Agenda Packets - 2012/04/02 - Laserfiche WebLink

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EMERALD ASH BORER MANAGEMENT PLAN 3 CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW | PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Related notes: • The City has been removing ("culling-out") damaged or hazardous green ash trees off ROW's averaging 25 trees for the last three years. • A MN Dept. of Ag. established "1 mile radius" from the Shoreview infestation has put a corner of Mounds View in that zone. This now allows Mounds View to apply for grant support to remove and replace green ash trees on public land in that zone into 2014 (see map). Over one third of Mounds View's ROW green ash trees are in that part of the City. In total, Mounds View's existing ROW ash trees represent about 14% of the entire City "boulevard" tree inventory of all species. EMERALD ASH BORER MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR PRIVATE PROPERTIES Several thousand green ash trees are estimated to be on private property in Mounds View. Their total death over a period of time (example-ten years) would create a number of safety, neighborhood, enforcement and aesthetic issues if not removed in timely fashion. Current City tree ordinances are in place and require specific removal of diseased elms and red oaks. These ordinances have been in place for over 35 years and have served the community well in reducing tree disease spread and removing trees that would otherwise be nuisance and safety concerns. The City could do the same with the upcoming numbers of ash trees that will be dying because of the EAB infestation. Simple additions and changes to the already existing disease ordinances to include the insect pest EAB would allow timely and specific removals of dying and dead ash trees. The City would, in some cases, need to use its contractor to enforce some of the removals much as it does for certain elms, oaks and hazard trees. Such control measures could spread-out the EAB problem and possibly slow it down giving some homeowners time to remove and perhaps replace. It has also been the experience that Cities with concise, structured tree management programs tend to pay lower removal costs for quality services due to contract competition and the presence of certified arborists. Tree company licensing by the City would need to be better defined to attract professional and qualified contractors hopefully with the desired training and certifications. This information as well as communication with homeowners via the media and City newsletters will be essential to effectively manage the challenges of the Emerald Ash Borer.