06-01-2015 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 1, 2015 APPROVED I CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 4 DATE 5 TIME STARTED 6 TIME ENDED 7 MEMBERS PRESENT 8 9 MEMBERS ABSENT : June 1, 2015 . 6:00 p.m. . 9:30 p.m. : Council Member Stoesz, Kusterman, Rafferty, Roeser and Mayor Reinert : None 10 11 12 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Public Services Director Rick 13 DeGardner; Public Safety Director John Swenson; Community Development Director 14 Michael Grochala; Environmental Coordinator Marty Asleson; City Engineer Diane 15 Hankee; Utility Supervisor Tim Hillescheim; Park Supervisor Mike Hoffman; Public 16 Services Director Rick DeGardner; City Clerk Julie Bartell 17 18 1. Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan- Environmental Coordinator Asleson 19 and Park Supervisor Hoffman reported. Mr. Asleson noted locations where Emerald Ash 20 Borer (EAB) infestation has been identified (in the metro area). His report includes the 21 Lino Lakes EAB Management Plan that was adopted in 2011 and that gives staff options 22 for the removal or treatment of public ash trees. That plan has been reviewed by the 23 Environmental Board and they have made recommendations for updates, including a 24 2016 budget request for $5,000 for tree replacement. He explained plans to bring in 25 someone to harvest low value trees, noting that dying trees can be a hazard. There are 26 sites ready to receive the harvested tree material. Staff is in a position to treat some high 27 value trees. Starting now, he believes that the city could finish the efforts in five or six 28 years. The city has a practice of planting different types of trees and that will continue 29 with the replacement program. The Environmental Board also recommends that the cost 30 of replacement trees to property owners should be kept low to encourage participation. In 31 the area of tree work and contractors, he suggests that the city may want to consider 32 licensing to ensure they are following best practices. In discussing how staff will be 33 involved in the program, the council heard about impacts that could occur on other work 34 areas. Staff is planning to stage as much work as possible in-house over the next six - 35 seven years. Mr. Hoffman noted that there will be situations (trees) that staff cannot 36 handle; they are not trained as loggers. 37 38 The council asked about the removal of stumps (will not be done), and the number of 39 trees already removed (estimated at 220, mostly in the city parks). When Mayor Reinert 40 asked how many of the estimated 10,000 ash trees in the city are located on private 41 property, staff said more than half. There was a review of how Anoka County is 42 addressing the problem in the park reserve, and that includes a log burning program. 43 The council discussed what is budgeted for work this year and out years. 44