The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About20210419 - P&R Committee Packet E �ss� Committee Memorczndum tensESOTA To: City Councilmembers From: Chris Jenkins, Parks & Recreation Director Date: April 19, 2021 Item: Diseased or Hazardous Boulevard Trees Committee Action Requested: Support staff recommendations to remove, replace, and protect boulevard trees as outlined below. Background Information: The first infestation of EAB in Hastings was identified in 2016. The City began communicating with residents through social media, website, newsletters and postcards in 2017. The City has also negotiated affordable pricing for ash tree protection through insecticide injections, and offered that service each year since 2017. Rainbow TreeCare, our preferred vendor for protection, has treated over 400 trees (private trees and boulevard trees) each year. The City Forester has also treated between 150 and 175 park trees each year. Good work is being done. It is apparent now that EAB is spreading through our community and fewer property owners are taking required action to protect boulevard ash trees than was hoped. We are now facing the grim reality that unprotected ash trees are dying and need to be removed. The situation and facts: • Hastings City Ordinance requires property owners to care for boulevard trees abutting their property, which includes preventative maintenance like pruning, watering, staking, and protection against diseases. • If a boulevard tree becomes diseased or hazardous, it is considered a public nuisance and abatement of that nuisance is the responsibility of the property owner. • If a boulevard tree is removed, the stump must also be removed and a replacement tree must be planted. Replacement trees must be at least 1.5 inches in diameter, and must be a species authorized for planting in a boulevard space. • Hastings has a cost 60/40 share program for removal of diseased or hazardous trees, but is only applicable IF the property owner has properly cared for the tree, and in this case would require the property owner to have treated the tree to prevent EAB. 1 • A portion of the city, generally the North East quadrant, has recently been inventoried. This inventory captured all species of boulevard trees, however the focus was on ash trees as we applied for a DNR grant. 0 49 ash trees have been identified for immediate removal. Costs are calculated at: ■ $28,701.00 for removals, ■ $7,001.33 for stump removal, ■ $30,845.00 for replacement trees (price based on 2" caliper trees), 0 90+ ash trees have been identified for immediate protection. ■ $11,505.24 for treatment at current price of $5.82/dbh o As the City Forester continues the inventory, it is anticipated the numbers in both categories will continue to increase. Staff Recommended Action: support staff as they enforce current ordinance and policy as outlined below. Removal & Replacement • City Forester will mark with orange spray paint every boulevard tree scheduled for removal. Voluntary Compliance: • City Forester will provide each affected property owner with an informational letter advising property owner, at their sole expense, that: o the tree(s) must be removed within 60 days, o property owners must call Gopher One Call prior to any digging activities, o property owner can personally remove the tree if it is less than 8 inches in diameter, o property owner must hire a licensed tree removal contractor to remove trees greater than 8 inches in diameter, o the stump of any tree removed must also be removed, o an approved replacement tree at least 1.5 inches in diameter must be replanted in the same spot (approved tree list will be provided), o property owner is responsible for the care and maintenance of the newly planted tree (informational handout will be provided), o If they do not remove the tree within 60 days OR they prefer, the City will hire a contractor to complete the removal of the tree and stump, and replant a new tree, and the City will send the property owner the bill. Non-Compliance: • Support City Forester to hire a contractor to remove boulevard trees & stumps, and hire contractor to replace the boulevard trees as authorized by Hastings City Ordinance 95.04. o City would pay the bills from both contractors and then bill the individual property owners. If property owners do not pay, asses the bill to property taxes. 2 o City Forester would contact each affected property owner with a letter explaining the work that is going to occur and an estimated cost. o City Forester will monitor removals and replacements and routinely inspect replacement trees, offering guidance where necessary. Protection: There are 90+ boulevard ash trees that can be saved through insecticide protection if that is completed this season. Protecting ash trees is the focus here, however other tree species may also require protection or treatment for disease. • City Forester will mark each tree needing protection with green spray paint. Voluntary Compliance: o City Forester will provide an informational letter that details that property owners must protect the boulevard ash tree(s) abutting their property no later than July 1St, 2021 through insecticide injection. o City Forester will provide Rainbow TreeCare information for negotiated protection pricing. o Property owner must provide proof of treatment to City Forester, and must continue to provide protection for the tree(s). Non-Compliance: o Authorize City Forester to hire Rainbow TreeCare to treat boulevard ash trees to protect them from EAB. o City will pay the contractor bill and individually bill each property owner for services provided. If the bill is not paid, assess the cost to property taxes. Ongoing City Operations: • City Forester to continue with boulevard tree inventory and identification of boulevard trees needing to be removed/replaced, protected, or treated. • City Forester to work with P&R Director and tree removal contractor(s) to identify manageable numbers of removals annually, and communicate the plan to City Council and affected property owners. • Continue removals/replacement, protection and treatment annually in the same manner outlined above. • Please note that future boulevard tree removals/replacement will include species other than ash. Ash trees total 22%-25% of the boulevard tree population in Hastings, other tree species will also succumb to damage, poor health, age, and diseases, and will need to be removed. Attachments: ■ Inventory Map: Removals ■ The following can be found on the City website at: www.hastinqsmn.gov/residents/forestry/emerald-ash-borer o Council Committee Packet Materials 4.4.17 o Council Packet Materials 5.1.17 3 2021 Boulevard Ash Tree Removal Map 22 St'N 2. GE as U. qj, E Isabel Pa rk C3 ISD e -7 200 4W' 41.h'St"14 Ix Hassfings 4th SO ID "Wilson (5 Park h(*I* X IL t h Co 6th @E LaRye m (ri 0h svw 71h St E 0 77 g ,mw 0 8th St E 9t9 h51.VV 1h 51 VV and ,@h@)N I Orh St E Ri,,erb: FRZoad s kle Rother Dog F Park Mac hine 0 11th St N .00 Niddle School 11 th St E Admin Hudson 12th eaOffi-e Manufacturing R 1'3[h mw IE VS :,I,h Si 0 Pioneer 0 14 1 5th St E 1) IC Pa rk 2 0 LL 16H,811A, Southwest Park Poncling Basin 0 17th St`h' = 1 St F arae 5m @E -j Park Old Mill Park La �05 \ 19 th St'Po' .5 _.me C. 0 0 'Vermillion n rk 0, < Falls P, ...Lu 4