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Menomonie Urban Forestry Board Minutes Wednesday, April 15, 2026 @ 1:00pm – Council Chambers 1st Floor - City Hall –in Menomonie, Wisconsin Committee Members Naomi Cummings (1.0 hrs.) Keith Gilland (2.0 hrs.) Barbara Hauck (1.0 hrs.) Monika Herrmann (3.0 hrs.) Liz Usborne (Chair) (3.0 hrs.) Dave Williams (Absent) Lee Schwebs (1.0 hrs.) Porter Swartz (1.0 hrs.) Nolan Dowd (Absent) Others present: Judy Zimmerman (Guest), Megen Hines, Derek Kahl, and Tammy Eckert Roll Call: Chair Liz Usborne called the meeting to order. Roll call was taken, and volunteer hour logs were distributed to all attending board members for completion. Public comments: None Approval of Minutes: Board minutes from the previous meeting, which were shared with the committee in advance, were reviewed. A motion was made by Cummings and seconded by Herrmann to approve the corrections to the March 18, 2026, Urban Forestry Board meeting minutes as discussed during today's session. The corrected minutes will be available for review on the city website. OLD BUSINESS: Arbor Day Event Planning: The committee has selected the City of Menomonie Public Library as the winner of the Forestry Friends Award. Hines received library staff approval to serve as the location for the 2026 Arbor Day event. The committee finalized plans today that included the approved location, order of events, speakers, program content, and flyer details. The event will take place on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. on the library's southeast lawn, located at the top of the lake bank. Flyers will be distributed to the committee and attendees at the start of the program. 2026 Field Day for Tree Planting: The Menomonie Fire Department has completed a controlled burn at Phelan Park to prepare the area for the planting of 300 tree seedlings. The seedlings are scheduled to arrive tomorrow, April 16. Gilland is providing temporary storage for the trees while the Board and volunteers gather necessary supplies, including chicken wire, stakes, and flags. Additionally, Nicole Hays from UW-Stout has confirmed that students are available to assist with the project. While the trees can be stored for up to a month, if necessary, the current planting schedule is as follows: - Tuesday, April 21: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM - Friday, April 24: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM - Sunday, April 26: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM If the public plan to attend, please bring gloves and a spade shovel or your preferred digging tool. Board representatives will also be seeking additional volunteers during the Arbor Day speech hoping to ensure all trees are properly planted and caged. The Board intends to map the planting locations and the species later this fall. UW-Stout Campus Exterior Development Committee: No update as of today’s meeting. NEW BUSINESS: Creation of Urban Forestry Board Welcome Packet: Hines distributed Arbor Day Foundation packets specifically designed for Urban Forestry Board members. The Committee expressed its appreciation for them to Hines. Subsequent discussion focused on customizing the UFB welcome packets for this Board by incorporating information from the Arbor Day Foundation resources. Memorial Tree Program Donation Procedure: The Board recently received a donation through an outdated form, possibly sourced from a local funeral home. To ensure consistency, the board discussed finalizing an updated flyer and form for memorial benches and trees. Suggestions for a clear process for these donations using a standardized format to be used by the public moving forward. This item will be tabled for discussion at the next meeting. Parking Lot Items added: Parking lot items to be updated. Memorial Tree and Field Day marked as complete. Urban Forester Report: City Forester, Derek Kahl reports that tree removals for the year have concluded, with a total of 246 removals completed this winter. All ash trees on the boulevards have been addressed, with the exception of three that are currently inaccessible due to obstructions. Regarding upcoming plantings, the first shipment of 74 trees is scheduled for late May and will include Maples, Hackberries, Lilacs, Honey Locusts, and Elms. A second shipment of 74 trees is planned for the fall. Kahl says he is waiting to finalize the fall order to determine specific placement needs. The city has received 18 responses to door flyers and additional requests via door hangers. These requests will be fulfilled during the fall planting round. City Council Report: Schwebs reports that a new mower has been purchased by the Community Services Department. Council discussed a recent round of Bids and different infrastructure work around the city. Regarding Development and Zoning - University of Wisconsin -Stout will be expanding their recreation building. A public meeting regarding I -4 zoning for data centers was recently held; the session was well -attended and successful. Council is currently reviewing 25 points for the creation of a related ordinance. There will be a City C ouncil Transition on Monday , April 20th, it marks the final session with the current Council. The organizational meeting will take place Tuesday, April 21st, at which time Mayor Crowe will officially assume office. Items for Next Meeting Agenda: • Arbor Day Debriefing • Tree Planting Debriefing • Memorial Tree Program Donation Procedure discussion • UW Stout Campus Exterior Development Committee status Next Meeting : - May 20, 2026 - City Council Chambers 1 st Floor – City Hall. Adjournment: Herrmann made a motion to adjourn ; seconded by Hauck. Minutes taken and submitted by Tammy Eckert.