ORDINANCE NO. ____

ANORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 6-2-1,6- 2-3,6- 2-4AND6-2-5OFTHE ROCHESTER CODE OFORDINANCES RELATING TONUISANCE TREES.

THECOMMON COUNCIL OFTHECITYOFROCHESTER ORDAINS:

Section 1. Section 6-2-1ishereby amended toreadasfollows:

Sec. 6-2-1. -Nuisance declared.

Toprotect, preserveandconservethevalueofpublicandprivatelands, andtopromote thegeneralwelfareofthepublicandthiscommunity,it isnecessarytoprotect,control and abatetreesthatcreateapublichazard., Treesthatcreateapublichazardincludedead trees, andothertreesthatareaffectedbyDutchelmdisease, andoakwiltfungus, the emeraldashborerinsect, andtreesinfectedbyothertreediseasesandinfestations regulatedbythestatedepartmentofagriculturepursuanttostatute, rule,or commissioner's declaration. Therefore, thefollowingconditionsareherebyfoundanddeclaredtobeapublic nuisanceinthecity: 1)Any livingordeadelmtreeorpartthereofinfectedtoanydegreewiththeDutch elmdiseasefunguswhichcurrentlyincludes: OphiostomaulmiorOphiostomanovo-ulmi orwhichharborsanyoftheelmbarkbeetles, scolytusmultistrialus, hylurgopinusrufipes, orS.schevyrewi. Itisappropriatetomitigatediseasedelmsthroughouttheyear.

2)Any deadelmtreeorpartthereof, includinglogs,branches, stumps,firewood or otherelmmaterialfromwhichthebarkhasnotbeenremovedorburned.

3)Any livingordeadoaktreeorpartthereofinfectedtoanydegreewiththeoak wiltfungus (ceratocytisfagacearum).Oak treesinfectedbyoakwiltaregenerallytobe mitigatedduringdormancy (NovembertoMarch)when thefunguscannotbetransmitted.

4)Any livingordeadFraxinusspp.tree orpartthereofinfectedtoanydegreewith theinsectemeraldashborer (AgrilusPlanipennis).Ash treesaffectedbyemeraldashborer thatarenotallowedbythedirectorofparksandrecreation, ordesignee,to bechemically treated,are generallytobemitigatedduringemeraldashborernonflightseason SeptembertoMay).

5)Any treecreatingacurrentpublicdangerhazardwhetherthetreeisonpublic orprivateproperty, andwithoutregardforanythecauseofdamagetothetree. Atree constitutesacurrentpublicdangerwhenitmayfallintoapublicrightofway,utility facility, publictrailcorridor, park,or otherpublicland.

65)Any standingdeadtreesordeadbrush. Section 2. Section 6-2-3ishereby amended toreadasfollows:

Sec. 6-2-3. -Park boardresponsibility.

Theboardofparkcommissionersshalladministerthischapterandsaidboardandthe officersandemployeesoftheparksandrecreationdepartmentareauthorized, empowered, anddirectedtotakeallactionsandperformalldutiesprescribedbythischapter.The board ofparkcommissionersandtheofficersandemployeesoftheparksandrecreation departmentareauthorizedandempoweredtoenteruponprivatepremiseswithreasonable causeandatreasonabletimesandreasonablehoursforthepurposeoftakingnecessary actionandperformingthedutiesassignedtotheboardbythischapter. Section 3. Section 6-2-4ishereby amended toreadasfollows:

Sec. 6-2-4. -Inspections.

Allpremises and places within the city shall be inspected as often aspractical to determinewhetheranyconditiondeclaredinsection6-2-1tobeapublicnuisanceexists thereon. Allreportedincidentsofhazardoustreesordeadstandingtreescreatingacurrent publicdangermeetingthechapterthresholds, andtreesinfectedinfection byDutchelm fungus, thepresenceofelmbarkbeetles,or infectedinfectionbytheoakwiltfungusorthe presenceofemeraldashborerinsectsshallbepromptlyinvestigated. Section 4. Section 6-2-5ishereby amended toreadasfollows:

Sec. 6-2-5. -General abatement.

a) Diagnosis. Noactiontoremove, destroyanddisposeorrequiretheremoval, destructionanddisposalofelmtrees, woodinfectedwithDutchelmdisease,or oaktrees infectedbyoakwiltfungusorFraxinusspp. ash)( trees orFraxinusspp. ash)( wood harboringemeraldashborer shallbetakenuntilareasonablycertaindiagnosisofthe diseaseorinfestationhasbeenmade.When suchreasonablycertaindiagnosishasbeen made,the infectedorinfestedtreeorwoodshallberemoved, destroyedanddisposedof inamanner which will effectively destroy and prevent asfully aspossible the spread ofthe Dutchelmoroakwiltdisease,or thespreadofemeraldashborerpopulations.

b) Presenceofelmbarkbeetlesoremeraldashborer.When thepresenceofelmbark beetleshasbeendiscoveredinoruponanylivingelmtreebutthepresenceofDutchelm diseasefungusisnotthenorthereafterdiagnosed, thetreeshallbemitigatedinamanner whichwilleffectivelydestroyandpreventasfullaspossiblethespreadoftheelmbark beetle. Whenthepresenceofemeraldashborerhasbeendiscoveredinoruponanasha livingFraxinusspp. ash)( treethatconstitutesacurrentpublicdanger, thetreeshallbe mitigatedinamannerwhichwilleffectivelydestroyandpreventasfullaspossiblethe spreadoftheemeraldashborer.If suchmitigationisnotor,because oftheextentof infestation,cannot beeffective, thetreeshallberemoved,destroyed anddisposedof.

c) Deadelm,oak, or Fraxinusspp. ash)( trees, logs,stumps, etc.Standing deadelm trees, elmlogs,branches, stumps, firewoodorotherrawmaterialfromwhichthebarkhas notbeenremovedandwhicharenotinfectedwithDutchelmdiseasefungusshallhavethe barkremoved, destroyedanddisposedoforshallbetreatedinamannerwhichwill effectivelydestroyandpreventasfullyaspossiblethespreadoftheelmbarkbeetle,Dutch elmdisease,oak wilt,or theemeraldashborer. Ifsuchmitigationisnoteffectiveor, becauseoftheextentofinfestation, cannotbeeffective,the trees,logs, branches, stumps, firewood orother raw elm material shall be removed, destroyed and disposed of.

d) Specificationsandprocedures. Theboardofparkcommissionersshallestablish specificationsandproceduresfortheremoval, destructionanddisposaloftreesandwood infectedwithDutchelmdiseasefungus, oakwiltfungusoremeraldashborerfortreating liveelmorFraxinus (ash)trees infestedwithelmbarkbeetlesoremeraldashborer, and forremoving, destroyinganddisposingofelmorFraxinus (ash)bark andtreatingdeadelm orFraxinus (ash)trees, logs, branches, stumps,firewood andotherrawelmmaterial.Such specificationsandproceduresshallbeconsistentwithcurrentspecificationsand proceduresdesignatedorapprovedbythecommissionerofagricultureandshallbe provided attime ofnotification as defined insection 6-2-6.

Section 5. This ordinance shallbecome effective fromandafteritspublication.

PASSED ANDADOPTED BYTHECOMMON COUNCIL OFTHECITYOF

ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA, THIS ______DAY OF ______,2020.

PRESIDENT OFSAIDCOMMON COUNCIL

ATTEST: ______CITY CLERK

APPROVED THIS _____DAY OF ______,2020.

MAYOR OFSAIDCITY

SealoftheCityof Rochester, Minnesota)

Ord15\\6-2.EAB.docx