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Home My WebLink About2013-03-20 PACKET 04.O.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCI� ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # �� DATE 3/20/13 • PREPARED BY: Parks and Recreation Zac Dockter ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD *�********�***********�*******�************�**** COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Authorize staff to implement the Emerald Ash Borer Voluntary Tree Removal Program. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Implement the Emerald Ash Borer Voluntary Tree Removal Program. BUDGET IMPLICATION: . $162,000 Not to exceed budget BUDGETED AMOUNT ACTUAL AMOUNT ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION 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 r . � � ~ City Administrator Date *********************�***********�**********�*** H:\Forestry\EAB Plan\2013Wction Form-EAB Volunteer Tree Removal.doc Go�tage J Grove �herQ pride an� p�°�Perity Mee� To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Director Date: March 14, 2013 Subject: Emerald Ash Borer Management Program Introduction The arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) to our community is likely imminent. It has been documented as close as Fort Snelling in 2012. Professionals of the industry repeatedly warn that managing a community's ash tree population prior to infestation is the most safe, effective and financially responsible method to deal with this epidemic. Background Since 2010, the City has been implementing the Emerald Ash Borer Management Program which utilizes a combination of insecticide treatments along with the reduction of the overall ash tree population. Insecticide treatments are used to preserve and protect larger and signature ash trees in the community, whereas smaller, unhealthy and/or unsightly ash trees are removed and replaced with varying species of trees. Nearly 700 ash trees, or 18% of the boulevard ash tree population, has been removed to date. The City will continue injecting ash trees with insecticide for the next eight years (on three year cycles). However, as the ash tree population naturally completes its life cycle (25-35 year life expectancy for the average ash tree), the quantity of treatments will significantly decline each year. The next phase of the program is to offer residents the oppottunity to have their boulevard ash tree removed and replaced voluntarily. This gives the City the opportunity to continue thinning the ash tree population by removing trees that homeowners may not have any desire to maintain. This directly saves the City the cost of insecticide injections. Further, economy of scale savings are also realized through the ability to plan large volume tree removal and replacement projects ahead of any epidemic. As we've learned from community's that have experienced EAB infestation, once the infestation begins, the City will be handcuffed to much higher removal costs based on supply and demand for these services. Attached with this report is the sample letter and flyer that would be mailed to residents with boulevard ash trees. In addition, a press release would precede this mailing notifying all residents of the program. Recommendation Authorize staff to implement the Emerald Ash Borer Voluntary Tree Removal Program. Date Re: Ash Tree Voluntary Remova) Dear Property Owner: This letter is to inform you, that the ash tree located on your boulevard property is slated for optional removal due to the upcoming Emerald Ash Borer epidemic. The City of Cottage Grove is currently in year 4 of the Emerald Ash Borer management plan, giving homeowners the opportunity to remove the ash tree(s) present on boulevard property and replacing with a new 2" tree(s) at no cost. Emerald Ash Borer is an insect that attacks and kills ash trees. Trees are killed by the tunneling of the larvae underthe tree's bark. Emerald Ash Borer is spread by movement of ash firewood. Emerald Ash Borer beetles have been identified as close as the Fort Snelling Golf Course and their migration to our area is imminent. According to all professionals in the industry, the ash borer will certainly lead to complete loss of our ash tree population unless chemically treated. Considering Cottage Grove's high population of ash trees about 4,000, the City is being proactive in the management of this pest in order to save long term costs. The City is using a combination of early removal and chemical treatments to best manage its resources. Using best practice measures from easterly states that have already lived through the EAB epidemic, the number one recommendation is to manage one's ash tree inventory before the Ash Borer manages it for you. Once the Ash Borer has arrived, costs are enormous due to the exponential death rate. By using early removal, the City is able to thin the ash tree population and protect the streetscape from canopy loss and hazards from dead or dying trees. Further, by removing trees on a pre-planned schedule, there is significant savings in both the removal and replant costs. If you are interested in replacing your ash tree please mail the attached flyer to the Cottage Grove Public Works building. You may drop off the form in person as well, Once signed up, you will be notified of the removal and replacement procedures which will occur on a spring or fall removal/replanting date. Cottage Grove Public Works 8635 West Point Douglas Road South Cottage Grove, MN 55016 Please tal<e advantage of this opportunity in diversifying Cottage Grove's urban forest and protecting against this devastating pest. Your consideration is greatly appreciated. Any questions or concerns please call Adam Moshier, Special Projects Intern at 651-458-2808. Sincerely, Adam Moshier City of Cottage Grove Voluntary Ash Tree Removal The City of Cottage Grove wants your help in diversifying our urban forest and minimizing the devastating impacts of Emerald Ash Borer in our City. Cottage Grove is currently in year 4 of the Emerald Ash Borer management plan, Emerald Ash Borer is an insect that attacks and kills ash trees. Trees are killed by the tunneling of the larvae under the tree's bark. Emerald Ash Borer will lead to massive wipeouts of our ash tree population in the very near future. Year 4 in the management plan calls for voluntary removal of the ash trees. By volunteering your tree, the City will remove the current ash tree in your boulevard and replace it with a new 2" tree at no cost. To register for this program, fill out this form and return it to the City of Cottage Grove Public Works building. You will then be signed up for the Voluntary Ash Tree Removal and Replacement Program and notified of either a spring or fall removal and replanting date. Cottage Grove Public Works Attn: Adam Moshier 8635 West Point Douglas Road South Cottage Grove, MN 55016 Resident's Na Resident's Street Address Please indicate what tree species you would like to replace the ash tree with (Choose onlv 4) (Please rank top 4 choices, with 1 being the best and 4 being the worst) Oal<Trees Eastern Pine Oak Northern Red Oal< Swamp White Oal< White Oak Elm Trees Accolade Cathedral Princeton Valley Forge Other Trees Linden Hacicberry River Birch Ohio Buckeye Other Trees Ironwood Kentucky Coffee Ginkgo Honeylocust *The tree species requested might not be the tree received. When boulevard trees are removed and replaced, the city forester surveys the existing boulevard tree inventory to determine what type of tree should be planted on the boulevard to diversify the neighborhood boulevard tree population. .......................................................................................................................... Visit the City Forestry website for more information about tree species. http://www.cottage-grove.org/cottage-grove-parks/forestry : .......................................................................................................................: