Tree and Storm Water Advisory Board on November 10, 2021
Agenda
7:00 p.m., City Council Chambers, 1 Quail Creek Circle, North Liberty, Iowa
This meeting may be accessed live by the public in person or on the internet at northlibertyiowa.org/live, on Facebook at facebook.com/northliberty or on YouTube at youtube.com/northliberty. Meetings are rebroadcast on cable and available on-demand on northlibertyiowa.org..
- Call to Order
- Approval of Minutes
- July 14, 2021
- Public Comment
- Tree Reports
- MidAmerican 2022 Trees Please Grant Application
- Tree City USA 2021 Application
- October 2nd IDNR Community Forestry Tree planting & Grant funding
- Tree Trimming
- Emerald Ash Borer
- Storm Water Report
- DNR MS4 inspection report
- Annual report completion (Due Oct. 31)
- Salt usage on driveways and sidewalks
- Old Business
- New Business
- Next Meeting
- January 12, 2022 at 7:00pm.
- Adjournment
Minutes
Minutes from North Liberty Tree and Storm Water Advisory Board Meeting
November 10, 2021, 7:00 pm
Call to Order by Abdouramane Bila-Chair person. Board members present: Michael Burril, Doris Vaske,
Darice Baxter, Guy Goldsmith-Parks Director, Mike Wolfe-Stormwater Coordinator
Approval of Minutes for July 14, 2021 meeting. Motion by Michael Burrill., second by Kevin McGrane.
Motion carried
Abdouramane Bila opened the floor for Public Comment with no public comments to address.
Guy Goldsmith provided an update that the application for the MidAmerican Trees Please Grant 2022 is
due December 30th and the plan is to apply for the grant again. No definitive plans as to where the trees
would be planted yet if the grant is received.
Guy Goldsmith provided an update on that he is also working on the application for Tree City USA
designation which is due December 30th. This would be for the tree work done in 2021.
Guy Goldsmith discussed that on October 2nd the Iowa DNR held a tree planting workshop in North
Liberty. It was funded through a $5,000 match grant from the Iowa DNR with the City of North Liberty
providing the $5,000 funding to be matched. 32 trees were planted as result of this grant and the public
was able to assist in planting trees at various city parks during the workshop.
Guy Goldsmith discussed that tree trimming and removal of branches and trees damaged during the
derecho and identified in the tree inventory last year continued over the summer.
Guy Goldsmith provided an update that the Emerald Ash Borer is hitting North Liberty hard. There are
resources available for residents on the North Liberty City website in how to deal with Emerald Ash
Borer.
Kevin McGrane asks if the city is treating or cutting down Ash trees impacted by Emerald Ash Borer. Guy
responds that the city has been treating approximately 150 Ash trees for the past 5 years with the focus
being on younger trees in an effort to save them while the Emerald Ash Borer is still around.
Mike Wolfe provided an update. The Iowa DNR audited the stormwater permit for the city which
consisted of a 1 day in-depth interview and resulted in no violations being found. The annual report was
also provided to the Iowa DNR and again no issues were found.
Mike Wolfe provided a reminder for the general public that with salt used to melt ice in the winter, not
much is needed. Using too much can not only damage sidewalks and driveways but excess also ends up
in Muddy Creek via stormwater.
Abdouramane Bila asks if leaf litter in the streets and streams is as problematic as grass clippings. Guy
and Mike offer response that there is less concern about leaves as they do not have the same abundant
nitrogen as grass clippings, but they can cause blocked stormwater drains.
Abdouramane Bila opened the floor for Old Business with none to address.
Abdouramane Bila opened the floor for New Business with none to address.
Next Meeting date: January 12, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Guy states that Muddy Creek Clean-up will be on the agenda as this will be the last meeting before that
event. Abdouramane Bila states that despite the cold, rainy weather there was a good turnout this year
with the help of the Boy Scouts. Guy provided an update that a resident donated $5,000 for additional
trash receptacles along Muddy Creek to help keep it clean
Motion to adjourn by Doris Vaske, second by Michael Burrill. Motion carried
