HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.01.24 Work Session MinutesEMERALD ASH BORER UPDATE
APRIL 1 , 2024
REVIEW OF MARCH 6, 2023
Update on the status of the EAB Infestation in the City of Farmington
3 Scenarios were presented and discussed
▪Scenario #1 Continue Previous Plan
▪Scenario #2 Increase Injections
▪Scenario #3 Remove All Ash
•A 4th Scenario was approved; An aggressive removal approach with continued treatment of ash to
delay/stage future removals that prioritizes public safety.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
•450 stumps removed
•1060 boulevard ash injected
•7.9 miles pruned in 2023
•In addition, 343 individual boulevard trees pruned in 2023
•741 ash trees removed since March 2023
•Public Works removed 201 (boulevard)
•Parks removed 208 (park/natural area)
•Contractors removed the balance
•Compare to normal years; Public Works removes
~55 trees and Parks removes ~12 trees on average
a year.
Grants:
▪$42,006 “Preparing for EAB 2023”
▪$500,000 “Shade Tree Bonding 2023”
CURRENT PROJECTS
•294 poor conditioned ash removal project underway
•187 stumps to be removed this Spring.
•Public Works removing ash at city facilities. 45 Trees (10 remaining)
•Parks removing ash in Jim Bell. ~170 Trees
•Audit of boulevard ash inventory
•Spring grant funded planting project in Rambling, Hill Dee, Tamarack and Westview Parks.
Planting 65 trees.
•Re-treating good conditioned ash that were treated in 2021.
•Removing ash as a part of 2024 city street improvement projects.
•Summer ash removals downtown as a part of 2023 Shade Tree Bonding Grant.
•Pruning as a part of the 2024 mill and overlay project.
BOULEVARD ASH TREE INVENTORY AUDIT
•2392 reviewed
•219 not present or wrong species
•42 ash added
•35 very good condition/”heritage ash”
•112 found to be on private property
•2087 Ash remain in the boulevard
FEEDBACK FROM THE INSPECTOR
•“Many private ash trees are declining.”
•“The quality of pruning on public and private trees is poor.”
•“Some addresses will have no trees on the property after the boulevard ash are removed.”
•“I highlighted what I consider to be Specimen or Heritage trees. These are treated boulevard ash
trees that are at least 12-inches in diameter, with excellent health, structure, and placement.
These ashes are extremely valuable to the city and cannot be replaced in our lifetime. I
recommend retaining these individual trees with ongoing insecticide treatments.”
•“Homeowners like to circle trees with stuff; edging, railroad ties, rocks, landscape fabric,
concrete block, mulch volcanos. This contributes to poor tree health.”
•“There is lack of species diversity on the boulevard as well as on private property.”
•“Most of the new trees that are planted by homeowners on their private property are maple.”
POOR PRUNING PRACTICES
Tear out Topping Large diameter removal
and heading cuts
LANDSCAPING CONTRIBUTING TO POOR TREE
HEALTH
FEEDBACK FROM RESIDENTS
•“decreases my home value”
•“loss of shade”
•“increases energy costs”
•“negatively impacts the aesthetics of the neighborhood”
Residents who have been treating trees in the boulevard are continuing to do so. Unless, found
to be in poor condition based on three-year inspections. In which case the tree will be removed.
WHAT KIND OF URBAN FOREST DO WE WANT IN
FARMINGTON?
•Does the city want trees in the boulevard?
•Do we want the city and/or residents to plant trees in
the boulevard?
•Do we need to change the city’s approach to
landscaping/planting in boulevard?
CONSIDERATIONS
Cost
•~$700/tree to plant
•2” caliper tree planted/mulched/1-year warranty
•Watering for 1-year
Long-term care and preservation
•Watering, formative pruning, mulching, replacements
•3-year establishment period
•Tree protection
REFORESTATION PLANNING
•Avoiding conflicts with infrastructure/utilities; proper placement
•We can’t control where utility companies put fiber
•Putting trees where they will thrive
•Organizing projects and designating tree receptive streets
UNSUITABLE LOCATIONS FOR TREES
Source: Local Road Research Board “Road to a thoughtful street tree master plan”
TREE RECEPTIVE BOULEVARD
**Ash represented by star
NOT A TREE RECEPTIVE BOULEVARD
SPECIES DIVERSITY
•Ensure a wide palate of tree species are planted to ensure resiliency to future pests/diseases
•Past planting designs had an overreliance on one genera. Think Dutch Elm Disease, Oak Wilt and
now EAB.
•We have an over representation of maples in our urban canopy making maples susceptible to
the next pest/disease. The Asian Longhorn beetle is a potential new pest that prefers maples.
London Planetree Catalpa
Shagbark Hickory
WHAT KIND OF URBAN FOREST DO WE WANT IN
FARMINGTON?
Does the city want trees in the boulevard?
•Yes, in tree receptive boulevards where trees can thrive and be maintained for long-term tree
health.
Do we want the city and residents to plant trees in the
boulevard?
•City, when we have resources (grants, infrastructure improvement projects)
•Property owners when we can assure it’s done properly.
Do we need to change the city’s approach to
landscaping/planting in boulevard?
•Yes
RECOMMENDATION
Define boulevards in the city that are tree receptive
•Minimum boulevard spacing
Recommended species list
•Discourage/limit the planting of maples (monoculture)
Free boulevard tree planting permit for residents
•Ensure new standards are communicated
Tree Contractor List
•Check Insurance
•Verify they are registered with the state
Update to city code
•Address landscaping around trees
•Have code reflect decisions made
•Update language that is inapplicable
TREE MAINTENANCE 7-6-4
BOULEVARDS; ALLOWABLE USES 8-1-5
LANDSCAPING 10-6-10
DISCUSSION
10-6-10 CONTINUED