Agenda - Council - 01/14/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-84- WHAT Is The Grant For ? The City of Ramsey is applying for a FIREWISE Community Grant to reduce the wildfire risk through fuel modification and education efforts. The initial part of the project wilt take place in an 80 acre, fifty year old and overly dense, stressed and dying Scots Pine plantation. A collaboratton with the DNR and City Staff will enable neighbors to develop and implement stage one of an overall management plan that includes pine thinning and replacement w/th deciduous vegetation. The City sponsored an informational meeting with DNR and City Staff for the entire' neighborhood. Seven of eight attendees endorsed the approach.. Currently 14/16 property owners have agreed to participate. The initial goal is 50 % conifer removal, develop 'defensible' fire breaks around structures, improve health of remaining trees. The r~maining slash and waste wood will be tub ground and some can be used for mulch for replanting. Nne of the wood is suitable for sawing. Technical advice and consultation will aid the homeowner develop tree and habitat diversity with a custom/zed planting plan. The intent of the City is to use this FIREWISE neighborhood project as a pilot for other fire prone neighborhoods in Ramsey. We will provide local-coverage of this neighborhood effort and solicit volunteers of other fii-e prone areas to help with an ad hoe organizanon for whole neighborhood participation. The proposed timeline for first stage is: l] Dec '02 - DNRDistrict Forester marking for removal of Scots Pine and Siberian Elm on participating lots, and consultant's- overall 80 ac mgrnt plan. Each homeowner is also invited, to mark their own preference of trees to save or remove, and review DNR selection; The City will arrange aerial photography before thinning. [2] Jan '03 II May '03. - DNP,. helps select logger and writes contract for thinning, staging, removal and grinding. Homeowners help with clean up of slash. This year's thinning and removal to be completed before the ~ound thaws, disposal completed by end of May [3] Feb '03//Apr '03 - Homeowners review completed removals on their lot, ex3aluate their lot for FIREWISE safety and develop individual landscape replanting plan with City Staff, Ramsey Fire Dept and DNR and other technical specialists. Homes to be. evaluated 0evel 2 assessment] for other FIREWISE factors and homeowners informed ofhazard'rmtigafion needed in their yard. Homeowners complete most mitigation activities. - Preferred species list for replanting for this project, with diverse goals Neighborhood meeting to develop nursery order and cooperative neighborhood planting. Volume of retained shredded, wood to be reserved for replanting. [41 May '03 Removal and disposal completed~ FIREWISE outcome evaluated. [5] Apr '03//Jun '03 Replanting and other FIREWISE mitigation activities completed by homeowners. Arrange "after" aerial photograph. [6] .'Media, news and documentary coverage: Ramsey Resident, QCTV, Anoka County Union, other. Timeline for expanded pilot: Jan '03 - meet w city staffand DNR to identify next fire prone neighborhoods; estimate harvest and value of removed product; Feb '03 - contact homeowners with previous interest thinning their.lots in. one or two pine plantation neighborhoods; develop goals/pre~pmposal Mar '03 - initiai neighborhood meeting to shape plan proposal and follow~up; tour ofTraprnek FIREWISE implementation; assess neighborhood pamcipation Apr '03 - do one or two lots in each neighborhood of concern; May '03 - Public Information at Env'l Expo ~vlay 3, 2003]; band saw demonstration.of Red Pine, White Pine, Red Oak sawmilling to educate about utilization and value of home wood lot management for a hobby 'or mmroenterprise specialty product, specialty market; follow up meeting to recruit whole neighborhood for project; develop verall plan; guide development of individual goals/plans; homeowners commence marking for save/remove; FIREWISE structures assessment; homeowner mitigation ofhazards m yardi