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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/28/2011 Environmental Board MinutesENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING September 28, 2011 DRAFT MINUTES 1 APPROVED CITY OF LINO LAKES DATE : September 28, 2011 TIME STARTED : 6:31 P.M. TIME ENDED : 7:50 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT : Mary Jo O’Dea, Barbara Bor, Paula Andrzejewski, Steve Heiskary, Theresa Klaman and Nancie Klebba MEMBERS ABSENT : Martha DeHaven STAFF PRESENT : Environmental Coordinator Marty Asleson 1. CALL TO ORDER Ms. O’Dea called the meeting to order at 6:31p.m. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES July 27, 2011Environmental Board Minutes Approved with the following changes: Change detail to detailed on page 2, 5. A. 4th paragraph. Change lead to LEED on bottom of page 2. Change water fall to water fowl on page 3, 6. A. 2nd paragraph. Change the word nodule to module on page 3, 6.A. 3rd paragraph. Take out ask Mr. DeGardner on page 4, 6. E. 2nd paragraph. Mr. Heiskary made a motion to approve the April 27, 2011 Environmental Board Minutes. Ms. Andrzejewski seconded the motion to approve. Motion carried unanimously. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Add D: Fall Burn Add E: Forest Bonding Grant Add F: Single Sort Recycling ` Ms. Bor made a motion to approve the agenda. Ms. Klebba seconded the motion to approve the agenda. Motion carried unanimously 4. OPEN MIKE Open mike closed at 6:35 p.m. ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING September 28, 2011 DRAFT MINUTES 2 5. ACTION ITEM A. Final Approval of Emerald Ash Borer Preparedness Plan Mr. Asleson presented his staff report as follows: The Environmental Board has reviewed past draft Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) documents. Updates have been given to the City Council on the draft EAB Preparedness Plan as compiled by the Environmental Board. The last two updates to the Council were in May and August of 2011. The use of two parcels mentioned in the plan has been extensively discussed for marshalling diseased Ash Trees. Minor improvements would be needed for the south marshal area. Gravel would be needed to gain entrance to the site. EAB has now been found in Northern Ramsey County. The City has received a grant to establish tree diversity and by next year the City will have replaced roughly 150 of our public trees. Mr. Asleson stated at this time, he is certain that City crews will be performing removal, planting and chemical treatment for any EAB function on public trees. The City has trained staff, equipment and licenses needed for any of the management options. The final draft document incorporates by reference the City Tree Disease Ordinance into the Preparedness Plan. Ms. O’Dea questioned if the City Council wants the Environmental Board to say this is what we want in regards to the EAB plan for city trees and private trees. Mr. Asleson stated yes this is what the Council is requesting. Ms. O’Dea questioned if the City should provide treatment to residents for a fee. Mr. Asleson stated there are too many trees to treat privately owned trees. Ms. O’Dea stated in Highland Park the City pulled out old trees, that is what a lot of cities are doing; not considering chemical treatment. The following changes in red have been made by the Environmental Board to the EAB Management Plan: City of Lino Lakes, MN Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Purpose: The provisions of this management plan are intended to provide a cost effective and culturally acceptable method of management for the ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING September 28, 2011 DRAFT MINUTES 3 outbreak of Emerald Ash Borer. The death of all the ash trees in the City of Lino Lakes will have a detrimental effect on home values, quality of life and environmental benefit. The goal of this plan is to mitigate the impact of EAB as much as practical, to residents and City Ash trees. Introduction: Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive, non-native, introduced pest that came into the USA from ports in Detroit Michigan. The insect is indigenous to China and is suspected to come into this country in packing crates. EAB most likely existed in Michigan for at least 5 years before a plant pathologist noticed something wrong with their Ash Trees in 2002. All efforts in Michigan to stop this insect have failed. It is now estimated that EAB can travel up to 4 miles by its self, or an average of 10 miles with human help. Humans help this insect get around to new areas mainly by firewood transport. With only 6 or seven years of study and research, managers at this time are unable to stop this insect. Sc ientists do know that once established in a City, all of the City’s Ash trees will be killed in five to 10 years. It will be perhaps 20 years minimum until effective controls may be available. Minnesota has a tremendous amount of Ash trees (900 million). This number does not include the trees planted in Cities in parks and along street scapes. The City of Lino lakes has approximately 328 Ash trees in parks and 598 Ash trees on street boulevards. There are also 157 Ash trees on Peltier Island that have supported Great Blue Heron nests in the past. Preliminary remote sensing from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources estimates 10000 Ash trees overall in the City of Lino Lakes. There are three options (other than doing nothing), or a combination of these options that our City cities can decided to follow. First, the a City can remove all City owned of their Ash trees. If the trees are not removed, unsightly and hazardous trees are left in the landscape. Secondly, a, the City can elect to remove and replace the dead ash trees with another type of tree, thus mitigating the benefits of the lost trees. Third, a the City can chemically treat the trees with an insecticide for an indefinite amount of time. A city Lino Lakes can also do a combination of any of these options. The following discusses highlights each option. 1. Remove all City Ash Trees: Assuming Aall trees will die in 5 years, so removal costs will be incurred by the City for removing all trees within are associated with the cCity or a contractor removing all trees in 5 years. This plan has the lowest out of pocket expense. This plan also causes the greatest losses to aesthetic and ecological value that the Ash trees provided for Lino Lakes. The City will remove all public Ash trees using City Crews ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING September 28, 2011 DRAFT MINUTES 4 2. Remove/Replace all City Ash trees. This option removes and replaces every Ash tree with a new tree that won’t get Emerald Ash borer. acceptable to the City Forester. This plan is the least costly way to manage the Lino Lakes Ash forest and allow the urban forest it to regain its former size. The City will utilize City crews to remove and replace all City Ash Trees 3. Treat City Ash trees with insecticide. This plan has the lowest annual out of pocket costs, but it has the greatest cost over time. It also produces the largest remaining forest over time. Research demonstrates that insecticides can protect small trees < 12” in diameter until they reach a 15 inch diameter. Effective treatment of larger trees would require either a more frequent application, or a higher dose of inspective insecticide. Research as of 3.8.2010 shows one application of insecticide will treat a tree for at least possibly up to 3 years. The City will utilize City personnel who have been trained and licensed in treatment for EAB, to treat City trees chosen to be treated. 4. Combination of the first 3 options. Treating at least the middle range of City tree size also gives the City time to spread our losses over a much greater time period, and possibly eliminate our losses for treated trees. Treated trees should be limited to trees in good vigor with good form. Poor formed trees or trees in declining condition should be removed as soon as possible. Natural controls with parasitic and predatory insects, genetic selection and manipulation, all take time. The estimated time to achieve success in one of these areas is 20 years minimum. Administration The City Forester shall coordinate efforts with the Public Works Department, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and/or the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Anoka County, and St Paul District Energy to seek assistance for the removal, disposal, replacement, and treatment of City Plan Ash trees. Furthermore the City Forester shall enforce the City Shade Tree Disease Control Ordinance and assist and educate the public in private Ash tree disposal. The disease control ordinance shall be an integral part of this plan. City Park and Boulevard Tree Management Recommendations Protocol First remove all poorly formed and defective City owned Ash trees. Recommended procedure for City Ash Trees is removal of all poorly- formed and/or defective trees first. Chemically treat all trees in the 6 to 12 inch classification. , r Remove and replace all Ash trees < 6 inches and trees > 12 inches. Should future chemical labels allow for higher chemical injection ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING September 28, 2011 DRAFT MINUTES 5 rates, thean the City may choose to treat the larger trees. Peltier Island Nest Supported Trees It is recommended that The Ash Ttrees supporting Heron nests on Peltier Island are on property of Anoka County. Therefore it is recommended to support the rookery be managed in concurrently in such a way as to support the present and future heron Ppopulations, and that a coordinated effort between Anoka County and the City of Lino Lakes be arranged to this end. Coordinated efforts may include chemical treatment of existing trees and/or replacement of the Ash trees with Basswood, Hickory Trees, or other species that would afford good habitat for the herons. Ash Trees on Private Property Diseased Ash trees on private property as identified by City staff must be removed per City Ordinance. City residents are responsible for treating and/or removing privately owned Ash trees. The City Forester will inform resident by letter of any identified diseased trees on their property and the Ordinance #07-10 requirements. Disposal Since all trees within an infected county will be severely transport limited by quarantine, It is recommended that Once EAB has been identified in the City of Lino Lakes, the City has established and will open two disposal sites. Two diseased tree stock pile sites will be designated in the City. These sites would be open to the residents of Lino Lakes to dispose of their dead Ash trees at no charge. Trees would be allowed to stay on site until such a time that there would be sufficient volumes for tub grinding by St Paul District Energy, or other party interested in tub ground wood product. City residents are responsible for removing and transporting infested trees to the site. Stock pile sites are located at the north western corner of the old city hall site, and the athletic complex land on Centerville Road and Birch. The City will maintain an open invitation to better-use utilization of Ash wood.. Public Information Communication and Outreach The City will connect and utilize local, county and state outlets such as: Media, newsletter articles, web page, kiosk information booth , PSA’s on local cable TV, etc. Partnerships ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING September 28, 2011 DRAFT MINUTES 6 The City will continue to work with and share resources with neighboring communities where possible. Investigate the use of marshaling of materials on a common interest basis. Motion was made to recommend Emerald Ash Borer Preparedness Plan to be forwarded to the City Council with changes. Motion was made by Ms. Andrzejewski and seconded by Ms. Klaman. Motion carried unanimously 6. DISCUSSION ITEM A. Off-Site Fall Recycling Week There will be an off-site city recycle event held the week of October 3rd. The location is at Freimuth Enterprises, on Highway 65 in East Bethel. Motion to endorse the event was made by Mr. Heiskary and seconded by Ms. Andrzejewski. Motion carried unanimously. B. Blue Heron Days Parade Update It was stated many citizens were waiting for garbage pick-up at the end of the parade. There were many who thanked volunteers for taking the time to pick up the garbage. C. Community Garden Fall Update The 2011 Community Garden has been a success! Many gardeners are looking forward to returning next year. Some gardeners donated extra food to the local food shelf. D. Fall Burn Mr. Asleson stated he received a permit to burn the island out front at City Hall last fall. He was unable to burn due to weather. He stated the City Council wants to sod the island. He stated the island integrates City Hall into the environment. E. Forest Bonding Grant The City received a Forest Bonding Grant. Mr. Asleson stated 89 trees have been removed and replaced. The Highland Meadows development will have trees coming down and replaced starting September 29. ENVIRONMENTAL BOARD MEETING September 28, 2011 DRAFT MINUTES 7 F. Ms. O’Dea stated she would like residents to be informed/updated on what is allowed in single sort recycling, as recent changes were announced in the media. 7. ADJOURN It was noted that the next meeting of the Environmental Board will be on Wednesday, October 26, 2011at 6:30 p.m. There being no further business, Mr. Heiskary moved to adjourn at 7:50 p.m. Ms. Bor seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously. Transcribed by: Lisa Hogstad Community Development Secretary