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<br /> <br />Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br />To Item Number <br /> <br />Mayor and City Council 6.4 <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br /> <br />Presentations, Awards, March 7, 2016Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation Director <br /> <br />and Recognitions <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br /> <br />Emerald Ash Borer Management Resolution Cal Portner, City Administrator <br />Reviewed by <br /> <br /> <br />Action Requested <br /> <br />Adopt, by motion, a resolution encouraging the Minnesota Legislature and Governor Mark Dayton to <br />create a statewide program to manage the Emerald Ash Borer infestation. <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br /> <br />City staff and Sherburne Soil & Conservation District Resource Conservationist Gina Hugo recommend <br />the City Council consider a resolution in support of creating a statewide program that supports and <br />protects community forests with a focus on the management of the EAB infestation. <br /> <br />There is a statewide need for financial and technical support for communities to implement strategies to <br />minimize the loss of green infrastructure; the average ash tree provides approximately $170 in annual <br />benefits and Minnesota has nearly 1 billion ash trees. <br /> <br />A proposed bill (17.855 MINNESOTA EMERALD ASH BORER SUPPRESSION PROGRAM) would <br />direct the commissioner of agriculture to work with state agencies to develop and implement the <br />Minnesota EAB suppression program and would appropriate $13,000,000 in 2017 and 2018 to assist <br />communities with preparedness and management through matching grants. <br /> <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br /> <br />N/A <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Resolution <br /> <br /> <br />