C. Discussion Items
1. Board vacancies Cory Rich was a guest attendee. He has applied for Tree Board
membership. He is the Construction and Conservation Manager Operation Fresh Start.
The OFS Conservation and Natural Resources Management section has young people of
high school age who have disconnected from school do 1000 hours field work at
restoration sites and get a high school diploma. Rich supervises the crew supervisors of
the participants, but was a crew supervisor himself in the past. Also works with OFS
Legacy Program Conservation Academy that helps connect OFS participants with
conservation trades. The Urban Forestry Apprenticeship Conservation Academy at
Madison College is part of this effort. Vacancies Discussion: WYATT asked if MMSD
STEM teachers, commercial arborists or community arborists might be categories of
candidates to approach. Rich suggested teacher Connie Allen at Crestwood Elementary
school a possibility and Carolyn Byers of Madison Audubon. Wahl will check City of
Madison, Weiss will contact Terra from Landscape Design.
2. Budget proposals – spending deadline $3,026 remains. $400 was already given to
Heritage Tree project, and it is being spent. Discussion of possibilities. MOTION by
WEISS to do one PSA at $1000 and send $1626 to the State Cartography Office to
work on Heritage Oaks inventory activities. NOONE seconds. MOTION passes. WYATT
suggests the PSA be on oak pruning.
3. Workplan review Due to limited remaining discussion time, a MOTION was made to
move this topic to the January meeting by NOONE, seconded by WEISS. MOTION
passes. Johnson will send the workplan as it currently exists in early January to Board
members.
D. Presentations
E. Reports to Committee
1. Tree canopy group: Brochure done, new name of the group is the Tree Canopy
Collaborative (TCC). TCC is working with Sun Prairie and Fitchburg in 2023 to identify
community organizations in the target areas that can help with private plantings. Sun
Prairie has done its public planting already this fall.
2. Heritage Oaks update: Allocating $1626 to State Cartography Office to work on
Heritage Tree Inventory activities. NOONE is working with WEISS to write an in-depth
article on the project for the website.
3. Events work group – has not met, has no members due to resignations
4. Outreach work group –Met October 25, discussed PSAs and selected two topics (oak
pruning and de-icing salts) for winter, website main menu/audience focus changes and
doing PSAs through WORT radio. MODERHOCK will give WYATT contact info for
WORT to advance that conversation.
5. Policy work group RITT reports the group is focusing on the Dane County Land/Water
Resource Management plan, how to preserve forest lands and future-proofing young oaks
with protections against development. The group is developing concrete suggestions
within the plan. It will bring ideas to full Board to discuss and prioritize and bring back to
Hicklin, the director at Land/Water Resources. May lead to a policy change but
incorporation into their plan is the fastest way to have an impact.
F. Future Meeting Items and Dates
Future meeting items and dates December no meeting, 2023 dates to follow. Plan to get
new invitees to come. Johnson will send new dates for 2023.
