Title
Approving funding to stump and reforest the City in identified areas due to the accelerated removal of EAB infested trees that are causing a potential public safety risk to the residents and visitors of the City.
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WHEREAS, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was first discovered in the City of Saint Paul in May 2009; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul was the first city in the State of Minnesota to have a confirmed EAB infestation, so Saint Paul took immediate action, and the Parks and Recreation Department developed a comprehensive EAB Management Program in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA); and
WHEREAS, utilizing best practices and lessons learned from other communities, the City’s EAB management program included both the immediate removal of infested ash trees and the proactive removal of vulnerable boulevard ash trees throughout the city; and
WHEREAS, a key component of the City’s Management Program included reforestation efforts, including stumping and replanting at a 1:1 ratio within the same calendar year, to replace removed trees with a diverse set of species other than ash; and
WHEREAS, 9,149 ROW ash trees have been removed to date with an additional 17,909 remaining to be removed as part of the EAB Management Program.
WHEREAS, the Parks and Recreation Department highlighted annually as part of the City’s budget process its updated service needs and plan for EAB, understanding that EAB infestations historically advance most rapidly around year 10 of a confirmed infestation; and
WHEREAS, The City of Saint Paul has now had the infestation for almost 8 years, with recent surveys showing over 95% of neighborhoods across the city now being directly impacted by EAB, with more than a 400% increase in infested trees confirmed compared to 2015; and
WHEREAS, In the 2017 City budget...
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