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Menomonie Urban Forestry Board Minutes Wednesday January 21 – 1:00pm – Council Chambers 1st Floor - City Hall Committee Members: Naomi Cummings (1.0 hrs.) Robert Giede (Absent) Keith Gilland (3.0 hrs.) Barbara Hauck (1.0 hrs.) Monika Herrmann (1.0 hrs.) Liz Usborne (Chair) (2.0 hrs.) Dave Williams (Absent) Lee Schwebs (0.0 hrs.) Porter Swartz (1.0 hr.) Public comments: There were no public comments. Others present: Megen Hines- Environmental Program Coordinator, Derek Kahl – City Forester and Tammy Eckert The meeting was called to order by Chair Liz Usborne. A sign-up sheet was distributed, and volunteer hours were recorded. The committee reviewed the minutes from the November 19, 2025, meeting, which had been shared previously. During the discussion, the continued absence of Mr. Giede was noted. Hines indicated they will contact Mr. Giede to confirm his interest and status regarding committee attendance. Herrmann moved to approve the minutes from the November 19, 2025, meeting with the addition of a note regarding Mr. Giede's absent status. The motion was seconded by Cummings and subsequently carried. OLD BUSINESS: Urban Forestry DNR Grant Project- Hines reports that the final grant report for the project wrapped up at the end of last year is currently being finalized. She plans to share the draft at our February meeting, with the final submission due in March. She is currently compiling the data and entering it into the DNR form, we are waiting for this process to complete before we receive reimbursement. Herrmann inquires as to whether we have any plans for new grant applications for next year. Hines responds with given the budget outlook for the next few years; grants may be our strategy for future funding. 2026 Field Day for Tree Planting- Usborne provided information on planting techniques and the longevity rates of saplings. Also discussed was involving Matt Molbach, a DNR forester, and potential volunteers. Usborne suggested that active older adults might be interested in building the required 4’x4’ cages for the trees. The immediate challenge remains coordinating timing, materials, and labor upon the trees' arrival. The chainsaw class is scheduled for tomorrow and Friday, and work at the site will begin once students return on Monday. The deadline to order the saplings is early February, or until stock sells out. Hauck inquires if it is indeed Phelan Park that the trees will be planted. Usborne replies that yes and it can accommodate 300 saplings, which will be planted along the perimeter. Each sapling is currently less than a foot tall. The budget for this purchase has been approved, with tree costs estimated at less than a dollar each. Usborne made a motion to order a total of 300 saplings - 100 each of the following species: - Silver Maple, River Birch, and Highbush Cranberry the motion was supported by Gilland and Cummings. Motion passed. UW-Stout Campus Exterior Development Committee Update- Gilland states he met with Arthur Kneeland prior to the semester to begin drafting a plan aimed at establishing a healthy forestry canopy on campus. Herrmann raised a question regarding whether an inventory exists. It was suggested that an applied GIS class could potentially help complete the framework; currently, the inventory is incomplete, and there is no active plan for completion at this time. While the ground-level work is finished, ongoing monthly tasks are still to be determined. NEW BUSINESS: City Tree Designation - This initiative aims to engage the younger generation in forestry while educating the public on the historical, ecological, and aesthetic significance of our local tree canopy. UFB is considering reaching out to the school district to involve students in the selection process. One approach involves fifth-grade students researching various species—such as the historically significant White Pine of Menomonie—and advocating for their choice through research papers or science writing projects. The discussion also explores the logistics of narrowing down a species list and determining the timeline for a community-wide vote for a City Tree. Hines will be reaching out to the school district and Mr. McMahon to discuss curriculum integration. Additionally, we need to coordinate the timing for a formal announcement on or before Arbor Day, including the logistics of sourcing the selected tree from the nursery. No action at this time – UFB pauses any action on this topic until after Labor Day. Tree Planting/Tree Care Door Hanger- The door hanger for tree cutting is complete, UFB now focuses on developing a door hanger for tree planting. The goal is to create a simple flyer that staff can leave on doorknobs to provide residents with basic care instructions for newly planted trees. The flyer should be straightforward and keep the "ask" for the resident very low. The overall tone should emphasize that the resident is not obligated to do anything, but can help by watering the tree if it looks dry. The following points were also discussed for the flyer: - Tree Identification: A space for a label to specify the species (e.g., Japanese Lilac). - Care Instructions: Focus on watering (a weekly hose trickle) and watching for signs of tree shock. - Maintenance: Explicitly state "do not prune," as city staff will handle all pruning. - Protection: Information on the tree cage and what to watch for regarding protection. - Reporting: A "see something, say something" section for broken branches, snow plow damage, or vandalism. Include instructions on when to contact us if the tree "looks sad." - Resources: A QR code or link to the website for more information. Possibly include a reference to the Legacy Tree YouTube videos for the trees that were planted in the city in 2025. Arbor Day Event Planning- Some points were made to include the following in the planning. Forestry Friend Award Timeline The nomination period will run from February until the close of business on March 5th or 6th. Kahl states that he will need to have the plaque made in time for the March meeting. Hines recommends using the same online form for these nominations as in the past. Location and Speakers Finalize the location and identify speakers for the event. Please think about potential hosts, such as local businesses or schools. We can reference our existing list of previous contacts to compile a new outreach list. Thoughts for choosing Nominations Herrmann states we would need to identify potential winners and locations, keeping in mind that we have previously recognized the historical society, local businesses, elementary schools, and senior living homes. Compliance This event is a requirement for maintaining our status as both a Bird City and a Tree City. Lastly, a reminder to the board to come prepared to discuss these details at our next meeting . Parking Lot Items added: Chairman Usborne is pleased with the recent cleanup. Thank you to Megen for updating and tidying the list since our last meeting, including crossing off completed items and adding new ones. Urban Forester Report: Forester Kahl reports that city staff have completed removals in the Elmwood Addition area, with a total of 90 trees removed. Our team has now moved to North Menomonie, where approximately 150 trees remain. Regarding Butches Bay, there are still several trees to be removed. Please note that we are currently focusing only on wooded areas that do not pose a danger to the public, as the boulevard tree removals are now complete. City Council Report: City Council member Schwebs provides an update regarding several personnel and organizational changes: - 9th Ward: Sydney Brennan has resigned, and the City is advertising the vacancy to members of the public. The City Council will consider an appointment in mid -February. - Street Department: Brock Meriwether is now the Superintendent, replacing Dave Frank. - Wastewater Dept.: Paul Sterk is retiring and Jason Garcia will be taking his place. Several solid waste and recycling ordinances were passed with updates to align with state administrative code. Items for Next Meeting Agenda: February will follow the same agenda as today's meeting. However, much of the time will be focused on the details of Arbor Day planning. Next Meeting Scheduled Date: February 18, 2026 , City Council Chambers 1 st Floor – City Hall. The meeting was adjourned by Herrmann and Cummings seconded. Motion Passed. Recorded minutes brought to you by: T. Eckert