Tommy Schibilla - City of Coon Rapids
Mark Schnobrich - City of Hutchinson
Tom Schuster - City of New Hope
Marc Shippee - City of Blaine
Glen Shirley - City of Bloomington
Ken Simons - Ramsey County Parks & Rec
Jill Sinclair - City of Chanhassen
Andy Sobert - Hennepin County
Bob Slater - Dept of Transportation
Gail Steinman - Tree Trust
Mark Stennes - Top Notch Tree Care
Dave Sundmark - City of St Paul
Kathy Widin - Plant Health Associates Inc
Rick Wriskey - City of New Brighton & Mounds View
Mike Zins - U of MN Arboretum

Welcome
Glen Shirley introduced Terri Goodfellow-Heyer the director of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society. She welcomed the members of the Minnesota Shade Committee to the Horticulture Society and gave a brief overview of the calendar of classes and events.

Introduction of Visitors:
Glen also introduced Dr. Francis Pfleger, Department Head Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Pfleger gave a update on the endowed chair in the Dept of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota, in honor of David French. He asked help from MNStac in providing potential contacts interested in donating to endowment. They need $2 million dollars to continue the work Dr. French had started. This would allow for the U of M to hire a scientist to focus research on disease that continue to plague our urban forests. If anyone has a key person or contact for donating to this campaign, they may contact Sue Shepard with the Development Office College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Science at the University of Minnesota. 612-624-3625. Donations could be in the form of a memorial. Questions should be directed to Sue Shepard.

Mike Max moved that STAC send a letter to the legislature to recognize Dr. David W French for the endowed chair in Urban Tree Health, seconded by Mark Stennes.

Tony Gliot and Scott Gilbertson were introduced and recommended for membership to Stac, motioned carried by Tom Schuster and seconded by Rich Hauer.

James Burks was also recommended for membership, he is a city forester for the cities of Crystal and Robbinsdale motion by Susan Burks, (his wife) seconded by Ken Holman.

Ken Holman introduced Brian Loeffelholz who is already a member of STAC, and is doing his internship with the DNR Metro Forestry. Brian expects to graduate from the U of Minnesota College of Natural Resources, double majoring in Urban Forestry and Forest Resource Mgmt. He plans to pursue a Masters Degree in Urban Forestry in the fall.

Announcements & Calendar Items:
The minutes from December did not go out with the January mailings, Kirk Brown will provide for the February mailing. them to Peggy Gabriel to be sent out with the January meeting minutes.

Don Mueller distributed the Urban & Community Forestry Update and highlighted a few events and opportunities.

Jean Mouelle encouraged everyone to take a book that he had overseen the development of, titled, "Conserving Wooded Areas in Developing Communities: Best Management Practices for Minnesota". He also has a brochure describing a series of open forums titled "Creative Development Through Communication". Four different forum sites are available throughout the state in February and March.

Insect and Disease Highlights in 1999
Jeff Hahn & Chad Behrendt from the Minnesota Extension Service, each gave a slide presentation of the insects and diseases, that, they received the most calls on in 1999. A question and answer session followed each presentation.

Committee Reports:
Constitution/Elections - Ken Simon motioned that the non designated members present at this meeting cast a confirming unanimous vote for Janet Larson and Mark Stennes to serve as members of the MnSTAC Board of Directors for the two year term of office 2000-2001, seconded by Jeff Cordes. All in favor, motion carried.

Ken Simon made a motion, that the MnSTAC members cast a unanimous verbal ballot electing Kirk Brown to serve as Vice President for the year 2000 term. Seconded by Mike Max, all in favor, motion carried.

Education & Research - No report

Legislative Report - The legislative report can be found as an insert in the winter issue of the Shade Tree Advocate.

Forest Health- Meeting today. Working on advertising for Oak Wilt.

Arbor Month - Calendar in production, Star Tribune working on the spot for Arbor Month.

MnSTAC Awards - There will be a special mailing on the banquet, applications forms are available for nominating a person, project, partnership, community and several other categories from Tree Trust 6300 Walker St St Louis Park, MN 55416, 612-920-9326. The deadline for the entries is Feb 25,2000. Gail Steinman is also available at gails@treetrust.com

Outreach - In need of a chairperson, see Glen Shirley if interested.

Scholarship - No report

Tree Emergency - No report

Planning Committee - Dave DeVoto, chair, no report. There was not a meeting in December. The committee has been meeting right after our regular monthly meetings.

South East STAC - More details to come about an awards luncheon in Spring.

Budget for STAC - Kirk Brown is meeting with the DNR on a budget update. He will be mailing a budget status to each committee chair with a letter requesting how their committee plans to spend their allocated funds by mid June.

Agency Updates:
Ken Holman announced that the MNReLeaf grant program still had money available for Forest Inventory. The deadline for ReLeaf Inventory project applications has been extended until February 29^th. To receive an application packet call Peggy Gabriel at DNR Metro Forestry, at 651-772-2925, or visit the web ReLeaf web page: www@.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/releaf.html

MDA - Rich Hauer reported that the MDA would be adopting the protocols recently developed by the Forest Service for sampling and processing oak wilt samples. The MDA has now dedicated a laboratory space for disease testing and the facility will probably be open for business in April. Dwight Robinson noted that while gypsy moth numbers had greatly declined in the southeast, they had gone considerably higher in northern Minnesota Arrowhead region and along the North Shore. This pattern has not been seen before. Trap plans for this year are now being developed. He also reported that another Asian long-horned beetle had been detected by an alert nursery owner just before the Christmas holiday this time in bamboo used for furniture and staking. MDA is pursuing identification and implications. The bamboo shipment was destroyed on site by burning.

DOT - No report

U of Minnesota - No report

Task Force - No report

Field Reports:
Katie Himanga reported that the city of Austin MN planted the first tree of the millennium. T he maple tree was planted on January 1^st at 12:01 am in a park southeast of the Hormel plant just yards from where the first can of Spam was packed. The tree was set in place with straw so to prevent the soil ball fro freezing.

Jim Hermann from the city of Minneapolis put out a report on Urban Trees and a video on storm damage to trees. As stated in the report $100,000.was saved on wood chip disposal, and $12,000 of revenue was generated from the utilization of logs from damaged trees.

Kathy Widin reported that Oak Park Heights passed a tree protection ordinance last March and Stillwater will have 3 more meetings before deciding to pass their ordinance.

Motion to adjourn at 11:45 by Mike Zins seconded by Mike Max.

Meeting adjourned

Minutes submitted by Peggy Gabriel, DNR Metro Forestry, 651-772-7925. E-mail: