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WS — Item 3 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item #3 Date: May 2, 2011 To: City Council From: Marty Asleson Re: Emerald Ash Borer Update Background Lino Lakes has a number of Ash trees in parks and on City street boulevards. There are approximately 417 smaller size ash trees on City boulevards and another 230 or so larger size trees in parks of significance. Emerald Ash Borer was recently discovered in Minneapolis. Emerald Ash Borer, an introduced pest from China, has the ability to, and will, kill every Ash tree and all species of Ash tree in the state of Minnesota and, in particular, Lino Lakes, unless the trees are treated with insecticide. The City has taken precautions to not plant any more than 10 to 15 % of any one species in any neighborhood. When we first heard about the introduction of Emerald Ash Borer in Detroit in 2003, we stopped planting Ash trees altogether. Because of the precautions that have been taken, we should have a minimum impact to City resources compared to many other cities where only Ash trees were planted. While not a City expense, Emerald Ash Borer prevention or Ash tree removal on private property may be more costly. Recent remote sensing from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN/DNR) places the number of wild and private Ash trees in Lino Lakes in the tens of thousands. Staff has been working with the Environmental Board on a preparedness plan for Emerald Ash Borer. Attached is the draft plan. Cost figures in the cost assessment were derived from an Emerald Ash Borer predictive model developed by Purdue University. Since the draft preparedness plan was completed in July of 2010, the city was successful in obtaining a $25,000 Grant from MN/DNR to replace some of our park and street trees. Therefore, the cost figures will decrease for all options. Attachment City of Lino Lakes, MN Emerald Ash Borer Preparedness Plan 1