Aberdeen City Council

NOTICE: THE CITY COUNCIL WILL MEET AT 5:00 P.M. ON MARCH 4TH FOR A WORK SESSION WITH THE CHAMBER’S LEADERSHIP ABERDEEN 2019 CLASS AGENDA FOR THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2019 AT 5:30 P.M. CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 123 S. LINCOLN ST. 1. ROLL CALL 3. MINUTES, CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS OF FEBRUARY 25, 2019 OPEN FORUM 5:30 TO 5:40 P.M. – 1. SEE FORMAT GUIDELINES AT END OF AGENDA 4. CONSENT CALENDAR – POSSIBLE APPROVAL A. LICENSES: 1. AMBULANCE DRIVER – ZACH RACHOW 2. PRIVATE SECURITY – AMANDA CUNNINGHAM 3. PRIVATE SECURITY – STACY KRAHL B. SET HEARING DATE OF MARCH 25, 2019 AT 5:30 P.M. FOR A PETITION TO REZONE FROM (I-2) DISTRICT AND (C-2) DISTRICT TO (C-2) DISTRICT FOR PROPOSED LOT 2, LUST SECOND ADD. TO THE CITY OF ABERDEEN IN THE SW ¼ OF SEC. 14, T123N, R64W OF THE 5TH P.M., BROWN COUNTY, SD (1514 – 6TH AVE., SW) C. REQUEST PERMISSION TO SERVE AND PERMIT CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES AT WYLIE PARK PAVILION ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 FOR THE RIGG/DYKMAN WEDDING 5. NEW BUSINESS A. ESTABLISHMENT OF A CHARTER REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE COUNCIL – POSSIBLE APPROVAL TO ESTABLISH A CHARTER REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE CONSISTING OF COUNCIL MEMBERS BUNSNESS, RONAYNE, & SLAIGHT-HANSEN WITH CITY ATTORNEY ASSISTING B. HANGING DIFFERENT SIZES OF DENIM JEANS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY TO BRING AWARENESS TO SEXUAL ASSAULT AND CHILD ABUSE THE ENTIRE MONTH OF APRIL – POSSIBLE APPROVAL C. HEARING ON SPECIAL FIVE-DAY ON-SALE RETAIL LIQUOR LICENSE ON MARCH 13-17, 2019 FOR ACT2, INC. DBA ABERDEEN COMMUNITY THEATRE, 417 SOUTH MAIN ST. – POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF LIQUOR LICENSE FOR ACT2, INC. AT 417 SOUTH MAIN ST. D. BILLS: APPROVAL OF BILL LIST FOR MARCH 4, 2019 E. PAYROLL FOR THE PERIOD FROM FEBRUARY 17, 2019 TO MARCH 2, 2019 AND CITY SHARE OF SOCIAL SECURITY, OLD AGE & SURVIVOR’S INSURANCE, RETIREMENT, HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE – POSSIBLE APPROVAL OF PAYROLL F. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT G. DISCUSSION/PRESENTATION ON STREET TREE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND EMERALD ASH BORER MANAGEMENT PLAN – CITY FORESTER AARON KIESZ AND DR. JOHN BALL 6. ADJOURN Page 1 of 73 03/01/2019 1. OPEN FORUM PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL WITH QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR COMMENTS ON ITEMS, WHICH ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA. CITIZENS ARE ASKED TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK PRIOR TO THE OPEN FORUM PORTION OF THE MEETING. OPEN FORUM WILL BE LIMITED TO 10 MINUTES (IF NO ONE IS IN ATTENDANCE FOR THE OPEN FORUM, THE REGULAR MEETING MAY BEGIN) UNLESS A MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL AGREES TO EXTEND THE TIME PERIOD. THE OPEN FORUM MAY NOT BE USED TO MAKE PERSONAL ATTACKS, TO AIR PERSONALITY GRIEVANCES, TO MAKE POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS, OR FOR POLITICAL CAMPAIGN PURPOSES. OPEN FORUM WILL NOT BE USED AS A TIME FOR PROBLEM SOLVING OR REACTING TO THE COMMENTS MADE, BUT, RATHER FOR HEARING THE CITIZEN FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES. THE CITY COUNCIL MAY RESPOND WITH REQUEST FOR CITY MANAGEMENT TO FOLLOW UP AND REPORT BACK ON ANY ISSUE RAISED DURING THE PUBLIC ADDRESS TIME. A PRESENTATION MAY NOT EXCEED TWO MINUTES IN DURATION. 2. ADA COMPLIANCE: THE CITY OF ABERDEEN FULLY SUBSCRIBES TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE AMERICAN’S WITH DISABILITIES ACT. IF YOU DESIRE TO ATTEND THIS PUBLIC MEETING AND ARE IN NEED OF SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS, PLEASE NOTIFY THE CITY FINANCE OFFICE AT LEAST 8 HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING SO APPROPRIATE AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE. THE CITY COUNCIL MEETS WEEKLY ON MONDAYS AT 5:30 P.M. EXCEPT WHEN A HOLIDAY FALLS ON MONDAY, IN WHICH CASE THE MEETING IS HELD AT 5:30 P.M. ON THE NEXT BUSINESS DAY. 3. A COPY OF THE SUBJECT MATTER ON THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION AT THE CITY FINANCE OFFICE AND AVAILABLE ON THE CITY’S WEBSITE www.aberdeen.sd.us. Page 2 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 3 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 4 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 5 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 6 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 7 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 8 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 9 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 10 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 11 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 12 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 13 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 14 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 15 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 16 of 73 03/01/2019 5A Page 17 of 73 03/01/2019 5B Page 18 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 19 of 73 03/01/2019 5C Page 20 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 21 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 22 of 73 03/01/2019 5D Page 23 of 73 03/01/2019 5G Page 24 of 73 03/01/2019  Street Tree Management Plan February 2018 Page 25 of 73 03/01/2019 ABERDEEN PARKS, RECREATION AND FORESTRY BOARD Matt Prehn, President Brenda Stapp, Vice President Jerry Mills, Secretary/Treasurer Doug Farrand, Board Member Josh Rife, Board Member David Sandvig, Board Member Sara Christenson-Blair, Board Member ABERDEEN PARKS, RECREATION AND FORESTRY DEPARTMENT STAFF Doug Johnson, Director Aaron Kiesz, City Forester ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL Lynn Lander, City Manager Mike Levsen, Mayor Mark Remily, Council Member Dave Lunzmann, Council Member Dave Bunsness, Council Member Alan Johnson, Council Member Rob Ronayne, Council Member Clint Rux, Council Member Jennifer Slaight-Hansen, Council Member Mike Olson, Council Member Page 26 of 73 03/01/2019 Executive Summary The City of Aberdeen, Forestry Division developed this plan with a focus on addressing short and long term maintenance needs for inventoried street trees. The Forestry Division completed a street tree inventory to gain an understanding of the needs of the existing urban forest and to project a recommended maintenance schedule for tree care. Analysis of inventory data and information about the city’s existing program and vision for the urban forest was utilized to develop this management plan. A general description of the economic, environmental, and social benefits that trees provide to Aberdeen is presented as justification for investment in this resource. State of the Existing Street Tree Population The summers of 2016 and 2017 inventory included trees, and planting sites along public street rights-of-way (ROW). A total of 16,550 sites were recorded during the inventory: 12,842 trees, and 3,708 planting sites. Analysis of the tree inventory data found:  A majority of the inventoried street trees are rated at good to excellent condition.  Two species, Celtis occindetalis (Common Hackberry) at 9% and the genus Tilia (Linden) at 8% of the population comprise the largest percentage (other than Ash) of the street ROW and are beginning to threaten biodiversity. The city has taken steps to ensure that these species proportion of the population will shrink over time. These steps include planting a more diverse selection of trees in the ROW and limiting the planting of both of these species. i Page 27 of 73 03/01/2019   Fraxinus pensylvanicus (Green ash) as expected, was found in abundance on the street ROW (37%), which is a biodiversity concern of the city’s streetscape, especially with the future threat of Emerald Ash Borer. This percentage should only decrease over time as the city and most nurseries have discontinued the planting of ash trees. The City is also selectively removing and thinning ash within the ROW.  Overall, the diameter size class distribution of the inventoried tree population trended towards the ideal, with a greater number of young trees than established, maturing, and mature trees. This data is minimally skewed due to the fact that many young trees being planted in the ROW, are in new, expanding residential areas. Quantifiable Benefits  The appraised value of Aberdeen’s street tree population is estimated to be over $48 million. This number is calculated in the tree inventory software, based on average tree size and condition. Tree Maintenance and Planting Needs Trees in an urban area provide many environmental and economic benefits that justify the time and money for planting and maintenance. Maintenance should be prioritized by addressing trees with the highest safety risk first. The inventory noted about 2.8% (364 trees) in poor condition. These trees should be removed or pruned in the near future to promote public safety. Not all of these trees pose a threat as some are small diameter, younger trees. There were about 140 trees noted as ii Page 28 of 73 03/01/2019 very poor or dead that would be included in removals. Again, many of these are young, small diameter trees that didn’t survive their first few years of growth. Trees should be planted to mitigate removals and create canopy. Aberdeen’s urban forest, street tree population does benefit from the once in 7 years’ tree training and routine pruning cycle. Ideally, we would like to shorten this cycle up, but we would need additional trained arborists to accomplish this. This cycle follows the city’s Public Works Department chip seal schedule. The trees benefit from the trimming of lower branches which lessens the amount of interfering branches. The Public Works Department also loans us several employees through the winter months to assist with chipping branches iii Page 29 of 73 03/01/2019 and cleanup efforts. If time allows, Forestry crews will structurally trim young trees that were planted 2-3 years ago. This allows us to train younger trees twice over a 7-year period instead of just once. Proactive pruning cycles improve the overall health of the tree population and may eventually reduce maintenance costs. In most cases, pruning cycles will correct defects in trees before they worsen, which will avoid costly problems. iv Page 30 of 73 03/01/2019 Planting trees is necessary to maintain canopy cover and to replace trees that have been removed or lost to natural mortality or other threats (for example, construction, invasive pests, weather impacts or vehicle/tree accidents). Citywide tree planting should focus on creating canopy in areas that promote economic growth, in parking lots and near buildings with insufficient shade, and where there are gaps in the existing canopy. Trees of varied species should be planted. The city’s existing planting list offers smart choices for species selection and past performance can provide further guidance for species selection. v Page 31 of 73 03/01/2019 Table of Contents Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………………. i Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………. 1 Tree Inventory Analysis…………………………………………….............................. 2 Species Diversity…………………………………………………………………………………… 4 Diameter Size Class Distribution…………………………………………………………… 6 Tree Condition……………………………………………………………………………………… 8 Stocking Level………………………………………………………………………………………. 9 Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………... 10 vi Page 32 of 73 03/01/2019 Introduction The City of Aberdeen is home to more than 27,000 full time residents who enjoy the beauty and benefits of their street trees and urban forest. The city’s forestry program manages trees on the public property – along the street public right-of-way (ROW), in the parks and in other public spaces. The city’s Forestry Division has 4 full time positions and 4-5 seasonal positions to manage urban forestry needs. Funding for Aberdeen’s urban forestry program comes from the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Departments operations budget. The City of Aberdeen has a tree care ordinance (Exhibit A) and, is able to meet the $2 per capita for tree- related expenses, which helps us remain a Tree City USA. The city officially celebrates Arbor Day and has been a Tree City USA member for 37 years. Approach to Tree Management The best approach to managing an urban forest is to develop an organized, proactive program using tools (such as a tree inventory) to set goals and measure progress. These tools can be utilized to draft cost-effective budgets based on projected needs, establish tree care priorities, generate planting location plans, and ultimately minimize the need for costly, reactive solutions to crises or urgent hazards. In the summers of 2015 and 2016, the Aberdeen City Forester worked with summer interns to complete an inventory of all boulevard trees. The following information was collected during the inventory:  Inventory of trees, stumps, and planting sites within the street ROW (boulevards)  Analysis of tree inventory data 1 Page 33 of 73 03/01/2019 Tree Inventory Analysis The information gathered from this inventory will aid the City Forestry Division in the planning of future tree planting, recommended tree maintenance, and summarize the economic, environmental, and social benefits that trees provide to Aberdeen. The summers of 2016 and 2017 inventory included trees, and planting sites along public street rights-of-way (ROW). A total of 16,550 sites were recorded during the inventory: 12,842 trees, and 3,708 planting sites. The City of Aberdeen utilized a software program called TreeWorks. The information was gathered using Garmin hand-held GIS computers. Data gathered on these units was completed by trained personnel to ensure high accuracy. At each site, the following data fields were collected:  Aboveground utilities  Canopy size  Clearance requirements  Tree condition  Grow space size  Location  Species  Tree height  Tree size  Crown issues  Available planting area 2 Page 34 of 73 03/01/2019 Assessment of Tree Inventory Data Data analysis and professional judgement are used to make generalizations about the state of the inventoried tree population. Recognizing trends in the data can help guide short and long-term management planning. In this plan, the following criteria and indicators of the inventoried tree population were assessed:  Species Diversity: The variety of species in a specific population; affects the population’s ability to withstand threats from invasive pests and diseases; impacts tree maintenance needs and costs, tree planting goals, and canopy continuity.  Diameter Size Class Distribution: Statistical distribution of a given tree populations’ trunk-size class; affects the valuation of tree- related benefits as well as the estimation of maintenance needs and costs, planting goals, and canopy continuity; the diameter size class distribution can be used to indicate the relative age of a tree population.  Condition: The general health of a tree population; indicates how well trees are performing given their site-specific conditions; general health affects both short and long-term maintenance needs and costs as well as canopy continuity.  Street ROW Stocking Level: The portion of existing street ROW trees compared to the total number of potential street ROW trees (number of inventoried trees plus the number of potential planting spaces); stocking level can help determine tree planting needs and budgets.  Infrastructure Conflicts: Inventory data analysis that provides insight into how well the tree population has been integrated with other city infrastructure and suggestions for how to improve that integration in the future. 3 Page 35 of 73 03/01/2019 Species Diversity Species diversity affects canopy continuity, maintenance costs, planting goals, and the forestry divisions ability to respond to threats from invasive pests or diseases. Low species diversity (large number of trees of the same species) can lead to severe losses in the event of species specific epidemics such as Dutch Elm disease. Because of the introduction and spread of Dutch Elm disease in the 1930’s, combined with its prevalence today, massive numbers of American elm, a popular street tree in Midwestern communities, have perished. Many communities replanted to replace the lost elm trees. Ash and maple trees were popular replacements for American elm in the wake of Dutch Elm disease. Unfortunately, some of the replacement species for elm trees are now overabundant, which is a concern for biodiversity. Emerald ash borer are non-native insect pests that attack some of the most prevalent urban shade trees and many agricultural trees throughout the country. 4 Page 36 of 73 03/01/2019 The composition of a tree population should follow the standard 10-20- 30 rule for species diversity in an urban tree population: a single species should represent no more that 10% of the urban forest, a single genera no more than 20% and a single family no more than 30%. Figure 1 compares the percentages of the most common species identified during the inventory to the 10% rule. Green ash (37%) far exceeds the recommended 10% maximum for a single species in a population. Aberdeen 10% Rule 40% 35% 30% Percent of Population 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% Green Ash Hackberry Linden Maple Figure 1. Four most abundant species of boulevard trees Considering the large quantity of ash already present in the population, combined with its susceptibility to the future effects of Emerald ash borer, the planting of ash has been eliminated from the list of trees the city plants in the boulevard areas. (Exhibit B) The city will continue to monitor the levels of other species in the future to try and reduce the chances of other species going over the 10% rule. 5 Page 37 of 73 03/01/2019 Diameter Size Class Distribution Analyzing the diameter size class distribution provides an estimate of the relative age of a tree population and insight into maintenance practices and needs. The inventoried trees were categorized into the following diameter size classes: young (1-6 inches DBH), established (7- 18 inches DBH), maturing (19-30 inches DBH), and mature trees (>30 inches DBH). Some studies suggest that the largest fraction of trees (approximately 40% of the population) should be young (<7 inches DBH), while a smaller fraction of trees (approximately 10%) should be in the mature size class (>30 inches DBH). A tree population with an ideal distribution would have an abundance of newly planted and young trees, and lower numbers of established, maturing, and mature trees. Figure 2 compares Aberdeen’s tree diameter class distribution of the inventoried tree population to an ideal proposed situation. Aberdeen’s distribution skews to young and established trees. The red line represents the ideal percentage for each class. Aberdeen Ideal 50% 45% 40% Percent of Population 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 1"-6" 7"-18" 19"-30" >30" Diameter Size Class Figure 2. Comparison of diameter class distribution for inventoried trees to an ideal distribution. 6 Page 38 of 73 03/01/2019 Discussion Even though it may appear that Aberdeen has too many young trees, this is not the case. Aberdeen actually has too few mature trees (>30”) and thus, the distribution is skewed. The high proportion of established trees is reflective of an extremely strong planting program over the past 15 years. The low proportion of mature trees is reflective of a time when either too little planting was done or when a high proportion of trees experienced mortality (Dutch elm disease). This could even become more disproportioned when Emerald ash borer arrives. One of Aberdeen’s objectives is to establish age diversity in the street tree population. The Forestry Division’s efforts on street tree planting and ongoing maintenance efforts will ensure that young, healthy trees are in place to fill in gaps in tree canopy and provide for gradual succession of older trees. The city must continue to promote tree preservation, enforce existing tree ordinances and planting codes. Tree planting and tree care will allow the distribution to normalize over time. 7 Page 39 of 73 03/01/2019 Condition The City Forestry Division assessed the condition of individual trees based on methods defined by the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Several factors were considered for each tree, including root characteristics, branch structure, trunk, canopy, foliage condition and the presence of pests. The condition of each inventoried tree was rated Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, Very Poor or Dead. In this plan, the general health of the inventoried tree population was characterized by the most commonly assigned condition during the inventory. Comparing the condition of the inventoried tree population with relative tree age can provide insight into the stability of the population. In this plan, relative age was based on Diameter Breast Height (DBH). Since tree species have different lifespans and mature at different diameters, heights, and crown spreads; actual tree age cannot be determined from diameter size class alone. However, general classifications of size can be extrapolated into relative age classes. The following categories are used to describe the relative age of a tree: young (1-6 inches DBH), established (7- 18 inches DBH), maturing (19- 30 inches DBH), and mature trees (>30 inches DBH). 8 Page 40 of 73 03/01/2019  Chart Title 14000 Dead Very Poor 12000 Poor Fair 10000 Number of Trees 8000 Good 6000 4000 Excellent 2000 0 Condition of Trees Figure 3. Tree condition of all inventoried trees. Boulevard Stocking Level Stocking is a traditional forestry term used to measure the density and distribution of trees. In urban forestry, stocking level can be used to describe how close a street tree population is to achieving its full potential in regards to street tree density. A well-stocked street tree population will have trees growing in the most appropriate streetscape locations. The City of Aberdeen is aiming to increase stocking levels to increase the benefits accrued by the street tree portion of the urban forest. Stocking potential is a unique measurement, as there are many municipality-specific factors that affect how many street trees can be supported. Stocking level is the ratio of street ROW spaces occupied by trees to the total street ROW spaces suitable for trees. For example, a 9 Page 41 of 73 03/01/2019 street ROW tree inventory of 1,000 total sites with 750 existing trees and 250 vacant planting sites would have a stocking level of 75%. For an urban area, it is recommended that the street ROW stocking level be at least 90% so that no more than 10% of the potential planting sites along the street ROW are vacant. Our inventory found 3,650 vacant planting spaces. Based on the data gathered during this inventory, Aberdeen’s current street ROW tree stocking level is 78%. This basically tells us that we have much potential to fill in many of the 3,650 locations void of trees. Conclusions Every hour of every day, public trees in Aberdeen are supporting and improving the quality of life. When properly maintained, trees provide abundant environmental, economic and social benefits far in excess of the time and money invested in planting, pruning, protection, and removal. Managing trees in urban areas is often complicated. Navigating the needs of residents, concerns of public safety and liability, physical aspects of trees, forces of nature and expectation that these issues are resolved all at once is a challenge. Aberdeen will continue to improve and maintain its urban forest, and will use this management plan to successfully implement, the health and safety of trees for the enjoyment of all for years to come. 10 Page 42 of 73 03/01/2019  2018 Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Cover Photo: by Duane Stall, emerald ash borer larvae galleries on green ash tree trunk City of Aberdeen Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department Forestry Division May, 2018 Page 43 of 73 03/01/2019 ABERDEEN PARKS, RECREATION AND FORESTRY BOARD Matt Prehn, President Brenda Stapp, Vice President Jerry Mills, Secretary/Treasurer Doug Farrand, Board Member Josh Rife, Board Member David Sandvig, Board Member Sara Christenson-Blair, Board Member ABERDEEN PARKS, RECREATION AND FORESTRY DEPARTMENT STAFF Doug Johnson, Director Aaron Kiesz, City Forester ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL Lynn Lander, City Manager Mike Levsen, Mayor Mark Remily, Council Member Dave Lunzmann, Council Member Dave Bunsness, Council Member Alan Johnson, Council Member Rob Ronayne, Council Member Clint Rux, Council Member Jennifer Slaight-Hansen, Council Member Mike Olson, Council Member Page 44 of 73 03/01/2019 EMERALD ASH BORER MANAGEMENT PLAN Prepared by: Aaron Kiesz City Forester Parks, Recreation & Forestry Dept. 225 3rd Ave SE Aberdeen, SD 57401 May 2018 Page 45 of 73 03/01/2019  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an accidental introduced pest that is currently killing all species of ash trees (Fraxinus sp) in 31 states and three Canadian provinces. While no one can accurately determine when the insect will arrive in Aberdeen, our best estimate would be as soon as 2018. Therefore, we should prepare and manage for the arrival of the EAB by adopting and implementing an “Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan.” The pending arrival of EAB will have a devastating effect on the City’s urban forest. Adopting a management plan now will allow the City to efficiently and effectively respond to EAB and put the City in a better position to mitigate the financial burden and ecological impact of this insect. Ash tree populations in Aberdeen are significant. There are 4,800 Ash trees located in boulevards, an estimated 750 within the park areas, and an additional estimated 12,000 Ash trees located on private property. That means, an estimated 43% of all trees in Aberdeen are Ash. This EAB Management Plan directs available resources to use preemptive management strategies, to begin reducing the population of ash trees by 5% per year and to accelerate the planting of new trees to provide species diversification in the urban forest. Once EAB has been confirmed in the city the management strategies will become more urgent and can easily overwhelm the city’s limited staff and resources. Costs for addressing a pending EAB infestation is identified in the plan by Street, Park & Private Trees. The direct and indirect cost of an EAB infestation is estimated at $18.3 million. Private tree owners should be encouraged to plan and save for the cost of either treating or removing their ash trees. The City’s goal is to complete work without supplemental budgetary appropriations. The community as a whole will be affected by the loss of a large portion of the urban tree canopy. Not since the 1970’s, when Dutch elm disease changed the face of the urban landscape in Aberdeen, will leadership and cooperation in the community be needed to get through this pending crisis. i Page 46 of 73 03/01/2019 Table of Contents Executive Summary………………………………………………………………………………. i Introduction/Background.……………………………………………………………………. 1 Ash Tree Populations….…………………………………………….............................. 2 Preemptive EAB Plan.…………………………………………………………………………… 3 Post Detection EAB Plan………….…………………………………………………………… 5 Management Options..………………………………………………………………………… 6 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..……………. 11 Appendix 1..………………………………………………………………………………………... 12 Appendix 2……………………………………………………………………………………………15 Page 47 of 73 03/01/2019 City of Aberdeen Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Purpose By implementing the provisions in this management plan, the City is attempting to mitigate the disruption to its urban forest caused by the pending infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The City will take a proactive approach and attempt to spread the costs associated with the outbreak of EAB over 10 to 20 years. The loss of most every ash tree in Aberdeen will have a devastating effect on home values, quality of life, and the environment. Our goal is to buffer that impact in advance by implementing current arboricultural best management practices. Introduction Emerald Ash Borer is an accidental introduced pest that is currently killing all species of ash trees (Fraxinus sp) in 31 states and three Canadian provinces. EAB only kills ash trees and does not attack trees like mountain ash, boxelder (ash leaf maple), or prickly ash. Since its discovery in Detroit, Michigan in 2002, the insect has spread killing all the ash trees in its path. Currently, the closest proximity of the insect to date is St. Paul/Minneapolis area and NW Iowa. The City of Aberdeen must prepare and manage for the arrival of EAB on three fronts: park property, private property, and public property. While no one can accurately determine when the insect will arrive in Aberdeen, our best estimate would be as soon as 2018. According to regional experts, EAB could already be here. The biggest cause of new infestations is human activities and most likely will be brought here by firewood or hitchhiking insects on vehicles. Background Trees in the City of Aberdeen are managed with direction from Chapters 56 of the Ordinances of the City of Aberdeen. Classification of tree management is broken into three categories: Park Trees, Private Trees, and Street Trees. See Appendix 1. The Forestry Division of Aberdeen Parks, Recreation & Forestry is responsible for the management of trees on over 1,000 acres of parkland. Trees in this category range from high- profile specimen trees to trees in a natural forest setting. The Forestry Division is responsible for managing and maintaining over 12,900 boulevard/street and park trees. Management of private trees is the responsibility of the private property owner. Property owners in this category are not restricted to what types of trees are planted on their property. However, some management recommendations are made by following city ordinances in Chapter 56 of the Ordinances of the City of Aberdeen. 3 Page 48 of 73 03/01/2019 Ash Tree Population The Forestry Division began a street tree inventory in 2014. This inventory collected information on every boulevard/street tree within the city limits of Aberdeen. Data collected includes: Species, size, and condition. The inventory was completed in 2017 and is continually updated as trees are planted and removed. Our street tree inventory gives us many valuable details about our urban forest. One piece of that shows that our street tree population is unbalanced with a very high percentage of Ash trees, 37%. Although we don’t have an accurate inventory of private trees, an educational guess would put the total around 1.5 times that of the boulevard tree population. This leaves us with an urban forest that contains almost 40% of Ash trees. Ash Trees by Location 16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0 Boulevard Park Private Figure 1. City’s Ash Tree Population The palette of tree species that are planted in the boulevards and park system has grown immensely over the last 15 years. Over 25 different tree species and many more varieties now make up the diverse tree resource in our public areas. Even with the current planting diversity, ash trees were planted heavily up to the year 2003. With the news and spread of EAB, no ash trees have been planted in the public areas since 2006. Economic Impact The total direct impact to the City could reach as much as $2.5 Million, (Appendix 1). This impact is based on the ash tree population on public property and includes replacement costs. This estimate does not capture the cost of losing the associated benefit of trees, but does include the cost of tree removals, and cost of tree replacement. This estimate does not include any preventative treatment measures for EAB. More importantly, in terms of real estate, this estimate does not include the appraised value these trees have in the landscape. 4 Page 49 of 73 03/01/2019 EAB Management Strategies There are two management strategies that the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department is proposing. The first is a proactive preemptive approach of recommending the reduction of ash trees in the city by condition. The second is a reactive position the City will face in the event of an actual EAB infestation. The following elements of the City’s EAB management plan were approved by the Park Board in 2018, and are subject to periodic revision as new information about the EAB becomes available. This plan is also subject to change should state or federal policies dictate. Preemptive EAB Management Plan The goal of a preemptive approach is to expedite the conversion of the urban forest canopy in the city to a nearly ash tree-free population, and to spread the associated costs of a pending infestation over a longer period of time. One advantage the City has to an infestation of EAB, is awareness. Federal, state, and local officials in the country have been on alert to the arrival of EAB in their areas. Since EAB is so hard to detect in the early stages of an infestation, officials are reporting that it generally takes three to four years before new infestations are discovered. Once EAB becomes established in an area, it will become a permanent part of that ecosystem. Administration The City Forester, through Parks and Recreation’s Forestry Division, will be responsible for implementing and follow up on the provisions of the EAB preemptive plan. Communication The City Manager, City Council, Park Board, Parks and Recreation Director will receive periodic updates through normal channels. All media relations will follow normal city protocol. Information and Education Parks and Recreation has created an EAB informational page on the City’s website. This website will be maintained and updated when necessary and when new information becomes available. Information is available and targeted to local nurseries, tree services, and the general public to discuss the pending infestation and to provide ash tree and EAB identification tips. Detection Early detection is very important in a community so EAB does not have time to become widespread. Parks and Recreation in cooperation with USDA-APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture are placing and 4 Page 50 of 73 03/01/2019 monitoring purple traps for the detection of EAB in Aberdeen. These traps are meant to lure the adult beetles to a sticky trap to monitor if they exist or how many are in a certain area. The Forestry Division will place and monitor purple traps each spring before the flight period of EAB. Along with detection traps, Forestry Division employees are briefed and trained on symptoms and signs of EAB. Preventive Treatments The City of Aberdeen does not recommend chemical treatments for EAB at this time. The City encourages citizens and tree services to wait before deciding to use a preventative treatment for EAB until there is a confirmed infestation within 15 miles of Aberdeen. Over the long-term, trees can exhibit other pest problems when subjected to chemical treatments that are used to prevent EAB damage. Any pesticide treatment for a pest that is not present, is not advised. Recommendations for Street, Park & Private Trees Street Trees The Forestry Division by best management practices, surveys the city’s street trees each year to identify and remove dead, diseased, high-risk, or major storm damaged trees. This program has been very beneficial for public safety and the health of the urban forest. This program not only acts as a sanitation practice for disease and insects, but has reduced the number of tree failures in the city. The number of emergency call-in hours by the Forestry Division has significantly dropped over the last decade. Priority for tree removals will be given to property owners that agree to replant with an approved tree species. If the 5 percent target is not met, then additional ash trees will need to be identified for removal. It is recommended to select low-quality ash trees to reach this goal. Park Trees and other public property There are many specimen ash trees in city parks, as well as hundreds of non-specimen trees. No reliable inventory exists, and ash tree densities vary by park. The following recommendations are proposed by Parks and Recreation to address EAB with respect to park trees and other public areas.  It is recommended to set a target of removing 5 percent of existing ash trees per year. 4 Page 51 of 73 03/01/2019 Private Trees There are thousands of large and small ash trees on private property in Aberdeen. No reliable inventory exists, and ash tree densities vary by neighborhood. The following recommendations are proposed by Parks, Recreation & Forestry to address EAB with respect to private trees.  The City has already been recommending that citizens and businesses discontinue the use of ash species in new plantings.  City of Aberdeen Ordinance 56 Nuisance Declared will be updated to reflect the Emerald Ash Borer threat. The same parameters concerning Dutch elm disease are appropriate measures to slow the spread of EAB.  It would be prudent for residents to establish a relationship with an arborist in the event that an ash tree evaluation or removal is desired.  The City encourages residents to begin removing low-quality ash trees on their property and replanting with a different species. Tree diversity should be emphasized. Post EAB Detection Management Plan The current evidence from other communities show that once EAB becomes established, it takes about five to ten years to infest and kill the majority of the ash trees in a city. Many of these communities were not aware that an infestation existed until EAB had become widespread. Administration The City Forester will be responsible for implementing and follow up on the provisions of this plan. Communication The City Manager, City Council, Park Board, Parks and Recreation Director, will receive periodic updates through normal channels. All media relations will follow normal city protocol. Cooperation Cooperation with other city departments will be needed to mobilize additional equipment and personnel to address the removal of ash trees. Public Works is a source for additional equipment needed to address transportation of ash tree debris. Continued relationships with local utilities companies will be important to provide assistance in removing ash trees around power lines to protect regional power systems. 5 Page 52 of 73 03/01/2019 Probable EAB Scenario in Aberdeen When EAB is first discovered in Aberdeen, there will be a period when outside agencies will provide technical assistance to the city. Federal and state agencies such as APHIS and Department of Agriculture will work together with local governments to confirm an infestation, determine the size of the infestation, and establish quarantine areas. Brown County will be quarantined when EAB is found in Aberdeen. Federal and state agencies are not equipped to provide long-term technical assistance after the initial detection period of EAB. These agencies have already indicated that no funding is available to address the removal or treatment of infested material from an EAB infestation. The City of Aberdeen will be on its own when it comes to the management and funding of an EAB outbreak. Management Options The initial response from federal and state agencies will help identify the extent of infested trees. It is highly likely that the infested trees will need to be removed and destroyed whether they are on public or private property. It is important that all relevant city ordinances are reviewed and modified to support an operation of this nature. Once an EAB outbreak has been confirmed, there are four basic management options available for public and private property owners. 1. Don’t do anything and remove trees as they die. This type of a management option may allow EAB to spread at the fastest rate. Depending on the lag time between an initial attack and the discovery of an infestation, this may not be an option but a reality. It may also put the most strain on the budgets of the city and the private sector. 2. Remove all ash trees. This option is the underlining goal of the preemptive EAB plan. The number of ash trees remaining in the city will depend on what year the initial infestation occurs. Each year the preemptive EAB plan is allowed to work will be one year ahead of dealing with unbudgeted expenses. This management option is surrendering to the fact that all ash trees will eventually die and removing a healthy tree is no different than removing an infested tree. 3. Treatment. Once EAB is confirmed within 15 miles of the city, treatment is a viable option for property owners. This option keeps improving as researchers have time to work on different insecticide treatments for EAB. 6 Page 53 of 73 03/01/2019 Regardless of the treatment, this is an option that will need to be repeated every 2-3 years and the associated costs will build over time. However, no treatment can guarantee 100 percent protection from EAB, and no tree with more than 50 percent crown thinning should be treated. While some products can be applied by homeowners, others can only be applied by licensed commercial pesticide applicators. Ash trees greater than 15 inches in diameter are too big for the do-it-yourself treatments and need to be treated by a professional tree care company. When treating trees on large properties such as a park or golf course, the label rate for a soil drench product restricts the number of trees that can be treated. Tree injection methods do not limit the number of trees that can be treated. This option would help slow the spread of an infestation while maintaining the beneficial amenities trees provide to the community. 4. Combination. This management option uses some to all of the other options. This option allows property owners the ability to protect high-value trees while removing low-quality trees and waiting until unprotected trees succumb to EAB before removing. Treatment of Removed Material Before EAB is found in Aberdeen, there will need to be disposal sites set up to handle and treat large volumes of wood debris. There will also need to be established protocol when transporting and disposing of ash trees and debris. All ash wood should be disposed at approved disposal sites within the quarantine area. The contract will need to be reviewed to ensure processing of wood debris is to a minimum specified dimension of one inch or less in any direction, to effectively kill any EAB larvae. This specification will have to be met before any material can leave the quarantined county. Removal of ash trees should be done between September and May when the adult beetles are not present. The most critical period for the movement of EAB infested ash trees is the months of June and July. This is the period where adult beetles emerge from trees, begin feeding on foliage, move to even more trees, and lay their eggs. During this period, it is best to leave these trees standing and not chance the possible spread of EAB by transporting beetle infested wood to other areas. If material is removed during this period, it should be chipped on site before transporting. 7 Page 54 of 73 03/01/2019 June and July are times with high potential for storm damage. Ash limbs and other ash tree debris created in a storm situation will need to be transported to a disposal site. To reduce the risk of spreading EAB, it would be best to chip the material on site before transporting to a disposal site. Trimming ash trees should be delayed or chipped on site and transported to an approved disposal site between May and September. Debris from tree trimming between September and May will need to be transported to an approved disposal site since larvae can be found in very small material. Local tree services and utility line clearance crews will need to dispose of their debris at an approved disposal site. As EAB becomes well established and spreads throughout the city, the protocol for transporting ash tree debris will be downgraded. At this stage of the infestation, tree removals and tree trimming can be transported to the disposal site year-round without pretreatment. Recommendations for Street, Park & Private Trees After the initial detection period, the City of Aberdeen will implement a plan of operations to address the EAB outbreak on all three fronts. Street Trees If EAB is found in 2018, there are approximately 4,800 ash trees that potentially will need to be removed along city streets within 5 to 10 years. It is anticipated that approximately 10 percent of the ash tree population (480 trees) may need to be removed per year. There is concern for public safety with many dead and dying trees standing along our streets. Ash trees degrade very rapidly after death. It is recommended for ash trees to be removed within one year after death. The estimated cost to remove these trees is $1.3 million. The estimated cost to replace 100 percent of these trees is $1.2 million. The City has regulatory responsibility for monitoring, inspecting, and abating nuisance street trees. The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department will approach the City Manager and City Council to determine appropriate funding to address this crisis. The direction and amount of funding will determine what alternatives are followed to address the removal of dead and dying ash trees. There are two possible alternatives available to deal with the responsibility of removing and financing an EAB outbreak with respect to street trees. Alternative 1: Street Tree Removal by Private Contractor through City Contract This alternative puts the financial burden on the City for the cost of Street tree removals. 8 Page 55 of 73 03/01/2019 Removing all Ash trees over a period of time is the recommended option if a city contract is used to address an EAB outbreak. This option allows a private contractor to remove dead/dying ash trees and also continue to reduce the ash tree population. The 2018 budget amount for removing condemned street trees is $17,500. At this budget amount the City can contract to remove approximately 64 street trees. The following recommendations are proposed by Parks and Recreation to address EAB with respect to street trees.  Explore additional funding in the city’s budget to proactively remove ash trees growing in the parking strip. It is recommended to set a target of removing 5 percent, (240 trees), of the existing ash tree population per year if trees are removed by a private contractor. Annual funding needed to remove 240 ash trees per year is estimated at $66,000. This does not include the cost of replanting. This will be accomplished with existing forestry personnel. The Forestry Division will continue to conduct an annual citywide survey for dead and diseased trees. Dead and diseased trees will be marked for removal in accordance with current policy and procedures. Depending on funding levels, additional ash trees will be identified for removal. Poor quality ash trees and ash trees with a living crown less than 50 percent will be candidates for removal. Alternative 2: Street Tree Removal by City Crews This alternative minimizes the financial burden on the City for the cost of street tree removals due to the fact that trees are removed by city personnel. Removal of all ash trees over a period of time is an option if city crews are utilized to address an EAB outbreak. This option allows the city to remove dead/dying ash trees and also continue to reduce the ash tree population as time allows. This alternative may require additional employees and equipment to address the removals. Existing staffing and equipment may be exhausted dealing with tree removals in parks and other city properties, and regulating the removals of dead/dying street trees and private trees. Park Trees If EAB is found in 2018, there are approximately 750 ash trees on parkland and other public property. Removal of all ash over a period of time is recommended for the city when addressing park trees. It is recommended to step up tree removals to 10 percent or 75 ash trees a year. 9 Page 56 of 73 03/01/2019 There will be pressure to treat some high-profile trees in the park system. If it is decided to treat some trees in the park system, a contract will need to be awarded to a licensed commercial pesticide applicator. To reduce pesticide exposure to the public and environment, only trunk injection treatments will be allowed. A conscious attempt will be made to keep the Park Tree Replacement Program whole by planting trees in the spring. Private Trees If EAB is found in 2018, approximately 15,000 ash trees will need to be removed on private property. A combination of treating and removals is recommended for the private property owners. This allows property owners the ability to protect high-value trees with chemical treatments, removing low-quality trees now, and wait until unprotected trees succumb to EAB before the tree is condemned by the City. The estimated cost to remove these private trees is $12 million. Although the private property owners are ultimately responsible for paying for the removal of these trees, the City is responsible for monitoring, inspecting, and abating nuisance private trees. This could mean approximately 15,000 additional ash trees could be affected by EAB and become a source of added responsibility for forestry operations. Dead and dying ash trees, not promptly removed by the property owner, may pose a safety concern to adjacent property owners. To do nothing and remove trees as they die is currently the only option the City has when addressing private trees. The Forestry Division will continue to conduct an annual citywide survey for dead and diseased trees. Dead and diseased trees will be marked for removal with the current operating procedures. Ash trees with a living crown less than 50 percent will also be marked for removal. As trees become infested the Forestry Division will use the following procedure for condemnation:  Private trees will be identified by the City and marked for removal as per Section 56-33, Chapter 56 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of Aberdeen.  A follow-up letter will be sent to the property owner informing them of the need to remove the tree(s) on their property. A removal date will be issued in the letter for all recipients to follow.  A follow-up inspection of condemned trees will be made after the removal date has expired. A follow-up letter will be sent to the property owner with trees remaining with an “Order to Remove” the tree(s) on their property. A removal date will be issued in the letter for the removal and the property owner will have the option to appeal the order to the Park and Recreation Board.  A follow-up inspection of condemned trees will be made after the removal date has expired. Any trees remaining will be collected and packaged into formal contracts to be 10 Page 57 of 73 03/01/2019   awarded to arborists in a competitive bid process. Costs for removals will be billed to the respective property owners. Any unpaid invoices will be assessed to the property. The City encourages residents to replace trees lost to EAB by planting a tree appropriate for the site. Conclusion The pending arrival of EAB will have a devastating effect on the City’s urban forest. This management plan directs available resources to use preemptive management strategies, secure funding to begin reducing the population of ash trees and to accelerate the planting of new trees to provide species diversification in the urban forest. Management options have been recommended for addressing EAB on all three fronts: Street trees, Private trees, and Park trees. Costs for addressing an EAB infestation have been identified by Street, Park & Private Trees. The community as a whole will be affected by the loss of a large portion of the urban tree canopy. Not since 1970, when Dutch elm disease changed the face of the urban landscape in Aberdeen, will leadership and cooperation in the community be needed to get through this pending crisis. 11 Page 58 of 73 03/01/2019 Appendix 1. ARTICLE II. - DISEASED AND HAZARDOUS TREES [2] Footnotes: --- (2) --- Editor's note— Ord. No. 15-10-04, adopted Oct. 26, 2015, renamed Art. II as set out herein. Previous Art. II was entitled Dutch Elm Disease. Sec. 56-33. - Nuisance. It shall be unlawful for any person, owner, occupant, or person in charge of any property to create, maintain, commit, or permit to be created, maintained, or committed any public nuisance as defined in this chapter. The following are declared to be public nuisances: (1) Any elm tree or part thereof infected with the Dutch elm disease fungus, Ceratocystis ulmi, or which harbors the European elm bark beetle, Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham) and/or the American elm bark beetle, Hylurgopinus rufipes (Eichhoff); (2) Any elm wood stored within the jurisdictional limits of the city without the bark removed. (3) Any living or dead tree or part thereof which constitutes hazard to life or property. (Code 1980, § 30-1; Code 2003, § 26-31; Ord. No. 06-05-07, 6-5-2006; Ord. No. 15-10-04, 10- 26-2015) Sec. 56-34. - Prohibited. No person shall permit any public nuisance as defined in section 56-33 to remain on the premises owned or controlled by him or her within the city. (Code 1980, § 30-2; Code 2003, § 26-32) Sec. 56-35. - Inspection. The parks, recreation and forestry department and/or the person appointed by such department to enforce the provisions of this chapter, shall inspect or cause to be inspected all premises and places within the city at least twice each year to determine whether any public nuisance as defined in section 56- 33 exists thereon, and such person so designated shall have the right, privilege and authority to enter upon or cross any privately owned property for the purposes of inspecting, or causing to be inspected any potentially hazardous tree, any elm tree reported or suspected to be infected with the Dutch elm disease, or any elm bark bearing material repo1ted or suspected to be infested with either species of the elm bark beetles named in section 56-33. (Code 1980, § 30-2.1; Code 2003, § 26-33; Ord. No. 15-10-04, 10-26-2015) Sec. 56-36. - Abatement and spraying of nuisances—Cost. 12 Page 59 of 73 03/01/2019  The cost of abating any public nuisance as defined in section 56-33 shall be borne as follows: (1) The entire cost of any abatement of a public nuisance as defined in this chapter on trees on any public street, alley, park or other public place including the terrace strip between curb and lot line shall be borne by the city. (2) The cost of removing elm trees infected with the Dutch elm fungus on private property shall be borne by the property owner. If the owner fails to abate such nuisance by the removal of such tree within the 15-day notice provided for in section 56-39, then in that case such tree shall be removed by an employee of the city or a contractor who has been hired by the parks, recreation and forestry department and such employee of the city or private contractor so hired shall have a right of ingress and egress for removing such tree and the cost of such removal shall either be assessed against the property or the cost thereof may be recovered against the owner in an action in the circuit court of the county. (Code 1980, § 30-3; Code 2003, § 26-34) Sec. 56-37. - Same—Financing. The cost of pruning, treating and/or removing elm trees, or otherwise abating any public nuisance as set forth by this chapter on any street, alley, avenue, boulevard or park, or for the removal of trees on private property harboring the Dutch elm disease fungus, may be financed from general revenue or other special funds, or from any combination of these sources. (Code 1980, § 30-4; Code 2003, § 26-35) Sec. 56-38. - Abatement of nuisances—Public places. If the parks, recreation and forestry department by the designated, qualified person acting for it, shall determine upon inspection or examination that any public nuisance as defined in this chapter exists in or upon any public street, alley, park or public place, including the terrace strip between curb and lot in, within the city, such designated officer shall immediately cause it to be removed and destroyed and properly disposed of or otherwise abate the nuisance. (Code 1980, § 30-7; Code 2003, § 26-36) Sec. 56-39. - Same—Private property, notice. If an owner or occupant does not abate such nuisance as defined by section 56-33(1) and (2) within the time specified in such notice, the department shall cause it to be removed and burned or otherwise abate the nuisance. No damage shall be awarded to the owner for destruction of any elm tree, elm wood or any part thereof pursuant to this section. If the city forester is unable to determine with reasonable certainty whether or not a tree in or upon private premises is infected with Dutch elm disease, he or she is authorized to remove or cut specimens for diagnosis and report to the Plant Pathology Department, South Dakota State University, Brookings, South Dakota, and shall proceed as provided in this section upon receipt of a positive report. (Code 1980, § 30-8; Code 2003, § 26-37; Ord. No. 15-10-04, 10-26-2015) 13 Page 60 of 73 03/01/2019  Sec. 56-40. - Same—Purpose. All abatement of public nuisances shall be made in such manner as to destroy or prevent as fully as possible the spread of Dutch elm disease or the insect pests or vectors known to carry such disease fungus. (Code 1980, § 30-9) Sec. 56-41. - Transporting of elm wood. It shall be unlawful for any person to transport within the city any bark-bearing elm wood without having obtained a permit from the parks, recreation and forestry department. Permits shall be granted only when the purposes of this chapter shall be served thereby. (Code 1980, § 30-10; Code 2003, § 26-39 14 Page 61 of 73 03/01/2019 APPENDIX 2. Aberdeen’s Tree Infrastructure Total all trees TOTAL ASH Street trees 12,900 4,800 Park trees & other 2,000 750 SUBTOTAL 14,900 5,550 Private trees* 38,700 15,000 TOTAL 53,600 20,550 *3:1 ratio for private to public tree ratio Scenarios: Number of trees (all) 53,600 Estimated percent of ash (all) 38% Number of ash on Aberdeen ROW 4,800 Estimated number of ash on Aberdeen PUBLIC 750 Estimated number of ash in Aberdeen PRIVATE 15,000 Average tree removal cost $275 / tree Avg. tree planting to establishment (3 years) $250 / tree Estimated EAB Impact to Aberdeen’s Urban Forest: Loss of annual net benefit $19.52 tree/year** $401,136 Removal Costs CITY ROW (Street trees) $275/tree $1,320,000 Replanting Costs CITY ROW for 100% replacement $250/tree $1,200,000 Removal Costs PUBLIC (PARK) PROPERTY $275/tree $206,250 Replanting Costs PUBLIC (PARK) PROPERTY for 100% replacement $250/tree $187,500 Removal Cost PRIVATE (private ash trees) $800/tree $12,000,000 Replanting Costs for 80% replacement $250/tree $3,000,000 Volume estimate for all public and private trees 20,550 est. tree x 5248 lbs/ash/2000 lb/ton 53,923 tons **Average annual net benefits calculations based on: Midwest Community Tree Guide, PSW-GTR-199, Nov. 2006 (20 year old medium tree 40’ tall x 27’ spread) Page 15 62 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 63 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 64 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 65 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 66 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 67 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 68 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 69 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 70 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 71 of 73 03/01/2019 Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in South Dakota New 0 0 0 0 South Dakota Department of Agriculture News Release For Immediate Release: May 9, 2018 Media Contact: Lorrin Naasz, 605.773.6211 Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in South Dakota PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) has confirmed that an infestation of emerald ash borer (EAB) has been discovered in northern Sioux Falls. This is the first confirmed infestation in South Dakota. Emerald ash borer is an invasive insect that has killed tens of millions of ash trees in at least 32 states. On May 9, 2018, Secretary Mike Jaspers implemented an Emergency Plant Pest Quarantine in order to prevent or reduce the spread of the EAB. This emergency quarantine is effective immediately. The quarantine restricts the movement of ash materials in all of Minnehaha County, in areas north of Highway 18 in Lincoln County and north of Highway 18 and east of Highway 19 in Turner County, unless accompanied by the appropriate authorization from the SDDA. These regulated ash materials include: ash nursery stock; ash logs, lumber, wood chips or mulch, including trimmed ash tree branches; and pallets made out of ash. Movement of firewood from any hardwood species, whether intended for commercial or private use, is also restricted within the quarantine area. Ash trees within the quarantine area should not be pruned or removed unless absolutely necessary until after Labor Day to prevent spread of EAB. As a precautionary measure, people with ash trees in good condition within the quarantine area who want to save those trees should consider treating them now. Treatment information, as well as more information on EAB and response efforts, can be found by visiting emeraldashborerinsouthdakota.sd.gov the SDDA’s dedicated EAB webpage. The SDDA is hosting EAB information forums on Thursday, May 10, at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 12 at 1 p.m. at the Game, Fish and Parks Outdoor Campus located at 4500 South Oxbow Avenue in Sioux Falls. These forums will provide important information for residents in the quarantine area on EAB and current efforts to limit its spread. Dr. John Ball, Forest Health Specialist for the SDDA and SDSU Extension Forester, as well as officials from the SDDA and the City of Sioux Falls, will present information and answer questions. Agriculture is a major contributor to South Dakota’s economy, generating $25.6 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 115,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect and preserve South Dakota agriculture for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. ### Page 72 of 73 03/01/2019 Page 73 of 73 03/01/2019