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Home My WebLink About05-06-2025 - Agenda Packet Park Commission - Regular MeetingAgenda Parks Commission Meeting Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers | 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 952-249-4600 /oronomn.gov Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Approval of Agenda Approval of Minutes Approval of Minutes Public Comment (limit 3 minutes per person) For items not on the agenda. To add a comment, approach the podium, state your name and address. Comments are limited to three (3) minutes. No action will be taken. Presentations Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Staff Report Mayors Monarch Pledge Chair Report Commissioner Reports Park Commissioner Assignments Adjournment Sign up for email notifications at oronomn.gov 1 Date: May 6, 2025 Item: Presenter: Joe Ruthenberg, Superintendent - Parks, Facilities Section: Approval of Minutes Title: Approval of Minutes 1.Purpose: Review the proposed meeting minutes. 2.Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the February 4th, 2025 Park meeting minutes. 3.Park Commission Action Requested: Motion to approved February 4th, 2025 minutes. AGENDA ITEM Exhibits 02.04.2025 Park Commission Minutes .pdf 2 Minutes Park Commission Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 Page 1 of 3 Chair Roath called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. ROLL CALL The Orono Park Commission members present: Chair Brian Roath, Commissioners Rick Carter, Gordy Stofer, and Michael Huddy Absent: Commission member Cameron Porter. Staff present: Park Superintendent Joe Ruthenberg APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA The agenda was approved by consensus. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. August 6, 2024 Park Commission meeting minutes Stofer moved, Huddy seconded, to approve the minutes of the August 6, 2024 Park Commission meeting as submitted. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENT Janie Delaney, 1325 Woodhill Avenue, spoke against locating a mountain bike trail at the golf course, saying it is a 100-year-old facility and not conducive to multiple uses, especially active uses like a bike trail. The ability to hike or snowshoe already exists at the golf course without disturbing it. Jacqueline Ricks, 2108 Sugarwood Drive, said she is a new member of the City Council and would like to meet with Park Commission members to find out if there is a comprehensive plan for parks and if so, how it relates to the City’s Comprehensive Plan. John Withrow, 425 Oxford Road, spoke in favor of locating a bike trail next to the golf course as has been done at other golf courses, generating enough use to preserve the golf course from development for another 100 years. Kim Carswell, 261 Cygnet Place, asked about the reason for looking at the bike trail project now and how the parks department decides what projects to work on. Ritchie Anderson, 3205 Crystal Bay Road, noted there is $15,000 already set aside for the mountain bike trail study. He said it is a fast-growing sport involving kids of all ages and abilities and thousands showing up for races and he supports the city going ahead with the study. He said he would be interested in participating in fundraising for the development at some point. Walter Holmes, 6775 Fogelman Road, said he was introduced to mountain biking as a youngster and competed in high school and found it to be a positive experience that changed his life. He said it is not bad for the environment because they don’t cut down trees, they go around trees but do clear brush that can lead to fires. 3 Minutes Park Commission Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 Page 2 of 3 Adam Holmes, 6775 Fogelman Road, said mountain biking became a family endeavor, getting kids outside and away from screens and got him riding bike again too. He said bikers are conscientious about the trails and clean up after themselves, creating little environmental impact. Anna Holmes, 6775 Fogelman Road, said she was never a biker until her son joined the mountain biking team and it was a great opportunity for her family. She said mountain biking gave her a greater challenge over a flat trail. She is part of a mom’s biking group but they have to drive 30 miles for a trail. She said mountain biking is no more dangerous than lacrosse. She explained the reason for numerous coaches and parent volunteers. Jay Swenson, 2850 Little Orchard Way, said four of his kids have joined the Orono High School mountain bike team in the last seven years but the obstacle is having to drive to a trail. He said he also decided to start mountain biking, lost weight, and got in shape. Now he is a volunteer coach. PRESENTATION STAFF REPORT 2. Parks, Golf, and Facilities Update Parks Superintendent Joe Ruthenberg introduced himself and gave a recap of activities since the last meeting in August. He highlighted the annual tree lighting event, the new parking lot at the Lurton Dog Park, tree maintenance, staff turnover and his base at the new public works building. He said greens fees at the golf course were down a little last summer, largely because of rainy periods when carts could not be used. Leagues helped keep the use up. Commissioners welcomed Ruthenberg. CHAIR REPORT None COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS Orono Mountain Bike/Multi-Use Trail Presentation Commissioner Carter said a lot of time has been spent on this project over five or six years with a long way to go. The earliest it would go to the City Council would be early summer for construction realistically next year. He said he is both a mountain biker and a golfer and confirmed the nearest trails are about a half-hour drive away. He gave a slide presentation showing a wooded five-acre site that would not interfere with golf. He said the trail would be year-round and multi-use for hiking, cross-country skiing and fat biking. The plan would be to access from the Luce Line rather than the golf course parking lot. His recommendation would be to use the $15,000 budgeted in the Capital Improvement Plan to bring in a professional designer. There would be an open house and public input prior to final approval. It is hoped donations and matching grants would fund the project, with a ballpark cost estimate of about $100,000. This trail would be a couple of miles long and most mountain bike trails in the metro area are seven to eight miles, which would mean this trail would be targeted to the youth and local people. 4 Minutes Park Commission Regular Meeting Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 6:00 PM City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 Page 3 of 3 Stofer said he is a golfer and a neighbor of the golf course but is in favor of having mountain biking in Orono. He said when he visited Wirth Golf Course and saw the two uses co-existing on the same site he was pleasantly surprised and is keeping an open mind. Roath said he liked the location because of its proximity to the Luce Line. Carter moved, Huddy seconded, that the City spend up to $15,000 as budgeted in the CIP to hire a designer for a mountain bike trail at the golf course. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. Park Commission 2025 Goals Roath asked the commission to review its 2024 goals and build on them to establish the 2025 goals. Carter said Parks has a section in the Comprehensive Plan and Trails is a subsection. He said he saw trail goals for 2025 being the same as in 2024. He also suggested further development for the park at Big Island in terms of adding activities. Roath suggested pulling out the mountain bike trail to its own line as it is proposed to move forward this year. Stofer noted some 2024 success at the golf course and suggested the focus for 2025 should be continuing course conditioning, tree management, landscaping around the clubhouse, a new gate, purchase of a food truck, and new umbrellas on the patio branded with the course logo and name. In the long term, the City needs to look at some big-ticket items like drainage, expanding playability, and a maintenance shed. Huddy talked about increasing participation in the adopt-a-park program and balancing the donation garden and pickleball development. Needs at other existing parks were also discussed. Roath said additional park commissioners are needed. Ruthenberg said four applications have been received. Roath moved, Carter seconded, to adopt the 2025 goals as summarized. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. ADJOURNMENT Roath moved, Huddy seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 7:13 p.m. to May 6, 2025. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0. ATTEST: _________________________________________ Brian Roath, Chair 5 Date: May 6, 2025 Item: Presenter: Joe Ruthenberg, Superintendent - Parks, Facilities Section: Presentations Title: Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy 1.Purpose: The City of Orono’s Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy, prepared by Davey Resource Group, Inc. (DRG), focuses on analyzing inventory data, quantifying the benefits provided by the community’s inventoried trees, and identifying their maintenance needs. AGENDA ITEM Exhibits Orono MN - Inventory Analysis Maint. Stragegy.pdf 6 TREE INVENTORY ANALYSIS & MAINTENANCE STRATEGY PREPARED FOR City of Orono March 2025 7 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page i TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................... ii Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................. iii Inventory Analysis Summary .................................................................................................................................... iv Recommended Maintenance .................................................................................................................................... v Introduction ...............................................................................................................................................................1 Section 1: Structure And Composition .....................................................................................................................4 Section 2: Functions And Benefits.......................................................................................................................... 11 Section 3: Recommended Maintenance ................................................................................................................ 17 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................................. 26 References ............................................................................................................................................................... 28 TABLES 1.Summary of benefits provided by the most common inventoried street trees. .................................. 12 2.The inventoried species which provide the greatest annual benefit per tree. ..................................... 13 3.Inventoried species with the highest per tree replacement value. ..................................................... 15 4.Example maintenance schedule and budget for a five-year tree management program. .................... 25 FIGURES 1.Number of inventoried sites by location and type. .......................................................................................4 2.Species diversity of trees which make up at least 2% of the inventoried population. .................................5 3.Genera diversity of trees which make up at least 2% of the inventoried population. .................................6 4.Susceptibility of the tree resource to pests and diseases of concern in Minnesota. ....................................7 5.Condition ratings of street trees. ..................................................................................................................7 6.Relative age distribution of the inventoried trees. .......................................................................................9 7.Inventoried tree condition ratings compared to age class. ..........................................................................9 8.Breakdown of annual benefits provided by the inventoried tree resource. ............................................. 13 9.Hydrological functions of trees. Source: ‘Stormwater to Street Trees: Engineering Urban Forests for Stormwater Management’, EPA publication 841 B 13 001. ....................................................................... 14 10.Removal recommendations for Dead condition trees. .............................................................................. 18 11.Removal recommendations for Poor condition trees. ............................................................................... 19 12.Trees included in the routine pruning cycle as of the completion of the inventory. ................................. 21 APPENDICES A. Summary of Recommendations B. Study Area and Data Collection Study Area 8 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project supports the City of Orono’s vision to promote and enhance community well-being through tree conservation and improved forestry management practices. This Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan offers expert recommendations for preserving and expanding urban canopy so the environmental, economic, and social benefits it provides are maximized today and for future generations. The City of Orono is thankful for the grant funding it received from Hennepin County Healthy Tree Canopy grant. The Hennepin County Healthy Tree Canopy Grant Program is designed to encourage communities to create and support sustainable urban forestry programs throughout the county. The City of Orono recognizes the support of: The County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota Adam Edwards, City Administrator Joe Ruthenberg, Parks and Facilities Superintenden Notice of Disclaimer: Inventory data was not provided by Davey Resource Group, Inc. (DRG). Visual records do not include individual testing or analysis, nor do they include aerial or subterranean inspection. DRG is not responsible for the discovery or identification of hidden or otherwise non-observable hazards. Records may not remain accurate after inspection due to the variable deterioration of inventoried material. DRG provides no warranty with respect to the fitness of the urban forest for any use or purpose whatsoever. Clients may choose to accept or disregard DRG’s recommendations or to seek additional advice. Important: know and understand that visual inspection is confined to the designated subject tree(s) and that the inspections for this project are performed in the interest of facts of the tree(s) without prejudice to or for any other service or any interested party. 9 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Orono’s Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy, prepared by Davey Resource Group, Inc. (DRG), focuses on analyzing inventory data, quantifying the benefits provided by the community’s inventoried trees, and identifying their maintenance needs. DRG received street and park tree inventory data from Orono that was collected by an outside contractor in 2019, 2020, and 2022. DRG’s staff then analyzed the inventory data to understand the structure of the City’s inventoried tree resource and provide recommendations on priority and routine maintenance programs for future tree care. The data was also analyzed using i-Tree Eco to calculate the economic value of the community’s inventoried public trees and their environmental benefits (i.e., stormwater, carbon, and air pollution). The City of Orono’s inventoried trees have an estimated replacement value of over $3.05 million and provide $18,679 annually in stormwater, air quality, and carbon benefits each year. Supporting and funding proactive maintenance of Orono’s public trees is a sound long-term investment that will maximize tree benefits, reduce tree care costs over time, and increase the value of the urban forest. While other municipal infrastructure loses value over time depreciates, the value of public trees increases (appreciates). High priority tree removal and pruning, while initially requiring a significant portion of the Year 1 budget in the five-year schedule as depicted in Table 7, bring valuable benefits. As this essential work is accomplished, budgets are anticipated to decrease and become more stable. This shift marks the progression of tree management that focuses on a proactive maintenance strategy. Notably, this proactive approach plays a crucial role in increasing tree benefits and diminishing the emergence of new elevated risk trees over time by preventing minor tree defects from deterioration. Calculating Tree Benefits The benefits of Orono’s inventoried trees presented in this Plan are calculated using i-Tree Eco. i-Tree is the industry recognized suite of tools used to measure and quantify the ecosystem benefits that trees provide. i-Tree is a partnership between the USDA Forest Service, The Davey Tree Expert Company, the Arbor Day Foundation, the International Society of Arboriculture, Society of Municipal Arborists, Casey Trees, and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. It was released in 2006 and its models are updated regularly based on the latest science and research. REPLACEMENT VALUE $3.05 million AIR POLLUTION REMOVAL 2,280 pounds $3,251 CARBON SEQUESTRATION 27 tons $11,854 AVOIDED STORMWATER RUNOFF 399,990 gallons $3,574 10 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page iv Inventory Analysis Summary Inventoried Sites Trees = 4,602 Annual Benefits Avoided Stormwater Runoff = $3,574 Air Pollution Removal = $3,251 Carbon Sequestration = $11,854 Top 5 Inventoried Species Top 5 Inventoried Genera SPECIES % OF INVENTORIED POPULATION GENUS % OF INVENTORIED POPULATION Green ash 26%* Ash 27%* Boxelder 9% Maple 22%* Sugar maple 8% Elm 11% American elm 6% Spruce 7% American basswood 5% Oak 5% * Exceeds industry guidelines of no more than 10% of one species in tree population. * Exceeds industry guidelines of no more than 10% of one species in tree population. Relative Age Distribution The approximate age of a tree can be identified by the tree’s diameter size. Of the inventoried trees: 37% were young (0-8”), compared to the 40% industry guidelines. 43% were established (9-17”), compared to the 30% industry guidelines. 13% were maturing (18-24”), compared to the 20% industry guidelines. 7% were mature (>24”), compared to the 10% industry guidelines. Pest Susceptibility 76% of inventoried trees are susceptible to one or more pests, including: Emerald ash borer. European spongy moth. Asian longhorned beetle. Condition Of the 4,602inventoried trees, there were: 7% in Excellent condition. 30% in Good condition. 47% in Fair condition. 14% in Poor condition. 2% were Dead Species Diversity 11 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page v Recommended Maintenance Tree Removal Trees designated for removal have defects that cannot be cost-effectively or practically corrected. Many of the trees in this category have a large percentage of dead crown. Total = 4,602 trees Poor Condition = 636 trees Dead = 101 trees *3 trees within the data set provided to DRG were not assigned a condition rating Priority Pruning Priority pruning removes defects such as dead and dying parts or broken and/or hanging branches. Pruning the defective part(s) can lower risk associated with the tree while promoting healthy growth. Total = 0 trees Routine Pruning Cycle Over time, routine pruning of Low Risk trees can minimize reactive maintenance, limit instances of elevated risk, and provide the basis for a robust risk management program. Total = 3,862 trees Number of trees in cycle each year = approximately 772 New Tree Planting Planting new trees in areas that have poor canopy continuity or sparse canopy is important to ensure that tree benefits are distributed evenly across the city. Planting goal: 2:1 replacement to removal ratio Young Tree Training Cycle Younger trees may have branch structure that can lead to potential problems as the tree ages, requiring training to ensure healthy growth. Training is generally completed from the ground with a pole pruner or pruning shear. Total = 957 trees Number of trees in cycle each year = approximately 319 Routine Inspection & Inventory Updates Routine inspections and inventory updates are essential to uncovering potential problems with trees and should be performed by a qualified arborist who is trained in the art and science of planting, caring for, and maintaining individual trees. Total = 3,862 trees not recommended for removal Number of trees in cycle each year = approximately 772 12 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 1 Introduction The City of Orono is home to over 8,119 residents benefiting from public trees in their community. The City of Orono & the Parks and Facilities Department manages all the trees along the street right-of-way (ROW) and throughout public parks and golf courses. In February 2025, the City of Orono worked with DRG to analyze its public tree data and develop this Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy. Consisting of three sections, this plan considers the diversity, distribution, and condition of the inventoried tree population and provides a prioritized system for managing Orono’s public trees. The sections of this plan are as follows: Section 1: Structure and Composition summarizes the inventory data with trends representing the current state of public trees. Section 2: Functions and Benefits summarizes the estimated value of benefits provided to the community by public trees’ various functions. Section 3: Recommended Maintenance details a prioritized maintenance schedule and provides an estimated budget for recommended maintenance activities over a five-year period. This Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy is designed to help the community understand the current state of its public trees, set future goals and benchmarks, anticipate future program needs, and focus on proactive maintenance. The Urban Forest Program Continuum (shown on Page 2) outlines the steps to effectively and sustainably manage and care for Orono’s urban forest. The continuum includes other plans that can support Orono’s urban forest, including: Urban Forest Management Plan which establishes a detailed 3- to 5-year work plan to address maintenance needs using current tree inventory data to streamline Orono’s urban forest management program. An Urban Forest Master Plan engages stakeholder and community members to provide a comprehensive vision for the future of the City’s urban forest, with recommendations and a road map of action steps to reach Orono’s urban forestry goals. 13 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 2 TREE CITY USA Tree Board Funding Ordinance DEDICATED COMMITMENT Certified Arborist Staff Annual Level 1 Assessments TREE INVENTORY Inventory Updating Goal Setting FUNDED PROGRAM Urban Forest Management Plan Proactive Maintenance URBAN FOREST MASTER PLAN 20-year Vision Urban Tree Canopy Analysis Stakeholder Input 14 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 3 Section 1: Structure and Composition 15 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 4 Section 1: Structure And Composition The City of Orono contracted arborists who collected data on tree sites along the street ROW and in public parks throughout Orono; 4,602 sites were inventoried, with 63% collected along the street ROW and 37% collected in parks (Figure 1). SPECIES & GENERA DIVERSITY Diversity within plant communities is important for increasing their resistance and resilience to disturbance (see side panel, “The Importance of Species Diversity”). The 10-20-30 rule is a common urban forestry industry metric for tree species diversity in which a single species should compose no more than 10% of the population, a single genus no more than 20%, and a single family no more than 30%. Some communities may be in the position to pursue more aggressive diversity goals, such as a 5-10-15 metric. There are 80 different species within Orono’s ROW and parks; however, there are five species collected that do not typically grow in this region. These species include Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas), Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), Cascara buckthorn (Rhamnus purshiana), and western red cedar (Thuja plicata). Figure 2 shows the species diversity breakdown for Orono’s most common inventoried trees. Green ash is the most common tree (26%), followed by boxelder (9%) and sugar maple (8%). The City’s inventoried trees represent 32 distinct genera. Figure 3 shows the genera diversity breakdown for Orono’s inventoried trees. Ash is the most common genus (27%), followed by maple (22%), elm (11%), and spruce (7%). THE ROLE OF NON-NATIVE TREE SPECIES IN THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT Certain non-native tree species that are especially tolerant of harsh urban conditions can be a practical choice to plant, especially when aiming to sustain high levels of species diversity. Non-native species of concern are those that are considered invasive, which should not be planted regardless of the site conditions. 2,903 1,699 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 TreesNumber of SitesStreets Parks Figure 1. Number of inventoried sites by location and type. 16 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 5 SPECIES & GENERA DIVERSITY RECOMMENDATIONS Avoid or limit planting of green ash and increase planting of other species until green ash make up less than 10% of public trees. Avoid or limit planting of ash and maple and increase planting of other genera until ash and maple make up less than 20% of public trees. Remove volunteer trees that have invasive tendencies, such as boxelder, from maintained public areas while small. Increase planting of uncommon species and genera which are well suited to urban environments. Figure 2. Species diversity of trees which make up at least 2% of the inventoried population. The Dutch elm disease epidemic of the 1930s provides a key historical lesson on the importance of diversity. The disease killed millions of American elm trees, leaving behind enormous gaps in the urban canopy of many communities. In the aftermath, ash trees became popular replacements and were heavily planted along city streets. History repeated itself in 2002 with the introduction of the emerald ash borer into US. This invasive beetle continues to devastate ash tree populations across the country. Other invasive pests and diseases, severe weather events, and climate change threaten our urban forests today, so it’s vital that we learn from history and plant a wider variety of tree species and genera to develop a resistant and resilient public tree resource. THE IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY 26% 9%8% 6%4%3%3%3%3%3%2%2%2% 2%2%2%2% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%Percent of Inventoried PopulationOrono Industry Recommendation 17 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 6 Figure 3. Genera diversity of trees which make up at least 2% of the inventoried population. PEST SUSCEPTIBLITY Early identification of tree pests and diseases can reduce the impact of infestations on the urban forest. Infestations which are caught while still limited to a small number of trees can be more easily and cost- effectively managed and help prevent the further spread of the pest or disease. Since many pests and diseases have preferred host tree species and genera, the susceptibility of an urban forest to a pest or disease can be predicted based on its species and genus diversity. Figure 4 presents the percentage of inventoried trees which are susceptible to pests and diseases of concern in Minnesota. It is important to remember that this figure only represents data collected during the inventory, and many more trees throughout Orono, such as those on private property, may be susceptible to hosting these invasive pests. 63% of inventoried trees in Orono are susceptible to Asian longhorned beetle . Other pests which could affect a large portion of public trees include emerald ash borer (25% of street trees and 30% of park trees), and spongy moth (18% of street trees and 14% of park trees). PEST SUSCEPTIBILITY RECOMMENDATIONS Monitor trees for signs and symptoms of pests and diseases on a regular basis. This can be done as part of other routine maintenance activities such as pruning. When a pest or disease is suspected, act quickly to confirm the identification and begin management. 27% 22% 11% 7% 5%5%4%4%3%3%3%2% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% Ash Maple Elm Spruce Oak Linden Arborvitae Pine Walnut Juniper Willow HackberryPercent of Inventoried ROW PopulationOrono Industry Recommendation 18 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 7 Prepare an invasive species management plan to guide the response to future pest or disease infestations. When planting trees, select pest- or disease-resistant species or cultivars whenever possible. Use preventative pesticide treatments on high-value or historic trees that are susceptible to problematic pests and/or diseases in Minnesota. Figure 4. Susceptibility of the tree resource to pests and diseases of concern in Minnesota. CONDITION During the inventory, each tree was assigned a condition rating based on several factors, including root characteristics; branch structure, trunk, canopy, and foliage condition; and the presence of pests or disease. Tree condition was rated as Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, and Dead. Figure 5 provides the condition rating breakdown for street and park trees in Orono. Most trees were in Good or Fair condition (78%). 11% of the street trees and 5% of park trees were in Poor or Dead condition. 5% of the street trees and 8% of the park trees were in excellent condition. Within the provided data set, three trees were not assigned a condition rating and were not added to Figure 5. CONDITION RECOMMENDATIONS ●Dead and dying trees should be removed as soon as possible in priority order from highest to lowest risk to reduce public hazards, create space for new planting, and improve the appearance of Orono’s streets and parks. 14% 30% 63% 18% 25% 64% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% European spongy moth Emerald ash borer Asian longhorned beetle Percent of Inventoried Trees SusceptibleInvasive Pests with a Regional PresenceParks Streets 2%2% 15%12% 57% 30% 20% 47% 5%8% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Streets* ParksPercent of Inventoried Trees*Three street trees were not assigned a condition rating Dead Poor Fair Good Excellent Figure 5. Condition ratings of street trees. 19 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 8 ●Trees in Poor condition not recommended for removal should be maintained to reduce risk associated with defects and should be routinely monitored for further decline that would necessitate removal. ●Condition ratings can be improved over time by instituting proactive maintenance cycles such as routine pruning and young tree training. All tree pruning should follow ANSI A300 (Clause 5) guidelines. RELATIVE AGE DISTRIBUTION Analysis of a tree population’s relative age distribution can be performed by assigning age classes to the diameter of trees. While actual tree age cannot be determined by diameter alone, this industry standard method provides an estimate of the approximate age distribution of the inventoried tree population. Since trees at different stages of development need different types and frequencies of maintenance, age distribution can help inform management needs and decisions. The size classes (left) are based on the industry-recognized ideal relative age distribution, which holds that the largest proportion of the inventoried tree population (40%) should be young trees, smaller portions should be established and maturing trees (30% and 20%, respectively), and the smallest proportion (10%) should be mature trees. Figure 6 compares the age distribution of the tree population to standard industry recommendation. Overall, Orono’s street trees are trending toward the industry recommended age distribution, with a surplus of established trees (46%), moderate numbers of young and mature trees (38% and 6%, respectively), and fewer maturing trees (11%). In parks, there is an underrepresentation of young and maturing trees (35% and 16% versus the 40% and 20% recommendation) and a surplus of established trees (39% versus the 30% recommendation). Figure 7 compares tree condition ratings across the relative age classes for inventoried trees. Trees across all age classes are generally in Fair condition. In general, trees in the young age class are more likely to be in Good condition, while maturing and mature age classes are more likely to have trees in Poor condition. RELATIVE AGE RECOMMENDATIONS ●The city of Orono’s park and street trees are young. Orono should focus on tree pruning and proactive care for these young and established trees, and a maintenance plan should be implemented to ensure that the young and established trees can mature while retaining good health and proper form. ●A large proportion of street trees are young or established (53% of street trees and 28% of park trees). A young tree training cycle should be instituted to structurally prune these younger trees to ensure good form and improve health as they mature. ●Street tree planting is currently sufficient to maintain the recommended age distribution. However, sustained planting efforts over time will be necessary to retain this age distribution. Age/Size Classes Young: 0-8 inches diameter at standard height (DSH), as measured 4.5’ above the ground Established: 9-17 inches DSH Maturing: 18-24 inches DSH Mature: 25+ inches DSH 20 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 9 ●Routine, proactive maintenance, such as young tree training and routine pruning, may help improve tree condition, particularly among maturing and mature trees. Figure 6. Relative age distribution of the inventoried trees. Figure 7. Inventoried tree condition ratings compared to age class. 38% 46% 11% 6% 35%39% 16% 10% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Young (0-8") Established (9-17") Maturing (18-24") Mature (>24")Percent of Inventoried TreesRelative Age (Diameter Size Class) Streets Parks Ideal 2% 1% 3% 13% 24% 29% 27% 36% 54% 52% 53% 38% 21% 17% 17% 13% 0% 20% 40% 60% Mature (>24") Maturing (18-24") Established (9-17") Young (0-8") Percent of ROW TreesRelative Age Based on Size ClassExcellent Good Fair Poor & Dead 21 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 10 Section 2: Functions and Benefits 22 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 11 Section 2: Functions And Benefits Trees play a vital role in the environment by providing a wide array of economic, environmental, and social benefits which far exceed the investments in planting, maintaining, and removing them. Trees reduce air pollution, improve public health outcomes, reduce stormwater runoff, sequester and store carbon, reduce energy use, and increase property value, among other benefits. ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS • Trees decrease energy consumption and moderate local climates by providing shade, cooling through their transpiration processes, and acting as windbreaks. • Trees act as mini reservoirs, helping to slow and reduce the amount of stormwater runoff and pollutants that reaches storm drains, rivers, and lakes by 20-60% (Johnson et al. 2017). • Trees reduce greenhouse gasses that can trap and retain heat in the atmosphere and cause the city to get warmer. • Trees can reduce street-level air pollution by up to 60% (Coder 1996). • Trees stabilize soil and provide a habitat for wildlife. IMPROVED PUBLIC HEALTH • Trees have been shown to prevent 1,200 heat-related deaths each year in the US (McDonald et al. 2020). • By intercepting particulate matter, trees save over 850 lives and prevent 670,000 incidents of acute respiratory symptoms in the US each year (Nowak et al. 2014). • Hospital patients recovering from surgery who had a view of a grove of trees Through their windows required fewer pain relievers, experienced fewer complications, and left the hospital sooner than similar patients who had a view of a brick wall (Ulrich 1984, 1986). • When surrounded by trees, physical signs of personal stress, such as muscle tension and pulse rate, were measurably reduced within three to four minutes (Ulrich 1991). INCREASED SAFETY & COMMUNITY • Tree-lined streets slow traffic and are safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists (Swift et al. 1997, Ewing & Dumbaugh 2009). • A 10% increase in neighborhood tree canopy cover has been associated with a 12-15% reduction in violent and property crimes (Gilstad-Hayden et al. 2015, O’Neil-Dunn 2012). ECONOMIC BENEFITS • Properly placing three trees around a home can reduce energy costs for the average household by $100 to $250 per year, while shading air conditioning units can help them run up to 10% more efficiently (U.S. Department of Energy, n.d.). • Trees in a yard or neighborhood increase residential property values by an average of 10% (USDA Forest Service 2011), and commercial property rental rates are 7% higher when trees are on the property (Wolf 2007). • Shoppers spend more time and money in shopping districts with mature, healthy tree canopies, and are willing to spend 9-12% more at businesses with trees in front of them (Wolf 2005, Hughes 2013). 23 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 12 i-TREE RESULTS DRG used i-Tree Eco, a tool within the i-Tree suite, to model benefits provided by Orono’s inventoried public trees. i-Tree Eco combines tree inventory data with local air pollution and weather data to quantify the environmental benefits of a community’s trees (Table 1). By framing trees and their benefits as dollars saved per year, i-Tree models can help communities understand trees as both a natural resource and an economic investment. Understanding the composition, functions, and economic value of trees is essential for making informed planning and management decisions. This knowledge not only helps to better understand how decisions can affect human health and environmental quality but also empowers communities to advocate for the funding required to effectively manage and care for their valuable public trees. Table 1. Summary of benefits provided by the most common inventoried street trees. MOST COMMON TREES INVENTORIED COUNT PERCENT OF TOTAL BENEFITS PROVIDED BY STREET TREES CO₂ STORED CO₂ SEQUESTERED AVOIDED RUNOFF AIR POLLUTION REMOVED REPLACEMENT VALUE COMMON NAME % TONS TONS/YEAR GAL/YEAR LBS/YEAR DOLLARS Green ash 1,212 26.4% 266.9 5.0 653,574 520 $611,208 Boxelder 431 9.4% 179.0 3.2 253,332 200 $263,173 Sugar maple 389 8.5% 237.0 2.5 290,367 220 $262,421 American elm 258 5.6% 77.6 1.7 126,786 100 $154,167 American basswood 208 4.5% 92.6 1.3 234,370 180 $211,149 Blue spruce 171 3.7% 25.4 0.4 47,847 40 $42,800 Silver maple 157 3.4% 212.2 2.4 265,733 220 $319,720 Black walnut 150 3.3% 57.7 1.4 109,164 80 $90,539 Slippery elm 138 3.0% 21.9 0.7 55,224 40 $61,797 Eastern red cedar 131 2.9% 36.9 0.4 70,225 60 $62,655 Northern white cedar 119 2.6% 20.3 0.2 24,520 20 $33,884 Northern hackberry 113 2.5% 7.0 0.1 100,276 80 $74,669 Siberian elm 101 2.2% 25.9 0.4 26,076 20 $33,531 White spruce 99 2.2% 26.6 0.2 43,510 40 $37,846 Bur oak 99 2.2% 142.7 0.9 116,552 100 $170,979 All Other Trees Inventoried 826 17.8% 535 6.4 574,575 360 $624,458 Total 4,602 100% 1,964 27.4 2,992,130 2,280 $3,054,995 24 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 13 ANNUAL BENEFITS The i-Tree Eco model estimates the annual value of three environmental benefits: carbon sequestration, air pollutant removal, and stormwater runoff reduction. The model also calculates the lifetime carbon storage of inventoried trees as well as their replacement value. The inventoried trees in Orono provide over $18,679 of air quality, stormwater management, and carbon sequestration benefits each year (Figure 8). The amount of benefits provided by a tree is also influenced by species. Table 2 summarizes the key tree species that provide the greatest contribution to Orono’s annual benefits based on the results of the i-Tree Eco analysis of the public tree inventory. The black maple, as well as bigtooth aspen, paper birch, eastern cottonwood, weeping willow, and various oak and maple, are major contributors to the annual quantifiable benefits within the public tree resource. IMPROVING AIR QUALITY Trees and other vegetation improve air quality by intercepting and filtering particulate matter from the air, including dust, ash, pollen, and smoke. Their leaves also absorb harmful gaseous pollutants like ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide; and reduce ozone formation by shading surfaces and reducing air temperatures. Since airborne pollutants can have serious effects on human health, this benefit is extremely important, especially in heavily developed areas. 17% of Orono’s annual public tree benefits are associated with air pollution removal and are derived from the air pollutant removal. The inventoried trees in Orono remove 2,280 lbs. of airborne pollutants each year; a service valued at $3,251 (Table 3). SPECIES ANNUAL BENEFITS PER TREE Black maple $15.90 Bigtooth aspen $14.09 Paper birch $13.92 Eastern cottonwood $10.72 Weeping willow $10.65 Silver maple $10.46 Northern red oak $10.00 Northern pin oak $9.86 White oak $7.39 Kentucky coffee tree $7.29 REPLACEMENT VALUE $3.05 million AIR POLLUTION REMOVAL 2,280 pounds $3,251 CARBON SEQUESTRATION 27 tons $11,854 AVOIDED STORMWATER RUNOFF 399,990 gallons $3,574 Figure 8. Breakdown of annual benefits provided by the inventoried tree resource. Table 2. The inventoried species which provide the greatest annual benefit per tree. 25 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 14 SEQUESTERING AND STORING CARBON Trees are carbon sinks, which means they absorb carbon from the atmosphere– the opposite of carbon sources which produce and emit carbon into the atmosphere. While carbon is released from fossil fuel consuming vehicles and smokestacks, it is absorbed by trees during photosynthesis and stored in their tissue as they grow. Orono’s public street trees sequester (absorb) an estimated 27 tons of carbon each year, valued at $11,854, and have stored 1,964 tons of carbon over their lifetime, valued at $849,963 (Table 3). CONTROLLING STORMWATER Trees play a significant role in local hydrology and water cycling helping to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff generated during rain events (Figure 9). Since stormwater runoff can cause infrastructure damage and flooding, reducing the amount of precipitation that becomes surface runoff can save a community costs in infrastructure repair and flooding mitigation. The inventoried trees in Orono divert 399,990 gals. of stormwater each year valued at $3,574 (Table 4). REPLACEMENT VALUE Replacement value is the approximate cost to replace an existing tree with a tree of a similar size and species. While doing this is typically not possible – for example, to replace a 20-inch diameter tree with another tree of similar size would not be feasible – replacement value can provide an idea of the overall value of the inventoried public trees in the city of Orono. In total, Orono’s inventoried trees have a replacement value of $3.05 million. Table 6 compares the per-tree replacement value of the street and park trees with the overall highest replacement values. Bigtooth aspen is the most valuable tree in Orono among both the park and street tree populations, with black maple and silver maple also making the top five. Park trees generally have a greater per-tree replacement value than street trees, likely due to the greater age and larger size of park trees versus street trees in Orono at the time of inventory. Figure 9. Hydrological functions of trees. Source: ‘Stormwater to Street Trees: Engineering Urban Forests for Stormwater Management’, EPA publication 841 B 13 001. 26 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 15 Table 3. Inventoried species with the highest per tree replacement value. REPLACEMENT VALUE SPECIES COUNT TOTAL VALULE ($/YR) PER TREE VALUE ($/TREE/YR) White oak 178 $977,740.89 $5,492.93 American elm 10 $45,538.05 $4,553.81 Eastern cottonwood 5 $18,181.02 $3,636.20 Siberian elm 45 $131,875.42 $2,930.56 Silver maple 51 $143,999.78 $2,823.53 TREE BENEFIT RECOMMENDATIONS ●Large-stature, deciduous trees tend to provide the greatest benefits. The City of Orono should plan to plant these types of trees wherever possible to increase the benefits provided by the public trees. This may require enlarging existing tree planting spaces or creating large new tree planting spaces to accommodate large street trees. It also should include preserving existing large-stature trees and providing proactive care to young public trees to ensure they achieve mature status in the future. ●The protection of existing park trees should be a priority, and succession planning to replace park trees and increase tree cover in parks will have a large positive impact on tree benefits in Orono in the future. ●Oak were often among the largest contributors to tree benefits and are not currently overabundant in Orono. Planting oak will help to increase the benefits provided by public trees. ●The public trees in Orono account for only a fraction of the total benefits provided by the City’s trees, indicating that many of the trees which provide benefits to Orono are located on private property. The City of Orono should consider methods to preserve existing trees and promote new tree planting on private property throughout the city to increase tree benefits. 27 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 16 Section 3: Recommended Maintenance 28 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 17 Section 3: Recommended Maintenance Due to the absence of risk ratings, DRG recommends that tree maintenance activities are prioritized and completed based on the condition rating that was assigned to each tree during the inventory. Trees with a condition rating of Dead should be attended to first, followed by trees with a poor rating. Trees with a Fair, Good, or Excellent rating should be maintained once Poor and Dead trees have been removed. The following sections describe the recommended maintenance activities for each condition rating category. This five-year tree maintenance schedule takes a multi-faceted and proactive approach to managing Orono's public inventoried trees. 29 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 18 PRIORITY MAINTENANCE PRIORITY MAINTENANCE NEEDS Addressing Dead and Poor condition trees identified in the inventory (Figures 10 & 11) in a timely manner will mitigate possible unidentified risk, improve public safety, maximize tree benefits, and reduce long-term costs. In general, Extreme and High Risk maintenance activities should be completed first for larger diameter trees that pose the greatest risk. Once these trees are addressed, recommended tree maintenance activities should be completed for small diameter trees. The inventory identified: ● 60 Dead street trees and 41 park trees recommended for removal (Figure 10). These Dead trees recommended for removal ranged in size from 3 to 32 inches DSH . ● 206 Poor condition street trees and 430 park trees recommended for removal (Figure 11). These poor condition trees recommended for removal ranged in size from 1 to >31 inches DSH. Fair, Good, and Excellent condition trees identified in the inventory are categorized as a part of routine maintenance and are discussed in the Routine Pruning section below. PRIORITY MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDATIONS ● Trees with Dead or Poor condition ratings recommended for removal should be removed as soon as reasonably possible and prioritized based on their condition rating and size class. Tree removal is recommended when pruning will not correct the tree’s defects, will not eliminate the risks caused by defects, or when pruning would be cost-prohibitive. Figure 10. Removal recommendations for Dead condition trees. 0 8 14 12 5 2 0 0 0 3 14 28 7 6 1 1 0 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 1-3" 4-6" 7-12" 13-18" 19-24" 25-30" 31-36" 37-42" >43"Recommended Dead Condition RemovalsSize Class Park Street 30 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 19 Figure 11. Removal recommendations for Poor condition trees. ROUTINE PRUNING CYCLE The routine pruning cycle includes all trees with a condition rating of Fair, Good, and Excellent. Over time, routine pruning can minimize reactive maintenance, limit instances of elevated risk, and provide the basis for a robust risk management program. DRG recommends a five-year routine pruning cycle (see side panel, “Proactive Pruning”) to maintain the condition of the inventoried trees. However, this is not always possible based on budgetary constraints, the size of the inventoried tree population, or both. In these cases, extending the length of the routine pruning cycle is an option; however, best practice is to not exceed a 10-year pruning cycle. Tree condition has been shown to deteriorate significantly after 10 years without regular pruning as once-minor defects worsen, reducing tree health and potentially increasing risk. A total of 3,862 trees in streets and parks were rated as condition of Excellent, Good, and Fair and should be included in a routine pruning cycle (Figure 12). ROUTINE PRUNING CYCLE RECOMMENDATIONS  Orono should aim to prune 1/5 of its public trees each year during a five-year routine pruning cycle. A five-year cycle would see around 482 street trees and around 290 park trees assessed and pruned, if needed, each year.  Young trees (1-6”) which grow out of the young tree training cycle (see next section) should also be included in the routine pruning cycle. 10 30 64 59 17 18 6 1 1 18 51 163 110 48 20 10 7 3 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 1-3" 4-6" 7-12" 13-18" 19-24" 25-30" 31-36" 37-42" >43"Recommended Poor Condition RemovalsSize Class Park Street 31 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 20  The number of trees to be assessed and routinely pruned each year will vary depending on the number of trees which are planted and the number of trees which are removed in future years.  Not every tree in the routine pruning cycle will need to be pruned each cycle – thus, the actual cost to maintain a routine pruning cycle will likely be lower than projected in the budget table at the end of this section (Table 4). YOUNG TREE TRAINING CYCLE Young tree training cycles are recommended to improve the form and structure of young, newly planted trees that are less than 6 inches in diameter. Young tree pruning addresses structural problems such as codominant leaders, multiple limbs attaching at the same point on the trunk, and crossing or interfering limbs that if not corrected can lead to problems as the tree ages. A three-year cycle is recommended due to the rapid rate that young trees grow and the importance of correcting structural issues while the tree is young to reduce future risks and costly pruning when the tree is larger. The inventory identified 957 small, young trees which should be included in a young tree training cycle. Relationship between tree condition and years since previous pruning. Adapted from Miller and Sylvester 1981 Miller and Sylvester studied the pruning frequency of 40,000 street trees in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trees that had not been pruned for more than 10 years had an average condition rating 10% lower than trees that had been pruned in the previous several years. Their research suggests that a five- year pruning cycle is optimal for urban trees. Routine pruning cycles help detect and correct most defects before they reach higher risk levels. DRG recommends that pruning cycles begin after all Extreme and High risk tree maintenance has been completed. DRG recommends two pruning cycles: a young tree training cycle and a routine pruning cycle. Newly planted trees will enter the young tree training cycle once they become established and will move into the routine pruning cycle when they reach maturity. A tree should be removed and eliminated from the routine pruning cycle when it outlives its usefulness. PROACTIVE PRUNING 32 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 21 Figure 12. Trees included in the routine pruning cycle as of the completion of the inventory. YOUNG TREE TRAINING CYCLE RECOMMENDATIONS ● The City of Orono should institute a three-year young tree training cycle beginning after the completion of all recommended higher priority work. With 957 young trees with condition ratings of Excellent, Good, and Fair at the time of the inventory, approximately 319 need to be assessed and pruned each year during the three-year cycle. In future years, the number of trees in the young tree training cycle will depend on the growth rates of young trees in the city and the number of new plantings. ● Young tree training is recommended to begin one to two years after planting and continue every three years until the tree can no longer be safely pruned from the ground with a pole pruner and pruning shears. o At the time of planting, new trees should be minimally pruned to remove broken or crossing branches. ● Not every tree in the young tree training cycle will need to be pruned each cycle – thus, the actual cost to maintain a young tree pruning cycle will likely be lower than projected in the budget table provided at the end of this section (Table 4). ROUTINE INSPECTIONS AND INVENTORY UPDATES Inspections are essential to uncovering potential problems with trees. They should be performed by a qualified arborist who is trained in the art and science of planting, caring for, and maintaining individual trees. Ideally, the arborist will be ISA Certified and hold the ISA Tree Risk Assessment Qualification (TRAQ) credential. Level 1 and 2 assessments can be completed during regular tree maintenance activities, such as routine pruning, to streamline the process and reduce workloads and cost. When trees need additional maintenance, they should be added to the work schedule immediately. Use asset management software such as TreeKeeper® to update inventory data and schedule work records. 355 415 184 91 29 11 6 956 541 183 62 48 13 11 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 7-12" 13-18" 19-24" 25-30" 31-36" 37-42" >42"Number of Trees Included in Routine Pruning CycleSize Class Parks Streets 33 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 22 ROUTINE INSPECTIONS AND INVENTORY UPDATE RECOMMENDATIONS ● All public trees should be regularly inspected and attended to as needed. Inspections can be particularly effective and necessary after major storms which may cause damage to trees or increase the risk posed by trees. o Level 1 walk-by or drive-by assessments can be a cost-effective method of inspection for public trees after storm events and can help identify trees which need further detailed inspection. ● When trees require additional or new work, they should be added to the maintenance schedule. The budget should also be updated to reflect the additional work. Utilize asset management software such as TreeKeeper® to make updates, edits, and keep a log of work records. ● Level 2 risk assessments and inventory updates should also be completed on a routine basis, ideally every 5 to 10 years, to identify defects that are not easily observed during Level 1 assessments and to update tree inventory information. o To keep costs regular, 1/5 of public trees should be re-inventoried each year . With a total of around 3,862 public trees in the current inventory not recommended for removal, approximately 773 would need to be updated each year during a five-year inventory update cycle. TREE PLANTING AND STUMP REMOVAL Routinely planting trees is an important part of maintaining and growing Orono’s tree canopy and maximizing the tree benefits provided to the community. Opportunity exists in suitable vacant street sites and sites with stumps, as well as in parks and private property. Tree planting sites and stump data was not included in the data set presented to DRG for analysis. Assessing a tree species growth characteristics, environmental preferences, and tolerance to urban conditions against a planting site’s condition is essential when selecting a species for planting. Planting the “right tree in the right place” will ensure the tree thrives, increasing its benefits, improving tree survival and condition, reducing future tree care costs, and minimizing conflicts with other infrastructure. TREE PLANTING AND STUMP REMOVAL RECOMMENDATIONS ● Stump removal should be included in tree removal contracts. Quality assurance and control checks of the contractor’s work should be conducted to ensure that stumps are being removed fully and efficiently as part of the tree removal work. ● Stump removal should be done prior to targeted planting of any area to open locations for new tree planting. Planting in a location where a stump was recently removed should be avoided, if possible. Decomposing roots can cause air pockets, nutrient depletion, and space constraints that can impact the establishment of newly planted trees. ● Orono should strive to plant the largest possible tree in each vacant planting site. Large-stature, deciduous trees provide the greatest benefits to the community. See the strategies for providing sufficient growing space outlined in the Growing Space Recommendations section. 34 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 23 ● To avoid loss of public trees, Orono should aim for, at minimum, a 1-for-1 replacement rate of planted trees to removed trees. Ideally, the community will surpass this and establish a 2-for-1 or even a 3-for-1 replacement rate, which will ultimately help to increase the community’s public trees. The budget table (Table 4) assumes a 2-for-1 replacement strategy to show the costs of maintaining such a planting program. ● Tree species selection for planting should assess their tolerance to heat, drought, salt, and climate change, among other factors, and appropriate trees should be selected for each individual planting location. ● Where planting space along streets is limited and traditional street tree planting is not possible, the community should consider alternate options for installing and increasing public tree canopy, including: o Creation of pocket parks. o Improvement and maintenance of existing nearby parks and public grounds. o Setback planting programs designed to install public street trees behind the right-of-way but within 20 feet of the public way. o Encouraging planting of trees on private property via education, tree giveaways, and other methods. ● Where possible, the City of Orono should enlarge and improve tree planting areas along streets by: o Enlarging the dimensions and soil volume of planting strips and planting wells. o Considering use of structural soils or Silva Cells to improve root movement through soils and reduce infrastructure conflicts. o Working with other city departments, such as engineering, to ensure that plans for new development or street improvement consider trees during the design process. ● Continue to seek out and apply for grant funding to support tree planting projects. Significant funding is typically available at the state and federal level, particularly for planting projects within Environmental Justice areas. ● Continue to develop and foster partnerships with groups such as Arbor Day Foundation who can help promote and support tree planting goals in the community. MAINTENANCE STRATEGY AND EXAMPLE BUDGET Using the Orono tree inventory data, an example 5-year annual maintenance schedule and budget is provided that details the recommended tasks to complete each year over (Table 4). Budget projections are based on industry knowledge and public bid tabulations. Following this schedule, or a similar schedule, can help shift the City’s tree care program from reactive toward a more proactive model. 35 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 24 To implement the maintenance schedule, Orono’s tree maintenance budget should be: ● No less than $316,694 for the first year of implementation. ● No less than $315,384 for the second year. ● No less than $313,843 for the third year. ● No less than $312,535 for the fourth year. ● No less than $311,697 for the fifth year. These annual budget funds are needed to ensure that elevated risk trees are addressed as soon as possible, and that the vital young tree training and routine pruning cycles can be established. If routing efficiencies and/or contract specifications allow more tree work to be completed each year, or if this maintenance schedule requires adjustment to meet budgetary or other needs, then it should be modified accordingly. Unforeseen situations such as severe weather events may arise and change the maintenance needs of trees. If maintenance needs change, then budgets, staffing, and equipment should be adjusted to meet the new demand. 36 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 25 ACTIVITY COST YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5 FIVE- YEAR COST ACTIVITY DIAMETER COST/TREE COUNT COST COUNT COST COUNT COST COUNT COST COUNT COST Poor & Dead Removals 1-3" $28 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 15 $420 16 $448 $868 4-6" $58 0 $0 0 $0 23 $1,334 30 $1,740 50 $2,900 $5,974 7-12" $138 0 $0 19 $2,622 80 $11,040 80 $11,040 90 $12,420 $37,122 13-18" $314 38 $11,932 38 $11,932 38 $11,932 37 $11,618 37 $11,618 $59,032 19-24" $605 16 $9,680 16 $9,680 15 $9,075 15 $9,075 14 $8,470 $45,980 25-30" $825 10 $8,250 10 $8,250 8 $6,600 6 $4,950 7 $5,775 $33,825 31-36" $1,045 6 $6,270 6 $6,270 3 $3,135 2 $2,090 0 $0 $17,765 37-42" $1,485 3 $4,455 3 $4,455 1 $1,485 1 $1,485 0 $0 $11,880 >43" $2,035 3 $6,105 1 $2,035 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 $8,140 Activity Total(s) 76 $46,692 93 $45,244 168 $44,601 186 $42,418 214 $41,631 $220,586 Stump Removals 1-3" $18 7 $126 6 $108 6 $108 6 $108 6 $108 $558 4-6" $28 21 $588 21 $588 21 $588 20 $560 20 $560 $2,884 7-12" $44 54 $2,376 54 $2,376 54 $2,376 54 $2,376 53 $2,332 $11,836 13-18" $72 38 $2,736 38 $2,736 38 $2,736 37 $2,664 37 $2,664 $13,536 19-24" $94 16 $1,504 15 $1,410 15 $1,410 15 $1,410 15 $1,410 $7,144 25-30" $110 9 $990 8 $880 8 $880 8 $880 8 $880 $4,510 31-36" $138 4 $552 4 $552 3 $414 3 $414 3 $414 $2,346 37-42" $160 2 $320 2 $320 2 $320 1 $160 1 $160 $1,280 >43" $182 1 $182 1 $182 1 $182 1 $182 0 $0 $728 Activity Total(s) 152 $9,374 149 $9,152 148 $9,014 145 $8,754 143 $8,528 $44,822 Routine Inspection Walk-by Assessment $5 773 $3,865 773 $3,865 772 $3,860 772 $3,860 772 $3,860 $19,310 Activity Total(s) 773 $3,865 773 $3,865 772 $3,860 772 $3,860 772 $3,860 $19,310 Young Tree Training (3-year Cycle) 1-3" $20 93 $1,860 92 $1,840 92 $1,840 93 $1,860 92 $1,840 $9,240 4-6" $30 227 $6,810 227 $6,810 226 $6,780 227 $6,810 227 $6,810 $34,020 Activity Total(s) 320 $8,670 319 $8,650 318 $8,620 320 $8,670 319 $8,650 $43,260 Routine Pruning (5-year Cycle) 1-3" $20 55 $1,100 55 $1,100 55 $1,100 56 $1,120 56 $1,120 $5,540 4-6" $30 136 $4,080 136 $4,080 136 $4,080 136 $4,080 136 $4,080 $20,400 7-12" $75 262 $19,650 262 $19,650 262 $19,650 262 $19,650 263 $19,725 $98,325 13-18" $120 191 $22,920 191 $22,920 191 $22,920 191 $22,920 192 $23,040 $114,720 19-24" $170 73 $12,410 73 $12,410 73 $12,410 74 $12,580 74 $12,580 $62,390 25-30" $225 30 $6,750 30 $6,750 31 $6,975 31 $6,975 31 $6,975 $34,425 31-36" $305 15 $4,575 15 $4,575 15 $4,575 16 $4,880 16 $4,880 $23,485 37-42" $380 4 $1,520 5 $1,900 5 $1,900 5 $1,900 5 $1,900 $9,120 >43" $590 3 $1,770 3 $1,770 3 $1,770 4 $2,360 4 $2,360 $10,030 Activity Total(s) 769 $74,775 770 $75,155 771 $75,380 775 $76,465 777 $76,660 $378,435 Replacement Tree Planting and Maintenance Purchasing $250 148 $37,000 148 $37,000 147 $36,750 147 $36,750 147 $36,750 $184,250 Planting & Watering $200 148 $29,600 148 $29,600 147 $29,400 147 $29,400 147 $29,400 $147,400 Mulching $25 148 $3,700 148 $3,700 147 $3,675 147 $3,675 147 $3,675 $18,425 Activity Total(s) 444 $70,300 444 $70,300 441 $69,825 441 $69,825 441 $69,825 $350,075 New Tree Planting and Maintenance Purchasing $250 148 $37,000 148 $37,000 147 $36,750 147 $36,750 147 $36,750 $184,250 Planting & Watering $200 148 $29,600 148 $29,600 147 $29,400 147 $29,400 147 $29,400 $147,400 Mulching $25 148 $3,700 148 $3,700 147 $3,675 147 $3,675 147 $3,675 $18,425 Activity Total(s) 444 $70,300 444 $70,300 441 $69,825 441 $69,825 441 $69,825 $350,075 Natural Mortality (1%) Tree Removal $314 38 $11,932 38 $11,932 38 $11,932 38 $11,932 38 $11,932 $59,660 Stump Removal $72 38 $2,736 38 $2,736 38 $2,736 38 $2,736 38 $2,736 $13,680 Replacement Tree $475 38 $18,050 38 $18,050 38 $18,050 38 $18,050 38 $18,050 $90,250 Activity Total(s) 114 $32,718 114 $32,718 114 $32,718 114 $32,718 114 $32,718 $163,590 Activity Grand Total 3,092 3,106 3,173 3,194 3,221 15,786 Cost Grand Total $316,694 $315,384 $313,843 $312,535 $311,697 $1,570,153 Table 4. Example maintenance schedule and budget for a five-year tree management program. 37 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 26 Conclusion When properly cared for, public trees offer valuable, enduring benefits that can significantly surpass the investments of time and resources put into their planting, maintenance, and eventual removal. The 4,602 inventoried public trees generate at least $18,675 annually in estimated benefits, including stormwater reduction, carbon sequestration, and air pollutant removal. It is important to note that these are just the quantifiable benefits provided by trees in the community. The complete array of benefits from Orono's public trees extends far beyond what can be calculated through inventory data and i-Tree Eco modeling alone. The successful execution of the five-year maintenance program is expected to amplify the benefits that the community’s public trees provide. This five-year maintenance initiative, with a focus on proactive tree care, necessitates a substantial upfront investment. While addressing Extreme, High, and Moderate Risk trees through removal or pruning can be costly, it is a vital step to enhance public safety and reduce long-term tree maintenance expenses. Once this priority work is accomplished, the remaining tasks can be spaced out over a more extended period, as dictated by budget, staffing, or equipment availability. This Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy can assist the community’s tree care staff in advocating for increases in the urban forestry budget to support the recommended maintenance efforts. The community’s forestry program is making commendable progress toward cultivating a sustainable and resilient urban forest. To stay on course, it is crucial to establish clear goals, take action to achieve those goals, regularly update inventory data to assess progress, and be prepared to revise objectives as needed in an iterative manner. The Urban Forest Program Continuum, as designed by DRG and illustrated on Page 2, can serve as a valuable roadmap for Orono as it continues its ongoing mission to elevate the care of the community’s public trees. This mission will enrich the lives of all residents, workers, and recreational enthusiasts within the city of Orono. EVALUATING AND UPDATING THIS PLAN This Public Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy provides management priorities for the next five years. To ensure the maintenance schedule and budget remain accurate, it is important to update the tree inventory using TreeKeeper® or other asset management software as work is completed, so the software can provide updated species distribution, maintenance needs, and benefit estimates. Keeping the inventory up to date empowers the community to assess its progress over time and set goals to strive toward by following the adaptive management cycle (flow chart). 38 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 27 Below are some examples of implementing the steps of this cycle:  Preparing planting plans in advance to schedule and complete stump removal in the designated area, and to select species best suited to the available sites.  Annually comparing the number of trees planted to the number of trees removed and the number of vacant planting sites remaining and adjusting future planting plans accordingly.  Annually comparing the species distribution of the inventoried trees with the previous year after completing planting plans to monitor recommended changes in species and genera abundance.  Scheduling and assigning high-priority tree work so it can be completed as soon as possible and not reactively addressing new lower priority work requests as they are received.  Including data collection, such as measuring DSH and assessing condition into standard procedure for tree work and routine inspections, so changes over time can be monitored. 39 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 28 References Coder, K. D. (1996). Identified Benefits of Community Trees and Forests. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service: Forest Resources Unit. Publication FOR96-39. https://nfs.unl.edu/documents/communityforestry/coderbenefitsofcommtrees.pdf Ewing, R. and Dumbaugh, E. (2009). The built environment and traffic safety: a review of empirical evidence. Journal of Planning Literature, 23(4), 347-367. Gilstad-Hayden, K., Wallace, L.R., Carroll-Scott, A, et al. (2015). Greater Tree Canopy Cover Is Associated with Lower Rates of Both Violent and Property Crime in New Haven, CT. Landscape and Urban Planning, 143, 248–253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.08.005. Hughes, N. (2013). Trees Mean Business. Invest From the Ground Up, California Urban Forests Council. https://investfromthegroundup.org/trees-mean-business/ Johnson, Z. S., Koski, T., and O'Conner, A. (2017). The hidden value of landscapes. http://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/hortla/Colorado_Water_2017.pdf McDonald, R.I., Kroeger, T., Zhang, P. et al. (2020). The Value of US Urban Tree Cover for Reducing Heat-Related Health Impacts and Electricity Consumption. Ecosystems, 23, 137–150. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-019-00395-5 McPherson, E.G., Simpson, J.R., Peper, P.J., Maco, S.E., & Xiao, Q. (2005). Municipal forest benefits and costs in five U.S. cities. Journal of Forestry. 103(8): 411-416. Miller, R. W., & Sylvester, W.A. (1981). An Economic Evaluation of the Pruning cycle. Journal of Arboriculture, 7(4), 109–112. Nowak, D.J., Hirabayashi, S., Bodine, A., and Greenfield, E. (2014). Tree and Forest Effects on Air Quality and Human Health in the United States. Environmental Pollution, 193, 119–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2014.05.028. Richards, N. A. (1983). Diversity and Stability in a Street Tree Population. Urban Ecology, 7(2), 159– 171. Santamour, F.S. (1990). Trees for Urban Planting: Diversity Uniformity, and Common Sense. U.S. National Arboretum: Agricultural Research Service. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/26a2/4c5361ce6d6e618a9fa307c4a34a3169e309.pdf?_ga=2.266 051527.959145428.1587418896-558533249.1587418896 Swift, P., Painter, D., and Goldstein, M. (1997). Residential street typology and injury accident frequency. Swift and Associates. Troy, A., Grove, M., and O’Neil-Dunn, J. (2012). The relationship between tree canopy and crime rates across an urban–rural gradient in the greater Baltimore region. Landscape and Urban Planning, 106, 262–270. 40 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Page 29 Ulrich, R.S. (1984). View through Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery. Science, 224, 420– 422. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/43df/b42bc2f7b212eb288d2e7be289d251f15bfd.pdf Ulrich, R.S. (1986). Human Responses to Vegetation and Landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning, 13, 29–44. Ulrich R.S., R.F. Simmons, B.D. Losito, E. Fiority, M.A. Miles, & M. Zeison. (1991). Stress Recovery During Exposure to Natural and Urban Environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11(3), 201–230. United States Census Bureau. 2020. Quick Facts: Orono city, Minnesota. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/oronocityminnesota. USDA Forest Service. (2011). Trees pay us back in the Inland Empire Region. https://www.fs.fed.us/psw/topics/urban_forestry/products/18/804uesd_uep_tpub_InlandE mpire.pdf USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. (2020). Pest Tracker. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/hungry-pests/Pest-Tracker US Department of Energy. (n.d.) Low-Income Community Energy Solutions. https://www.energy.gov/eere/slsc/low-income- community-energy-solutions Wolf, K. L. (1998). Trees in Business Districts: Positive Effects on Consumer Behavior! University of Washington: College of Forest Resources Human Dimensions of the Urban Forest Fact Sheet #5. https://www.naturewithin.info/CityBiz/Biz3Ps-FS5.pdf Wolf, K. L. (1999). Grow for the Gold: Trees in Business Districts. Washington State DNR: Community Forestry Program Number 14. https://www.naturewithin.info/CityBiz/TreeLink.PDF Wolf, K.L. (2005). Business district streetscapes, trees, and consumer response. Journal of Forestry, 103(8), 396-400. https://nacto.org/docs/usdg/city_trees_retail_wolf.pdf Wolf, k. L. (2007). City trees and property values. Arborist news, 16(4), 34-36. 41 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Appendix A Summary of Recommendations SECTION RECOMMENDATION Species & Genera Diversity  Avoid or limit planting of green ash and increase planting of other species until green ash make up less than 10% of public trees.  Avoid or limit planting of ash and maple and increase planting of other genera until ash and maple make up less than 20% of public trees.  Remove volunteer trees that have invasive tendencies, such as boxelder, from maintained public areas while small.  Increase planting of uncommon species and genera which are well suited to urban environments. Pest Susceptibility  Monitor trees for signs and symptoms of pests and diseases on a regular basis. This can be done as part of other routine maintenance activities such as pruning.  When a pest or disease is suspected, act quickly to confirm the identification and begin management.  Prepare an invasive species management plan to guide the response to future pest or disease infestations.  When planting trees, select pest- or disease-resistant species or cultivars whenever possible.  Use preventative pesticide treatments on high-value or historic trees that are susceptible to problematic pests and/or diseases in Minnesota. Condition ● Dead and dying trees should be removed as soon as possible in priority order from highest to lowest risk to reduce public hazards, create space for new planting, and improve the appearance of Orono’s streets and parks. ● Trees in Poor condition not recommended for removal should be maintained to reduce risk associated with defects and should be routinely monitored for further decline that would necessitate removal. ● Condition ratings can be improved over time by instituting proactive maintenance cycles such as routine pruning and young tree training. All tree pruning should follow ANSI A300 (Clause 5) guidelines. Relative Age Distribution ● The City of Orono’s park and street trees are young. Orono should focus on tree pruning and proactive care for these young and established trees, and a maintenance plan should be implemented to ensure that the young and established trees can mature while retaining good health and proper form. ● A large proportion of street trees are young or established (53% of street trees and 28% of park trees). A young tree training cycle should be instituted to structurally prune these younger trees to ensure good form and improve health as they mature. 42 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy ● Street tree planting is currently sufficient to maintain the recommended age distribution. However, sustained planting efforts over time will be necessary to retain this age distribution. ● Routine, proactive maintenance, such as young tree training and routine pruning, may help improve tree condition, particularly among maturing and mature trees. Tree Benefits ● Large-stature, deciduous trees tend to provide the greatest benefits. The city of Orono should plan to plant these types of trees wherever possible to increase the benefits provided by the public trees. This may require enlarging existing tree planting spaces or creating large new tree planting spaces to accommodate large street trees. It also should include preserving existing large-stature trees and providing proactive care to young public trees to ensure they achieve mature status in the future. ● The protection of existing park trees should be a priority, and succession planning to replace park trees and increase tree cover in parks will have a large positive impact on tree benefits in Orono in the future. ● Oak were often among the largest contributors to tree benefits and are not currently overabundant in Orono. Planting oak will help to increase the benefits provided by public trees. ● The public trees in Orono account for only a fraction of the total benefits provided by the City’s trees, indicating that many of the trees which provide benefits to Orono are located on private property. The City of Orono should consider methods to preserve existing trees and promote new tree planting on private property throughout the city to increase tree benefits. Priority Maintenance ● Trees with Dead or Poor condition ratings recommended for removal should be removed as soon as reasonably possible and prioritized based on their condition rating and size class. Tree removal is recommended when pruning will not correct the tree’s defects, will not eliminate the risks caused by defects, or when pruning would be cost-prohibitive. Routine Pruning Cycle ● Orono should aim to prune 1/5 of its public trees each year during a five-year routine pruning cycle. A five-year cycle would see around 482 street trees and around 290 park trees assessed and pruned, if needed, each year. ● Young trees (1-6”) which grow out of the young tree training cycle (see next section) should also be included in the routine pruning cycle. ● The number of trees to be assessed and routinely pruned each year will vary depending on the number of trees which are planted and the number of trees which are removed in future years. ● Not every tree in the routine pruning cycle will need to be pruned each cycle – thus, the actual cost to maintain a routine pruning cycle will likely be lower than projected in the budget table at the end of this section (Table 7). 43 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Young Tree Training Cycle ● The City of Orono should institute a three-year young tree training cycle beginning after the completion of all recommended higher priority work. With 957 young trees with condition ratings of Excellent, Good, and Fair at the time of the inventory, approximately 319 need to be assessed and pruned each year during the three-year cycle. In future years, the number of trees in the young tree training cycle will depend on the growth rates of young trees in the city and the number of new plantings. ● Young tree training is recommended to begin one to two years after planting and continue every three years until the tree can no longer be safely pruned from the ground with a pole pruner and pruning shears. o At the time of planting, new trees should be minimally pruned to remove broken or crossing branches. ● Not every tree in the young tree training cycle will need to be pruned each cycle – thus, the actual cost to maintain a young tree pruning cycle will likely be lower than projected in the budget table provided at the end of this section (Table 7). Routine Inspection and Inventory Updates ● All public trees should be regularly inspected and attended to as needed. Inspections can be particularly effective and necessary after major storms which may cause damage to trees or increase the risk posed by trees. o Level 1 walk-by or drive-by assessments can be a cost- effective method of inspection for public trees after storm events and can help identify trees which need further detailed inspection. ● When trees require additional or new work, they should be added to the maintenance schedule. The budget should also be updated to reflect the additional work. Utilize asset management software such as TreeKeeper® to make updates, edits, and keep a log of work records. ● Level 2 risk assessments and inventory updates should also be completed on a routine basis, ideally every 5 to 10 years, to identify defects that are not easily observed during Level 1 assessments and to update tree inventory information. o To keep costs regular, 1/5 of public trees should be re- inventoried each year. With a total of around 3,862 public trees in the current inventory not recommended for removal, approximately 773 would need to be updated each year during a five-year inventory update cycle. Tree Planting and Stump Removal ● Stump removal should be included in tree removal contracts. Quality assurance and control checks of the contractor’s work should be conducted to ensure that stumps are being removed fully and efficiently as part of the tree removal work. ● Stump removal should be done prior to targeted planting of any area to open locations for new tree planting. Planting in a location where a stump was recently removed should be avoided, if possible. Decomposing roots can cause air pockets, nutrient depletion, and space constraints that can impact the establishment of newly planted trees. 44 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy ● Orono should strive to plant the largest possible tree in each vacant planting site. Large-stature, deciduous trees provide the greatest benefits to the community. See the strategies for providing sufficient growing space outlined in the Growing Space Recommendations section. ● To avoid loss of public trees, Orono should aim for, at minimum, a 1-for-1 replacement rate of planted trees to removed trees. Ideally, the community will surpass this and establish a 2-for-1 or even a 3-for-1 replacement rate, which will ultimately help to increase the community’s public trees. The budget table (Table 4) assumes a 2-for-1 replacement strategy to show the costs of maintaining such a planting program. ● Tree species selection for planting should assess their tolerance to heat, drought, salt, and climate change, among other factors, and appropriate trees should be selected for each individual planting location. ● Where planting space along streets is limited and traditional street tree planting is not possible, the community should consider alternate options for installing and increasing public tree canopy, including: o Creation of pocket parks. o Improvement and maintenance of existing nearby parks and public grounds. o Setback planting programs designed to install public street trees behind the right-of-way but within 20 feet of the public way. o Encouraging planting of trees on private property via education, tree giveaways, and other methods. ● Where possible, the City of Orono should enlarge and improve tree planting areas along streets by: o Enlarging the dimensions and soil volume of planting strips and planting wells. o Considering use of structural soils or Silva Cells to improve root movement through soils and reduce infrastructure conflicts. o Working with other city departments, such as engineering, to ensure that plans for new development or street improvement consider trees during the design process. ● Continue to seek out and apply for grant funding to support tree planting projects. Significant funding is typically available at the state and federal level, particularly for planting projects within Environmental Justice areas. ● Continue to develop and foster partnerships with groups such as Arbor Day Foundation who can help promote and support tree planting goals in the community. 45 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy Appendix B Study Area and Data Collection Study Area Orono covers an area of 25.15 square miles, of which around 36% is bodies of water and the remaining 64% is land. The city encompasses three communities: Long Lake in the North, Minnetonka Beach in the South, and Spring Park in the Southwest. The 2019-2022 Orono inventory focused data collection on all right of ways and parks – it is DRG’s understanding that no data collection was done in the wooded naturalized areas of the city. All other spatial analyses (i.e., i-Tree Canopy) were restricted to the same area as inventory data collection. DATA COLLECTION DRG received an excel spreadsheet containing the inventoried tree data over a three-year time period. At each site, the following data fields were collected by a contractor hired by the city of Orono: ● Address ● Condition ● Botanical Name ● Date ● Common Name ● Land Use/Park Name ● DSH* Maintenance needs are based on Best Management Practices: Tree Risk Assessment (International Society of Arboriculture 2011). The knowledge, experience, and professional judgment of DRG’s arborists ensure the high quality of inventory data. EQUIPMENT AND BASE MAPS DRG received this data as an excel spreadsheet and the type of equipment used to collect the data is unknown. Image 1. Screenshot of Orono, MN boundary where data was collected. * measured in inches in diameter at 4.5 feet above ground or diameter at standard height (DSH]). 46 Davey Resource Group, Inc. Tree Inventory Analysis & Maintenance Strategy ADDRESSING Addressing information was present in the data provided to DRG. While geographic coordinates allow spatial representation of the data within a geographic information system, such as TreeKeeper ® or ArcMap, addressing information allows each site to be located in the field without use of a GPS. The following fields were collected as part of the addressing of each site: ● Address: The numeric address of the parcel nearest to the site. 47 Date: May 6, 2025 Item: Presenter: Joe Ruthenberg, Superintendent - Parks, Facilities Section: Staff Report Title: Mayors Monarch Pledge 1.Purpose: To inform the commission and public on the city's commitment to the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge. AGENDA ITEM Exhibits Mayors' Monarch Pledge.docx 48 THE NATIONAL W ILDLIFE FEDERATION'S Mayors' Monarch Pledge Mayors and other heads of local and tribal government are taking action to help save the monarch butterfly, an iconic species whose eastern populations have declined by 90% and western populations by 99% in recent years. Through the National Wildlife Federation's Mayors' Monarch Pledge, U.S. cities, municipalities, and other communities are committing to create habitat for the monarch butterfly and pollinators, and to educate residents about how they can make a difference at home and in their community. Currently the city has committed to seven action items in the three action item sections. If there is an opportunity or desire to pursue more actions those can be added to the pledge at a later date. Additional info on the program can be found at the program’s website https://www.nwf.org/mayorsmonarchpledge. Communications and Convening Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. Engage with community garden groups and urge them to plant native milkweeds and nectar-producing plants. Engage with city parks and recreation, public works, sustainability, and other relevant staff to identify opportunities to revise and maintain mowing programs and milkweed / native nectar plant planting programs. Program and Demonstration Gardens Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location. Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat. Systems Change Integrate monarch butterfly conservation into the city’s Park Master Plan, Sustainability Plan, Climate Resiliency Plan or other city plans. Reduce or eliminate the use of herbicides, pesticides, or other chemicals that are harmful to monarchs and pollinators and urban wildlife. 49 Date: May 6, 2025 Item: Presenter: Joe Ruthenberg, Superintendent - Parks, Facilities Section: Commissioner Reports Title: Park Commissioner Assignments AGENDA ITEM Exhibits 2025 Parks Commission Committees and Goals Exercise.docx 50 Park Commission City of Orono The Park Commission advises the City Council on matters of maintenance and use of park facilities, preservation of natural resources and promotion of environmental awareness MISSION STATEMENT The City of Orono will provide effective guidance through public policy established from citizen involvement, by empowering staff to implement best practices to prepare Orono for any challenges of the future and by ensuring a positive customer experience, superior municipal services and provide a safe community for the residents, businesses and customers to live, work and play in.From City CodeMembers. The park commission is composed of seven members, who serve staggered three-year terms. The director of public services and one council member shall be members of the commission ex officio and without vote and are in addition to the seven-member commission (Code Section 22-32) VISION STATEMENT To be the residential community of choice and remain widely recognized for its preservation of natural rural beauty, quality of life, and recreational assets. Powers & Duties. The park commission shall be only an advisory body to the City Council. The commission shall study and consider the continuing needs of the city for parks and recreation areas and facilities of all kinds, including but not limited to problems involving public use of Lake Minnetonka and other lakes in the city, and portions of its shorelines. The commission shall report to the council.(Code Section 22-33) CITY OF ORONO GOALS To provide consistent high levels of customer service to our residents and balance the enforcement of city codes To maintain sustainable funding for infrastructure while maintaining a stable tax levy To create a culture of continuous improvement by providing efficient and reliable government services To adopt best practices into city processes to ensure the high quality services are provided in an ever-changing environment 2025 Focus Parks / Function Purpose Committee Members Lead * Goals Timeline / Milestones (PC-Park Commission Lead; S-Staff Lead; CC-City Council, V-volunteers) Trails Standing Committee to explore opportunities for improvements and additions to trails throughout the community. Open Position Rick Carter 1. Luce Line-Dakota Trail Connection - Maintain engagement with TRPD, HC, and MCES (#5 in Comp Plan) 2. XC Ski Trails – Implement at Golf Course; explore other parks 3. County Rd 19 Trail Marking 4. Lowry Wood Connection to Luce Line 1. Ongoing (S) 2. Check with Orono School about usage – Staff mark course by Winter (PC, S) 3. Ongoing (PC, S) 4. Ongoing (PC) Golf Course Special steering committee for Golf Course Initiatives Gordon Stofer* Brian Roath 1. Course conditioning, tree management, landscaping near clubhouse. 2. Explore outside food options (Vendors, food trucks, etc.) 3. Golf Course re-branding. 4. Sign replacement throughout the course. 5. Long term planning for clubhouse, maintenance shed and irrigation. 6. Update Master Plan for Golf Course. 1. February 2025 – November 2025 (S, PC) 2. In process – Schedule throughout season with clubhouse manager (S) 3. In process – Ongoing 4. In process- complete during 2025 5. Begin future planning & budgeting in 2025. 6. In process Hackberry Park Master plan Special steering committee for masterplan development Gordon Stofer* Brian Roath 1. Initiate grant applications 2. Implement design phase of project. 1. Spring 2025 2. on going Antione Park Special steering committee for masterplan development Michael Huddy* Open Position 1. Determine needs and potential improvements of park 1. Spring/Summer 2025 (PC, S) Pickleball Special steering committee to develop a plan for pickleball in Orono. Open Position Brian Roath 1. Fundraising 2. Initiate design phase 1. Ongoing 2. Ongoing Adopt-a-Park Special steering committee for development of the Adopt-a-Park program Open Position Michael Huddy 1. Determine needs and potential improvements of park 2. Development recognition for volunteers. 1. Ongoing (PC, S) Mountain Bike Trail Special steering committee to develop a plan for mountain bike multi-use trail at Orono Orchards Rick Carter Brain Roath 1. Winter 2025 2.April 2025 3. Spring 2025 51 Park Lead Commissioner 2022 Focus / Activity / Initiative Antoine Park Open Bederwood Park Rick Carter Big Island Rick Carter Casco Point Park Open Casco Point Rink Brian Roath Casco Point Beach Open Crystal Bay Playground Cameron Porter French Creek Preserve Open Hackberry Park Gordon Stofer Highwood Nature Trail Brian Roath Golf Course Gordon Stofer Livingston Tower Brian Roath Lowry Woods Rick Carter Lurton Park Brian Roath Lydiard Beach Open Navarre Playground Open Pleasant View Rick Carter Saga Hill Brian Roath Sandy Beach Open Seven Nations Park Gordy Stofer Summit Beach Open Donation Garden Open Trails Trail Lead Commissioner 2022 Focus / Activity / Initiative East Long Lake Trail Rick Carter, Open Wayzata Blvd Trail Willow Drive Trail Brown Road Trail County Road 6 Trail Lake Access Points Site Lead Commissioner 2022 Focus / Activity / Initiative All 2 spots open Review, Establish standards. 52