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Menomonie Urban Forestry Board Minutes Wednesday, August 19, 2026 @ 1:00pm – Council Chambers 1st Floor - City Hall –in Menomonie, Wisconsin Committee Members Naomi Cummings (8.0 hrs.) Keith Gilland (2.0 hrs.) Barbara Hauck (2.0 hrs.) Monika Herrmann (10.0 hrs.) Liz Usborne (Chair) (3.0 hrs.) Dave Williams (3.0 hrs.) Ryland Erdman (1.0 hrs.) Porter Swartz (2.0 hrs.) Nolan Dowd (1.0 hrs.) Others present: Megen Hines, David Schofield, and Tammy Eckert Roll Call: Chair 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: Motion to approve the Urban Forestry Board Meeting minutes from the June and July 2026, was made by Hauck and seconded by Cummings. No objections received. OLD BUSINESS: Field Trip Recap : Hines presented Field Trip Pictures of Urban Forestry staff members that were able to tour Galloway Creek, Phelan Park, and Main Street. Board members who attended discussed their observations and the progress of the Urban Forestry Board's projects in these areas. They were also able to assess the overall impact on the city's urban development. The Board was pleased to see how both the extensive indoor planning and the physical labor contribute to completing these projects and making the city beautiful. Urban Forestry Board Welcome Packet : The content for the Welcome Packet is now complete. Hines presented a demonstration of the new Packet to the board after incorporating the UFB’s feedback. Once the final document is ready, she will share it with the board via email. Hines will then forward the text to our Communications Specialist, Zaria Whitacre, who will be adding pictures and city branding. It will then be uploaded to the Urban Forestry Board page in PDF format and available on the UFB website, complete with active links and active PDFs. NEW BUSINESS: Native Plant Workshop Recap : On August 7, 2026, the Wisconsin Garden Federation and local garden clubs hosted a native plant workshop at the Dunn County Historical Society, focusing on keystone plants. The event featured presentations focused on keystone plants by staff from the Beaver Creek Reserve in Fall Creek and Habitat Plants Native Nursery in New Richmond. Additionally, Megen participated as a panelist during the question-and-answer session. The d ay concluded with attendees touring the local native plant home gardens of Megen, Liz, and one other resident. 4th ST E and Wilson Avenue Native Plant Project: During the July field trip, Urban Forestry Board members noted several areas along 4th St E that lack landscaping. Specifically, Hines highlighted a "dead zone" at the 4th St E/Wilson Avenue Lot 2 parking lot, where City Forester Kahl and his crew recently planted some legacy trees. The board then discussed various options to make this corridor greener, potentially funding a project through the board budget. Ideas included adding educational signage, a bench, or other attractive features to improve appearance, water infiltration, and ease of maintenance. Hauck suggested that coneflowers, black -eyed Susans, monarda, and salvia would be excellent choices for this site. Consequently, the board discussed proposing the addition of native plants to these areas as a 2027 Urban Forestry Board project. Current photos of the site were included in the packet for review. 2027 Forestry Budge t: Hines explains the Draft Budget with some c hanges: The draft 2027 Forestry Budget has been submitted to the City Administrator for review. Hines explains that t he proposed budget maintains the same overall funding level as last year. To better reflect anticipated stump grinding needs and other Board expenses, funds were shifted from Stump Removal to the Forestry Expenses line item. The 2027 budget process will be challenging due to limited net new construction (estimated at 0.623%), which restricts new revenue for City operations. Consequently, the Forestry Board budget remains flat, reallocating existing funds to align with expected needs. Please note that Administration will add budgeted expenses for salaries and wages at a later date. Cummings made a motion to adopt the recommended 2027 budget, which Williams seconded. The board approved the motion unanimously. Urban Forester Report: Hines fills in for Forester Kahl who is on a worksite with the cement crew at this time. A stump grinder has been rented for the month of September . There are 72 native trees arriving between September 28th and early October. Door hangers have been ordered for residents who will be receiving trees this fall . One of them is a Native tree called the Thornless Hawthorne, which will be a new type of tree that was ordered. City Council Report: The irrigation ban for has been extended to October 31, 2026 (due to persistent hot and dry weather and extreme irrigation water demand). Next Meeting: - Sept 16, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. City Council Chambers 1 st Floor – City Hall – Menomonie, Wisconsin Adjournment: Gilland made a motion to adjourn ; seconded by Cummings. Meeting adjourned. Minutes: T. Eckert