TREMONTON CITY CORPORATION
TREE BOARD
March 15, 2016

Members Present:
Marc Christensen, Chairman/Recreation Director
Shawn Warnke, City Manager
Paul Fulgham, Public Works Director
Lynn Green, Parks Superintendent
Lyle Holmgren, City Councilmember (via phone) – left at 9:39 a.m.
Cynthia Nelson, Deputy Recorder

Chairman Christensen called the Tree Board Meeting to order at 8:58 a.m. The meeting was held March 15, 2016 in the City Council Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Chairman Marc Christensen, Manager Shawn Warnke, Director Paul Fulgham, Superintendent Lynn Green, City Councilmember Lyle Holmgren (via phone) left at 9:39 a.m., and Deputy Recorder Cynthia Nelson were in attendance.

1. Approval of agenda:

Motion by Director Fulgham to approve the March 15, 2016 agenda. Motion seconded by Superintendent Green. Vote: Chairman Christensen – aye, Manager Warnke – aye, Director Fulgham – aye, Superintendent Green – aye, and City Councilmember Holmgren – aye. Motion approved.

2. Approval of minutes: April 7, 2015

Manager Warnke asked if the last RDA plantings occurred. Chairman Christensen noted it was done but changed a little bit. There were two (2) trees planted at South Park and four (4) were planted later at the tree basin. The weather pushed the plantings back. There were some 4-H kids that helped plant the trees at South Park. The trees appear to be doing well and they will continue watching them to see how they do.

Chairman Christensen reminded everyone of the change that allows decisions regarding City trees to not need to go before the Tree Board; they can be decided and handled by Chairman Christensen and Director Fulgham. Private trees that are a nuisance must come before the Tree Board.

Motion by Manager Warnke to approve the minutes of April 7, 2015. Motion seconded by City Councilmember Holmgren. Vote: Chairman Christensen – aye, Manager Warnke – aye, Director Fulgham – aye, Superintendent Green – aye, and City Councilmember Holmgren – aye. Motion approved.

3. New Business:

a. Discussion and consideration of removing Pine trees on approximately 400 to 800 West Main Street

Chairman Christensen said the project to bury the canal for Tremont Center necessitates the removal of trees to widen the road. Manager Warnke noted most of the trees are on the frontage of Tremont Center and will probably all come out. The trees are not attractive and some are crooked; however, there are about three (3) Pine trees by Town and Country that are pretty straight and look healthy. He thought those trees would stay.

Director Fulgham planned on removing the trees that will be impacted by the road and stop across from the entrance to Sandalwood Acres. Some trees have already been removed that were dead or damaged. The trees to the west have been trimmed high so they can mow underneath. The trees would be removed up to 650 West. City Councilmember Holmgren said it sounds good to remove the trees up to 650 West and leave the others to the west at this time.

Superintendent Green thinks there are only three (3) trees left after the frontage. All other trees have been removed in the past. Director Fulgham noted there are three (3) trees that will be removed and three (3) that will remain to the west. Director Fulgham noted he will talk to Micah Capener and see if removing the trees was included in Rupp’s Bid.

There is only one (1) tree that actually needs to be removed at this time but Director Fulgham said they will remove three (3). City Councilmember Holmgren remembers the trees going in around 1970. The trees are 46 years old.

Manager Warnke commented that the tree that was removed on the east of Main Street made a difference. Director Fulgham had someone tell him he noticed a difference in snow removal in his driveway. The individual said the trees were ugly but they were a windbreak. City Councilmember Holmgren stated the trees were originally put in to be a windbreak.

Manager Warnke asked about an Ash tree west of the Tennis Court and wondered if the tree had been removed as it did not have a canopy. It was approved last Tree Board Meeting. It can be removed now if it hasn’t been already.

b. Discussion and consideration of tree plantings and festivities for Arbor Day

Chairman Christensen said Arbor Day is the last Friday of April this year. He asked City Councilmember Holmgren if he can get some 4-H kids to help. City Councilmember Holmgren was fairly certain he would be able to get kids to come help. He asked where the trees would be planted. Chairman Christensen stated there have been people recommending a few more trees in the Harris Subdivision Park just east of Alice C. Harris Intermediate School. There is a playground and one (1) little tree that is still alive. The rest have been hit by lawn mowers or died. Superintendent Green said he removed three (3) in the last few years.

Manager Warnke commented that the trees were not substantial caliper. Superintendent Green noted the original trees were donated by Nucor a long time ago. They are about the same size as when they were planted. There is a water issue at that location. The ground is not good and the sprinklers are not great, even the lawn struggles.

Manager Warnke wondered if they should continue planting trees there. Director Fulgham said that whole area struggles. If there were trees on the west, it would help keep the lawn green. Right now there is no shade there. Manager Warnke noted that the trees never seemed to grow. Director Fulgham said the ground is clay and the ground water is really far down because the drainage district line goes through the park. The water is probably down ten (10) feet.

City Councilmember Holmgren wondered if they were wasting their time until a better sprinkler system can be installed. Director Fulgham said the bigger problem for the lawn is the fact there is no shade. They may need to put a drip line in to get the trees going. City Councilmember Holmgren asked if a pergola or something similar could go in that would provide shade. It doesn’t always have to be a tree.

Director Fulgham noted a neighboring property has a tree that is thriving. Superintendent Green said the trees he removed were oak trees which need a lot of water and do not do well here. City Councilmember Holmgren said it would be best to find what tree works in that neighborhood and plant that type of tree. Director Fulgham commented there are not many people that use that park.

Manager Warnke wondered about drought tolerant trees like the golden rain tree. City Councilmember Holmgren noted no one likes the Siberian elm but there is a Chinese elm that is a favorable tree. The American elm is a nice tree but it has issues with Dutch elm disease.

The Board discussed poplar trees that are all over. Superintendent Green said they get bugs easily. City Councilmember Holmgren stated they are made of soft wood and the limbs break off. Superintendent Green remarked that the roots come up. City Councilmember Holmgren said every poplar tree is genetically identical or basically a clone of each other.

Manager Warnke asked about bushes, perhaps a big lilac bush. There are bushes that grow big and may be easier to start than a tree. Director Fulgham said the downside of bushes is the undergrowth and trash collection. Superintendent Green remarked it is hard to weed eat around a bush. Manager Warnke said trees have a canopy to get under where a bush does not.

Chairman Christensen said they will look at the neighborhood and see what is growing well there. City Councilmember Holmgren said that is a great idea. They will need to figure out how to get enough water to the trees until they take hold and get growing. Manager Warnke asked about cottonwood trees. City Councilmember Holmgren said cottonwoods are a survivor but no one really likes them. They grow well here and are fast growing. They could plant cottonwoods along with some other types of trees that will last long.

Superintendent Green asked if they planned to plant four (4) trees at that location. It was confirmed. He said they should get bigger trees to plant. Manager Warnke suggested a pagoda tree. Superintendent Green likes them but they are slow to grow. They are a hardy tree. The purple robe tree planted at South Park has almost done better than the pagoda. South Park water is just as bad as Harris Subdivision Park because the drain line is below it. The purple robe is not a drought tolerant tree but it has done well. There are some at Jeannie Stevens Park that have doubled in size; however, they get a lot of water.

Manager Warnke asked if there were spots to put some more purple robe trees at Jeannie Stevens Park around the walking trail. Chairman Christensen and Superintendent Green noted there are a lot of sprinklers and wires around the walking trail. The south end is all full. There were trees over the fence on the golf course side but several died. There a few spots by the skate park to plant trees but it would be hard to put trees by the bowery because of pipes, wires, and the waste pipe. There are a few other areas at Jeannie Stevens Park that would work.

Manager Warnke wondered about putting trees by the concession stand. Superintendent Green noted that underground there is very crowded. There could be some spots but it would take work and they would have to plant carefully.

Manager Warnke asked about planting new trees on the west of North Park and noted the cottonwood trees are deteriorating. Chairman Christensen and Superintendent Green stated they have planted pagoda and coffee trees. Some trees have come down and Superintendent Green noted he has been pruning the bad parts. A tree was hit by a car and the insurance is expected to pay for the replacement tree. There was also a drinking fountain hit at North Park.

c. Update on Tree City USA

Chairman Christensen said the City has certified for Tree City USA for the 5th year. On April 12th, the City is invited to Provo for a recognition day. This is the 6th year the City has qualified and the 5th year we recertified. When Chairman Christensen attended in the past, there was a workshop before lunch then presentation of the awards.

Manager Warnke asked about the signs they hand out with the award. Chairman Christensen said he does not think he got the signs last year.

Every December Chairman Christensen has to guess how many hours have been spent working on trees. He asked if they can try to keep track of the actual hours this year on timecards. Director Fulgham said they could see about keeping track of the hours and asked Chairman Christensen to send him a request around November to get the total hours.

Director Fulgham noted that Tom Anderson recently spent time grinding tree stumps from some old Willow trees.

4. Comments/Reports:

a. Chairman/Recreation Director – Marc Christensen

No comments.

b. Public Works Director – Paul Fulgham

No comments.

c. City Manager – Shawn Warnke

Manager Warnke noted he would like to try a European beech tree. Councilmember Holmgren said they are beautiful but really slow. Superintendent Green said there is a beech tree in Midland Square that hasn’t grown 3-4 feet in the fifteen (15) years he’s been with the City. Manager Warnke said he would like to put one at the City Center because it is a really pretty tree. City Councilmember Holmgren suggested they get as big a tree as possible like a three (3) or four (4) inch caliper.

Manager Warnke knows it will take a long time to grow. He noted the City will probably own the land for quite some time and would like to plant some trees around the peripheral. It is anticipated that the block may fill with buildings as the City grows. Chairman Christensen and City Councilmember Holmgren will add a European beech tree to their list of trees when they go shopping. They will also get together to plan for Arbor Day.

d. City Council – Lyle Holmgren

No comments.

e. Parks Superintendent – Lynn Green

No comments.

5. Public comments: Comments limited to five minutes.

No public comments.

6. Adjournment:

Motion by Chairman Christensen to adjourn meeting. Motion seconded by Superintendent Green. The meeting adjourned by consensus of the Board at 9:40 a.m.

The undersigned duly acting and appointed Recorder for Tremonton City Corporation hereby certifies that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Tree Board Meeting held on the above referenced date. Minutes prepared by Deputy Recorder Cynthia Nelson.

Dated this 27th day of February, 2018

______________________________
Linsey Nessen, CITY RECORDER

*Utah Code 52-4-202, (6) allows for a topic to be raised by the public and discussed by the public body even though it was not included in the agenda or advance public notice given; however, no final action will be taken.