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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-01-08 Minutes, Tree BoardBozeman Tree Advisory Board Meeting Minutes Wednesday, October 1, 2008 Noon Bozeman City Otrfce Building, Madison Room BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Shelly Engler, Chairperson Mary Keck Mike Haugh CITY STAFF PRESENT: Ryon Stover, Forestry Foreman Michelle Dipzinski, Public Works Administrative Assistant GUESTS PRESENT: Laurie Rugemer, Belgrade Tree Board Chairperson Engler called the meeting to order at Noon Item # 1-Review of meeting agenda No changes requested. Item #2 -September 10, 2008 approval of meetine minutes In Item 6, Paragraph 1, last sentence -remove Cranberries. Boardmember Haugh motioned to approve the minutes with the requested change. Boardmember Keck seconded. Item #3 -Open Public Comment No public comment. ,~., Item #4 -Business: A. Update Tree Selection Guide: It was agreed the format of the current guide is good; the information just needs to be updated and accurate. Boardmember Haugh followed the tour information of the addresses on the south side of Main, S. 6th, 10th and 16th. He suggested putting pictures of the trees on the Forestry pages of the city website. It was suggested that whoever compiles the information would put all comments on a form in person-specific colors and then bring the information to the board to disseminate. Suggested changes are: • In the appropriate tree description include addresses of where the specific tree can be viewed. • Update the estimated value of the urban forest, Foreman Stover says the $22 million is questionable. • Replace the wording "Interesting and Promising" with something else. • Remove cultivars or specifically state that there are different cultivars available. • Remove Chokecherry and Crabapple for safety reasons, they will always be low and not able to see around • Consider eliminating trees that are messy. • Consider small Maples such as Tartarian and Amur, with a little pruning they are a nice shape and are commonly available. • Consider adding Princess Kay Plum. • Add more information on how to select a tree. • Add a section for appropriate trees in parks. • Not allow Birch trees, they are short living and have water issues. • Include a section on pests and diseases such as Dutch Elm and the Bark Beetle. • Remove Black Ash. • Mention common issues that need to be considered such Lindens verses the salt used in ice control during winter months. • Move Black Locust, Staghorn Sumac, Amur Corktree, Russian Olive (with disclaimer) from Boulevard to the Parks section. • Use the "Trees not suitable for Boulevards" as the Park section. • If space allows leave the Favorite Tree Myths section. • Correct the address of City Hall to 122 N. Rouse. Other issues discussed during the guide update are: • Several varieties of White ash were planted in the West Winds subdivision and the Board wanted to know how they wintered. • The trees along 27t" have been attacked by voles. Item # 5 - Meetine Schedule: November 12t" in the Gallatin Room at City Hall. INFORMATION ON BARK BEETLE: Once a tree has been attacked there is nothing that can be done, you can not spray or use injections. The tree needs to be removed, once taken down the tree needs to be buried, burned or the bark needs to be peeled off. Winter weather will kill the beetle but not the larvae, trees that have not been attacked can be sprayed in the spring before the larvae emerge. The insects attack mature trees only, not weakened or young. Areas in Montana that have been affected are Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Boulder, Great Falls, Havre, Conrad, Shelby and several prairie towns. Colorado and British Columbia have also been hit hard. Foreman Stover is meeting with the RCDs and people for the State on November 10t" to talk about what we do with the wood. There will be hundreds of people needing to get rid of infected trees, he is looking at working with one of the landfills to dispose of the wood. One option is chipping the wood, this would expose the larvae and the winter weather would kill them. There is a pheromone patch that is produced in Canada that when placed on the north side of the tree it disrupts the beetles sensory functions. The beetle will think the tree has already been attacked and will move on. This patch is not toxic or a heavy duty chemical. Foreman Stover will email the press release that went out regarding the bark beetle, he also did a radio show and talked with TV news crews. It was suggested that he contact Greg Lemon with the Sun periodical newspaper.