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Environmental Board November 30, 2022 <br />Page 2 <br /> <br /> <br />DRAFT MINUTES <br /> <br />Mr. Nelson stated there is a price per inch diameter for resident trees and a price for City <br />boulevard trees. The City cost is lower partially because the company is working with <br />one client and one bill for 100 trees, so there is less administrative work needed. <br />Ms. Buchmeier asked if there will be other bids requested from other tree care companies <br />in addition to Rainbow Tree Care. <br /> <br />Mr. Nelson stated that Rainbow Tree Care will be one of the companies along with <br />another one or two. <br /> <br />Mr. Chair Sullivan made a motion to recommend to City Council to continue the EAB <br />injection program for City and private trees. <br />Motion was supported by Ms. McNulty. Motion carried 5-0. <br /> <br />B. Ash Removal Plan for Winter 2022-2023 <br /> <br />Mr. Nelson, Environmental Coordinator, presented the staff report. <br /> <br />Mr. Nelson presented two graphs, which explained the cumulative costs of treatments <br />over time for a single tree, and another for the 200 trees left for the City to remove and <br />replace. The graph explained the difference between EAB treatment cost versus the <br />remove and replace cost for both private trees and City trees. For homeowners that value <br />the tree, the services, shade, and aesthetics, it might be worth about $100 to $200 every <br />two years to keep the tree. At the City scale, we have around 200 boulevard ash trees left <br />and maintaining them into the future is not the most cost effective option. The strategy <br />that the City is using will result in a diverse mix of species that will be more resistant to <br />future pests and pathogens and will also have no ongoing treatment costs. <br />Mr. Nelson presented the ash tree removal plan for winter of 2022-2023. Of the <br />remaining 200 boulevard trees left, City staff will remove 37 trees. The Parks crew will <br />remove 23 trees, and 14 trees will be removed by contractors. The boulevard trees on <br />Stallion Lane have two trees per frontage, which the City standard is one tree per <br />frontage. Once City staff removes the ash trees on this street, they will not be replaced. <br />These trees will be easier to remove because they are smaller and require less equipment. <br />The larger trees that will be removed on Quarterhorse Court require more equipment, yet <br />are still attainable to remove by the City. Contractorswill handle more technical jobs, <br />such as the trees on Red Clover Lane. Contractor removals are necessary when there are <br />more obstacles and risk of property damage around the tree. <br /> <br />Chair Sullivan questioned why we do not replace the trees on the frontage. <br /> <br />Mr. Nelson stated thatthe City standardis one tree per frontage in developments that are <br />part of the boulevard tree program. <br /> <br />Chair Sullivan asked if staff has encountered any negative feedback from residents that <br />aren’t receiving replacements.