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City Council Minutes January 25, 1995 . Page 2 ~~ j ~ REPORT OF THE CITY FORESTER City Forester Treeful reported on the 1994 Tree Program activities and the program work plan for 1995. 1994 activities included: tree trimming of the Northeast quadrant and a portion of the Northome neighborhood, designation as a 1993 Tree City, receiving a 1993 Tree Growth award, inspection of boulevard and private trees for tree diseases, working with residents on tree-related issues, and maintaining trees on city lands. In 1995, Treeful plans to continue many of the same activities, as well as expanding boulevard tree planting, supervising tree planting along Cleveland Avenue, and trimming the remaining trees in the Northome neighborhood. Councilmember Gehrz noted that designation as a Tree City requires that the city spend at least S2 per capita on its tree program. She asked if the city receives grants due to its Tree City status. Treeful replied that most grant applications do inquire as to whether the city is a Tree City or planning to become one. Gehrz commented that, during budget time, the council should remember that by spending the money required to become a Tree City, Falcon Heights is able to receive additional grant funding. CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE 95-03, RELATING TO PLANTING OF TREES IN CITY BOULEVARDS Administrator Hoyt explained that she and Forester Treeful had discussed a number of revisions to the city's tree policies. Rather than simply planting trees in areas where a tree has died, staff proposes to proactively plant trees in the city's boulevards. This policy requires a change to the city code. In 1995, there are budgeted funds for 17 trees to fill in parcels that have no boulevard tree. The planting would be done in locations where it is known that trees were removed and not replaced, specifically on Hoyt and Folwell Avenues. The city forester would have final authority over where these trees would be placed. After 1995, staff proposes to expand boulevard tree planting to the Falcon Woods III and Maple Knoll/Garden/St. Mary's/Fry neighborhoods where there is currently no established boulevard tree program. The City Forester would work with a landscape architect to establish a boulevard tree program in a fashion similar to a street project where plans are drawn and neighborhood input solicited. This plan would also be reviewed by the city council. Forester Treeful recommends that at least two different species of tree be planted on each street as a precaution against disease destroying an entire street of trees. Motion was made by Councilmember Jacobs as to the following: • Adoption of Ordinance 95-03 relating to planting of trees in city boulevards; • Authorization for the City Forester to develop a boulevard tree planting plan for two neighborhoods, Falcon Woods III and Maple Knoll/Garden/St. Mary's/Fry, to bring back to the council for discussion as capital improvement projects; and • Authorization for the City Forester to plan and implement planting a minimum of two, similarly formed and sized tree types on each street. Motion passed unanimously.