This transcript appears to be from an Oakdale Tree Board meeting. Based on the context provided and the roll call within the text, I have identified the speakers accordingly. Since the original text did not include specific timestamps, I have used placeholders in the `[00:00]` format. *** **[00:00] Nick Cantala:** g-i-t-a-e I think um yeah I don't worry so much about the spelling in here but they did have that on that I was gonna all right we're gonna get we're going to uh call to order the March 21st meeting of the tree board um so first up is Pledge of Allegiance of America and to the Republic for which it stands for all all right first on the agenda will be a roll call so I've got I'll just uh Nick cantala present Marge seitzetter here Glenn giacoletto Europe Michael Bender here Dallas Pearson here Mike sarla here Kathy schreifels here that is everybody present we also have um our staff liaison Lauren Cota here. **[00:01] Lauren Cota:** Here. **[00:01] Nick Cantala:** Mayor Zabel is here and then our Master Gardener liaison Deb Molars here thank you all for being here um did everyone have a chance to look over the minutes for the January 17th meeting? **[00:02] Tree Board Members:** Yes. **[00:02] Nick Cantala:** Do we have any additions or changes to the minutes or can we approve them as written? Go ahead. **[00:03] Marge Seitzetter:** oh we both found it we both found an error in here for the date for the tree giveaway it says um April 28th and it's the 29th so just a typo probably yeah. **[00:04] Nick Cantala:** Okay the the other part though Lauren's uh you know the official announcement it's correct the one that's at the end here? **[00:04] Lauren Cota:** Yes. **[00:04] Nick Cantala:** Where did where did it say April 28th? **[00:05] Marge Seitzetter:** Page three page three right at the top under decent times. **[00:05] Kathy Schreifels:** Oh right I only got it because I was putting it on my calendar I knew it wasn't a Friday typically it is not on a Friday that is true yeah. **[00:06] Nick Cantala:** How do we go about adjusting that? **[00:06] Lauren Cota:** Uh you can pass it as amended um and and I will have it changed. **[00:07] Nick Cantala:** That's a first for me it's very exciting okay um well looking for a motion to approve the minutes as amended. **[00:08] Marge Seitzetter:** So moved. **[00:08] Glenn Giacoletto:** Second. **[00:08] Nick Cantala:** All in favor? **[00:09] Tree Board Members:** Aye. **[00:09] Nick Cantala:** All opposed? Minutes are approved um now the minutes are approved Mayor Zabel you wanted to give us a council update please. **[00:10] Kevin Zabel:** I would love to thank you for moving me up on the agenda so weird being here when the Sun is up so that's a nice change um to be honest not a lot from the city council a lot of our work lately has just been administrative work so polishing up some ordinance changes that we've had kind of lingering for a while uh proving liquor and garden center licenses for the year moving the annual Street project along um one item a note there and I think board member Glendale like this the monument will be staying in your neighborhood so thank you for sharing your concerns with us and but vacating some minor easement on development projects um so nothing too crazy which is kind of nice we're easing into the year other than that I had the EMC meeting last night and I just shared some updates on upcoming events but they're all your events so I think you you are up to speed on those so but we are looking forward to the tree giveaway on the 29th that's always a great event so the city council will be out there thank you tree board for your work on that I think what 200 trees again this year Lauren? **[00:11] Lauren Cota:** Yes. **[00:11] Kevin Zabel:** Perfect that's what we'd like to see so and I know Communications is all over having that registration open and out to the public on April 3rd so we will include that in the Monday morning minute so residents are aware of that as well but other than that uh happy to answer any questions done already if anybody thinks of anything just feel free to shoot me a text or an email anytime have fun upstairs thanks. **[00:12] Nick Cantala:** All right Lauren then you have an update for us on the tree giveaway. **[00:13] Lauren Cota:** Uh yes so basically um actually I'm gonna put this page on the overhead so people can get an idea what the website looks like um so if you go to the Oakdale website and across the top there's some headings our community your government and departments if you hover over departments the drop down menu comes down we just lost it again yeah and uh but for people watching at home that don't see it you can follow my directions verbal directions you go to the City website and at the top of the screen there's headings our community your government and departments or or how do I if you hover over departments a drop down pay attention to the image you've got to drop it down a little bit so it's in the frame departments and then a drop down menu will come down and it's about right here it says Environmental Services forestry if you click on that it'll bring up the forestry page um and this Arbor Day tree giveaway is uh over here if you click on that it'll bring up this Arbor Day tree giveaway page um anything you want to know about the Forestry Department is uh on the website underneath the forestry page and my phone number and email address are on there if you can't find what you're looking for you can contact me um basically uh there's a few things in informational flyer um the type of trees that we're giving away and uh and we're giving away or we're selling water bags this year which should help survival success um but so yeah there's some information in there the treat types uh Kentucky Coffee Tree Northern acclaimed honey locust swamp white oak and and the Patriot Elm which is a Dutch elm disease resistant Elm um those are the four trees we're giving away 50 of each the website is so the registration website I don't know where to find that yet other than on the city web page it should be on the front page telling you where to go it's going to become active April 3rd so the first Monday in April sign up for trees is going to become active so that's where you have to go the city web page to find that you'll pick a tree and you'll pick a time the time slots are 15 minutes this year we talked about that over the last year um we changed that to 15 minute time slots hopefully that'll help a little bit on on people jumping time slots and building up and backing up onto 15th Street so we'll see um [Applause] and so let me uh progress to tree bags here so we're gonna sell tree bags this year and on the sign up sheet there will be a slot to check for signing up for a tree bag I'm not sure if as far as I can tell so far we can't take a credit card number over the phone you'll either we can take a credit card at public works but you have to come to do it you can mail us a check and there will be more information on that sign up page for that um but it's going to cost 23 dollars there's also the website where I get them from here and I don't know what shipping costs if you buy one bag but it might be cheaper than our 23 dollar price if shipping isn't that expensive um because I think to buy one you can get them for right around Seventeen dollars at this website so just so people know and I think that's all I really have to say about the Arbor Day tree giveaway it's it starts at 9 30 runs till 11 30. I want volunteers and uh and the city council to show up at 9 15. um we'll have seedlings to give away at the Master Gardener information table oh I did get a so I contacted go for one call I haven't heard back from them on if they will supply somebody but I did find a bunch of resources on their website that I'll print out for homeowners and we can always just hand out flyer if it comes down to only that so I'm waiting for a return email from them or a phone call I guess maybe I think that's all I have on the Arbor Day tree giveaway. **[00:14] Nick Cantala:** So Lauren the tree tree bags we're not going to do anything with them as far as if they want want them we're not going to be trying to for us you know exchange money with people or anything this is... **[00:15] Lauren Cota:** No all the money will be exchanged ahead of time at Public Works they either mail us a check or they stop in and give us a check or stop in and give us a credit card number Lisa at the front reception office is going to take care of all that but we will be handing them out at the tree giveaway and that's my plan is to let the Master Gardeners give them out at the Master Gardener information table and that will get more people to stop and they will come with a receipts or some proof. **[00:16] Nick Cantala:** Yep. **[00:17] Lauren Cota:** We will have proof on our sign up sheet and they will get the sign up check in people will give them a colored token that they turn in for their tree bag. **[00:18] Marge Seitzetter:** One other thing Larry Eberhard changed his shredding day to the week before right I can't it doesn't really affect us that much I don't think they do come through. **[00:19] Lauren Cota:** Yeah it means we won't have to deal with people coming through asking if this is where they Shred the paper right oh man this is where we give away the trees so yeah. **[00:20] Marge Seitzetter:** Yeah leftover bags I don't know how are you deciding how many to order or you if you can wait but if we have leftover bakes in the Master Gardeners say oh go back to city hall or go to public works and pick one up. **[00:21] Lauren Cota:** I'm gonna order 200 and my thought was if people don't if they don't I don't think they'll all get sold and my thought was I'll just carry them over till the next year and next year I won't have to order as many but uh if I I guess if people come in afterwards we could probably sell them okay if I have well yeah I'll have the sign up sheet so I was gonna say if I have proof they got a tree so okay I just don't want it to turn into a retail sales store right right it goes with the tree yeah essentially purchase with the tree. **[00:22] Marge Seitzetter:** Okay thanks just preparing for those questions of people I forgot to come and order one can I get one today? **[00:23] Lauren Cota:** No if you got a tree you can if I have some left over yeah but I'll have to be figure out the payment and all that yeah with City Hall yeah yeah thanks. **[00:24] Nick Cantala:** And then the next thing on the agenda for old business is spring planting but that's also first thing on the agenda for new business so I don't know where you want to handle that either way it's next. **[00:25] Lauren Cota:** Yeah maybe I'll cover it all under old business I can't uh I left my first page over here mine's all messed up yeah well I might cover that new business under old business as well we'll see so we'll forgive you this time thanks basically the volunteer spring planting is Saturday May 6 from 9 00 a.m to 12 P.M and we're going to meet at Goose Pond Park I have it's the planting is going to be across the street on the north side of 40th Street and up Goodwin Avenue a little ways or actually I don't think that's good when it's the one west of Goodwin um and uh I have talked to management at the apartment complex they are all on board um I talked to the manager the on-site manager she was going to forward it to main management and I have not heard back from her so I don't anticipate any issues at all I gave them a plan and showed them what we were going to do and they were very happy with the plan so they made a couple of tweaks on how they plow snow and where not to plant trees so other than that we're good to go um you can sign up again through me uh let's go back to the overhead we'll put my email address and my phone number on here so you can sign up through me there's my email address and my phone number you just have to call me or email me and I'll put you on the volunteer list I just love to have a rough idea of who's coming so it's no big deal just contact me and sign up so I can plan for the numbers of people um we'll uh we're roughly gonna have 25 to 35 trees to plant I don't know if we'll get them all planted in a time frame if not it's no big deal my crew will come back and finish the rest of them later we'll try to the holes are going to be pre-dug I will auger them out we'll have all the tools needed we'll have volunteers shovel the holes the holes will be too deep we'll have show volunteers shovel a little bit of the sides into the bottom of the hole to roughen up the sides of the hole because the auger is going to make them smooth and and not good for planting root growth but so yeah we'll just have people fill in the hole a little bit from the sides of the whole plant trees we'll have some water available for watering them um we'll put the dirt back in that was augered out and mulch over top of them I don't think we'll probably do any staking but I might have Stakes available and and post pounders post pounding is a little loud so uh but I might have stakes and post pounders available if people run out of things to do we might send them down to one end and start pounding posts or something but... **[00:26] Marge Seitzetter:** Question Lauren. **[00:27] Lauren Cota:** Yep. **[00:28] Marge Seitzetter:** You were talking about doing those holes in advance. Yep. Isn't that a liability issue to have it...? **[00:29] Lauren Cota:** It is a little bit but I'll have plywood and a cone over top of them in a sandbag holding the plywood down so yeah it'll probably do it Friday the day before and then we'll have plywood sandbags and Cones on them um well we can go back to the overhead and uh we'll run through the trees I have available really quick I do have a whole list of trees available Boulevard Linden Shoei mountain ash River Birch Ohio buckeye blue Beach Hackberry Kentucky coffee trees ironwoods swamp White Oaks bur Oaks Northern Acclaim honey locusts and Patriot Elm so we should have quite a variety a few guys want to include or exclude any of those trees um we can discuss it tonight or you can email me um because I I can formulate the plan according to your wishes but that's what I have available to plant and so I'm gonna try to work up a planting scheme um you know with some big trees and some smaller fruiting trees or flowering trees between them and and work around uh work around fire hydrants and there's no overhead power lines there's not much for utilities I did check on our mapping system for utilities I haven't called in the locates yet so I don't know for sure where all the trees are going to go but it looks good for getting a lot of trees in the ground on the boulevard there. **[00:30] Marge Seitzetter:** Question—is there any of these that maybe are not so appropriate or as appropriate on a Boulevard because of like the width of them and how we have to prune? Are they all good? **[00:31] Lauren Cota:** They're they're they're they're all fairly good yep um the Linden and the River Birch are Japanese Beetle magnets they they like those trees first oh that's true young Elms too oh ill yeah they like baby Elms um I mean like hopefully it's just not a in drought conditions we tend to see less Japanese beetle because there's less survival of the larva um in the turf Roots so Japanese beetle hasn't been awful I mean they'll still show up obviously if if there's a food source but they haven't been too bad but it was an easy winter for them too. **[00:32] Marge Seitzetter:** Yeah so none of those I've got so many trees on the list there's not going to be a whole bunch of any one of those trees but do you want me to exclude those completely because of Japanese beetles or keep the numbers to one or two or so anybody got any ideas on that? My only comment would be on the Linden they're just um you know when they flower they're I think an early flower for the pollinators um so I don't know but I I live across from Hope church and they have night and bro of nine lindens and they look pretty bad some years I mean so were they were even spraying for the Beatles so I don't know I would I would try to limit it to just a couple maybe out of we said 25 to 30. yeah maybe maybe just have a few of those so we don't have this huge magnet okay but yeah I'm with you. **[00:33] Glenn Giacoletto:** And then I have across the street I'm a river birch um but they don't seem to hit my that quite as bad as the Linden so it's probably secondary but it's such a beautiful and fast growing tree and people love it and comment all the time on how beautiful they are so. **[00:34] Lauren Cota:** Yeah there's no doubt that River Birch are gorgeous trees. **[00:35] Glenn Giacoletto:** Yeah but yeah it's one of the ones that they they like I'd be more concerned if it was like a like a white birch right for sure a white birch of other issues too yeah absolutely. **[00:36] Mike Sarla:** Yeah yeah we haven't our River Birch we haven't I haven't seen any art Beetle I haven't seen any any Japanese beetles mainly because they they go right for our roses. **[00:37] Lauren Cota:** Sure okay some Rose distractions nearby we'll go to that no but that's a good point like I mean there yeah thanks. **[00:38] Nick Cantala:** Well the planting it'll be rain or shine? **[00:39] Lauren Cota:** Yes um our typical outdoor events only get canceled for severe weather so dress appropriately and it will get canceled if there's hurricanes or tornadoes thank you but not lightly lightning in other words um and I think that's where will we be meeting. **[00:40] Marge Seitzetter:** Goose Pond Park okay there's parking right at the park? **[00:41] Lauren Cota:** Yep there is parking right at the park there isn't at the church too there is parking next door at the church I haven't contacted them I'll uh I will contact the church just to make sure that's acceptable Saturday morning it shouldn't be a problem but they should be at least notified so they can say no if they want to. **[00:42] Marge Seitzetter:** When I looked at the map it looks like at the park there I didn't see a structure for no civilian or anything. **[00:43] Lauren Cota:** There is no Pavilion there but I will have plenty of tents available to keep people dry if it's misting or raining and sandbags if it's windy to hold the tents down lunch will be served at about 11 right. **[00:44] Nick Cantala:** Yep. **[00:45] Lauren Cota:** lunch served about 11. and you want Jimmy John's again our Jersey mics I think we did actually Jersey Mike's if it's easy and it was costing the budget yep yeah and is everybody's if everybody's happy with Jersey Mike's we'll just go with it again it worked out well they have a a gluten-free so now that I know is that we did for the um Buckthorn remote yeah yep that worked out well and so when I solicited volunteers from the National Honor societies I told them to let me know if anybody had any special dietary needs but I didn't ask volunteers at all so you got to let me know if you have any special dietary needs I'll try to accommodate I think that's all I got on the volunteer planting it's coming together pretty well. **[00:46] Nick Cantala:** Yeah good it's going to be fun nice really nice just Just for kicks what's the address for Goose Pond Park? **[00:47] Lauren Cota:** Uh I think I have it on the flyer on the back last page yes 6131 40th Street North I only say that because it didn't come up when I entered it in calendar 55128 yep [Applause]. **[00:48] Marge Seitzetter:** Would you like me to do registration and name tags and stuff like that? **[00:49] Lauren Cota:** Yep if you want to Sure excellent and yeah the flyer doesn't show planting any trees but uh we're gonna be planting trees exclusively this year. **[00:50] Nick Cantala:** So exciting yeah that is exciting great project for us wrestle some trees into some holes. **[00:51] Lauren Cota:** Yeah and there won't be much wrestling because they're all bare root. **[00:52] Nick Cantala:** So you know what size they're going to be? **[00:53] Lauren Cota:** They're roughly up anywhere from five to seven feet um so yep I didn't have any success trying to find an evergreen this year and Mike if you would like to talk to Bailey's about... **[00:54] Mike Sarla:** Uh I I've been trying to get Balsam Furs for so long and I they never have them I don't know if they don't produce them or what. **[00:55] Lauren Cota:** I I've never seen a girl Balsam first yeah otherwise con color first too we'd be happy with otherwise next year I'll maybe try to do the Norway spruce like you guys said but they weren't available this year by the time I tried to get him again so I think that's all I have anybody have any comments or questions about the spring planting before we move on. **[00:56] Nick Cantala:** Well if anything else comes up we'll Circle back um next up uh do any board members have any updates for us? Marge, you're at the shade tree anything you wanted to share from that? **[00:57] Marge Seitzetter:** If anyone gets a chance to go to the shade tree short course at Bethel University it was last week two days it's so fun and exciting and there's so much information about the three of us were here I don't want anyone else sit down um it's just an awesome educational event with all kinds of stuff going on about trees and the climate change of course is a big topic this year um but I just come away inspired every every time they have it this was of course on just online the last two years so nice to have it back in person so and I didn't win a door prize so that's okay my door price was getting educated and they always have really good coffee and pastries in the morning and a really good lunch too so always lasagna on the first day count on it Chicken on day two yeah but it's a great great event um I do have one other um update just from the Master Gardeners and I don't even know Deb if you've been involved in it with this yet but um one of our other Master Gardeners Anna Barker and I are putting together what we're calling a tree project which is trying to consolidate and I guess um that consolidates the wrong word but put together um a group we a team of people all who are interested in trees and then we're all already doing like independently some different things regarding trees but we're not sharing that knowledge as a group and trying to bring in more people into this kind of tree focused initiative so we're just putting together a project and it's going to be coming out as an interest group that other Master Gardeners can sign up for in Washington County and then that would help us like disseminate and get more volunteerism more Advocates and more people taking the three cure advisor course or the tree store course at the University things like that so that's just a new thing because where it's like a shotgun approach right now and we want to you know kind of bring that all together and share it with within our 160 whatever person organization so I'm hoping that will drive more people to you know especially climate change issues and um you know get those people who really care about the trees to rally together so that's our continued growth. **[00:58] Nick Cantala:** Awesome thank you Marge sure have any other updates from other board members? If not that's okay I don't want to put anybody on the spot. **[00:59] Marge Seitzetter:** I do have a question—can I do a question? **[01:00] Nick Cantala:** Yes [Laughter] no questions allowed. **[01:01] Marge Seitzetter:** Has anyone been to the Bark Park and know how our trees that we planted when it last year two years ago are doing? **[01:02] Lauren Cota:** One of them didn't survive but the rest of them look like they're doing okay okay the last time I looked at him last fall I thought they were all still thriving but uh I don't I don't know it could have just been an early Leaf Drop situation I didn't actually go in there because there's usually dogs I don't have a dog so I didn't want to go in there without a dog it's weird um but yeah if they look like they're doing fine. **[01:03] Marge Seitzetter:** Okay I just thought if not we could maybe replant that a tree or two or whatever you know catch it early so it can catch up with the rest of the trees. **[01:04] Lauren Cota:** We'll keep an eye on them I drive right past there on my way home okay yeah and let you know they will let you walk in there with all their dogs and if the tree board if there's some that died and the tree board wants to get together and plant them I I I I have the trees for it. **[01:05] Marge Seitzetter:** Just uh follow up you know because I never get out that way so thanks thank you. **[01:06] Nick Cantala:** Yeah we already had our Council update so that just leaves Deb if you have anything for us. **[01:07] Deb Molars:** [Indistinct] doesn't have anything for us. **[01:08] Lauren Cota:** I have a question for Deb so have you put up a sign up sheet for volunteers or anything yet for doing it? **[01:09] Deb Molars:** Okay. **[01:10] Lauren Cota:** Okay yeah and if you get a whole bunch I don't want to turn anybody away so okay so one-to-one volunteer right be nice um good training okay. **[01:11] Nick Cantala:** Well nobody has anything else that's our whole agenda that's a quick meeting guys awesome home in time for dinner tweet in motion I need a motion to uh adjourn the meeting now right. **[01:12] Marge Seitzetter:** I'll make a motion to adjourn. **[01:13] Glenn Giacoletto:** I second the motion. **[01:14] Nick Cantala:** All in favor? **[01:15] Tree Board Members:** Aye. **[01:15] Nick Cantala:** All opposed? Then the March 23rd tree board meeting is adjourned thank you someone left me some fake Acorn yeah they're faking.