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7/29/25 discussed: pollinator grant plants, arbor quotes, area behind ch

In attendance: Alex, Lila, Chelsea D, Kellie (notes)

We met outside behind the common house, it was great to be able to see the areas we were talking about. 

1) Pollinator grant: https://ag.utah.gov/pollinator-habitat-program/

Renae applied and was granted the plants. About 60 very small native seedlings we will receive in September. Educational webinar Wednesday (will be recorded so it can be accessed if you can’t make it to the live presentation): https://utah.us22.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2415f08620e9bfa456ab73a6d&id=0bcc1b9421&e=186ef1c61e


Where to put them?
  They are small, we agree to track their progress when we take the plants in, so we should keep them together somewhere they will be closely monitored and can be easily irrigated. 

It’s been suggested to put them in near the west berm entrance or by Laura’s unit 1 on the hilly areas or behind the common house near the fruit trees.

Issue with behind ch is weed fabric prevalence. It is easier to keep an eye the more out in the open 

Alex mentions silage tarp can be used to speed up the decomposition process when you want to prepare a bed for planting. Inexpensive, accelerated by exposure to sun.  Takes 3 weeks or so to work.
 Could be used on area behind ch to accelerate the weed removal process until we are ready to move the entire weed fabric.
  Alternatively, we could do a work party to remove the fabric and then cut the weeds and lay cardboard and wood chips down, leave an area for the pollinator plants. Also have pavers left over from Ben’s patio project we can use. 
 Kellie would like to beautify the back area where she will be holding her wedding ceremony, so is motivated to get that area looking nicer anyways.
  Plan: see if we can remove the fabric. If we can, put them behind ch. If not not, move to west driveway entrance or by Laura’s.

Alex: request we look at demonstration gardens to look for design. Create a list of places we can tour to get inspiration. Books etc 

West berm soil is dry, will need to supplement with mulch and be extra careful with watering . 
Should buy mulch to add when we plant plants.

Action item: Kellie set work party to pull weed fabric up. Need gloves, hand saws, serrated knives, box cutters!

2) arborist quotes
 The large tree branch coming down in (former) Robin and Jorge’s yard highlights the need to move forward with our plan to start tree work in the winter (cheaper rates). We planned to start collecting quotes around September, October.
   Need to use large spend process and contact three arborist companies for bids, do walk through with a few people and take notes, and present our choice to management. 


Action item: Kellie look for arborist list (wiki? Vinnie)
We have used: arbor concepts, arbor plus 
Chelsea used Wild Bills Tree Service 

Need to get a team of volunteers. If you are interested in helping contact arborist companies for bids, and /or being part of the walkthrough process where they talk about priorities for tree work, let us know!
How often  to re do? Last time we did this was 3 or 4 years ago 


3) wood chips 
 We have lots of wood chips that have been mysteriously dumped by the shed on Utah street. We paid Shad to move them, he just suggested we lay cardboard first.

Action needed: On the west berm near the parking spots (so Shad can take his tractor and dump it right onto the parts of the berm that abut the parking lot) we need to cut weeds short and lay cardboard down.