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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Amendment to EAB Response Plan and Urban Forest Diversification & Reforestation Program RESOLUTION NO. 14-639 RESOLUTION APPROVING AMENDMENT TO EMERALD ASH BORER RESPONSE PLAN AND URBAN FOREST DIVERSIFICATION AND REFORESTATION PROGRAM FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS,on October 14,2014,the City Council approved an Emerald Ash Borer(EAB) Response Plan and Urban Forest Diversification and Reforestation Plan(the Plan); and, WHEREAS,as part of that approval,Council directed staff to draft an amendment to Chapter 27 of the Municipal Code, because as the Code currently reads, prior to the removal of any non- hazardous street tree, there is a provision for a public notice and open appeals process; and, WHEREAS, signs must be attached to trees for at least 15 days prior to removal, and any individual may appeal the tree removal to the City Council; and, WHEREAS,under the approved Plan,over 2,000 public ash trees will be removed to manage the impending infestation; and, WHEREAS,with the proposed changes to the ordinance and Plan,all ash trees in the right- of-way will be exempted from the current public notice and appeals processes; and, WHEREAS,staff still plans to post trees for a short time in order to notify adjacent neighbors of removals,however,the standard time and appeal process outlined in the Municipal Code will not apply; and, WHEREAS, an updated EAB Response Plan and Urban Forest Diversification and Reforestation Program will now include an appendix outlining a limited administrative appeals process for ash trees in the right-of-way; and, WHEREAS,this new process—which is specific to the EAB infestation—provides that appeals may be made to designated City staff only by owners of property abutting the ash tree, and only on the basis of tree health; and, WHEREAS, in addition, appeals may be made only for ash trees with a diameter at breast height(DBH)greater than 6-inches,and citizens will not be allowed to appeal the City's temporary treatment of ash trees or the replacement of any removed ash trees; and, WHEREAS, any appeals during this period would focus only on whether the tree is not a defect tree and is a candidate for treatment, and defect trees are defined by their poor condition, or by external factors, such as sidewalk damage or power line presence; and, WHEREAS, the Plan will be reevaluated after the first five years work is completed removing defect trees and trees less than six inches DBH,and at that time,the Council may wish to consider allowing private property owners to pay for the treatment of healthy abutting ash street trees as an alternative to the appeal process. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that amendments to the EAB Response Plan and Urban Forest Diversification and Reforestation Program to include the appeal process as shown in Appendix A are hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 9t1i day of December, 2014. Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell, Mayor Introduced by: Goodman Seconded by: Corrieri Voting aye: Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Goodman,Nelson, Orazem Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 9t1i day of December, 2014.