Meeting Minutes for May 18, 2000
Minnesota Department of Agriculture
90 West Plato Blvd., 
St. Paul, MN

Attendance:
Susan Burks - DNR Metro Forestry
Steve Cook - Cook Company
Tim Edgeton - Sherburne County
Tom Eiber - DNR Forestry
Bekky Hargrave - U of Minnesota
Rich Hauer - MN Dept of Agriculture
Katie Himanga - Heartwood Forestry
Gary Johnson - U of Minnesota
Marie Jones - U of Minnesota
Manuel Jordan - Top Notch Treecare
Jennifer Juzwik - US Dept of Agriculture FS
Janet Larson - Private Consultant
Sandy McCartney - Consulting Forester
Ken Pekarek - EPPL Coordinator
Tom Schuster - City of New Hope
Andy Sorbert - MG/TCA
Mark Stennes - Top Notch Tree Care
TK Walling - City of St Paul
Kathy Widin - Plant Health Assoc.
Mike Zins - U of Minnesota

The meeting was called to order at 9:35 A.M. by Kirk Brown

A correction on the address of the new addition to STAC’s website is

Approved by Dave DeVoto,. seconded by Mark Stennes.

Introductions:
Gary Johnson introduced Marie Jones. Marie is an undergraduate at the U of Minnesota, a senior in urban forestry. Gary nominated her for membership in MnSTAC, Mark Stennes seconded the motion, motion carried.

Tom Eiber nominated Ken Pekarek for membership in MnSTAC. Ken is a EPPL Coordinator for the GIS Application of EPIC 2000. Seconded by Rich Hauer. Motion carried.

Announcements:
Dave DeVoto pointed out that the city of Evanston Illinois is looking for an city Arborist. Dave saw the notice in the The Arbor Age magazine the May 2000 issue. Evanston is a suburb of Chicago. The magazine is free if interested.

Gary Johnson encouraged members to attend the national conference on The Ecology of Urban Soils, at the Radisson Hotel in St Paul on June 11 & 12.

Rich Hauer reminded members that attend STAC meetings at the Dept of Agriculture, to be sure to park in the spaces marked visitors or there is another lot west of the Agriculture building on Plato. There are some truck trailers stored there, and the parking is just west of them.

The Dioecious Trees Workshop in October should read October 2^nd not the 3^rd on the April 20^th Community Forestry Update.

Kirk Brown requested that we have a moment of silence for a member of STAC that suddenly passed away on May 4^th.. Father Paul Schweitz also known as " Padre of the Pines" was the land manager for St John’s Collegeville. Kirk distributed an abbreviated biography of Father Paul.

Featured Program:
Tom Eiber and Ken Pekarek gave a informative presentation on the GIS (Geographical Information System) Application of EPIC 2000. EPIC is a user-friendly GIS. Designed in collaboration with non-GIS-trained professionals to use in their day-to-day work. EPIC 2000 provides simplified point and click operation of GIS analysis and mapping functions. More information about the CD is available from the EPPL7 coordinator at (651) 296-1201 or at .There will be training session available in the fall.

Committee Reports:
Gary Johnson reported that the advocate will be mailed out soon.

Bekky Hargrave announced all lower case, is the address for the MnSTAC web site.

Publicity Awards - No Report

Scholarships - No Report

Tree Preservation - No Report

Legislative Reports - No Report

Strategic Planning - is meeting today, finishing up some loose ends, and are at a point of assigning tasks.

Forest Health - Mark Stennes met with Ken Holman and Jean Mouelle and discussed taking some money from tree preservation and moving it into forest health.

Regional Committees:
None reporting

Agency Updates:
Rich Hauer reported from the Dept of Ag., that all the Gypsy Moth Trappers were hired and all the locations will be digitized using GPS.

Kirk Brown commented on this being the 20^th anniversary of Mt St Helens. Two hundred thirty square miles of lumber blown down with the eruption.

Motion to adjourn at 11:20 Mark Stennes, seconded by Mike Zins