HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-04-02 PACKET 03.A.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA
MEETING ITEM # �
DATE 4/2/2014
PREPARED BY: City Clerk Caron Stransky
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD
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COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST
City Council Meeting Minutes Approval—March 5, 2014 Special Meeting.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Approve draft minutes.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
❑ MEMO/LETTER:
❑ RESOLUTION:
❑ ORDINANCE:
❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION:
❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION:
� OTHER: Draft minutes.
ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS
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Date
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COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL
City of Cottage Grove, Minnesota
Special Meeting
March 5, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a
special meeting on March 5, 2014 at the Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine
Parkway, Cottage Grove. Mayor Bailey called the meeting to order at 6:25 p.m.
ROLL CALL
The following were present: Council Member Justin Olsen, Council Member Dave
Thiede, Council Member Jen Peterson, and Mayor Myron Bailey.
The following were absent: Council Member Derrick Lehrke.
Also present were: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator, Caron Stransky, City Clerk, Les
Burshten, Public Works Director, Steve Bowe, City Forester, and Robin Roland, Finance
Di rector.
Mayor Bailey announced that the purpose of the special meeting was to discuss the
Emerald Ash Borer Program.
City Forester Steve Bowes presented a power point presentation on the Emerald Ash
Borer (EAB) Management Plan. He reviewed an i-Trees software suite designed by the
USDA Forest Service to provide urban and community forestry analysis and benefit
assessments. He highlighted:
• Annual benefits to Cottage Grove for a Green Ash $196.97; Norway maple
$103.74; Silver maple $196.71; Honey Locust $141.82; Linden $130.47; and
Hackberry $142.82.
• The total annual benefit for our urban forest.
• How various types of trees can affect storm water?
• Management Plan progress - Removed about 20 percent of the Ash population
and treated 65% of existing Ash population.
• Forecast - Treating EAB Budget and Untreated EAB Budget
• Removal and Replacement Costs.
• Regional Impacts of EAB.
• Where EAB was recently found in Minnesota.
• Is the cold weather killing EAB?
City Forester Bowes distributed articles on i-Tree Design, Cottage Grove Annual Energy
Benefits of Public Trees, Cold Hardiness of EAB, and Photographs of Ash Trees Infected
by EAB.
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE • 12800 Ravine Parkway • Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016
www.cottage-grove.org • 651-458-2800 • Fax 651-458-2897 • Equa) Opportunity Employer
Cottage Grove City Council I�
March 5, 2013 Special Meeting
Mayor Bailey asked whether the value of the trees would continue to increase. He asked
whether it would be beneficial for the City to start our own tree farm where we could
plant some trees in a park because at some point we have to replace the trees that
were removed and if they are too expensive, it would be better to do something on our
own and have something to plant should that day come.
City Forester Bowe stated that is one thing that he has been wrestling with because he
likes to be ahead of the game and he does not like contractors dictating prices. One
thing he has already done this year is he has obtained quotes to lock in the price for
100 trees. Another thing they have been looking at are gravel beds where we put in a
whip, something from Bailey's Nursery that has a bare root, stick it in a gravel bed, let
it grow a couple of years, water it, and then plant them. You can plant small gravel
beds around town in the park system. Lastly, he has talked to a few nurseries about
contract growing where we would enter into a contract for certain species that we want
for the next five years, they grow them, and we will buy them at said price. These are
all things that he is looking into.
Mayor Bailey asked if we are treating the ash trees in the parks and City Forester Bowe
stated that we are treating about 200 trees.
Council Member Olsen stated that when you look at what we have done to try to be
proactive with respect to full tree removal and treatment, we are in our fifth or sixth
year now. Where would you put us in comparison to other communities? Are we ahead
of the curve, behind the curve or right where we should be? What is your sense of
things?
City Forester Bowe stated that we are miles ahead. We are an example City. The
Department of Agriculture has been given our report and they are sending them out as
an example. He has given webinars to multiple cities and contractors. We are well
known. We are miles ahead of 95 percent of the communities in the metro area. In the
last year, he has talked to five different cities wondering about out management plan
asking us to email it to them.
There were no further questions of the Council.
ADJOURNMENT
The Council adjourned at 6:53 P.M.
Prepared by,
Caron M. Stransky
City Clerk