MantiCity.org

1. A Tree Board or Department

Someone must be legally responsible for the care and management of the community's trees. This may be a professional forester or arborist, an entire forestry department, or a volunteer tree board. Often, both a professional staff and advisory tree board are present, which is a good goal for most communities. A tree board, or commission, is a group of concerned volunteer citizens charged by ordinance with developing and administering a comprehensive tree management program. Balanced, broad-based community involvement is encouraged. Boards function best if not composed entirely of tree-related professionals such as forestry professors, nursery operators, arborists, etc. Fresh ideas and different perspectives are added by citizens with an interest in trees that is entirely avocational. Limited, staggered terms of service will prevent stagnation or burnout, while at the same time assuring continuity.

2. A Tree Care Ordinance

The tree ordinance must designate the establishment of a tree board or forestry department and give this body the responsibility for writing and implementing an annual community forestry work plan. Beyond that, the ordinance should be flexible enough to fit the needs and circumstances of the particular community. A tree ordinance provides an opportunity to set good policy and back it with the force of law when necessary. Ideally, it will provide clear guidance for planting, maintaining and removing trees from streets, parks and other public places. For tips and a checklist of important items to consider in writing or improving a tree ordinance, see Bulletin No. 9.

3. A Community Forestry Program With An Annual Budget Of At Least $2 Per Capita

Evidence is required that the community has established a community forestry program that is supported by an annual budget of at least $2 per capita. At first, this may seem like an impossible barrier to some communities. However, a little investigation usually reveals that more than this amount is already being spent by the municipality on its trees. If not, this may signal serious neglect that will cost far more in the long run. In such a case, working toward Tree City USA recognition can be used to re-examine the community's budget priorities and re-direct funds to properly care for its tree resource before it is too late. Ideally, this standard will be met by focusing funding on an annual work plan developed after an inventory is completed and a report is approved by the city council. Such a plan will address species diversity, planting needs, hazardous trees, insect and disease problems and a pattern of regular care such as pruning and watering.

4. An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation

This is the least challenging and probably the most enjoyable standard to accomplish. An Arbor Day celebration can be simple and brief or an all-day or all-week observation. It can be a simple tree planting event or an award ceremony that honors leading tree planters. For children, Arbor Day may be their only exposure to the green world or a springboard to discussions about the complex issue of environmental quality. The benefits of Arbor Day go far beyond the shade and beauty of new trees for the next generation. Arbor Day is a golden opportunity for publicity and to educate homeowners about proper tree care. Utility companies can join in to promote planting small trees beneath power lines or being careful when digging. Smokey Bear's fire prevention messages can be worked into the event, as can conservation education about soil erosion or the need to protect wildlife habitat. Still another way to develop Arbor Day is to link it with a tree-related festival. Some that are currently celebrated include dogwood festivals, locust blossom festivals and Macon, Georgia's Cherry Blossom Festival that annually brings more than $4.25 million into the local economy. In meeting the four standards, help is available! The urban and community forestry coordinator in your state forester's office will be happy to work with communities in taking these first steps toward better community forestry.

(Cited from www.arborday.org/programs/TreeCityStandards.cfm

"Ah, come take my hand... we're ridin' out tonight to face the promised land."

In response to this poll and in living in cities in the United States where they have become a Tree City I concur with Loren that "Manti" will get more out of becoming a "Tree City". Why? As noted above, we will be able to solicit known facts about trees that can be fire hazards, e.g. Eucalyptus and other similar trees "Safety" . We can request from the organization information about obtaining trees at a reduce cost (probably free) and information about design and more "Beatification" . The point is our US government has setup such an organization to promote the planting and care of trees. We all have paid our taxes (Federal) and why not use this resource that we all paid for?

The only negative is Manti City will have to have a budget line item showcasing # residents * 2 ~ 6K/yr to spend on trees and plants. By default, Manti City is moving in this direction with enhancements to the Main Street (new trees and plants) and future pool and parks will require yearly maintenance costs. Having this budget line item for trees/plants is prudent and beneficial to community.

I disagree, Earthdude. None of the items you mention are exclusive to being a Tree City. Manti can find out all this information on it's own, without help from an environmentally charged organization. The Arbor Day Foundation is a privately funded group, NOT a U.S. Government organization, and our tax dollars have not paid for anything having to do with it. Having a line item for beautification is fine, but NOT by ordinance! Ordinances restrict freedoms, never give more freedoms, and they should be reserved for health and safety issues, not trees!! Manti City should remain independent, not tied to an ordinance encouraged by a private, environmental organization. Check their website. See who is awarded Arbor Day Foundation awards. They are the same environmentalists who would keep us from using our public lands. It just isn't necessary nor wise for Manti City to become a Tree City.

Disagreement is healthy and necessary for a person and a city to grow.  Most of us have checked out the website and still I find more positive influences to participate and belong to arborday.org.  If I'm correct, you are not suggesting that the National Arbor Day Foundation as being the issue but radical environmental groups as the problem.   You clearly dislike having federal government bodies and private organizations in your face and we all would tend to agree with you; however, I see that this organization as helpful, proactive and an advocate to communities to plant and take care of trees.  They are not telling us what to do only suggesting "no ordinances".

Look at the participants in the state of Utah .

We need to be careful to have our independence but we must realize we are not an island unto ourselves.  We are dependant upon others and those organizations that help our community.   I see this organization arborday.org as one organization that is not radical but helpful to provide FREE trees, suggestions, advice and examples that we can use within Manti City .

I do not have a problem with accepting information from the Arbor Day foundation, but why do you think we need an ordinance, or law, to take adequate care of the trees in Manti?  It is fine to take suggestions, advice, and examples from a knowledgable organization.  But I still believe that ordinances, or laws, should be saved for more important issues than trees.  The fact remains that the National Arbor Day Foundation has nothing to do with a government organization, but is a privately funded, privately held organization, and they are trying to encourage cities to pass ordinances, which is a bad precedence to set.  This (the passage of ordinances) is something that should be reserved for the local city council and it's citizens to decide.  If the city council decides to pass an ordinance dealing with the care of their trees, that should not be influenced by an outside entity, but by it's own citizens.

We are being "lawed" to death.  If we wait long enough, everything will be governed by law, and personal responsibility will be gone.  I feel that we must guard our freedom, and our concurrent responsibility to act appropriately, by weighing carefully what should be governed by ordinance and what should be left to personal responsibility.  But this is probably fodder for a different post.

I appreciate your enthusiasm and concern to make sure Manti City keeps its own identity.  Your message is clear that you don' t want too many or any ordinances regarding trees.   My only concern is from past experiences as observed in our own county and other places.  Specifically, the concern is with colony type trees such as cotton woods.  People love them because they grow fast but once they are mature they are a mess and before you know it they take over your lawn and are dead in less than 20 years (short lived gain with no concern for the future).   At least within public areas I would choose not to see these types of trees planted.   Do we need an ordinance for this no but at least I'll be an advocate to plant specific trees that benefit us, our children and grand children.  As for the joining of Arbor Day foundation, the idea was suggested by a member of the city council and I back their suggestion.   I concur with you that we ought to use this organization only as a source as advice.   Lastly I applaud your stated concerns and suggestions and from the recent voting results we are dead even.   We still need more people to become involved and add their wishes, concerns and to vote.   Due to the voting results being dead even the outstanding vote will have to be decided by our elected officials if we join or don t join the Arbor Day foundation.

I think this is why we have a representative form of government.  It is alright to have differences, but it is necessary to have someone to make the final decision.  Citizens can voice their opinions and concerns, those in office should listen, and then they must make the final decision.  If the people concur with a majority of those decisions, they will stay in office.  If they don't, the people can exercise their right to vote for those that more closely represent their point of view.  Therefore, it is very important for citizens to participate in the process. 

I would much rather live here than in any other country in the world!