Minutes - Council Work Session - 08/13/2013

Home

eliminate EAB, which is impractical based on results in other States, but to spread the potential cost of management over multiple budget cycles. Associate Planner /Environmental Coordinator Anderson presented the projected budget impact. He requested that the City Council provide feedback on the draft EAB Management Plan, noting it satisfies a requirement of the Community Forest Bonding Grant that was awarded to the City in 2012 to complete the landscaping in North Commons. Councilmember Riley stated he supports the approach of not treating and replacing, as necessary, however, a recent StarTribune article was contrary to that recommendation. Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator Anderson stated the City of Burnsville is looking at regularly treating trees instead of removal /replacement. He stated he is making a recommendation of removal /replacement due to the age of Ramsey's street trees, which are smaller (6 -8 inches) and not as large as longer established communities that have trees 20 inches in width. Councilmember Tossey asked if builders are being asked to rio longer plant Ash Trees in boulevards. Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator Anderson answered in the affirmative and stated the City no longer allows, on public property, the planting of Ash Trees and also discourages, when asked, on private property. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood noted Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator Anderson is a Certified Arborist so the City is ahead of the curve on this threat by removing diseased trees and addressing preemptive actions. He stated if a private property owner has a large Ash Tree they want to save, the City would provide information on how it can be treated. Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator Anderson stated a tree inventory will be conducted as time and budgets permit. He explained having that information will allow the City to determine the level of threat from EAB. He noted that when Dutch Elm was a threat, many communities replanted with Ash Trees. Mayor Pro tem Backous asked if the City should prohibit planting Ash Trees on private properties to protect the rest of the City's trees. Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator Anderson stated that is a policy decision for the City Council but over time, there may be a treatment that is successful. He explained that in other impacted States, it has been found that once the initial wave of EAB gets through, treatment of remaining Ash Trees can be scaled back. Councilmember Tossey stated he would object to the City telling private property owners what kind of tree they can plant; however, he does support the City not planting Ash Trees on public property. City Council Work Session / August 13, 2013 Page7of9