HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-18-15 Parks Packet CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
PARKS COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA
Monday, May 18, 2015 at City Hall
6:00 p.m. Worksession
7:00 p.m. Regular Meeting
L Call to Order
IL Approval of Agenda
111. Approve Parks Commission Minutes—March 16, 2015 (1)
IV. Department/ Commission Liaison Reports
A. Arborist(2)
B. Public Works Director
C. Other/ Commission Liaison Report
V. Visitors/Public Comment
This is an opportunity for the public to address the Commission with questions or concerns not on the agenda. Please limit comments
to three minutes.
VI. Public Hearings: None
VII. New Business
A. Schedule Parks Commission Vacancy Interviews
VIII. Old Business
A. Park Shelter Rental Discussion
B. Oak Park Crossing Park Plan
IX. Informational
A. Next Meeting: Monday, June 15, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall
B. Council Representative: Tuesday,May 26— Commissioner Weyer
X. Adjourn
Page 1 of 14
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Page 2 of 14
CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
PARKS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
Monday,April 20,2015 at City Hall
I. Call to Order: Chair Eder called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Present: Vice Chair Bye,
Commissioners Johnson and Weyer, City Administrator Johnson, Public Works Director
Kegley, Arborist Widin,Arborist-in-Training Lisa Danielson, Summer Park Program
Coordinator Zeuli, and Commission Liaison McComber. Absent: None.
Il. Approval of Agenda: Vice Chair Bye, seconded by Commissioner Weyer, moved to approve
the Agenda. Carried 4-0.
111. _Approve Parks Commission Minutes—March 16, 2015: Vice Chair Bye, seconded by
Commissioner Weyer, moved to approve the Minutes. Carried 4-0.
IV. D artment/Commission Liaison Reports:
A. Arborist: Arborist Widin reported that the high risk period of insect transmission of
the oak wilt fungus to fresh wounds on healthy trees goes from April 1 to July 1,but
she thought it was important not to prune or wound oak trees until at least mid-
September until the weather starts to get cold. She stated that if oak trees were
wounded or pruned during the risk period, the wound should be painted with latex
paint to protect it.
Arborist-in-Training Danielson reported that winter boulevard tree pruning was
completed by St. Croix SavATree on April 9. She also reported that the Linear Park
planting project was awarded to Instant Green Tree Planting, and adjacent property
owners to that park received a letter regarding that project with a map of the planting
plan. Danielson reported that Sentence-to-Serve crews completed work in that area
to prepare for the planting, and the project was expected to be completed by the end
of May.
Danielson also reported that she and Arborist Widin were working on completing a
risk tree survey of the boulevard trees. She stated most of the trees observed so far
were ash with hanging or broken branches. She said that once the list was
completed, they would send it out for quotes. Danielson reported that they were in
the process of having the stumps ground out from the tree removal last fall, and those
sites would be restored.
B. Public Works Director: Public Works Director Kegley reported that he had received
two applications for the summer park attendant positions, and they were still
accepting applications. He stated that the City Council approved renewal of the
Green Touch Lawn Care contract.
Kegley also reported that strong winds tipped the Valley View Park sign over so it
had to be removed,but the sign posted off of Osgood Avenue was still there. He
stated that Linner Electric was repairing some lights at Valley View Park parking lot.
Page 3 of 14
Parks Commission Minutes
April 20, 2015
Page 2 of 3
C. Other/Commission Liaison Reports: Commission Liaison McComber reported that
Spring Clean-up was set for Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 a.m. at Andersen parking lot.
She also provided the Parks Commissioner with a copy of a letter from a student at
Oak Park Elementary suggesting that the community organize a community group to
clean up trash around trails.
Summer Park Program Coordinator Zeuli provided the Parks Commission with a
plan for a Power Up for Kids event on May 13 at the Public Works Garage at 4:00
p.m. The Parks Commission thought it was a great idea.
Commissioner Weyer, seconded by Vice Chair Bye, moved to accept the Department 1
Commission Liaison Reports. Carried 4-0.
V. Visitors/Public Comment: None
V1. Public Hearings: None
VII. New Business:
A. Park Shelter Rental: Vice Chair Bye reported that park shelter rental was increasing.._
in popularity, which was great, but that was making it difficult for City residents to --- -
rent the shelters because there was no fee being charged to non-residents. Vice Chair
Bye had provided a study of fees charged by other communities in the area to non-
residents. The Parks Commission discussed the idea. City Administrator Johnson
suggested staff look at some of the policies that would be behind charging a fee and
come back to council. Commissioner Johnson questioned the policy on the first day
reservations were allowed. City Administrator Johnson reported that the current
policy was that rentals could be taken beginning on the first day of the year for any
reservation during that year, but that could be changed if needed. Chair Eder
suggested tabling the item to allow staff to obtain some input.
Chair Eder, seconded by Vice Chair Bye,moved to table the park shelter rental
discussion to the May meeting. Carried 4-0.
VIII. Old Business:
A. Park Walkthrough Discussion: Chair Eder reported that the Parks Commission held
their park walkthrough on April 11. Public Works Director Kegley had included
notes in the meeting packet from that walkthrough.
B. Oak Park Crossing Park ark Sign Placement: Public Works Director Kegley reported that
the location the Parks Commission selected for the sign was owned by Xcel Energy.
He stated the City would have to make a request to Xcel Energy to have that sign
Page 4 of 14
Parks Commission Minutes
April 20, 2015
Page 3 of 3
placed on that land.
Chair Eder, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, moved to direct staff to make a
formal request to Xcel Energy to place the Oak Park Crossing Park sign on the east
side of the entrance to the parking lot per the walkthrough notes. Carried 4-0.
C. Park Vending: Chair Eder, seconded by Commissioner Johnson, moved to continue
with the current agreement for the coming year and direct staff to draft a revised
agreement. Carried 4-0.
D. Oak Park Crossing Park Plan: Chair Eder reported that the Parks Commission held a
couple of public open houses and received feedback from residents. Chair Eder
suggested the Parks Commission have a worksession to prioritize and list out
common comments mentioned by residents in the survey.
Chair Eder, seconded by Vice Chair Bye, moved to hold a worksession one hour
prior to the May meeting to review feedback and options for Oak Park Crossing Park
improvements. Carried 4-0.
IX: Informational:
A. Next Meeting: Monday, May 18, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall
B. Council Representative: Tuesday,April 28—Commissioner Johnson
X. Adjournment:
Vice Chair Bye, seconded by Commissioner Weyer, moved to adjourn the meeting. Carried
4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Pinski
Deputy Clerk
Page 5 of 14
THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
Page 6 of 14
Arborist's Re ort September-Decernber 2014
To: Eric Johnson, City Administrator
Andy Kegley, Pub. Works Dir.
City Council,Parks Commission
City of Oak Park Heights
From: Katharine D. Widin,Ph.D. 4/23115
Municipal Arborist
All four months I attended staff meetings and discussed various tree and natural resource
issues with city staff.
I checked boulevard and park tree issues each month. The late summer tree removal
work, including some pruning and stump grinding,was completed by S&S Tree and Landscape
Specialists. One of the removals was an ash which had partially died and I coordinated
inspection of the upper canopy pieces of the tree with the S&S crew who were taking it down. I
also coordinated EAB inspection of several dying ash being removed behind the Pine Grove
Gardens townhomes with St. Croix SavATree. All trees were negative for emerald ash borer.
The planting of new boulevard and park trees,which was awarded to Abrahamson Nurseries,
took place the second week of September. I did final marking of planting sites in September and
also checked on trees after planting to verify species and location. In November I prepared lists
of trees to be removed and prepared tree work quotes for the City Council. St. Croix SavATree
did the final tree work for 2014. I also prepared a list for winter pruning of boulevard trees.
I attended the Parks Comm.meetings all four months. I presented a report regarding
forestry and natural resource consulting in Oak Park Heights each month and participated, as
needed, in the business of each meeting.
I attended the Party in the Park celebration on Sept. 7`t'and answered questions about
plant problems for residents.
In September I received a complaint from a neighbor regarding several dead Scots pine
on the property of St. Croix Villas. I inspected the site and agreed that the trees were a risk to
both properties. I sent a letter to St. Croix Villas regarding the potential risk and recommended
removal of these trees.
In September I inspected several different sites for diseased elms (Dutch elm disease) and
diseased oaks(oak wilt)and marked diseased trees for removal. I communicated with a
contractor re: oak wilt management for several oak wilt infection sites in the upper park area at
Valley View Park. The site on the north side of the parking lot near the shelter had root graft
disruption done by St. Croix SavATree this fall to hopefully prevent movement of the oak wilt
fungus into nearby healthy trees via root grafts with diseased trees. There was no need for root
graft disruption in the oak wilt center along the power line near the south border of the park.
Diseased oaks in each site were removed in late fall.
In November I prepared a proposal for me to continue in the Arborist position on a very
part-time basis to manage the program and train in Lisa Danielson of Pub. Works to take over the
Arborist position and management of the Forestry and Natural Resources program in Oak Park
Heights by Sept. 2015. I discussed the proposal with city staff and it was forwarded to the City
Council for consideration.
I wrote/edited articles on tree-related topics for the City Newsletter in September and
November.
In September I attended a site design review meeting with City Staff regarding an
application for development at the old Stillwater Ford location by Fury Motors. I also visited the
site and reviewed the landscape plan. In October I attended a site review meeting with the
Arborist's Report Sept.-Dec.2014-2
Page 7 of 14
developer. That month I also reviewed the tree inventory and landscape plan for the Oak Ridge
Pl. Memory Care development, inspected the site, and sent an email report to OPH staff and the
developer. In November I reviewed plans and attended a site review meeting with staff for the
Stillwater Motors project proposal. That month I also continued work on the Oak Ridge Pl.
Memory Care development,updating the tree replacement requirement(at the request of the City
Administrator)to reflect elimination of cottonwoods from the calculations. I also communicated
with the architect for that project regarding tree replacement, did another review of the tree
inventory and landscape plan, discussed the project with staff and sent an email report to staff. In
December I also reviewed plans and attended a staff site review meeting for the Oak Park Senior
Living proposed additions to development.
In November and December I worked on a tree evaluation and inventory of trees which
were designated to be removed for the street re-construction project of Area D due to start in
2015.
In December I prepared and submitted the final report for the 2014 Tree City, USA award
for Oak Park Heights. The award was approved by the MNDNR by the end of December.
In all four months I returned telephone calls from residents and made a number of site
visits. Questions asked by residents concerned: emerald ash borer and its management,pine bark
beetle,tree root effects on driveways,nuisance trees, wounding of boulevard trees by vehicles,
tree replacement and tree planting,tree species selection,tree removal,tree pruning, stump
grinding, potential risk trees,tree/plant W.,tree defects and decay, superficial trunk fungi,
Sphaeropsis shoot blight on pine,Dutch elm disease, oak wilt, and drought stress.
Sept.: City work=33 hrs.
Development and Other Projects= 1.5 hrs
Oct.: City work=20 hrs.
Development and Other Projects= 2 hrs.
Nov.: City work= 19.25 hrs.
Development and Other Projects= 4 hrs.
Street Re-construction Project(Area D)=2 hrs.
Dec.: City work=22.5 hrs.
Development and Other Projects= 1.5 hrs.
Street Re-construction Project(Area D)=9 hrs.
Page 8 of 14
Forestry Program Report 2014
City of Oak Park Heights
To: Eric Johnson,City Administrator
Andrew Kegley,Dir. Pub. Works
City Council
Parks Commission
City of Oak Park Heights
From: Katharine D. Widin,Ph.D.
Plant Health Associates,Inc.
Arborist
City of Oak Park Heights 4123115
Public Trees & QtX Forestry/Natural Resources Program
Overview: In 2014 I met with the Pub. Works director, City Administrator, and
other staff, as needed, to plan the forestry and natural resources program activities and
provide updates as to how the work of the program was proceeding. I attended City
Council, Parks and other Commission meetings as needed. I kept records regarding
forestry activities and contacts made with residents. I also completed tree inspections
for oak wilt and Dutch elm disease. I inspected trees in boulevard and park areas for
disease, insects, storm damage and potential risk situations, and made recommendations
for maintenance. I inspected trees, wrote tree removal,pruning and planting
specifications, and put together tree lists for tree pruning and removal work, as well as
tree planting along boulevards and in parks within the city. I reviewed landscape and
planting plans for developments, made inspections and completed tree inventories. I met
with developers and contractors, as needed, and prepared reports regarding these projects.
Education and Outreach
A valuable part of the forestry program in Oak Park Heights is the education and
outreach component. In 2014 I wrote articles for each issue of the city newsletter on
topics which included: Emerald Ash Borer,Ash Removal and Re-Planting, Oak Wilt,
Dutch Elm Disease, Watering Trees & Shrubs, Clusters of Brown Leaves on White and
Bur Oaks, Canker Diseases of Trees, Boulevard Trees, Pruning Trees and Tree City,
USA Award. The city newsletter and website are both important ways to provide
residents with information on tree-related issues and events.
I also answered telephone messages and made site visits to residents regarding
questions about trees and tree health. In 2014, I responded to 113 telephone messages,
email, or personal communications from residents, and made 82 site visits to look at
trees (compared to 177 tel. calls and 123 site visits in 2013). In all, I spent approximately
30 hours on tel. calls and site visits to residents (compared to 54 hours in 2013). Tree
issues discussed with residents were: Dutch elm disease, oak wilt, ash anthracnose, apple
Oak Park Heights Final Report—2014—2
Page 9 of 14
scab, other leaf spot diseases on shade trees, emerald ash borer,pine bark beetle, insect
W., insect galls on leaves, eriophyid mite galls,Japanese beetles, fall webworm, boxelder
bugs, tree selection, nuisance trees,tree moving, tree planting, tree removal, ash removal,
pruning broken branches, pine and spruce with brown needles, tree i.d., woodland
management, shrub W. and care, falling and leaning trees, insect borers and woodpecker
damage, vole damage, deer damage on arborvitae, death of foundation shrubs, tree
splitting main trunk union,nuisance trees with surface roots interfering with lawn
mowing and pavement, private tree issues with trees on neighboring properties, winter
injury, site restoration after tree removal, risk trees, tree decay and defects, buckthorn,
management of invasive plants, pruning trees, drought stress, storm damage, management
of buckthorn in Valley View Park, stump re-sprouting, and construction damage.
I did not make a presentation on tree issues to area residents in 2014 though I did
answer questions at the annual Party in the Park celebration in September.
Tree City,USA Award Program
The City of Oak Park Heights completed all requirements for the Tree City, USA
award again in 2014 (which will be a total of 32 years). Earning this award designation is
a very positive achievement for a city and indicates a commitment to trees and their care.
Applying for this award does not require much beyond activities which the city is already
involved in. Per the requirements of the Tree City, USA program, the City Council
issued an Arbor Day/Month Proclamation on 2125114. A ceremonial tree planting took
place in Autumn Hills Park prior to the Parks Comm. meeting on 8118114. A large white
pine was planted to the north of the picnic shelter,just east of the parking lot. The Parks
Commission serves as the Tree Board for the City of Oak Park Heights. $2.00 per capita
in tree-related expenditures are required for this award. The total expenditures for tree-
related activities in Oak Park Heights in 2014 (forestry consultant, contracted tree
removals, tree planting and tree pruning) submitted with the TCUSA application, came to
$57,430. ($80,963. in 2013). I completed the TCUSA application in December and
submitted it to the state Tree City, USA representative at the MN DNR. The TCUSA
report for OPH for 2014 was approved by the DNR and forwarded to the Arbor Day
Foundation the end of December 2014. The City will receive their 2014 award materials
via US Mail in the spring of 2015.
Tree Protection and Natural Resource Proiects
Oak Wilt and Dutch Elm Disease:
Inspections for trees with oak wilt and Dutch elm disease are part of the city's
tree disease management program. Diseased trees (trees currently wilting due to the
above diseases), on both public and private property, are removed by a tree contractor
hired by the city. A few diseased trees were identified on private property and removed.
For the first time since I started working with the City in 1998, oak wilt infection centers
were found in Valley View Park in 2014. One infection center was at the south boundary
of
Page 10 of 14
Oak Park Heights Final Report—2014—3
the park near the overhead transmission lines. This infection was probably initiated by
line clearance trimming during the low risk period for oak wilt transmission to fresh
wounds by insects (7/1-9/15). The other infection center was on the north end of the
parking lot and was initiated by storm damage during June 2014 with an oak failing and
wounding an oak behind it,then insect transmission of the oak wilt fungus to the fresh
wounds via insect vectors. Root graft disruption was done at the north infection center to
limit spread of the oak wilt fungus through common root grafts under ground. The
infection center at the south boundary of the park did not require root graft disruption as
there were no healthy oaks within root grafting distance. Once root graft disruption was
done,the infected trees at both sites were removed. The sites will be checked in 2015 for
any further spread of the disease.
Emerald Ash Borer:
Emerald ash borer(EAB) is native to Asia and was found in Detroit, Mich. in
2002, though it had been active there for at least 8 years prior to being identified. Since
that time it has killed millions of ash trees in Mich., Ohio and Indiana and has spread to
at least 25 U.S. states, including Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, and several Canadian
provinces. There is virtually no natural resistance to this insect in ash planted in
boulevards, parks and yards or ash occurring naturally in woodland areas. The only
native ash which shows some resistance is blue ash.
In May 2009, emerald ash borer (EAB) was first found in St. Paul, near the St.
Paul campus of the Univ. of Minn.. In 2009 it was also found on the Wisconsin side of
the Mississippi River, across from Houston County, MN. In 2010 EAB was found in
several areas within, a mile of the original infestation in St. Paul, and was also found in
SE Minnesota (Houston County). In 2011, EAB was found in Shoreview, the Grand
Ave. area of St. Paul and in Winona County. In 2012 and 2013, additional infestations
were found in northeast Minneapolis, on the Ft. Snelling golf course and on the east edge
of downtown St. Paul, near the Pig's Eye site. In early February 2014, several infested
trees were also found on the Metro State Univ. campus in the Dayton's Bluff
neighborhood on the east side of St. Paul, north of the Pig's Eye site. To date, EAB has
also been found in Superior Wisconsin,Bloomington,Rochester and Anoka County.
There are currently quarantines on movement of ash trees or ash wood out of Hennepin,
Ramsey, Winona, Houston, Olmsted Counties and emergency quarantines for Anoka and
Dakota Counties. Biological control agents (small parasitoid wasps specific to EAB
larvae and eggs) were released in 2010 in Houston County and in Minneapolis in 2011.
The parasitoids were found to have reproduced by 2013, so these populations may help
manage the EAB infestations. These bio-control agents will not eradicate the pest, but,
hopefully,reduce its numbers and slow the spread.
The insect has not yet been found in Washington County; however, I have
advised Oak Park Heights to prepare for EAB infestation and tree damage due to this
insect within the next five years. Tree removal and replacement will need to be done by
both the city and private property owners. Treatment of some ash with systemic
insecticides will probably also be done.
Oak Park Heights Final Report—2014—4
Page 11 of 14
In 2014, I attended several seminars/workshops which included information on
EAB and its management. The draft EAB Management Plan for Oak Park Heights,
which was adopted by the City Council in 2009,will be updated in spring of 2015,
Originally, ash represented at least 40% of the trees in boulevard rights-of-way and park
active areas in Oak Park Heights. This represented 700 trees. In 2010 and 2011 the city
was able to complete removal of 100 ash trees from boulevard rights-of-way and park
active areas, assisted by a grant from the MN Dept. of Agriculture. In 2012, the city paid
for removal of 50 more ash from public property. In 2013 approximately 25 additional
ash were removed. In 2014 about 15 ash were removed. These trees were replaced with
a variety of native species. Ash currently represent a little over 30% of trees along
boulevards and in park active areas in Oak Park Heights. The city plans to continue
removing ash in poor condition or in poor locations and replacing these trees, both in
boulevard areas and in parks. The city is also in the process of considering treatment of
key ash in good condition with systemic insecticides. Oak Park Heights is also building
up a fund to assist private landowners in removing EAB-infested ash from private
property once EAB becomes established within the community.
In the fall of 2013, I contacted three tree services which provide tree injection services
with systemic insecticide to protect ash trees against infestation by the emerald ash borer.
There are good reasons to consider tree injection as part of the city's EAB management.
I summarized information on systemic insecticide injection as a possible management
technique for emerald ash borer(EAB) in the fall of 2013 for the City Council to review
and make a recommendation on possibly pursuing more information and quotes from tree
care companies which provide this service. To date the City Council has not proceeded
to approve insecticide treatment of ash in boulevard rights-of-way and active park areas.
I recommend that the City complete a current digital inventory of trees on boulevard
rights-of-way and active (mown) areas of city parks. The number of ash in good
condition could then be determined and an on-line Cost Calculator(e.g. Minn. Dept. of
Agriculture EAB website) could be used to calculate the relative cost of removal and
replacement or injection of high quality ash with systemic insecticide.
Depending on where EAB is found next, if the City decides to implement tree
injection as part of their EAB management program,these injections may need to begin
in 2015 or 2016.
Tree Maintenance (pruning and removals)
In 2014, a total of approximately 300 trees were pruned, 254 of these during the
annual winter pruning of boulevard trees. Other trees along the boulevards and in park
active areas were pruned due to storm damage or for clearance for vehicles. A total of
168 trees were removed in 2014, including about 100 pine and spruce in Brekke Park,
which died due to drought stress and attack by the pine bark beetle. Other trees removed
were dead trees,risk trees along boulevards or elsewhere in park active areas, nuisance
trees, or trees obstructing sight lines along roadways or interfering with utility lines.
This year I also removed staking from newer boulevard and park trees to avoid trunk
girdling.
Oak Park Heights Final Report—2414—5
Page 12 of 14
Tree Planting!
In addition to the ceremonial tree planting before the Parks Comm. meeting on
Aug. 181, 27 boulevard and park trees were planted in 2014,representing a variety of
shade and ornamental tree species. In areas under power lines, ornamental trees, such as
flowering crab and Japanese tree lilac, were planted.
Costs for tree planting are paid for from the City's Tree Planting Fund, which is
funded from tree replacement requirement monies from development projects which
remove trees within the City.
Linear Park Plantine Plan
In 2014 I prepared base maps for planting higher quality native trees and shrubs
in the Linear Park area just behind residential properties which abut the south border of
the park. These trees would provide more species diversity and wildlife habitat in the
Linear Park where the City and local residents removed buckthorn in fall of 2013. Lisa
Danielson will be overseeing this planting project in May of 2015.
Development Projects
In 2014 I was involved with the review of six development projects within the
City. I reviewed landscape plans, made site inspections, attended site design review
meetings, inspected sites re: tree inventories, if required, and wrote reports on my
findings. Two of the development projects involved the tree preservation ordinance and
review for tree removal and possible tree replacement. Developments worked on in 2014
for the City of Oak Park Heights were: Fury Motors, Oak Ridge Pl. Memory Care, Oak
Park Senior Living next phase, Stillwater Motors, Palmer Station, and Pine Grove
Gardens.
Other Projects
Prairie Restoration Management:
I visited the prairie restorations in both Swager and Valley View Parks in 2014 and made
notes on species present and management needs.
Both restorations had a management burn done by Minnesota Native Landscapes
in early Dec. of 2012. There was good plant diversity in both prairie areas in 2014 with a
number of grass and wildflower species present. Minnesota Native Landscapes provided
management of invasive weeds with spot spraying with targeted herbicide applications,
hand pulling and cutting and selected mowing.
Tree Inventory Proposed Street Re-construction Project 2014 and 2015:
In the beginning of 2014 I completed an inventory of boulevard trees in the Old Village area
where street re-construction was proposed for 2014. The inventory included tree species, size,
Oak Park Heights Final Report—2014—6
Page 13 of 14
condition and possible construction impacts. I also reviewed plans after engineering changes,
compiled data on additional trees included in plan changes, and sent email reports to staff and
project engineers. In November and December of 20141 also did an inventory and evaluation of
boulevard trees proposed to be impacted by street re-construction in Area D (north of Hwy. 36) in
2015.
Summary
355 hours of forestry consulting were estimated for 2014. Actual hours were
about 266. The 17 hours spent on development projects (private and City) were paid for
by development fees. The city also provides $150. for me to attend the Minn. Shade Tree
Shortcourse each year, and pays for supplies for the forestry program.
Costs for many forestry activities (preparation of newsletter articles and website
info., EAB management plans, prairie management recommendations, information sheets
for residents, and attending training for municipal foresters re: invasive pests)has been
cost-shared with the other communities I worked with in Washington County— Stillwater
and Mahtomedi—which reduces direct costs to each city.
In June of 2014 I announced my plans to retire from forestry consulting. This
decision was in part due to my having a chronic health condition which limited my
ability to carry out the duties of Arborist. In fall of 2014 the City Council indicated that
they would like me to continue on a very part-time basis in 2015 to handle the Forestry
and Natural Resource program while at the same time training a Pub. Works employee,
Lisa Danielson, who has a degree in Natural Resources, to take over the Arborist
position. I agreed to do this and prepared a proposal which was approved by City staff
and forwarded to the City Council. I will be working with the City until the end of
August 2015.
A proposed forestry work program for 2015, which was put together by Lisa
Danielson and myself, has been submitted to the city.
The City Council, Commissions, staff and residents of Oak Park Heights have a
strong commitment to trees and natural resources within the community. I have enjoyed
providing forestry and natural resource consulting for the City of Oak Park Heights for
the past 17 years. Thank you for the opportunity to work with the City and develop a
Forestry and Natural Resources program which they can be proud of.
Page 14 of 14