Call to Order. President Lorrie Stromme, wielding a buckthorn gavel, on June 20, 2002, at De La Salle High School, in Minneapolis, on Nicollet Island called the meeting to order at 9:34 a.m.. 

Approval of Minutes. The Minutes of the 5/16/2002 Membership Meeting were reviewed. Sandy McCartney pointed out that his name should not have been included in the list of collaborators on the Kelley Farm certification project. Motion/Second: Mark Schnobrich/Michael Max. Approved as corrected.

New Members
Motion/Second: Gary R. Johnson/Glen Shirley, to welcome the following attendees as new MnSTAC members: Jeremy Barrick, U of MN student; Chad Giblin, U of MN TRE Nursery and Tree Care Advisor; Glen Hambleton, Tree Care Advisor; Nicole Henry, Master Gardener; Lou Ann Keleher, Tree Care Advisor; Rita Nystrom, Tree Care Advisor extraordinaire; Judy 
Richardson, Nicollet Island resident; Terri Stark, Tree Care Advisor. Motion Carried.

Announcements: 
Lorrie Stromme distributed a list of MnSTAC meeting locations and speakers for 2002. There is not a regular MnSTAC meeting in August. However, there is a learning opportunity on August 20, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at Blackhawk Park in Eagan. Cindy Ash, Val Cervenka, and Gregg Hove will lead a walking tour of the park and identify trees, insect pests, tree diseases, and abiotic problems. It’s free. Anyone interested in attending should RSVP to Lorrie. 

Lorrie reported that there was a feature article about tree care in the June 6, 2002, edition of the Home & Garden Section of the Star Tribune. In response to the article, the U of MN’s urban forestry website had 1,200 hits in one day. 

Kirk Brown reported the good news that Tree Trust’s ReLeaf proposal for LCMR funding will have a hearing on June 27th at 11:30 a.m. Jenny Juzwik’s oak wilt management proposal will have a hearing on the same date at 10:30 a.m. 

Don Mueller distributed the Urban & Community Forestry Update, which lists upcoming U&CF conferences, grant opportunities, recent publications, and pertinent websites. Don Mueller and Terri Stark are working on an electronic version of the Update or “E-News.” The first electronic newsletter will probably be distributed in early August. 

Mark Stennes reminded folks that the Green Expo (sponsored jointly by the MNLA and the Minnesota Turf & Grounds Foundation) will take place January 7 to 9, 2003, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Mark gave a few details about speakers and topics. 

Dave DeVoto reported that about 214 red pines will be harvested in Linwood Township (as a result of a construction project). 

Agency/Field Reports:
Minnesota Department of Transportation. Tina Klein, MnDOT, reported that MnDOT’s Plant Matrix is on the web in pdf format at http://plantselector.dot.state.mn.us. The Matrix is also available on CD-ROM. The Matrix includes sections on allergens, control of invasives, etc. 

Minnesota Department of Agriculture. Rich Hauer, MDA, reported that gypsy moth quarantine in SW Minneapolis has been lifted. It is now permissible for residents to remove brush and wood from their properties in that area of Minneapolis. MDA is continuing to monitor GM traps. 

University of Minnesota. Gary R. Johnson reported that the University of Minnesota has initiated another planting depth study (planting depth in pots). The study is from June 3, 2002, through October, 2002. Windspeed and leaning data will be tracked weekly. Gary also reported that the publication “Planting Trees & Shrubs for Long-term Health” is finally available. This publication is the product of a tech transfer grant from the U.S. Forest Service. I 

Committee Reports: 
The Awards Committee is having its second annual photo contest. The theme is "Trees Along Your Journey," or interesting trees one sees along highways, back roads, etc.

The Legislative Committee issued its first of six STAC Facts fact sheets in late April. The first one was on the MN ReLeaf funding. It was distributed to legislators and to communities throughout Minnesota. Sue Burks and Mike Albers (DNR) have prepared the second fact sheet (gypsy moth and forest tent caterpillar, comparing exotic and native insect pests) for summer distribution.

Dave DeVoto shared the sad news that he is retiring as Chair of MnSTAC’s Planning Committee. Anyone interested in being Dave’s successor as Chair, please contact Dave.

Annual Report 
Michael Max distributed copies of MnSTAC’s Annual Report to the Membership. The report lists the community forestry-related accomplishments of the participating state agencies, MnSTAC Committees, and members. 

Feature Presentation: "Brownfield Trees: How Are They Doing After Two Years? A Report on Species Performance." Speakers: Gary R. Johnson, U of MN, and Kirk Brown, Tree Trust.. 

Kirk Brown gave the background of the Nicollet Island planting project. It was a UNITREE grant project involving Tree Trust, the U of MN, De La Salle High School, Nicollet Island residents, Xcel Energy, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, and Foster Wheeler Twin Cities, Inc. The intent of the project was to enhance the parks within the Nicollet Island community, to reduce soil erosion and surface water runoff in the Mississippi River watershed, and to provide U of MN students with a research site for studying brownfield trees. Kirk also reported the challenges of the planting project, including rock-hard soil, high pH (7.9 to 8.6) and stem-girdling roots on the nursery-stock trees. 

Gary distributed a list of the trees planted on the site, identifying them as good, in-between, and poor performers. Gary and his research assistants have monitored the trees since the Fall of 2000. They charted caliper increase, stem condition, mortality rate, canopy condition, and twig-growth rate. Black Ash was a very strong performer. Gary offered to take those interested in seeing the trees on a walking tour. 

Adjournment. Motion/Second: Kirk Brown/Rich Hauer. Approved. The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 a.m. Gary Johnson led a walking tour of the brownfield trees that were planted in September 2000 on Nicollet Island.

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