Oakdale Tree Board adopts 2025 work plan; forester says city will pause ash‑tree treatments and readies Arbor Day giveaway

The City of Oakdale Tree Board voted to adopt its 2025 work plan and approved routine meeting business during the meeting. Board members also heard updates from the city forester about ash‑tree treatment, an Arbor Day giveaway, and registration logistics.

Procedural votes: the board approved the meeting agenda and accepted the Jan. 21, 2025 meeting minutes by voice vote; later the board voted to adopt the 2025 Tree Board work plan as presented. The board adjourned at the close of the meeting. (See “Votes at a glance” below for formal motions recorded.)

City forester Tim Melhorn told commissioners the forestry department is considering not renewing the city’s treatment contract for ash trees and is focusing resources on removals and replacements in public spaces. Staff said they are researching a grant to help remove and replace diseased or hazardous trees in public spaces and noted that treating trees that are terminally ill is costly and often not cost‑effective. Melhorn also reported ongoing abatement work on other nuisance trees throughout the city.

Staff outlined logistics for the Peter Graskey Arbor Day tree giveaway: registration opens April 1 at 8 a.m., the distribution will be a drive‑through at the North Fire Station (not Walton Park), and check‑in lists will be alphabetical by last name. Staff said communications and public‑works administration will send reminders to registrants in the weeks before the event to reduce no‑shows. Commissioners and staff asked volunteers to arrive about 15 minutes early on distribution day to set up.

Board members thanked staff for organizing the giveaway and noted the event provides well‑sized specimens and visible value to residents. Council member Moore, the council liaison, confirmed council has been busy with park and pedestrian/bike plan updates and construction of the Public Works building; no council action on Chapter 22, Article 6 occurred at this meeting.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve the agenda as presented — moved and seconded; voice vote, approved. - Motion to accept the Jan. 21, 2025 meeting minutes as presented — moved and seconded; voice vote, approved. - Motion to adopt the 2025 Tree Board work plan as presented — moved and seconded; voice vote, approved. - Motion to adjourn — moved and seconded; voice vote, approved.

Why this matters: adopting the work plan sets the board’s priorities for community events and public education for the year. The forester’s note that the city may stop renewing ash‑tree treatments signals a staffing and budget shift toward removals, replacements, and grant seeking, which may affect how the city responds to disease outbreaks on public property.

Next steps: staff will continue abatement and removal work in public spaces, pursue grant funding for removals/replacements, and proceed with Arbor Day giveaway preparations. The board’s advisory feedback on private‑property abatement will be forwarded to the City Council for policy consideration.