Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.h. Tree City USA Recertification ROSEM T T OUNT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CITY COUNCIL City Council Regular Meeting: December 20, 2011 AGENDA SECTION: AGENDA ITEM: Tree City USA Recertification Consent PREPARED BY: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation AGENDA NO. 6.h. Director ATTACHMENTS: Application APPROVED BY: 0131 RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to approve the application for recertification for the Tree City USA award. ISSUE The time has come for the City Council to once again consider applying for our recertification as a distinguished Tree City, USA. Tree City, USA is an award given to those cities that depict an honest and active prograrn to promote protection of our natural habitat and our trees. Part of the attachment includes a work plan and a proclamation by the City of Rosemount identifying April 30, 2011 to be Arbor Day and the month of May to be Arbor Month. City staff worked to complete a variety of programs including an Arbor Day program and tree give away, tree plantings and other nature programs. This application for recertification indicates that we would like to continue with these types of programs and others to promote tree planting and protection. It is the Parks and Recreation Department's intent to join with the Commissions, Council and other Departments to further enhance our policies relating to the preservation of our trees and to continue to reforest the City. BACKGROUND Each year the City applies for recertification as a distinguished Tree City, USA, and proclaims the month of May to be Arbor Month and a specific day in May to be Arbor Day. SUMMARY Staff is requesting City Council approval to apply for recertification for the Tree City USA award. 4 Page 1 of 1 itcH Tree City USA 2011 Application for Certification 1r:: CI" USN The Tree City USA award is in recognition of work completed by the community during the 2011 calendar year. As Mayor or Equivalent of the Community of Rosemount I herewith make application for this community to be officially certified /recertified as a Tree City USA for 2011, having achieved the standards set forth by the Arbor Day Foundation as noted below. Standard 1: A Tree Board or Department Dan Schultz Tree Board Chairperson 651- 322 -6012 dan.schultz @ci.rosemount.mn.us Standard 2: A Community Tree Ordinance I Our community ordinance is on record Standard 3: A Community Forestry Program with an Annual Budget of at Least $2 Per Capita Total Community Forestry Expenditures $68400 Community Population 21874 Per Capita Spending $3.13 Standard 4: An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation y Official Arbor Day proclamation is on record Mayor or Equivalent Signature Title Date Application Certification To Be Completed By The State Forester: Rosemount The above named community has made formal application to this office. I am pleased to advise you that we reviewed the application and have concluded that, based on the information contained herein, said community is eligible to be certified as a Tree City USA community, for the 2011 calendar year, having in my opinion met the four standards required for recognition. State Forester Signature Title Date ) . O) rh r l ay k "�c�uYiciaCior t tX. ( ..,..�.. -+.w http: / /portal.arborday. org/ TreeCityPrintForm. aspx? OpportunityID= 8c2f2,637- 4ffh- e011 -90... 12/8/2011 FORESTRY= WORK PLAN / CITY OF ROSEMOUNT 2011 Our Arbor Day Celebration once again included a joint effort with Dakota Electric Association Utility Company. The City of Rosemount and Dakota Electric purchased bare root trees that were anywhere from 5' to 14' in height and up to 1" around. In 2011, we increased the number of trees handed out from 150 to 180 trees. Rosemount residents received the trees during our Arbor Day celebration on April 30, 2011. We were able to give away all of the trees. The Mayor of Rosemount read the Arbor Day Proclamation. This years Arbor Day Celebration was well received by the residents, and once again, plans are in the works to continue this type of celebration for 2012. A landscape project was done at Schwarz Pond Park. Forty seven trees, including oak, birch, pine and tamarack were planted, along with 30 shrubs, 58 ornamental grasses and 135 perennials. The project included constructions of a new trail from the park parking lot to a newly constructed fishing pier. Trees were planted at Central Park and Family Resource Center. The trees had been growing in the City's nursery . in Erickson Park and would soon have been too large to move. Three trees were planted at Central Park in hopes of providing a little more shade to the area around the shelter building. This area had been identified as needing more shade. At the Family Resource Center. at total of eleven trees were planted along the boulevard and along the south and east sides of the playground. The trees were moved by a local tree moving contractor. Two ceremonial Pine trees were also planted. One was planted at the Rosemount National Guard Armory to be used and decorated as a Yellow Ribbon tree to honor the troops and their families. The second tree was planted at the city owned Steeple Center to be used as the City's holiday tree. Along with the above mentioned special projects, City staff also'continued with the maintenance of boulevard trees, which included trimming, pruning, watering and mulching over 1000 trees. City staff also planted and relocated trees from our tree nursery into existing parks and other areas throughout the city. BUDGET ITEMS PERTAINING TO THE FORESTRY ASPECT OF OUR DEPT: 1. 50% Parks Forester Salary ($48,000) $24,000 2. Part time Summer Parks maintenance $10,000 3. Trees and Shrubs $ 6,000 4. Pruning /Trimming /Moving of Trees $18500 5. Arbor Day Celebration $ 3,900 6. 10% of the Park Supervisor Salary ($60,000) $ 6,000 TOTAL $68,400 4 ROSEMOUNT MINNESOTA PROCLAMATION Whereas, In 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees, and Whereas, this holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska, and Whereas, Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world, and' Whereas, trees can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life - giving oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife, and Whereas, trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and beautifying our community, and Whereas, trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community, and Whereas, trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. Now, Therefore, I, William Droste, Mayor of the City of Rosemount, do hereby proclaim April 30, 2011 as Arbor Day in the City of Rosemount and I urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, and Further, I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well -being of this and future generations. Dated this Thirtieth day of •hril, 2011 Mayor _ r e .