HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Emerald Ash Borer Response Plan RESOLUTION NO. 14-520
RESOLUTION APPROVING EMERALD ASH BORER RESPONSE PLAN AND
URBAN FOREST DIVERSIFICATION AND REFORESTATION PROGRAM
FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA
WHEREAS,the Emerald Ash Borer(EAB) infestation that is moving across the country is
now imminent in our community, and these destructive insects were recently confirmed in Boone
and Story City; and,
WHEREAS, lessons learned in other parts of the country demonstrate that, without costly,
ongoing treatment, EAB will wipe out our population of ash trees within a decade; and,
WHEREAS,the challenge currently facing Ames is not only to respond to the impending loss
of our 2,355 public ash trees (not to mention the thousands of privately owned ash trees); and,
WHEREAS, given the likelihood of other blights and insect infestations in future decades,
it would vastly improve the long-term health of our urban forest if the City turns the EAB challenge
into an opportunity to proactively diversify and reforest the City's inventory of publicly owned trees;
and,
WHEREAS, City staff has completed an inventory of all trees in City rights-of-way, in
maintained areas of the City's parks(including along paved trails),and at most City-owned facilities;
and,
WHEREAS, that inventory is currently being used to develop an overall tree management
plan for the City,and with assistance from an Iowa Department of Natural Resources(IDNR)grant,
that overall tree management plan is nearing completion; and,
WHEREAS, the most urgent priorities for the City are to adopt an EAB Response Plan,
paired with a proactive program to reforest and diversify the City's tree inventory; and,
WHEREAS,with confirmed infestations so close to Ames, it is imperative that the City act
quickly to institute a plan to deal with both the infestation challenge and the reforestation opportunity
in a way that is safe, economically feasible, and sustainable.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that the Emerald Ash Borer Response Plan and Urban Forest Diversification & Reforestation
Program for treatment,phased removal, and replacement of public ash trees over a 20-year period
are hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 14th day of October, 2014.
C_�'Aoa 1hd4a.
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor
Introduced by: Goodman
Seconded by: Orazem
Voting aye: Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Goodman,Nelson, Orazem
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 14"day of October, 2014.