HomeMy WebLinkAbout7A - Emerald Ash Borer Report
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4646 Dakota Street S.E.
Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE:
AGENDA #:
PREPARED BY:
JUNE 15, 2009
7A
AL FRIEDGES, PARKS & FLEET MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR
AGENDA ITEM:
CONSIDER APROVAL OF A REPORT RELATING TO EMERALD ASH BORER
DISCUSSION:
Introduction
The purpose of this agenda is to update the City Council on the status of Emerald
Ash Borer (EAB) and the environmental and financial effect it may have on the
City of Prior Lake.
Historv
The native range for EAB is Japan, Northern China, Korea, Mongolia and Taiwan.
Most likely EAB was introduced to the United States in the1990s through un-
kilned or untreated shipping materials from East Asia that arrived at a port in the
Detroit, Michigan area. Since that time EAB has been spread by people moving
infested ash material to Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Indiana,
Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Canada, and most recently Minnesota. There are
over 70 million dead ash trees in these states as a result of EAB.
Current Circumstances
Since the discovery of EAB in the 1990s, the Minnesota Department of
Agriculture has developed an EAB readiness team, a scientific advisory group,
and conducts first detection training courses. Three of the City of Prior Lake's
Parks Division employees are certified First Detectors and Certified Tree
Inspectors. These training opportunities help staff to identify dutch elm disease,
oak wilt, EAB, tree identification, firewood identification and shade tree
management.
Scott County held a County-wide meeting on EAB on May 28. The County plans
to hold another meeting and address the issue with SCALE in July. Without a
coordinated County-wide plan any steps the City of Prior Lake takes may prove to
be ineffective.
ISSUES:
Before EAB is discovered in the City of Prior Lake, several issues need to be
discussed.
Does our current Citv ordinance allow the Citv of Prior Lake the authoritv to
reauest diseased or hazardous trees to be removed on orivate land?
Yes, the City Council revised the tree ordinance on December 3,2007, to
address all tree epidemic diseases and the management and removal of
hazardous trees. The current ordinance allows Council to be aggressive
in the removal of affected ash trees (if Council chooses to do so), or
address hazardous trees as they become an issue.
www.cityofpriorlake.com
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Will we reauire orivate land owners to remove ash trees that are affected with
EAB?
This could depend on the extent of the spread of EAB once it is detected.
If the Department of Agriculture should determine that it is a lost cause,
we then could let the homeowners determine when they want to remove
their tree based on aesthetics or finances. Conversely, if the Department
of Agriculture determines an early detection and we could slow down the
spread of EAB, we could then require removal and disposal methods per
our tree ordinance.
If EAB is identified in Prior lake. whv not let it take its course? Are not all the ash
trees aoina to be affected at some ooint in time anvwav?
True, more than likely all the ash will die from EAB; but, if the EAB detection
area is small, and the removal is aggressive, the spread of EAB could be
slowed down. By slowing down the spread of EAB, the City of Prior lake
would be given three opportunities:
1. The public and private funds required to remove affected trees on both
private and public property could then be spread out over a longer
period of time.
2. Knowing that EAB is inevitable, but slowing down its spread, the City
could ramp up the tree planting process and start replacing trees
today.
3. Ongoing research is being conducted to find a solution to combat
EAB. The longer we hold off EAB increases our chances of finding a
solution to eliminate the spread of EAB.
If the soread of EAB becomes out of control. what orocedures will the Citv of Prior
Lake oerform on oublic orooertv?
Staff recommends that the priority removals take place on boulevards,
active park areas, public facility grounds, along trails and hazardous trees.
For financial reasons, ash trees in our nature areas with little public
pressure may have to be left alone.
If EAB is detected in the countv or another citv within our countv. what role if anv.
will the Citv of Prior lake olav to assist with the removal efforts?
Again, the idea is to slow down the spread of EAB. The City of Prior lake
could perform the following:
1. Assist with the creation of a new version of a strategic plan to share
resources with SCALE.
2. Possibly share resources with the cities within our County that have
confirmed EAB detection areas.
Should the Citv of Prior lake develoo a more aaaressive tree olantina oroaram
now to aet a "iumo start" reolacina the ash trees that will be lost to EAB?
An estimated 30% of our trees in the City of Prior lake are ash.
Increasing the amount of trees that we plant now will help to eliminate the
thousands of trees that we need to replace in years to come.
Where will we stock oile the infected wood if a auarantine is initiated bv the
Deoartment of Aariculture?
At this time a site has not been located.
R:\Council\2009 Agenda Reports\06 15 09\EAB agenda.doc
FINANCIAL
IMPACT:
Without doing an accurate inventory of trees, staff estimates that approximately
30% of the trees in the City of Prior Lake are ash trees. Staff has no monetary
figure due to having no number to equate to 30%. Staff will be able to give
Council a better estimate of financial impact at a later date.
ALTERNATIVES:
The alternatives are as follows:
1. Receive this staff presentation for information purposes.
2. Table this agenda item for a specific reason.
3. Deny this agenda item for a specific reason and provide staff with direction.
RECOMMENDED
MOTION:
Alternative #1.
Frank Boyles, Va~ r
R:\Council\2009 Agenda Reports\06 15 09\EAB agenda.doc