PK PACKET 06062022 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Parks and Environmental Commission Regular Meeting Minutes March 7, 2022 Page 3 1 has been a member of Tree City USA since 2016 and values the fostering of a healthy urban 2 tree canopy. A grant in the amount of $5,000 was awarded to complete the survey, which will 3 allow the City to apply for future grants from Hennepin County related to tree care. The City 4 partnered with Tree Trust, a local non-profit program, to complete the tree inventory. The 5 survey was completed in the winter of 2021. 6 7 The number of trees is 832 with tree cover of 8 acres. The most common species are Freeman 8 maple, Norway maple, and White spruce. Pollution removal is 354 pounds a year and oxygen 9 production is 16 tons a year. The structural value of the trees is $941,000. Commissioner 10 Guest asked what 8 aerial acres percent of the City is? Mr. Gumke stated he will research and 11 report back. 12 13 Mr. Gumke noted the increased tree diversity can minimize the overall impact or destruction 14 by a species-specific insect or disease. 13% of the tree population surveyed are on the MN 15 DNR state invasive species list (Norway maple, Russian olive, Black locust, etc.). The Air 16 Quality Improvement Strategies, Oxygen Production, and Air Pollution Removal were 17 reviewed. Commissioner Bordeau asked if trees would be cut down and Mr. Gumke stated 18 only when necessary. 19 20 Next steps include the completion of the Tree Inventory which qualifies the City to apply for 21 future County grants. Data collected will be integrated into the City’s GIS system for 22 monitoring and updating the tree canopy. Continue to seek direction and priorities from the 23 Parks and Environmental Commission. 24 25 Mr. Gumke summarized “Understanding an urban forest’s structure, function, and value can 26 promote management decisions that will improve human health and environmental quality. 27 The Tree Inventory provides valuable data that will be used to monitor current trees within the 28 right-of-way, future species selections, and future tree planting locations. 29 B.30 2022 Pyramid Mission Statement. 31 32 City Manager Yunker reviewed the 2022 Pyramid for the Strategic Plan. Mr. Yunker 33 highlighted this year single-hauler organized collection of recycling, waste and organics will 34 be explored. 35 36 Commissioner Reed asked if there can be a bulletin board put on the wall by the organics 37 recycling area about how much has been collected? Mr. Yunker will look at that. 38 Commissioner Bordeau stated that information is available. It could also be reported in the 39 City Newsletter. 40 41 Commissioner Guest asked if there is a way to incentivize residents to do more recycling as 42 far as rates when creating the RFP for hauling. Commissioner Bordeau stated there are some 43 minimal incentives such as reducing waste cart size when doing organics recycling. 44 Commissioner Bordeau stated she would like to learn more about curbside organics recycling 45 and having one County’s program for the entire City. Commissioner Godmare asked if