City readies Tubbs Hill fuel‑mitigation bid, marks Arbor Day and protects rare chestnut trees

Parks forestry staff updated commissioners on Arbor Day events, an upcoming Tubbs Hill fuel‑mitigation contract and steps to protect historic American chestnut trees.

Arbor Day and seedlings: The city will hold its Arbor Day observance Friday, April 25 (10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.), with a tree planting at Rod Ellinger/Person's Field (10 a.m.–noon), refreshments donated by Sun Valley Tree Service, free seedlings (river birch, Austrian pine, European mountain ash and flowering crabapple) and a raffle for a larger tree. Staff reported that the regional Arbor Day Association has distributed more than 88,000 seedlings since 1985 and will provide more than 2,500 seedlings to North Idaho fourth graders in 2025.

Tubbs Hill fuel‑mitigation project: Forestry staff described status of a county-managed fuels project on Tubbs Hill. The prescription and project map are complete and the project is in the final stages of going out to bid. Staff said they will hold a public meeting on April 22 at 6:00 p.m. in the Library Community Room to present the plan and engage nearby residents; targeted mailings were planned to about 570 homes near Tubbs Hill.

Staff provided these contract and schedule details: direct contracted work of $240,000 is budgeted for boots-on-the-ground fuels treatment; a tentative bid date is May 6; and staff are targeting an early‑summer start with project completion expected by winter 2026, subject to weather and any funding delays. The project covers roughly 58.5 acres and will use both chipping (in specified areas) and pile burning in others, the map shows.

Historic American chestnut trees: Staff said they will install a low chain protective fence and interpretive signage around three American chestnut trees in City Park, which staff believe were planted around 1910 and are locally significant. The fence is intended to protect the root zone from heavy foot traffic and to provide public information about the trees’ rarity and value.

Why it matters: Tubbs Hill fuels work is intended to reduce wildfire risk to nearby neighborhoods and public lands; the county-managed contract and local match funding (including a $12,000 contribution from the Tubbs Hill Foundation) were cited as key facilitation elements. Arbor Day activities are a community engagement and tree‑planting opportunity; the chestnut protections aim to preserve rare heritage trees.

What's next: Staff will hold the April 22 public meeting and proceed with bidding and contractor selection. The commission was invited to attend the Arbor Day events and the public meeting; staff said more detailed maps and work examples will be available at the May 22 meeting.