HomeMy WebLinkAbout5D, Motion to Approve Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan� '
EN HILLS j
;
Request for Council Action i
Prepared By: �
Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager ; Council Meeting Date: July 30, 2012
�
Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan
Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source:
N/A N/A N/A
Recommendation:
Staff recommends approval of the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan
Supporting Documents:
1. Memo from Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager
2. Draft Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan
�
EN HILLS
MEMORANDUM
DATE: July 30, 2012
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
Patrick Klaers, City Administrator
CC: Terry Maurer, Public Works Director
FROM: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager �
SUBJECT: Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Approval
Background
At the May 21, 2012 Work Session, the City Council reviewed and commented on the draft
Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan (EAB). The purpose of implementing a
management plan is to attempt to mitigate the disruption to the City's urban forest caused
by the infestation of the EAB. Taking a proactive approach to the potential infestation
enables the City to address both public and private impacts in an efficient and effective
manner. Council had few changes to the draft management plan. Staff received direction
from Council on dealing with the threat of EAB and this was incorporated into the attached
�merald Ash Borer Management Plan.
At the July 25, 2012 City Council meeting, the suggestion was made for changes to number
5 below. The concern was if the City is giving the resident/business a choice to treat the
tree, marking the tree would not be necessary. Staff made changes to the wording and the
edits are indicated in bold italic below.
1. The City will remove declining ash trees on public property, even when EAB
has not been identified. No significant pruning or methods to save a declining
ash tree will be attempted. Council is not interested in removing healthy ash
trees at this time.
2. Ash trees removed will be replaced on a case by case scenario, not a one to one
basis.
3. Ash trees that become diagnosed with EAB in the public forested areas will not
be removed unless they pose a threat to surrounding property.
4. The City has no plans to chemically treat ash trees at this time.
5. The City will allow chemical injections in private trees. However, the City will
strongly discourage soil drenching. If EAB is discovered in a resident's tree,
the City will notify the residentlGusiness of the tree that was
P: IPR&PWIParkslMemoslCouncil Memos107092012 EAB plan. doc
2
discoveredlidentified and give them 30 days to remove it and/or prove that
they are going to begin some sort of treatment regimen.
6. The City would require a letter from a certified arborist that the tree is being
treated with a chemical injection.
7. The City Council is not interested in requiring tree contractors to apply for a
business license with the City. The City does not give out a list of
recommended tree contractors. The suggestion from Council was that staff
prepare a list of questions that residents should be asking tree contractors before
hiring them to do work for them. Staff is currently preparing that list and will
have that available at City Hall and on the website for residents.
Council Action Requested
Staff recommends approval of the Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan.
P: IPR&PWIParkslMemoslCouncil Memos107092012 EAB plan.doc
�
EN HILLS
Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan
Background
Emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire, is an exotic beetle that was discovered
in southeastern Michigan near Detroit in the surrnner of 2002. The adult beetles nibble on ash
foliage but cause little damage. The larvae (the immature stage) feed on the inner bark of ash
trees, disrupting the tree's ability to transport water and nutri ts. Emerald ash borer probably
arrived in the United States on solid wood packing materi � ''ed in cargo ships or airplanes
originating in its native Asia. Without any natural pred r eontrols in North America the
insect has spread to 13 states and two Canadian provin
EAB adults can fly at least a half mile from
infestations are most often created when pe A
firewood into uninfested areas. Transporta -
spread of EAB. Ramsey County is a quaranti�
wood outside the County. The innesota
quarantine enforcement and penalti
Signs and Symptoms
Signs and symptoms c
• Bark splittin
o Vertic
o Galleri�
k
r bark
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. .... ..�.' ... . - - 6��. � ,.: . .�. � � ` � -
Adult =�
Larva -
ae.
when
firewood has
Agriculture
long, flattened back
o � ins in top o�
o P sses until
• Increased w .= ecker:
• Sprouting of e
Current EAB situation
is bare
from the base of the tree
However, new
ash trees, logs or
�ted to reduce the
sportation of ash
esnonsible for
St. Paul and Falcon Heights confirmed EAB discovery in May of 2009. The City of Shoreview
confirmed EAB discovery in the vicinity of County Road I and Schutta Road in July of 2011.
The Department of Agriculture has since identified 11 trees in this neighborhood with confirmed
�AB and several that are suspected and being monitored. How these trees became infested is
not known, though it is worth noting that the trees are only a half mile from interstate highway
35W and in other states the principal spread of EAB has been along travel corridors.
Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan - City of Arden Hills Page 1
Analysis of the infestation showed that the EAB had been present for 3-4 years, which is
consistent with the insect's path of destruction. Symptoms are slow to appear and once EAB is
actually found, it is estimated that it has already been present for 3-5 years. It is difficult to
determine when EAB will reach Arden Hills. It is estimated that as much as 12.3% of Arden
Hills' urban forest is compiled of ash trees based on a Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources survey (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 2010 Community Tree Survey. Survey
of front yard and street trees in residential and commercial sampling areas)
To date, North American communities have not been successfu in eradicating EAB once found.
EAB typically builds in population and eventually infests an all variety of ash trees.
Resident Education
Resident education and communication are key c� nents of ing the impact of the EAB,
especially as more information becomes avai ublic inform s, is available to residents
through the City's website, newsletters, and a . le at City Hall.
Homeowners may treat their private trees,
adheres to the City's standards to p���.��s
Mitigation
Although it is not pc
City of Arden Hills'
mitigation of EAB �
which attempts to cc
the
the
contractor who
cies,� the Emerald Ash Borer, the
anage the impacts. The City's
intent of utch Elm and Oak Wilt Disease,
The Cit
• leted an el�
R ong City
of ash F throu
fo
City.
iese diseases.
for the EAB problem:
with t�ie software, "Simple Trees" of all trees in the
trails. This will help the City monitor the condition
• Clarified o F espon `" � ities for all Right of Way trees abutting a City road. These
changes were ' he amendment of Chapter 3 of the City Code in October of
2011.
• Updated the City's Tree and Vegetation Ordinance, Chapter 7 to add ash trees to the
diseased trees that must be removed to prevent the spread of the disease. This ordinance
permits the City to enter private property for inspection, order the removal of diseased
trees and abate the nuisance upon non-compliance of property owners.
Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan - City of Arden Hills Page 2
• The City website includes information for residents on what steps to take if EAB is
suspected in one of their trees and general information. The City has handouts from the
Minnesota Department of Resources available at City Hall.
The City of Arden Hills will take the following actions:
• The City will monitor ash trees throughout the City for EAB and in the event EAB is
discovered, staff will utilize Chapter 7, section 710 - Protection of shade trees from the
City Code to prevent the spread of the disease. As ' e case of Oak Wilt and Dutch
Elm, this ordinance allows the City to enter privat ��erty for inspection of ash trees,
order the removal of diseased trees, and abat isance upon non-compliance of
property owners.
• The City will begin some removal of
EAB has not yet been identified. The�
boulevard areas. No significant pruni
attempted. The City will
that is removed will be on
of ash trees include:
•
Staff will
During t�Iii ' e it
by transport e
r ove the t�
i case
trees : ��re t
�ng ash trees o lic property, even when
trees could be loca �;, rthin City parks or in
��
�iethods�Y�,save a dec��.��� ash tree will be
The decisi replace a tree
reasons for preemptive removal
I • :
a lon �riod of time.
�climng trees m the fall. The most crrtical period for
rees ay-July. This is the period when adult
i t n liage, and move to more trees to lay their
to leav e trees standing and not chance the spread of
ted wood to other areas. The City will follow the
e's regulations for handling ash wood removal
� There ar ently tw ethods of tree treatments being offered in the marketplace;
drenching t il wit � emicals and injecting the chemical into the tree. The City
strongly disco se of soil drench insecticides due to potential to pollute water
and negatively im ildlife. Due to the high cost of reoccurring treatments and the
long-term effects o chemical treatments on ash trees, water resources, and the
environment, the City has no plans to chemically treat public trees. The City strongly
encourages residents to utilize a certified arborist to treat trees.
o The City will permit residents to use chemical treatments on private ash trees,
given the following:
a. Private contractors are to use only the approved trunk injection method.
Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan - City of Arden Hills Page 3
b. The City strongly encourages residents to utilize tree contractors that are
bonded, insured, and state licensed to apply commercial tree chemicals.
• The City will publicize the Minnesota Department of Agriculture's regulations for
handling ash wood removal. Ramsey County is currently under a quarantine which
prohibits the transportation of wood outside of the County. From September 15th to May
1 St EAB-infested trees can be removed and transported only within the quarantine area, so
long as they are promptly chipped to the required dime ions, less than 1"x 1"x 1". Non-
infested EAB trees can be removed from Septemb to May lst using the normal
process of transporting un-chipped wood to the R ounty Yard Waste Site.
• In an effort to encourage reforestation
Ramsey County's Friends of the Parks ar�
• The City will track the spread of
the Department of Agriculture.
The following is a list of resource
symptoms, firewood requirements,
website and updated as needed.
•
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Pest Alert-Eme orer PD "
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Ma AB in USA '
Minnesota = rtment riculture EAB uaran
Firewood Restri afe Handlin� Guidelines
ies, the City will promote
in conjunction with
to learn about Err�"�rald Ash Borer
� These will be listed on the City's
Homeowner Guide to Insecticide Selection, Use and Environmental Protection
Ash Tree Waste Disposal Sites within Hennepin-Ramsey-Houston County
sale.
Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan - City of Arden Hills Page 4