The Natural Resources Advisory Commission met on Sept. 3, 2026, to discuss various environmental initiatives and community programming in Orem. The meeting, held in the City Council Conference Room, focused on upcoming library events, tree planting schedules, and urban canopy research.
Several community activities are scheduled for the coming months. A tree planting event is scheduled for Sept. 10, 2026, at 9:00 AM at Lakeside Park. A WM tour is scheduled for Oct. 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM, with commission members traveling via city vehicle departing at 4:00 PM. Additionally, the Leaf Event is scheduled for Oct. 12, 2026, at 6:00 PM at the library greenhouse, featuring activities such as leaf printing and leaf art. A seed swap event is scheduled for Feb. 23, 2027, at the library, with the Utah Native Plant Society providing native seeds.
The commission reviewed the progress of the Rooted In Orem program, noting that the Tree Sales Pilot program for residents sold 30 trees within two days. Discussions were held regarding vendor selection criteria in response to community feedback concerning the use of local Orem businesses. Furthermore, Paul Dunn discussed a potential partnership with Cornell University researchers regarding urban tree mapping for cooling effects, and Hilary Hungerford proposed analyzing municipal water usage data after October to assess conservation impacts.
The meeting included several attendees, such as Council Member Jenn Gale and Orem staff members Bradley Day and Kaitlin Marsh. Commission members in attendance were Hilary Hungerford, Sarah Bateman, and Paul Dunn, while Bob McFadden and Tara Bishop were absent. The commission also discussed winter planning, including a possible wrapping paper activity in November and a social media series featuring upcycled items.
The commission voted to approve the meeting minutes from the Aug. 6, 2026, meeting. The next scheduled LDSES Treenote Speaker event is scheduled for Oct. 24, 2026, at UVU.
