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4 <br />Trees located on city campuses and active use areas of parks will be removed, while trees in <br />city outlots, stormwater treatment ponds and natural areas of city parks will be evaluated for <br />their potential to cause damage to public or private infrastructure. If a tree in these areas is <br />identified as a potential hazard to a target it will be removed; trees without potential targets <br />will be left untreated to provide wildlife habitat and to be recycled into the soil. <br />Removal of ash trees will be conducted in three phases; removal of tree, stump grinding, and <br />restoration. During removal, staff will work through a neighborhood felling ash trees, <br />loading brush and logs and transporting materials to the city compost site. This activity may <br />require temporary traffic control and/or road closures to allow staff a safe work zone until <br />the tree is felled and all material is removed. Stump grinding will be conducted by staff as <br />time permits and may be done at any time during the year. Restoration will consist of black <br />dirt and seed appropriate to the conditions. <br />In areas where private landscaping, pet fences and irrigation systems are within the public <br />right-of-way, staff will work to minimize impact to the landscaping during the removal and <br />stump grinding process. The city is not responsible for damage to private landscaping <br />within the right-of-way and it is the homeowner’s responsibility to restore any disturbed <br />landscaping because of ash tree removal. <br />Tree Replacement <br />Due to the volume of public trees anticipated to be removed as a result of EAB, the city <br />must focus its efforts on tree replacements in areas of greatest need. Trees on city campuses <br />and public parks will be the priority for replacement to ensure aesthetics of public facilities <br />and provide shade to the public. Tree replacement along public rights-of-way may be <br />conducted as time and resources permit. Establishment of trees in public rights-of-way will <br />be the responsibility of the adjacent property owner. The city will not conduct tree <br />replacements in city outlots, stormwater ponds, or natural areas. These areas will be allowed <br />too naturally regenerate. <br />Replacement trees will consist of 1-1.5-inch diameter bareroot trees consisting of a variety of <br />species to establish a more diverse canopy able to resist any future disease and insect pests. <br />Tree species include hybrid American elm (sp.), white oak (sp.), maple (sp.) hackberry, <br />Kentucky Coffee, American linden (sp.), river birch, honey locust, Ohio buckeye, ginkgo, <br />black cherry, black walnut, butternut, northern catalpa, northern redbud, shagbark hickory, <br />and bitternut hickory. These tree species meet current and projected frost hardiness zones <br />for central Minnesota according to the University of Minnesota, Forest Resources <br />Department. <br />Private Trees <br />The City of Elk River does not intend to treat or remove ash trees located wholly within <br />private property, removal of these trees is the responsibility of the property owner. The city <br />may inspect and conduct abatement of any nuisance trees in accordance with Chapter 46 <br />Page 49 of 464