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WS – Item 6 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item No. 6 Date: December 4, 2017 To: City Council From: Marty Asleson Re: Emerald Ash Borer Update Background Emerald ash borer (EAB) is an ash tree destroying insect that was introduced into the United States around 2002 in Michigan. The insect most likely came into the country in infested packing crates from Asia. EAB was discovered in a Saint Anthony Park neighborhood in 2009. In October 2017, EAB was identified infesting ash trees in the Target infiltration ponds by a park board member, John Nordlund. In 2010, the City drafted an ‘EAB Management Plan’ in anticipation of an infestation in Lino Lakes. The plan addresses the removal, replacement and treatment in some cases of City ash trees. Lino Lakes changed the ‘Disease Tree Ordinance’ in 2010 to include ash trees and EAB. Target Corporation has been contacted and has acknowledged the issue and have communicated the trees will be removed before May 1, 2017. In 2010, Lino Lakes started removing and replacing ash trees on city boulevards and in parks. At that time, there were approximately 520 ash trees on city boulevards, and approximately 450 city park trees. Since the original inventory, the City has removed and replaced about 180 Boulevard trees and 175 Park Trees. Lino Lakes began treating boulevard ash trees this summer, for 86 ash trees have been treated. The City Council has appropriated additional monies over the last few years for ash removal and replacement. We seem to be on track to a systematic remove and replace effort at this time. Up to this point, most of the park tree removals and many of the street tree removals/replacements were removed and/or replaced by Mike Hoffman’s parks crew. The City started treating city Boulevard trees on a three-year rotational basis in the summer of 2017. Treating the remaining boulevard ash trees will give us time to safely remove and replace the trees.