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<br /> STAFF REPORT <br />DATE: March 18, 2025 <br /> CONSENT <br /> <br />TO: Mayor and Councilmembers <br />FROM: Adam Swanepoel, Assistant Public Works Director <br />AGENDA ITEM: Washington County Conservation District Tree Stewards Program <br />REVIEWED BY: Marty Powers, Public Works Director <br /> <br />CORE STRATEGIES: <br /> ☒ Vibrant, inclusive, connected community ☐ Efficient, reliable, innovative services ☐ Responsive, transparent, adaptive governance ☐ Balanced Finances now and future ☐ Managed Growth ☐ Resilient Infrastructure <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROND: The Tree Steward Program is a community-based program where city/county <br />staff or representatives request bringing in Tree Steward education. This education allows <br />residents to get involved with caring for their community's public urban and community trees <br />through volunteerism. Essentially, Tree Steward volunteers act as leaders in their community and <br />act as a second pair of eyes within their community. In addition, the program is designed for <br />people who love trees, enjoy being outdoors, and want to volunteer with their community. <br />Through a partnership with the Washington Conservation District (WCD) and University of <br />Minnesota, volunteers will learn how to care for young and newly planted trees in public spaces <br />of Washington County. After completing the training and short assessment, they will become a <br />certified Tree Steward Volunteer who can participate in activities under the guidance of <br />WCD/host site or Forestry staff. <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the Council approve a partnership with the Washington <br />County Conservation District Tree Steward Program? <br /> <br />PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: Washington County Conservation District and the Tree <br />Stewards Program has asked for the city to become a partner in the program. Volunteers from the <br />community attend a training conducted by WCD in April. Tree Stewards will be trained in: basic <br />tree biology and identification, best practices for planting, mulching, watering, staking, fertilizing, <br />trunk protection, developmental pruning of young trees, pruning suckers and sprouts, and common <br />tree disease, pests, and defects. <br /> <br />The city, as a host, provides a staff representative who works with the WCD to offer up <br />opportunities for volunteer participation. The representative would be the person of contact for the