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City Council Minutes <br />March 4, 2024 <br />Page 7 <br />Moved by Councilmember Beyer and seconded by Councilmember Wagner to adjourn the <br />regular meeting of the City Council. <br />Motion carried 5-0. <br />The regular meeting adjourned at 7:31 p.m. Mayor Dietz called the work session to order at 7:37 p.m. <br />1 1.1 Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan and Compost Transfer Facility Use Policy <br />Mr. Femrite and Mr. Sevcik presented the staff report along with a PowerPoint demonstration and <br />exhibits showing the emerald ash borer (EAB and the pending influx of diseased trees and the need <br />for the city to craft a management plan. About 10% of the city's trees are ash trees, and some <br />locations will see a drastic dying in the next 5 years. Mr. Femrite discussed the city's need for <br />identifying tree ownership, outlining what are public trees within the public road right-of-way, which <br />is the city's responsibility to treat and maintain. Private trees within residential properties are the <br />responsibility of the property owner to treat and maintain. Mr. Sevcik presented some exhibits <br />showing the challenges of determining tree ownership, and how they currently use measurements to <br />aid in determining if a tree is the city's responsibility. He provided snapshots of streetscapes where ash <br />trees were present and already starting to show signs of disease. Mr. Sevcik explained when the <br />deceased trees are removed and ground, the EAB will not survive and therefore diseased trees will be <br />handled the same way as they currently are with no need to worry about disease spreading from the <br />compost site. He noted the locations of the trees in the right-of-way and how some properties have <br />landscaping around the trees and removal will affect some resident's landscaping. The city will also <br />have to consider leaving the stump versus removal the stump and reseeding any grass or repairing any <br />landscaping and having this clearly outlined in the policy. <br />Mr. Femrite indicated the staffs viewpoint is the city will take responsibility for those trees located in <br />the right-of-way. It gets tricker with trees located in drainage and utilities easements and can <br />sometimes become expensive to remove. <br />Mr. Femrite mentioned the city of Ramsey's sample policy in the staff report and asked the council <br />for direction on drafting an initial policy for discussion at a future meeting. He stated it was necessary <br />to determine the ownership and responsibility of the tree and that it be fair for both the city and the <br />resident. He stated the only cost to the city would be if a surveyor would need to be hired to <br />determine if the tree is fully established in the city's right-of-way. He indicated there are numerous <br />trees located in the drainage and utility easements, which are considered a resident's private property. <br />Having these discussions now will allow for a draft policy to outline responsibility and provide <br />direction for both the city and the public with a consistent approach, and the major visual and <br />financial impact the tree removal will have on residents. Mr. Femrite stressed the importance of future <br />public education and outreach for property owners. <br />The council discussed the current policy on disruption of items in the right-of-way when landscaping <br />is displaced. Mr. Femrite indicated care is taken not to disrupt the landscaping, and seed and topsoil is <br />applied where needed. Councilmember Westgaard commented that easements aren't always next to <br />the right-of-way, and somethings run through resident's yards. He also noted you aren't <br />supposed to plant trees in the drainage and utility easement. Mr. Femrite noted stumps can be more <br />costly to remove as there are utilities also running alongside the roots. Trees located in the drainage <br />/iEIEI I <br />NATME <br />