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Page 4 of 8 In addition, City Code section 1325.05 Subd. 5, (B) allows the City Council the ability to reduce the tree mitigation requirement when there is greater public good such as; 1. Allowing for LEED Certified architectural practices 2. Providing affordable housing 3. Allowing for a public road or trail 4. Providing for a public utility service The submitted site plan shows a proposed public trail along the eastern and southern sides of the subject property and shown on Attachment E. This will create a connection to the existing trails on the Anderson Center. The Applicant also added additional sidewalks to allow for looping around the principle structure per the request of the City Council at their July 20, 2020 meeting. According to the tree inventory and preservation plan the total caliper inches removed for public good is 324 caliper inches. If Council elects to allow the Applicant to reduce the 324 caliper inches it reduces the total replacement from 716.25 to 570 caliper inches. It is worth noting that a smaller replacement ratio does require fewer trees to be planted than if the ratio was greater, but over time the new trees will grow to maturity and there will be many more trees on the property than before the removal took place. For example, if 40 inches of trees are required to be replaced, a one to one ratio would require that 20 two-inch trees are planted, far more trees than were likely on the site before. The Applicant is also proposing that Ash trees not be counted in the tree mitigation as the tree is not planted anymore due the threat of the Emerald Ash Borer. Historically city staff has not recommended that Ash species not be used in required landscape plans as part of a development application. The Applicant is requesting that the 281 caliper inches of Ash trees not be counted towards tree replacement requirements. The Applicants breakdown and rationale for the requested flexibility can be found in Attachment F.