TREMONTON CITY CORPORATION
TREE BOARD MEETING
MAY 3, 2019

Members Present:
Marc Christensen, Chairman/Community Services Director
Shawn Warnke, City Manager
Paul Fulgham, Public Works Director—excused
Lynn Green, Parks Superintendent
Lyle Holmgren, City Councilmember
Cynthia Nelson, Deputy Recorder

Chairman Christensen called the Tree Board Meeting to order at 9:14 a.m. The meeting was held May 3, 2019 in the City Council Meeting Room at 102 South Tremont Street, Tremonton, Utah. Those in attendance were Chairman Christensen, Manager Warnke (left at 9:59 a.m.), Superintendent Green, Councilmember Holmgren and Deputy Recorder Nelson. Director Paul Fulgham was excused

1. Approval of agenda:

Motion by Manager Warnke to approve the May 3, 2019 agenda. Motion seconded by Superintendent Green. Vote: Chairman Christensen – aye, Manager Warnke – aye, Superintendent Green – aye, and City Councilmember Holmgren – aye. Motion approved.

2. Approval of minutes—February 27, 2018

Motion by Superintendent Green to approve the February 27, 2018 minutes. Motion seconded by Councilmember Holmgren. Vote: Chairman Christensen – aye, Manager Warnke – aye, Superintendent Green – aye, and City Councilmember Holmgren – aye. Motion approved.

3. New Business:

a. Discussion and consideration of spring tree plantings
b. Discussion and consideration of tree removals

Items 3. a. and 3. b. were discussed together.

Chairman Christensen said the Public Works Department had extra money from the cemetery. Superintendent Green said the trees are ordered and City employee Rusty Scoffield is planting them. He spent the whole budget so there are probably quite a few that are going in. They ripped out the pine trees and there is a lot of room on the north end and east side. The Board called Mr. Scoffield for further details. Mr. Scoffield said they have seven Bosnian Pines. Some were added on the east side last year. For this year, they will go on the east and north side of the cemetery. I will start replacing those that were on the north. The trees were bought from Call’s Nursery, who has had good luck with them and steered me that direction. They raised their prices, but they were about the same as last year and they worked with their shipment so we did not have to pay shipping. Councilmember Holmgren said I wish we could do something through the center of the cemetery, but I know the water is an issue with the pressure of those sprinklers. It would be nice to get something going on the interior somehow.

Chairman Christensen said last year after our meeting we planted four trees at Jeanie Stevens Park on the west side of the soccer field. They looked good this spring. We are hoping those take off and provide some shade. The Board talked about the high water table in the area and some of the issues they have faced with that. Superintendent Green said four more would go in there, however, the problem is the old runway. That is where the grass wants to die as soon as it gets stressed. We have thought about using the Kentucky coffee tree there. They have done well at North Park on a limited amount of water. They are a little slower growing, but the ones we planted five years ago at Library Park, where they get water, have grown fast (tripling in size). A big windstorm snapped one, but those are filling in. The ones at North Park are growing. There is not a lot you can do to shape them at first you just hope they get strong branches. Councilmember Holmgren said are there any needs at Library Park. Superintendent Green said we are getting limited to where we can go with trees. We want enough open space.

Manager Warnke said North Park and Park Meadow could use some more trees. At Meadow Park Superintendent Green said trees have been taken out and we could add some to those spots. Councilmember Holmgren said could we replace them with the Kentucky coffee trees? They seem to do well, those or Japanese pagodas. Some of these trees are site specific—some will work and others will not.

At North Park, Superintendent Green said we have to replace the Haramoto tree on the north end of the park by the dugouts. This is the third time we have had to. The family picked a Purple Robe tree and it has not done well there. We are not sure why. The ones at Jeanie Stevens by the parking lot are thriving. The pagoda trees and the Kentucky coffee trees by the gravel are growing. A pagoda to the north has doubled in size. One tree on the east side by the alleyway is dead and could be replace. There are a couple little spots, but other than that it is limited because everywhere else is play area. There is a main line I have to be careful with. There is also a manhole and sprinkler line through the center. There is some room, but are we going to let them condense so they get big and grow into each other? Everything we have put in there will get a 40 to 50 foot canopy. Manager Warnke said we do not want them to overgrow. It would be nice to have variety. Trees cannot be in the playing area, but we hope to fill them in around the perimeter. Superintendent Green said there are two new trees by the bowery. The big one had some limbs drop and has to come out. Councilmember Holmgren said have we ripped out the ones by the tracks? Superintendent Green said all the ones that were dead, but there are two more that have to come out. I hate to do it, but they have met their timeframe. We could rip out the ones by the playground and get something that shades faster. These ones are slow growing. Chairman Christensen said a few trees in the alleyway are in foul territory, but provide shade for bystanders. Manager Warnke asked about the trees behind the backstop on the south end and if they interfere with play. Superintendent Green said I prune them straight up so foul balls do not get into them. Chairman Christensen said we made the fence jot toward the diamond, which keeps the trees from going down into the field. Manager Warnke said they look pretty rough, like they have been topped. Chairman Christensen said they were getting into wires and the diamond so they are not a perfect shape, but create a ton of shade.

Councilmember Holmgren wondered about removing the trees in the east alley, but said if they have some utility for shade I hesitate a little to take them out. What if you had a line of trees there? Chairman Christensen said there is a small four-foot fence that goes to those trees on the south field, and then the trees start after that. We could plant a couple more on the north side until it hits the other four-foot fence. I think we are going to remove two trees on the west side. Superintendent Green said one by the playground and a big one off the south west corner. Chairman Christensen said the spot with the Purple Robe we have to do a new species. Superintendent Green said I will change it out and put something bigger, but not too big that it impedes into the diamond. Councilmember Holmgren suggested a flowering tree. Purple Flowering Crabs always work. Superintendent Green said he would follow-up with the family. Chairman Christensen said we are doing a lot of Kentucky coffee trees, but do we want to continue that along the west alley? We have three Kentucky coffee trees there. We could take out two Poplar trees and add two more Kentucky coffee trees. Councilmember Holmgren suggested adding four or five Kentucky coffee trees along the east alleyway as well. He also wondered about adding more to the south end. Chairman Christensen said we have quite a few young ones. We will replace one and maybe add another. The Board suggested getting bigger trees where possible.

Manager Warnke wondered about having trees at City Hall around the perimeter, but Board Members worry they could impede the Christmas light show. Councilmember Holmgren suggested adding some around the office space. Manager Warnke said what if we did some along the parking lot on the west side. Superintendent Green said that is where they push snow so they would have to be careful. Chairman Christensen said we could start at the front of the pantry. A lot of people sit here to watch the light show. If they get like these ones people will not see though them, but that is in a lot of years. We could place them down here. He then read a list of suggested trees, as well as secondary options. Manager Warnke asked about the Kentucky coffee trees and Councilmember Holmgren said they are nice, formal looking trees that do well here. I think a row of coffee trees along there would be good.

Chairman Christensen summarized that they will plant four Kentucky coffee trees at Jeanie Stevens Park on the south end of the east soccer field. We are not taking any out of there. At North Park we will add a Flowering Crab in place of the Haramoto tree, along with three Kentucky coffee trees in place of the two Poplar trees on the west alley. Councilmember Holmgren will look at the east alley and make a recommendation there. At City Hall we could buy a few Kentucky coffee trees and plant them along the west.

c. Update on Tree City USA

Chairman Christensen said we got the Tree City USA again. Our first was in 2010 so this is eight years running. Part of that is having a Tree Board. At the cemetery, they will plant seven Bosnian Pine trees. Councilmember Holmgren asked about the planting box at Midland Square. Chairman Christensen said tulips look good, but are tough because they do not get planted deep enough. Superintendent Green said when I till they get tore up. The front ones grow and most of them should come back. Chairman Christensen said Superintendent Green would have it up and going with annuals. Councilmember Holmgren said he would call about the pots for Main Street. We have enough flowers ordered for 60 pots, but will have to find dirt. Superintendent Green said they were heavy last year and had to vac them out. This fall they will clean the truck so when they vac they can dump and save it somewhere to be used the next year. Councilmember Holmgren suggested putting compost in the bottom and then a small amount of potting soil.

4. Comments/Reports: none.

5. Public comments: This is an opportunity to address the Staff regarding your concerns or ideas. Please limit your comments to five minutes.

6. Adjournment

Motion by Superintendent Green to adjourn the meeting. Motion seconded by consensus of the Board. The meeting adjourned at 10:05 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 6th day of March, 2020.

______________________________
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.