Agenda - Council - 02/08/2021 - Laserfiche WebLink

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SD-67. Urban Forest Management Funding Issue: Urban forests are an essential part of city infrastructure. Dutch elm disease, oak wilt disease, drought, storms, and emerald ash borer threaten our investment in trees. The costs for control and removal can be catastrophic and put pressure on city budgets. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, through its Urban and Community Forestry program, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, through its Shade Tree and Invasive Species program, currently have regulatory authority to direct tree sanitation and control programs. Although these programs allow for addressing some tree disease, pest, and other problems, funding levels have been inadequate to meet the need of cities to build capacity for urban tree programs and respond to catastrophic problems. Cities share the goal of the state's Releaf Program promoting and funding the inventory, planning, planting, maintenance, and improvement of trees in cities throughout the state. In addition, economic gains for stormwater management, tourism, recreation, and other benefits must be protected from tree loss. A lack of timely investment in urban forests costs cities significantly more in the long run. Further, more and more cities are facing immediate costs for the identification, removal, replacement, and treatment of emerald ash borer (EAB) as it spreads across the state. The state has no program to assist cities in covering those expenses. Response: The League of Minnesota Cities supports funding from the general fund or other appropriate state funds for a state matching grant program to assist cities with building capacity for urban forest management and meeting the costs 59 of preparing for, and responding to, catastrophic urban forest problems. Specifically, direct grants to cities are desperately needed for the identification, removal, replacement, and treatment of trees related to management of EAB. The state should establish an ongoing grant program with at least $5 million per year that is usable for those activities. SD-68. City Pesticide Application Authority Issue: Current state law in Minn. Stat. § 18B.09 limits city authority to an ordinance requiring warning signs after pesticide application. With many cities working to increase pollinator -friendly habitat and reduce the impact of pesticide usage known to be lethal to pollinators, cities are seeking further tools to meet those public expectations. With small lot sizes, primarily non-agricultural property uses, and dense residential concentrations, cities often find that the broader state pesticide regulations are not adequately protective of pollinators and are seeking additional state authority to address these issues in their communities. Response: The state legislature should amend Minn. Stat. § 18B.09 to allow cities to opt to restrict the application or use of pollinator -lethal pesticides within their community and require the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to maintain a list of which pesticides include pollinator protection boxes in their labeling or precautionary pollinator or bee warnings in the environmental hazards section of their labeling. SD-69. Election Issues Issue: Cities play an important role in administering state and federal election law and conducting voting activities.