Tree Commission Sets Budget, Recommends UI Arbor Day Tree

MOSCOW – The Moscow Tree Commission set its budget, reelected officers, and agreed on tree recommendations for the University of Idaho pollinator garden at its regular meeting Tuesday.

The board will request from the City Council the same amount – $2,570 – in the FY2027 operating budget as it received in FY2026. The funds are used for the city’s Arbor Day tree, tree seedling giveaways in spring and fall at the Moscow Farmers Market, Arbor Day dues and event refreshments, and education and outreach opportunities. 

Officers reelected for 2027 are: Ellis Eifert, chair; David Rauk, vice chair; and Mary Jo Hamilton, secretary.

As part of joint city/university Arbor Day celebrations on April 24, a tree will be planted on the highway 8/270 side of the University of Idaho pollinator garden, which is located north of Paradise Path at the northeast corner of Guy Wicks Field. The tree would be the first of a line of trees – one planted each year.

UI student chapters of landscape and conservation societies suggested quaking aspen and requested Tree Commission feedback. The negative response was immediate and universal, due to the invasive suckering habit and messy droppings of the aspen. 

“It will sucker right into their garden,” said Commissioner Pam Brunsfeld. 

“We have aspen in our back yard, and we always are trying to get rid of them,” agreed Commissioner Hamilton.

Brunsfeld recommended the native cascara buckthorn as an alternative. Commissioner Mark Heinlein suggested Rocky Mountain maple. Alder and birch also were mentioned. 

The university wants a row of trees to help screen the garden from the highway. It wants to plant the same variety, preferably a quick-growing type, annually to show growth from year to year; this is in order to provide a teaching/learning opportunity and to illustrate the Arbor Day theme of “Trees for Future Generations.”

Heinlein suggested planting a different variety of tree each year. Commissioners agreed the tree should be a native that attracts pollinators.

The board asked its city liaison David Schott, Moscow Parks & Facilities manager, to recommend the cascara buckthorn to the student Arbor Day group. If that is rejected, the commission will revisit the issue at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 3.