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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-08-08 PACKET 04.F.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # DATE 8/8/12 PREPARED BY Parks and Recreation Zac Dockter ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W* W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W* W W R COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Consider authorizing staff to proceed with requesting proposals for service to remove up to 350 ash trees and replant in accordance to the EAB Management Plan. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Authorize staff to proceed with requesting proposals for service to remove up to 350 ash trees and replant in accordance to the EAB Management Plan. BUDGET IMPLICATION $156,000 $156,000 BUDGETED AMOUNT ACTUAL AMOUNT I_\ 0 IT1EYR7 yMKe]JyjIL ► /Sa] Ill [Q i l k DATE REVIEWED APPROVED DENIED ❑ PLANNING ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ HUMAN SERVICES /RIGHTS ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ® MEMO /LETTER: ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ❑ OTHER: ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS ity Administrator Date W W** W W* W W W W W W W W W W W W W* W W W W W W W W* W W W W W W W W W W W W ** W W W W H: \Forestry\EAB Plan \2012 \Council Action Form -Tree Removal- Planting Plan 2012.doc To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director Steve Bowe, City Forester Date: July 26, 2012 Subject: Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Introduction In 2010, the City Council adopted an Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan in an effort to protect and maintain the city's urban forest from this destructive insect. The plan includes an aggressive series of both insecticide treatments and the reduction of the ash tree population within the community for a twelve year period. Background The EAB Management Plan calls for a year of chemical treatment followed by two years of tree removal. The series repeats itself for a period of 12 years. In accordance to the plan, forestry and parks staff spent much of 2010 attempting to inject 2,500 trees with the insecticide TreeAge. In 2011, nearly 350 ash trees were removed and replaced with varied species. The 2012 work plan is designed as another removal year for ash trees. The reduction of the ash tree population allows the city to replant the urban forest with multiple species thereby reducing the community's susceptibility to current and future detrimental tree /canopy loss. Early removal also gives the city the opportunity to remove trees and /or classes of trees prior to maturity hence reducing future expenditures, minimizing the potential detriment to canopies and moving toward a more diverse tree population that is able to withstand future diseases and infestations. The EAB Management Plan calls for the removal of up to 1,200 ash trees in the 12 year plan. As such, staff is recommending the removal of up to 350 ash trees in the fall of 2012. This is a similar removal schedule to last year and is highly recommended by the City Forester due to a positive bidding environment and the recent confirmation of EAB in St. Paul and Shoreview. The council approved budget for this work will be strictly adhered to. The Forester will identify trees scheduled for removal by utilizing the following criteria: 1. Ash trees less than 10" in diameter 2. Trees considered to be in poor health 3. Trees posing current or potential future hazards to public safety and /or utilities 4. Trees showing internal or external damage 5. Trees poor in appearance Request for proposals will be separate for tree /stump removal and tree installation. Tree /stump removal services will be scheduled for completion by October 15. Replanting services will be scheduled for completion by November 15. All new trees will require a one year warranty to maximize the trees ability to live during its critical first year. It should also be noted that staff understands the multitude of concerns that arose with the tree replacement process in 2011. Staff will continue to assure proper notification of its processes to residents and will make every attempt to work with residents to assure both parties are understanding of the process and the need. 2012 should see less complaints /concerns simply because the trees scheduled for replacement are typically 7" diameter or less whereas in 2011 diameters averaged 9 -10 ". So the impact will naturally be less considering the replacement trees are 2 " +. However, it should be noted that whenever the City undertakes a large tree removal project such as this, it certainly has a large visual impact on homeowners and there will likely still be a large volume of calls, questions and perhaps even complaints sent to staff and city representatives. Last year we estimated approximately 15% of the residents affected last year contacted the city with concerns. This is not out of the normal range for this type of work that has an immediate visual impact to homeowners. Perhaps the most calls came in regards to the selection of replacement tree species. It is important that the Forester is able to negotiate species selection with residents but also maintains a diverse urban forest which will be defensible to invasive species and disease into the community's future. That effort will continue in 2012. Staff Recommendation Authorize staff to proceed with requesting proposals for service to remove up to 350 ash trees and replant in accordance to the EAB Management Plan.