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Mounds View City Council February 24, 2025 Regular Meeting Page 8 1 2 MOTION/SECOND: Meehlhause/Clark. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Resolution 10064, 3 Requesting Municipal State Aid Funds Advance for the Ramsey County 2024/2025 Mounds View 4 Boulevard Improvement Project. 5 6 Ayes—5 Nays—0 Motion carried. 7 8 E. Resolution 10066, Approve the Directive to Limit Duties Regarding Diseased 9 Trees on Private Property. 10 11 Public Works/Parks and Recreation Director Peterson requested the Council approve the directive 12 to limit duties regarding diseased trees on private property. He reviewed a chart that address the 13 amount spent on tree removal from 2021 through 2025 as well as noting the amount that was billed 14 to property owners. He commented in 2025 there would be an estimated 190 private trees removed 15 and in 2024 there were 593 private trees and 75 boulevards trees removed. He explained in 2025, 16 private trees were to be marked by the City and notices would be given to the property owners and 17 trees would only be removed if requested by the property owner. Staff commented further on the 18 options available within the diseased tree removal program and requested final confirmation from 19 the City Council on how to proceed. He reported he spoke with the City Attorney and the City 20 Attorney recommended the program remain as is. 21 22 City Administrator Zikmund stated staff was obligated to bring the City Attorney's 23 recommendation to the Council. He suggested the City Attorney speak further to his 24 recommendation. 25 26 City Attorney Riggs explained he discussed the diseased tree program with Public Works/Parks 27 and Recreation Director Peterson.He reported the City had a reasonably robust and very defensible 28 process in place. He indicated the removal of trees has become a concern in communities due to 29 Emerald Ash Borer and Oak Wilt. He commented on the liability issues that were being created 30 when these trees are not removed. He urged the City Council to trust the City Forester on which 31 trees need to be removed. He reported if a tree were to land or hit a private party in a public right 32 of way, the City would be liable. He indicated it was better for the City to have a process in place 33 to have diseased trees removed than to risk a tree falling on a private party. 34 35 Council Member Smith stated if Option 2 were pursued, a tree would be marked but not removed 36 and this removal would be up to the resident. City Attorney Riggs reported this was the case,noting 37 if the homeowner failed to remove the tree after it was marked, the homeowner could risk not 38 receiving a payout from their homeowners insurance if the tree were to fall and do damage. He 39 explained the City was trying to make the tree removal voluntary,but noted this was a safety issue. 40 41 Council Member Smith commented if the City were to continue with the current diseased tree 42 removal program, could more time be provided to the homeowners. She asked if there were grants 43 available to assist with the removal costs for homeowners with multiple trees. Public Works/Parks 44 and Recreation Director Peterson stated the timeline for the tree removal depends on the tree. He 45 indicated elms have to be taken down immediately to assist with not spreading Dutch Elm. He 46 reported oaks have to be taken down after the first hard frost or before March 1. He explained ash