06-01-2015 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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WS — Item # 1 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item No. 1 Date: June 1, 2015 To: City Council From: Marty Asleson Re: Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Background The City Council has requested an update on the City Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Management Plan status, and how it compares to what other communities in the area are doing. The Lino Lakes EAB Management Plan was adopted in 2011. The plan defines the management options that are available (see attachment). The Lino Lakes plan gives city staff variable options for making decisions on whether to treat, remove, or replace public ash trees. Low value trees, based on condition or form, will be removed and higher value trees treated. It has been our intent that all street trees will be replaced if removed. The Lino Lakes Environmental Board revisited the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan at their April Meeting. Suggested changes to the plan are in red. The City received a DNR grant in 2011 to remove and replace ash trees. The grant allowed staff to remove and replace 120 trees in several parks and one planted street in Highland Meadows development. The trees in this development were all lower quality trees. The City has purchased the tools necessary and have the licensed staff members to treat our remaining trees if we choose. Several areas are worth treating. Treating also allows the City to stagger our tree losses over longer periods of time. Cities that have not done this where EAB has gone through wish they had. Other City Comparisons: Shoreview If a resident wants to treat a boulevard tree, the City specifies that it has to be done by injection. They strongly discourage the use of soil drench treatments. Shoreview treated 60 public trees in 2012, 280 in 2013, and 339 trees in 2014. Shoreview has an EAB infestation in the County Road I area. Shoreview states in their EAB Management Plan, the city will attempt to distribute costs of EAB over a reasonable time period. Shoreview has updated their Tree Disease Ordinance to include EAB for both public and private trees. Shoreview will preemptively remove Ash trees from public property. Shoreview will replant public removed trees. Shoreview is licensing tree companies and requiring