North End Neighborhood Council Meeting –
www.nenc.org or NENC Facebook
Monday August 4, 2025
North End Wonders
Tree Walk 4:30 pm
(meet at UPS Student
Union Rotunda/Wheelock Student Center)
MONTHLY MEETING:
6:00 p.m.
Cookies & Cider from 5:30 p.m.
****MEETING ROOM LOCATION****
University of Puget Sound
Presentation Room (#102) in the Welcome Center
(N. 15th St. and N. Alder St)
Virtual – Via Zoom
Meeting ID: 882 2046 7648
Passcode: 649767
In conjunction with this meeting, we are proud to cooperate with the Tacoma Tree
Foundation to offer “North End Wonders” – Campus and Neighborhood Walk.
Monday, August 4, 2025 – 4:30 PM 5:30 PM – Meet at the Student Union Rotunda.
Join Dr. Romey Haberle and the North End Neighborhood Council on this
summer walk. From campus to neighborhood and back, we’ll get to know
some remarkable trees and the hidden wonders of their understory! We’ll
also think about the differences between street and campus habitats, and
what to look out for when moving between these spaces.
Information about the walk: https://tacomatreefoundation.org/calendar/north-end-wonders
And the UPS trees: https://www.pugetsound.edu/stories/celebration-trees
Meeting Agenda:
1) Introductions and welcome—
2) Announcements — Nasukin Coando – Cancer Awareness
3) Standard Liaison Reports
Police – Kristen Braziel
Fire – Josh Schlesner
Tacoma Public Utilities – John Gaines
Tacoma Parks – Alisa OHanlon Regala
City Manager’s Office – Christina Caan
4) City Council Member Reports – John Hines – Sarah Rumbaugh
5) Tacoma Tree Foundation
Dr. Lowell Wyse, Executive Director of the Tacoma Tree Foundation will give us an update on TTF’s
upcoming programs and Fall tree planting schedule. We will also have the City of Tacoma’s Urban Forest Program Manager Mike Carey to give some updates on the various City Tree Programs and Initiatives.
6) Old Business
a. Porchfest
b. Bayside Trails
c. Cushman/Adams Redevelopment
d. ONE Tacoma Comprehensive Plan Update
7) New Business
8) Adjournment
NOTE: Our next meeting will be Monday, September 8 (delayed one week due to the Labor Day Holiday)when Council Member Sarah Rumbaugh will lead a presentation on Homelessness and local actions in the City and the County to address.
The Tacoma Tree Foundation, Lowell Wyse, Executive Director
“Established in 2018, the Tacoma Tree Foundation has the mission to educate, empower and support
community greening efforts in the Greater Tacoma areas and the watersheds of Puget Sound.” The TTF’s
updated website includes a calendar of community events, special programs, tree planting dates, volunteer opportunities, informative tree articles and much, much more! And be sure to sign up for the
TTF monthly newsletter. https://tacomatreefoundation.org
You are Invited to TTF’s August Events:
- Wed., Aug. 13th, 12:00-1:30, “How Trees Save Lives”, Dr. Geoffrey Donovan will speak about trees as a life saving part of our urban infrastructure. Peace Community Center, 2106 South Cushman Avenue. Register for in-person or on zoom
- Sat., Aug. 23, 9:00-10:30, “Urban Tree Health Walk”, Dr. Joey Hulbert (WSU Urban Forest Health Lab
Researcher) will lead the walk and explain how to care for your trees and protect the landscape we share. - Also on Sat., Aug. 23, 10:30- 12:00, “Walking with Trees and Water”, on this 2 mile walk, participants
will learn how trees manage in a downtown landscape and their importance in reducing pollution carried by stormwater runoff.
To sign up and learn more info about these events, please go to the website
tacomatreefoundation.org/calendar
TTF staff’s favorite trees:
Fulton Bryant-Anderson: Dawn Redwood
Natalie Caro – Weeping Willow
Jessi Pickel- Weeping mulberry
Adela Ramos – Jacaranda
Jaala Smith – Serviceberry
Eden Stanley – Pacific madrone
Julia Wolf – Western Hemlock
Lowell Wyse – London plane
Thirsty Trees?
Since we haven’t had a significant amount of rainfall in the past few months, our trees are getting thirsty!
So, if you have a young tree, be sure it receives a minimum of 5 to 15 gallons of water for the first 3 to 5
years after being planted. Also, don’t forget about watering your older, mature trees – the lack of rainfall
can stress them out, weaken them and leave them more susceptible to disease.
Tacoma’s Urban Forestry Program, Mike Carey, Urban Forest Manager
According to their website: “Tacoma’s Urban Forestry Program works to sustain a healthy, vibrant urban
forest that benefits everyone. Tacoma’s trees are essential to clean air, cool neighborhoods, reduce
stormwater runoff and improve health outcomes.” For more information, please go to their website to find links to a variety of excellent resources including:
https://tacoma.gov/government/departments/environmental-services/urban-forestry
-Trees in the right-of way permits
-Tree care and planting resources
-Incentive programs & engagement opportunities.
For example, do you have a 30” Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) tree in your yard? Check out
nominating yours to the Heritage Tree program found at:
https://tacoma.gov/government/departments/environmental-services/urban-forestry/programs-and-engagement-opportunities/#how-can-i-nominate-a-tree
Urban Forestry’s favorite trees:
Mike Carey, Urban Forest Manager, Dawn Redwood (for resilience), Garry Oak (for local ecology),
and European Horse-chestnut (for co-evolution with pollinating plants)
Lisa Kenny, Community Trees Program Coordinator, Magnolias and Oaks (in memory of her late
grandmother) and Quercus frainetto “Schmidt”, a more recent favorite
Ryan Hebert, Urban Forest Analyst, Eastern White Pine
Christean Jenkins, Urban Forest Intern, Sitka Spruce
Book Corner
Summertime is always the perfect time to dive into a great book! So here’s a few highly recommended books about our environment:
• “A Life on Our Planet” My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future” by David Attenborough
• “A Tree a Day, 365 of the World’s Most Majestic Trees” by Amy-Jane Beer
• “Nature’s Best Hope” A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Own Backyard”, by Douglas W. Tallamy
• “Vitamin N”, The Essential Guide to a Nature- Rich Life, by Richard Louv
(author of “Last Child in the Woods”)
• “The Air They Breath”, A Pediatrician on the Frontlines of Climate Change,
by Debra Hendrickson, MD
At Large and District Council Members:
https://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_council
CM John Hines represents citizens District 1
CM Sarah Rumbaugh represents citizens District 2
Three Council Members represents citizens in At-Large:
Deputy Mayor Kiara Daniels; Kristina Walker and Olgy Diaz
North End Neighborhood Council Board
Direct your questions or comments to: officers@gmail.com
Chair- Peter Bennett, Vice-Chair- Tobi Bet, Treasurer- Jodi Cook, Secretary- Bonnie O’Leary
Joe Tieger, Georgette Reuter, Geoff Corso, Danielle Villegas