Fitchburg Tree Advisory Committee Meeting — September 10, 2026

The Fitchburg (Wisconsin) Tree Advisory Committee met on Thursday, September 10, 2026, from 4:06 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. Members approved the previous meeting minutes and the day's agenda, reviewed the public-facing memorial tree program materials, and heard a forestry department update covering fall planting projects, the city's 21% tree canopy report, a nearly completed woodlot management plan, and early tree care needs. Note: the transcript's spoken introduction repeatedly refers to the 'city of Pittsburgh,' while the program's promotional intro references Fitchburg and the discussion cites Wisconsin municipalities; this summary follows the supplied designation of Fitchburg, Wisconsin.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes from the previous meeting were approved by voice vote, all in favor, with no opposition.
• The agenda for the September 10 meeting was approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public appeared for the non-agenda public comment period.

Discussion Items: Memorial Tree Program

• The committee reviewed the memorial tree program communication piece (graphic prepared by Miriam). Donors may choose the park but not the specific planting spot; city forestry staff select the location. Staff explained that park activities (concerts, festivals, athletics), underground stormwater and sanitary infrastructure, and wet spring conditions make staff selection necessary. Staff cited a current fall memorial tree in McKee Park where staff selected the location and sent a map to the donor.
• Committee member Craig noted a typo in the second sentence of the 'How much does it cost' section (the transcript records 'this is the code'; the context indicates it should be 'this is the cost').
• Craig asked whether the document is backed by a formal policy. Staff responded that the document is the public communication piece and that a formal policy still needs to be drafted and moved through the city's policy framework with administration.
• Craig also asked that the policy address early tree failure. Staff said memorial trees that die are typically replaced at no cost, and trees planted in spring/fall cycles are covered by nursery warranties.
• The committee requested edits: change 'desired location' to 'selected location' (or 'preferred location') so donors understand staff make the final placement decision; remove the confusing phrase 'planted in your desired location' from the 'How does the program work' section; and state that after the donation is received, staff will plant the tree in the selected location.
• The document is one of the action items from the city's urban forestry plan. The red lettering at the top was confirmed to be an internal OnBase packet annotation that will not appear in the public-facing version.

Discussion Items: Forestry Department Report

• Fall planting with Urban Tree Alliance will occur in the Belmar neighborhood using federal grant funding: approximately 60-something trees, including some in a park and many on terraces near multifamily housing. Staff described it as canopy renovation, though some locations may never have had trees before.
• The city's other regular fall tree planting is scheduled for mid-October.
• Staff participated in Youth Government Week, planting two trees on Research Park Drive.
• Staff submitted a 'Million Trees' grant with a committee letter of support, for trees at Tigri Meadows, Terravesa, Softdale, and other parks. If awarded, as in past years, it would provide an extra $5,000 for volunteer tree planting.
• The community canopy report from CarpC shows the city at 21% tree canopy for the entire city. Staff said Madison and Milton are also at 21% and other peer communities are lower (14-15%), adding that Fitchburg 'holds its own' despite limited forestry investment. The updated tree inventory is now visible in the report.
• The city forestry budget is expected to be positive and will be released about a week after the meeting (around September 18, 2026). Staff offered to share the budget and the peer-community operations comparison at the next meeting.
• Woodlot management plan: staff said it is nearly complete and should be on the October agenda. A proposed tour of the Holly Conservancy woodlot was discouraged because there are no maintained trails, heavy downed material (including black locust), and invasive species such as honeysuckle and buckthorn; no one has worked in that woodlot for about two years. A committee member suggested creating a trail; staff agreed a trail is needed but requires clearing and ideally the woodlot policy first. The plan references recreational opportunities but does not specifically call out a trail.
• Budget proposal: staff confirmed they submitted a budget proposal to the mayor that includes an additional summer intern. The committee discussed extending the intern beyond 10 weeks or adding more hours; staff said there is year-round work (pruning, removals, and other tasks).
• Tree protection ordinance: members asked about strengthening the recently approved ordinance. Staff said it is unclear what 'lever' could be used, noted that the Plan Commission (not DPW) approves development plans, and that tree surveys are already a required submittal. One member suggested creating non-binding guidelines to help developers and the Plan Commission use the tree survey data; another framed the goal as culture change so trees are treated as essential infrastructure. Staff said Fitchburg is a leader in tree preservation in Wisconsin, with only Madison doing better at protecting city trees, while acknowledging the city is still losing more trees than it preserves in some areas. Members agreed the committee needs a clear next goal; staff suggested an operations plan and mapped-out early tree care standards as the next frontier, possibly codified in policy.
• Watering and early tree care: staff said they wish they could water more and have solutions planned for next year. The committee discussed news alerts, a pre-winter watering reminder, and flyers or door hangers for new trees. A member described a neighbor's recently planted terrace tree that died after looking dry; staff said it may be a replacement for an ash tree and likely under warranty. A member volunteered to research simple watering guidance, and staff noted an intern could draft materials. The committee also discussed sharing tree-protection-during-construction information through the architectural control committee.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the previous meeting minutes and the September 10, 2026 agenda by unanimous voice vote.
• Directed staff to revise the memorial tree program communication piece (selected/preferred location wording, typo fix, removal of 'desired location' language) and to draft a formal memorial tree policy for the city's policy framework.
• Forestry staff to present the nearly completed woodlot management plan at the October 8 meeting and to share the peer-community operations comparison and budget information.
• The committee agreed to pursue early tree care outreach (watering guidance and a pre-winter reminder) and to consider non-binding guidelines on tree data use in development reviews as possible future work.
• Next meeting: October 8, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., same location, with voting items expected. The meeting was adjourned at 4:50 p.m.