Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout20100301 - VI-09City ~f I3ast~ngs darks & Recreation 920 w I O`€1 St, Hastings MN 55033 . Ph: {~51) 480-6175 _ Fax: {6S1) 437-5396 Web; www.ci.hastin s.mn.~zs "Creating Community Through Pe©pl~, Parrs, anti Frograms" ]]ate: 2/25/ 10 To: Honorable Mayor and City Co't~.ncil Members From: Barry Bernstein, Parks and Recreation Director Subject: Emerald Ash Sorer Management Plan I have enclosed an Emerald Ash Barer EAB) management plan developed by Superintendent Kevin Smith, City foxester Paul Mahoney and myself to address the immanent threat of the infestation of the EAB Beatle. From what we understand from our maintenance staff attending seminars on this subject matter, the infestation is a matter of when .and not if the EAB Beatle vri11 infiltrate our city, When the EAB Beatle does strike our City, it may affect up to 30% of our tree inventory. Therefore, a management plan is necessary to combat and react to the EAB infestation as our City will attempt to handle this crisis. After discussions with the NRRC and Parks and Recreation Committee of Council, it is their recommendation to adopt this management plan. I welcome any comments. 'Thank you! Civic Arena Aq~~~ntic Center Youth First 280112ed'(~xng Blvd. 901 Maple Street 920 W 10`x' Street Ph: (651j 48Q-6195 i'h: (651} 484-2392 Ph: (651) 480-6182 Fax: {G51} 437-940 Tai; (651) 437-5396 Fa~c: {651) 437,5396 City of .Hastings Parks & Recreation Project Manager: Barry Bernstein emerald ash Bo~ex„Ma>~a~e~nent Plan Purpose: . By implementing the provisions in the management plan, the City is attempting to mitigate the disruption of its urban forest caused by the pending infestation of the Emerald Ash Sorer. flaking a proactive approach to this problem will enable the City to minimise the risk to public safety wlule addressing public and private needs in an efficient and effective manner. The City will endeavor to distribute the costs associated with certain and massive tree death over a manageable time period as well as lessen the social and eoonanue impact that such an extensive loss will have on quality of life in our community. ~ - Scope: _ Approximately 2'7% of all trees within our community are Ash trees and susceptible to the Emerald Ash Borer, At this time, chemicals can be used that oilers delay the impact of the EAB and save some trees but theta is no sure treatment available. It is likely that every Ash tree in the city will eventually die from the effects of the EAB unless treated. This plan addresses: 1. The creation of a tree inventory . . 2. Methods to detect the arrival of tike EAB 3. Methods to delay the spread of the EAl3 . 4. Methods to rniniznize the aesthetic and environmental impacts of the FAR S. Methods to minimize the financial itnpaet to the City and our residents 6. Methods of educating the public about threat, spread and response to the EAB This plan applies throughout the City on all public properties where Ash tress are currently growing as well as private properties where such trees may negatively impact public rights-of--way or other public properties. Administration: ~ ~ -~ The City Manager is responsible.for the irxzplenientation ofthis plan and has directed the Parks and Recreation Department to see that the pxovisions are caz~ied out. Plan Phases; 1. Tree Inventory Arz inventory shall be created which will determine size and type of all trees within the community according to the priorities listed below. Condition of the tree should be noted,•The inventory should include tree species and diameter, ^ Use of GPS is ideal if passible - ^ Medrans _ ^ Rights.of Way ~ ~ - ^ Parks - - ^ .Non-Parks City C3wned Property ^ Non-City Owned Public Property 2. Detecting Arrival ofEAB The City shall contact the 1blinneso#a Depaitrnent of Agriculture to determine location of existing detection trees and work with them to establish additional detection trees. Detection'trees shol~ld be located at the rate of at least one per square mile witl~.n all areas of the community, • • Any Ash tree determined to be of suspicious health tluflugh the tree inventory process, should lie examined immediately by an expert, Ash trees are subject to infestation by other borers besides the DAB. • Information shall be placed in the City newsletter and local newspapers advising the public as to how to identify an Ash treeand-what to look for regarding infestation. (D shaped exit holes, top -down die off etch. This irzformation•will also be available through the City's website. - All possible sources of artificial EAB importation into the eomtz~unity such as nearby campgrounds, nurseries, Firewood dealers, firewood.piles, or yard debris centers shall be inspected for EAB infestation on a quarterly basis. Based an. tree inventory information, the City will quarterly inspect, especially important tree locations, far outward signs of EAB infestation. 3. Methods to Bela,, t~pread of EAB If an EAB infestation is discovered, a thorough survey of the surrounding area will be made and acted upon. All Ash wood from pruning or removal will be inspected for EAB by Looking for D-Shaped exit holes and removing bark to find larvae galleries. Arty wood from a contaminated tree shall be disposed of in such a way as to prevent the spread of live larvae. Cherrucal treatment may be applied to critical trees in the vicuuty ornon-infested trees may be removed to avoid a future dangerous situation. • Infested trees should be removed as quickly as passible whey infestation is found between May and September. • Information will be published and circulated in the comrrtunity advising residents as to what has been found and how they can address the problem on their property. All Ash materials shall be disposed of in accordance with state.guidelines. The City znay order the removal of infested trees which are located on private property in accordance with Ordinance 95.04. 4. Methods to minimize the aesthetic and environmental im oat an the commuiut Upon the completion of the tree inventory, the City will establish a specific plan to address every group of trees within the community. The following priorities shall be followed: ^ Public trees not owned by the City (School District) n (See r'eplacexnent plan below) ^ Trees in Rights of Way o (See replacement plan below) ^ Trees in Parks o Trees in parks area whickt are frequented by the public should be replaced for safety purposes. This also applies to non park city owned properties. Trees in heavily forested areas can simply be allowed to die in place and decay through normal processes.~Cities should notify other public agencies which own land containing Ash trees and request their cooperation in a sirriilar manner, Re~dacement Plan As the budget permits, the portion of public Ash trees not deemed to be of high value by the City Forester will be replaced vrith non-host species that will enhance the planting site, are appropriate for the planting site and add to the diversity and health of the .urban forest. Tree removal will be prioritized with potentially hazardous tress being removed fu~st followed by all those which show signs of infestation. ~Iigh value trees will be protected by chemical ink ection. Planting programs will he budget-based and prioz~ti~ed by the City Manager to reach determined goals. Na plantings will be made that cannot be maintained. The City of Hastings will reforest at a rate of one tree loss to one replacement tree of a diverse Native mix. ~'nvir•anrnent~l side effects While the envirotvnental impact of tree loss an the~micro-environment is obvious, it is important to address the overall impact on the comantinity in areas like storm water nin off and the increase in local temperature levels due to the loss of trees, Far this reason, it is important the City pursue aggressive mixed species tree planting programs as soon as possible in appropriate locations sa as to mitigate the impact of e~ctensive tree Ions before it begins. 5. Methods to minimize the financial im. act on the comrrtuni Trees which are removed can potentially be sold. for lumber value. This should be pursued where passible and where tree replacement is feasible. Develop a Citizen Information Package to explain public actions and recommend private procedures. Recruit citizens to be trained to monitor Ash laoations on a quarterly basis to detect infestation as soon as possible, ~ - The City shall encourage residents to rraonitor the health. of Ash trees located on private property. The City shall provide information about EAB infestation on the City website and update that information an a regular basis. + Joint Purchasing-The City will attempt to work with Dakota County, independent School District 2D~, other cities and officials who are pursuing collective contracts fox the tree xemoval, chemical purchases, tree replacement and . wood disposal. Joint disposal efforts involving mG~ltiple jurisdictions should also be explored, • The City shall arrange far a suft"icieat number of employees to became trained and/or licensed to apply chemicals to trees on City Property. • Tree Protection Plan: Upon completion of the tree inventory, the city shall adopt a tree by tree pro#ection plan including: o Chemical treatment to extend tree life o Tree removal • ^ Utility companies should be asked to remove rather than trim Ash trees ^ Street programs involving tree removal should' automatically remove Ash trees regardless of size or location o Tree replacement shall begin as soon as passible so that to permit the use of srrialler replacement trees. o The Planning Commission shall not allow the use of Ash Trees to be a part of any landscaping plan which is subject to their review. 5. Public Education The City shall participate with aggressive public education utilizing print, cable and intranct information. This will be at least a half hour program interviewing local officials about the status of the EAB program within Dakota County. Information will be prepared for city newsletters and press releases about the adoption of the EAB plan and its importance to residents. Said release will also tell citizens what to look far, who to contact if they think tb.ey have an infestation anal general guidelines about transporting firewood. ~~ Addi#ional Information, Assumptions: 1. This plan assumes that until further research develops a treatment process, all Ash trees in the State of Minnesota will die from the Emerald Ash Borers. The plan assumes that the life of an Ash tree can be extended through the use of chemical treatment, which is best applied in late May. . ~. There is a great deal of goad information available about the infestation and that iz~ormation is available through ~vww.emeraidashborer,infolindex.cfm