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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,June 17, 2019 <br /> Page 14 <br /> Mr. Trudgeon added the City is currently levying dollars for EAB. That is what <br /> the $50,000 is being reflected as. He thought in future years the Commission is <br /> looking to up that levy amount that is being dedicated towards that. <br /> Mayor Roe explained of the levy amount, $350,000 over seven years is what the <br /> City would have levied anyway. <br /> Councilmember Etten thought this was an important thing and also a new thing <br /> being asked of the City to do something different. He knew that across the street <br /> from his house there are some trees that are dead and some that do not look very <br /> good, this is happening all over the City as well. He thought the City wanted to <br /> do something but will lose a lot of trees in the process. If the City does not go <br /> through a process like that the trees will be gone. Looking at a more managed <br /> process, a thoughtful process is something that appeals to him. <br /> Councilmember Etten asked if the Parks and Recreation Commission has talked <br /> about having an item within the General Reserve Fund that is entitled Emerald <br /> Ash Borer that the levy dollars go into as well as these dollars that were swept be- <br /> fore. This would stay within the General Reserve Fund because it is a City-wide <br /> issue and not a Parks and Recreation thing, but this would track all monies going <br /> towards that purpose. <br /> Vice Chair Hoag agreed and expressed that the Commission has talked about hav- <br /> ing a dedicated fund or earmarked money but did not necessarily come to a con- <br /> clusion to whether the Council or Finance Department would want to go down <br /> that road. He thought as a Commission there would definitely be a wish to have a <br /> fund earmarked towards this until the problem resolves itself because past prac- <br /> tice at the beginning of December every Department is fighting for whatever <br /> funds are available and this is a citywide issue. <br /> Councilmember Etten asked if the Commission was aware of new grant funds that <br /> might be available from the State also because part of what the City looks at long <br /> term is if there are grant dollars to help shave off some of the levy dollars for oth- <br /> er things. <br /> Vice Chair Hoag noted recently, the Legislature passed just shy of a million dol- <br /> lars. That program has not been rolled out yet as to what is going to be eligible. <br /> He assumed that million dollars will go really fast. <br /> Councilmember Etten thought this was a possible approach starting in 2021 and <br /> wondered if there was a purpose in that delay. <br /> Vice Chair Hoag indicated the purpose in that delay is to get a best value pro- <br /> curement selection set up. It may take 6-12 months to get all of that bid package <br /> put together, contractors interviewed and selected to get to that point, not to say <br />