Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Urban‑forestry topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Monona committee moves to roll out residential tree‑buying program; DNR grant will cover costs
Summary
Committee leaders said a DNR urban forestry grant will fund a bulk tree purchase and that staff are finalizing an online ordering process; some residents reported problems completing online orders.
Leaders of the City of Monona Sustainability Committee provided an update on the city’s new residential tree‑buying program at the committee’s Jan. 23 meeting, saying a Dane‑based Department of Natural Resources urban forestry grant will pay for the program and that the city aims to place a single bulk order for delivery in April.
Committee member Ken said the program received a DNR urban forestry grant that will fund the tree purchases, and Tim (a program lead) described plans to piggyback resident orders onto the city’s nursery order to get bulk pricing and to offer site assessments for trees planted in the public right‑of‑way. Tim said volunteers from the committee can help plant trees for residents who lack the physical ability to do so.
Theresa reported that an initial announcement in the city newsletter generated roughly 20 interested responses during the first week. Committee members said the city hopes to convert those inquiries to orders and have the trees delivered in April, with planting planned in mid‑ to late‑April.
Several committee members reported problems using the city parks website to place orders. Ken said he could not select tree species or complete payment on the parks portal; Tim said he had tried on Tuesday and again the day of the meeting and saw no species choices. Theresa asked members to document the issue and email staff a screenshot so staff can resolve the e‑commerce problem before it discourages orders.
Teresa and Thor said public works and parks will handle site assessments in the public right‑of‑way, and Missy in Parks prepared the ordering website and materials. The committee discussed outreach to student groups and organizations to supply volunteer planting help and said they hope local scouts and students will participate in spring planting events.
No formal vote was taken on the program at the meeting; staff and committee leads were directed to troubleshoot the website’s ordering flow and to continue converting interested residents into purchases.
