TREMONTON CITY CORPORATION
TREE BOARD MEETING
MARCH 6, 2020

Members Present:
Marc Christensen, Chairman/Community Services Director—excused
Shawn Warnke, City Manager
Paul Fulgham, Public Works Director
Rusty Scoffield, Public Works Lead
Lynn Green, Parks Superintendent—excused
Lyle Holmgren, City Councilmember
Linsey Nessen, Recorder

Manager Warnke called the Tree Board Meeting to order at 10:03 a.m. The meeting was held March 6, 2020 in the City Council Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Those in attendance were, Manager Warnke, Director Fulgham (arrived at 10:15 a.m.), Lead Scoffield, Councilmember Holmgren and Recorder Nessen. Chairman Christensen and Superintendent Green were excused. Bill Bourgeous from Intertape Polymer Group was also in attendance.

1. Approval of agenda:

Motion by Councilmember Holmgren to approve the March 6, 2020 agenda. Motion seconded by Rusty Scoffield. Vote: Manager Warnke – aye, Lead Scoffield – aye, and Councilmember Holmgren – aye. Motion approved.

2. Approval of minutes—May 3, 2019

Motion by Manager Warnke to approve the May 3, 2019. Motion seconded by Councilmember Holmgren. Vote: Manager Warnke – aye, Lead Scoffield – aye, and Councilmember Holmgren – aye. Motion approved.

3. New Business:

a. Discussion of planting trees at cemetery

Manager Warnke said the Ivory Homes initiative helps cities plant trees. The City submitted an application when former Councilmember Diana Doutre was involved. We considered doing some restoration at the Holmgren Nature Preserve, but there are too many variables. We landed on the cemetery as a project and they are supportive of that concept. We have started working through the details to ensure there is irrigation, as well as the types of trees and size requirements. Ivory Homes is the financial backer for the project, but Tree Utah is the non-profit organization. Councilmember Holmgren said he has talked with Amy May from Tree Utah about different varieties of trees.
Mr. Bourgeous said our CEO wants us to get involved in some kind of Earth Day initiative for the company’s 50th anniversary. I talked to Coordinator Christensen and he suggested I come here. Our idea was to help plant some trees around town, but we could also help with benches at the new walking trail. We wanted to get a feel for what projects are out there and the cost. We can help financially or with labor. Rocky Mountain Power plans to contribute as well. We are open to ideas. We are not sure on the budget, but would like to hear the projects first.

Councilmember Holmgren said with the cemetery project, we need to have something in before Memorial Day. There are some constraints with the water and high-pressure sprinklers. We could plant trees in a row on either side of the road to create a pathway. We could plant Kentucky Coffee trees and some crab apples on the east side by the flagpole. Lead Scoffield said the problem with going up some of these roads is the headstones. They will have to be closer to the road on one side and further away on the other because the headstones will be too tight for their roots. Director Fulgham said the roots get up there easily—sooner or later they will push through the asphalt. We need to find a good tree that grows down. Another challenge is making sure we put them where we do not have to worry about them being in the way for future graves. Near those that are already established would be better. There are vacancies throughout the whole thing, but it would be easier in the older parts. Lead Scoffield said there are a lot of single plots in the older section. We could not sell one and put a tree there instead. By planting them in the center parts you are moving them away from the sprinkler heads, which will not beat the tree up as bad.

Councilmember Holmgren suggested 10 trees per row every 60 feet and that they get a four to six-inch caliper tree. Director Fulgham said if we do not plant them right next to the road they might do better. We could do mulch around them so the mowers do not get too close and whip them. They might not be uniform or spaced evenly if we try to make them survivable. Councilmember Holmgren said it is way more important to keep them in the optimal spot rather than uniform. Manager Warnke asked how many trees could be put in the ground in one year. Director Fulgham said we could put in whatever you budget. Lead Scoffield said we could plant five to six trees at a time with no problems. Councilmember Holmgren said the easy part is the planting the hard part is the coordination. Director Fulgham said we could spend about a week pre-digging the holes. We will have to hand dig around the sprinkler lines and power.

Mr. Bourgeous said I get the sense that Lead Scoffield and Director Fulgham can plant any tree that Intertape Polymer Group buys. If I got approval for X amount of dollars, we could buy the trees locally and you would have plenty of spots for them. We could help with labor if needed. Director Fulgham said we have plenty of spots for trees between the cemetery and parks. Councilmember Holmgren said we need to decide how ambitious we want to be. The cost per tree is about $300, which would be nearly $12,000. We could do this over the course of two years. Director Fulgham said I could make a map with potential locations. Councilmember Holmgren said the City will do the prep work and then volunteers could help set the trees and back fill. Let us tell Tree City our plan and go from there. Mr. Bourgeous said pitch your idea to Ivory Homes and if they take the whole project, we will plant somewhere else. If they only do half let us know and we will pick up a road or something. Councilmember Holmgren said he would call Amy May to see if she has other ideas on trees. He will also call Mike Coombs from Utah State University for his expertise.

The Board talked about a few trees that need to be removed in the City.

Director Fulgham said we have our landscape project by the trailhead and would like to have some of that done by May for the Suicide Walk. The restrooms are open. Lead Scoffield said as soon as we can I will pour cement.

The Board agreed to meet next Friday, May 13 to finalize this plan and continue discussion on other tree related issues.

b. Discussion and consideration of spring tree plantings
c. Discussion and consideration of tree removals
d. Update on Tree City USA

4. Comments/Reports: none

a. Parks & Recreation Director – Marc Christensen
b. Public Works Director – Paul Fulgham
c. City Manager – Shawn Warnke
d. City Council – Lyle Holmgren
e. Parks Superintendent – Lynn Green

5. Public comments: none

6. Adjournment

Motion by Councilmember Holmgren to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by consensus of the Board. The meeting adjourned at 11:19 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 held on the above referenced date. Minutes were prepared by Jessica Tanner.

Dated this 11th day of February, 2021.

______________________________
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.