HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.25.2007• •
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
June 25, 2007
4:35 p.m.
Council Chambers
The meeting was called to order at 4:50 p.m.
Members present: Mayor Hurley, Kincaid, Welper, Gunderson, Greenwood, Getty, Cole,
Schmitt.
Moved by Schmitt, seconded by Kincaid that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes:
Seven. Motion carried.
Todd Derifield, Forestry Coordinator, updated the council on the Emerald Ash Borer. The
Emerald Ash Borer is an exotic insect from China, Japan and Korea that was found in Detroit,
Michigan and Ontario, Canada in 2002. It is assumed to have entered in wood packing material.
Well over 20 million ash trees have died and been removed in Michigan alone. Movement of the
Emerald Ash Borer has been by flight, nursery stock and in wood products like firewood.
Federal quarantines enacted in 2003 regulate the movement of ash logs, nursery stock, and
firewood of all tree species in those states listed above. No affective means of eradication has
been found to date. Research continues with chemicals and the use of natural enemies from
China.
The USDA is researching the best trapping methods to detect infestations. The city will be
working with the State of Iowa and the USDA in the placement of ten experimental Emerald Ash
Borer traps in Waterloo this season.
All varieties of ash trees are susceptible to attack and size is not a factor. An adult Emerald Ash
Borer lays its eggs in the bark crevasses of an ash tree. The egg hatches, the small larvae bore
into the bark and feeds on the phloem tissue and cambium layer just under the bark. A
characteristic serpentine path is left as the larvae feeds, and this is what kills the tree.
The City of Westland, Michigan has removed and contracted the removal of all 3,214 ash trees
along the street right of way. It took four to five years and almost $4 million to remove these
trees.
The following recommendations have been made by the Iowa DNR and USDA:
• Create and maintain a 100 percent tree inventory of city -owned trees.
• Do not plant any more ash trees.
• Start removing all ash trees that may be questionable in structure or health.
• Public Awareness Announcements
• Start purchasing appropriate equipment.
• Find funding sources for contracting, equipment and personnel.
• Bid tree removal in groups of 100 trees or less.
Waterloo's Plan of Action:
• Change Waterloo's Tree and Shrub Guidelines to prohibit the planting of all
varieties of ash trees along Waterloo's street rights -of -way.
• Develop a comprehensive inventory of all street trees, park trees and golf course
trees.
• Public Awareness Announcements on the Emerald Ash Borer.
• Continue updating equipment through the CIP.
• After the tree inventory is completed, an accurate analysis can be done to
determine the most cost effective approach for the removal of dead ash trees
while continuing to offer the existing level of forestry services. Ash tree removal
options to consider are: contract the removal to private companies, hire additional
personnel and purchase additional equipment to remove anticipated dead ash trees
Council Work Session
June 25, 2007
Page 2
and/or a combination of both. Once this is determined, a funding source must be
found.
Mr. Derifield reviewed the benefits of a tree inventory. A firm has said they could do a street
tree inventory for $70,000, which would not include the parks. Mr. Derifield requested
authorization to seek RFPs for an estimate to conduct a tree inventory and software costs.
Councilperson Kincaid asked how trees are disposed of after harvest. Mr. Derifield responded it
depends on the state of the disease. In Michigan, they can use it for firewood, they just can't
transport it. There are also USDA regulations to follow.
Paul Huting, Leisure Services Director, commented his department will be looking for a funding
source and come back to the council for quotes for the tree inventory.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Cole, seconded by Schmitt that the
meeting be adjourned at 5:08 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk
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