Date action report first entered
Date of last report update
Implementation Detail
Golden Valley has two full time staff with Forestry and Horticulture degrees. One staff member is additionally a Certified Arborist and has a Tree Risk Assessment Qualification from the International Society of Arborists. Per Section 10.50, subdivision 2 of the City Code a tree inspector, certified by the Minnesota Commissioner of Agriculture, administers the Shade Tree Pest Control Program for Dutch Elm disease, oak wilt, and other pests for the City. The City is responsible for removing diseased trees from public property within 20 days of disease confirmation. Property owners are responsible for removing condemned trees from private property.
A list of recommended trees is provided for residents on the Golden Valley website. Recommendations for native and/or resilient species are made to residents who request tree replacement advice. Residents are also directed towards the MnDOT Plant Selector online tool to pick plants based on site characteristics and to the Plymouth Tree and Shrub sale where native, diverse species can be purchased online and picked up every spring.
The City began developing an Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan 2010 and updated it in 2012. The intent was to provide city staff and community with a dynamic pest management guide that could easily be updated as new pest management technology evolves. The plan calls for staff to work with residents who have boulevard ash trees and remove trees in poor condition by request. Forestry generally uses 10-20-30 rule of thumb (no more than 10% of any one species, 20% of any one genus, or 30% of any family in an urban tree population) for replacing varieties of shade trees.
A list of recommended trees is provided for residents on the Golden Valley website. Recommendations for native and/or resilient species are made to residents who request tree replacement advice. Residents are also directed towards the MnDOT Plant Selector online tool to pick plants based on site characteristics and to the Plymouth Tree and Shrub sale where native, diverse species can be purchased online and picked up every spring.
The City began developing an Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan 2010 and updated it in 2012. The intent was to provide city staff and community with a dynamic pest management guide that could easily be updated as new pest management technology evolves. The plan calls for staff to work with residents who have boulevard ash trees and remove trees in poor condition by request. Forestry generally uses 10-20-30 rule of thumb (no more than 10% of any one species, 20% of any one genus, or 30% of any family in an urban tree population) for replacing varieties of shade trees.
Outcome measures/metrics/money saved
In 2011 city staff removed 200 low quality ash trees. In 2014, 30 ash trees were removed from parks and boulevards and 67 shade trees were planted in city parks and rights-of-way. Each year low quality ash trees are removed as needed and replacements are made based on available funding.
Action completed after joining GreenStep
No
Action Contact
Year action initially completed
2010
Request Re-evaluation
Off