Thank you for your reply, Commissioner Erwin. A question, a comment, a suggestion :
Does it pose additional risk to the remaining healthy trees that the sick trees are not being removed and sanitized more quickly? I appreciate the tree planting effort. Additionally, I've spoken with Tracy Nordstrom and an MPRB forestry coordinator and MPRB was able to provide me with a gap analysis of how many trees will be planted in my neighborhood versus the optimal number of trees. MPRB has been extremely helpful in this regard. I suggest communicating the tree gap to neighborhoods so that they can decide if they want to play a part in the solution. Specifically, they could opt to direct NRP funds toward this issue, whether for increased identification, faster removal & sanitation, or replanting - beyond what the City or MPRB are able/willing to do. Neighborhoods, some of which have emphasized the environment as a top priority, are working on NRP Phase 2 action plans right now. Regards, Jason Stone Diamond Lake --- John Erwin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Just a quick comment regarding Jason's post: > > 1) First, thanks for the thoughtful feedback Jason. Thanks also to Chris > for taking such complete and timely notes! > > Yes, the Kroc Center issue could be difficult. I am very concerned about > the issue of abiding by the city's non-discrimination policy. Ideally, we > have a successful proposal and an agreement to abide by that policy in > hiring. Certainly, such a facility would be a HUGE benefit to the kids and > other residents of either the northside and/or northeast side. > > 2) The issue of the Bryn Mawr Meadows Athletic Facilities is related to > process in my mind. Comm. Olson is absolutely correct in talking about the > future. I believe we need to have a lot more visioning about our park > system with the public and on the Board. The concern over this project was > the expenditure of funds for planning and the lack of discussion and > communication with the Board and neighborhoods. > > 3) The MPRB is and has been very concerned about trees. I believe this > concern is shared not only by the Park Board, but also by the City Council > and Mayor. Together we increased tree planting this year from approx. 2,400 > trees (the base the Park Board was going to plant) to 5,000 trees (that we > will be doing with additional dollars received from the city). In addition, > we did a large planting of new strains of Dutch Elm Resistant trees along > Olson Memorial Highway. It has been and still is my desire to retain a > number of major elm corridors in Minneapolis - this Highway is one of them. > > Having said this, we are seeing approx. a tripling of the take downs. The > reason for the dramatic increase in take downs is due, in part, to the warm > winters resulting in an increased spread of the disease (beetles) and a more > rapid progression of the disease once a tree is infected. > > Bottom line is that we have doubled tree planting this year and have > significantly increased take downs in an effort to control the spread of > this disease. This is over budget already, but the Park Board is committed > to the control. Mother nature has not been helping! > > Remember that if we have a moist fall, we will be finishing this year's > planting! If any of you have had empty spots in front of your > homes/apartments, please call their location in to the Park Board main > office - 612-230-6400, to add them to the list. Also PLEASE remember that > watering newly planted trees really helps in their establishment even 3 > months after they are planted! > > Sincerely, > > John Erwin > Minneapolis Park and Rec Board > > > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL > PROTECTED] before > continuing it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls > REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
