HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-10-16 OPH Ltr to Gordon Rasmussen Re Tree Removal & Building Fix Up Grant U ctV 6 I'a.43 piktu
CITY OF
OAK PARK HEIGHTS
A MINNESOTA STAR CITY
October 16, 1995
Gordon Rassmussen
13902 56th Street North
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Re: Request for Tree Removal
Request for Building Fix Up Grant
Dear Mr. Rassmussen:
I have researched your two requests and can provide the following
information to you.
Tree Removal - City Arborist Ken Kaiser has examined your trees
and finds that they are in acceptable condition, on your private
property, and are neither elm trees or oak trees. Accordingly
the City's tree policy, a copy of which I have enclosed, does not
require the City to remove any of your trees.
Building Fix Up Grants - I spoke with the City Clerk of Fountain,
Minnesota. The program your acquaintance has received his grant
from is a State of Minnesota program entitled The Small Cities
Development Fund. John Hilzer, Washington County HRA Director,
informed me that all of the money in this fund has gone to
Greater Minnesota cities in the last few years, and none of it
has gone to metro area cities. The City of Oak Park Heights has
not had much luck applying for these State funds in the past, as
we have a high property value (due to the NSP plant) and a
relatively high average income. In other words, these State
funds are usually intended for communities poorer than ours.
If you have any questions please give me a call.
Sincerely,
ichael - o•ertson
City Administrator
cc: City Council O P jf7
14168 North 57th Street • Box 2007 • Oak Park Heights, Minnesota 55082 -2007
Phone: 612-439-4439 • Fax: 612-439-0574
OAR PARK HEIGHTS CITY TREE PROGRAM
CITY POLICY ESTABLISHING PRIORITIES AS
IT AFFECTS REFORESTATION AND SANITATION
I. SANITATION
It is the policy of the City of Oak Park Heights to recognize
the statutory mandates on the removal of diseased trees, i.e.,
Dutch Elm and Oak Wilt as provided for in Minnesota Statute §-
18.023. Dependent upon the availability of funds, the City has
found it to be in the public interest to subsidize the removal of
such diseased trees on private as well as public lands. The City
has also recognized that proper tree''sanitation is necessary to
manage the public resource of trees within the City parks and
public rights -of -way and thereby the City intends to facilitate the
removal of damaged trees where in individual cases the trees have
been damaged or injured beyond the point where the tree is no
longer viable. Finally, the City recognizes the need to manage its
resource of public trees in a manner that does not create damage
to street, curb and other public facilities as well as provide for
the pruning of all public trees to provide for their continued
health and growth and maintenance as a viable resource within the
City.
Within that framework, the prioritization on expenditure of
funds to retain these goals and the policies of the City Arborist
in dealing with these individual matters shall be as follows:
A. Shade Trees - Disease Control. Wherever located all
trees infected with Dutch Elm or Oak Wilt disease shall be
removed after the City Arborist has identified same.
(i) Upon removal the tree will be cut as close to
the ground as is possible. Where the diseased tree is
located upon private property, the bark will be removed
and the stump will remain in place. Within the public
rights -of -way and on public lands, the stump shall either
be debarked and left in place or removed at the
discretion of the City Arborist. All diseased wood so
removed shall be chipped and /or otherwise disposed of in
a manner determined by the City Arborist in conformance
with the regulations of the State of Minnesota.
(ii) All boulevard trees and trees on public
property that are struck by lightning and /or are damaged
or injured to the point where the City Arborist
determines that the tree is no longer viable, shall be
removed. Similarly, all trees located within the City
of rights -of -way or on public property which in the
opinion of the City Arborist in conjunction with the
public utilities department are determined to create a
problem for the City streets or utilities (i.e., creating
curb or street damage) shall be removed as part of the
City's sanitation program.
(iii) All trees located in City public parts or in
public rights -of -way shall be periodically (every three
to four years) reviewed for pruning as part of the City's
tree management program by the City Arborist. Pruning
shall be implemented in a manner directed by the City
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Arborist to provide for the continued health and growth
of the trees as a resource within the City and also in
areas impacted by public streets to promote the
visibility and sight distances for motor vehicular
traffic and other uses of the city streets so as to
provide for the public safety.
II. TREE REFORESTATION
A. It is the policy of the City to provide for reforestation
of lost trees within the City and to implement the initial planting
of trees within new developments and public areas where trees are
not currently located so as to promote the City's shade tree
program. Within the constraints of the available resources of the
City to implement an effective reforestation program, the City
hereby establishes the following priorities on reforestation.
1. Replacement of removed /damaged trees located within
the City rights -of -way and public lands as deemed
appropriate by the City Arborist.
2. Planting of trees in open areas on City boulevards
(public rights -of -way). Current planting
requirements determine that such trees will be
planted at a distance of 40 feet distant from each
other.
B. FORESTATION OF THE CITY PARKS. In the areas determined
by the City Arborist in conjunction with the Park Commission, tree
planting shall occur within the city parks to as to promote the
enjoyment and use of those facilities by the public.
C. NEW DEVELOPMENTS. In new developments to the extent not
provided for within the City's approval on new developments (i.e.,
development agreements) the City shall implement planting of
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boulevard trees (within public rights -of -way) within new
developments as part of the shade tree program of the City. Where
developers are required to implement tree planting as part of any
development approval, all such tree planting shall be under the
supervision of the City Arborist.
Approved November 22, 1993
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