(A) Declaration of policy. The health of the trees in the city is threatened by shade tree pests, and the loss or ill health of trees growing upon public and private property substantially depreciates the value of property within the city and impairs the safety, good order, general welfare and convenience of the public. In addition to and in accordance with M.S. §§ 89.001, 89.01 and 89.51 through 89.64, as those sections may be amended from time to time, the provisions of this section are adopted to attempt to control and prevent the spread of these shade tree pests.
(B) Jurisdiction. The city shall have control of all street trees, shrubs and other plantings now or hereafter in any street, park, public right-of-way or easement or other public place within the city limits, and shall have the power to plant, care for, maintain, remove and replace the trees, shrubs and other plantings.
(C) Declaration of a shade tree pest. The Council may declare any vertebrate or invertebrate animal, plant pathogen or plant threatening to cause significant damage to a shade tree or community forest in the community, to be a shade tree pest and prescribe control measures to effectively eradicate, control or manage the shade tree pest including necessary timelines for action.
(D) Public nuisances declared. A shade tree pest declared by Council occurring within a declared control zone is a public nuisance.
(E) Shade tree pest nuisances are unlawful. It is unlawful for any person to permit any public nuisance as defined in this section to remain on any premises the person owns or controls within the city. The nuisance may be abated as provided in this section.
(F) Definition of control areas. Upon declaring a shade tree pest, the Council may define one or more locations within the geographic boundaries of the city to be within a shade tree pest control area provided the locations are characterized by biologic, composition, environmental and size factors favorable to successful application of the control measures prescribed by Council.
(G) Tree Inspector. The Council may appoint a Tree Inspector to coordinate the activities of the city relating to the control and prevention of damage by shade tree pests. The Tree Inspector will recommend to the Council the details of any program for the declaration, control and prevention of shade tree pests. The Tree Inspector is authorized to enforce or cause to be enforced the duties incident to the program adopted by the Council. The term TREE INSPECTOR includes any person designated by Council or the Tree Inspector to carry out activities authorized in this section.
(H) Abatement of shade tree pest nuisances.
(1) In abating a nuisance declared by ordinance under divisions (B) and (C) above, the organism, condition or plant and any tree, wood or material identified as injurious to the health of shade trees shall be removed or effectively treated so as to destroy and prevent as fully as possible the spread of the shade tree pest. The abatement procedures shall be carried out in accordance with the control measures and areas prescribed by ordinance according to divisions (C) above and (K) and (O) below.
(2) In addition, should the appropriate abatement procedure be removal and the tree(s) and/or hedge(s) be within the limits of a highway in a rural area within the city's jurisdiction, M.S. § 160.22, as it may be amended from time to time, shall be complied with as necessary.
(I) Reporting discovery of shade tree pest. Any owner or occupier of land or any person engaged in tree trimming or removal who becomes aware of the existence of public nuisance caused by a shade tree pest as defined under division (C) above shall report the same to the city.
(J) Registration of tree care firms. Any person, firm or corporation that provides tree care, tree trimming or removal of trees, limbs, branches, brush or shrubs for hire must be registered with the State Commissioner of Agriculture under M.S. § 18G.07, as it may be amended from time to time.
(K) Inspection and application of control measures.
(1) The Tree Inspector is authorized to cause premises and places within the city to be inspected to determine whether shade tree pests exist thereon and to investigate all reported incidents of shade tree pests. The Tree Inspector shall have the power to take all reasonable precautions to prevent the maintenance of public nuisances and may enforce the provisions relating to abatement in this section. Diagnosis of shade tree pests may be by the presence of commonly recognized symptoms or by tests as may be recommended by the Commissioner of the State Department of Agriculture or the Commissioner of the State Department of Natural Resources.
(2) Except in situations of imminent danger to human life and safety, the Tree Inspector shall not enter private property for the purpose of inspecting or preventing maintenance of public nuisances without the permission of the owner, resident or other person in control of the property, unless the Tree Inspector has obtained a warrant or order from a court of competent jurisdiction authorizing the entry.
(3) No person, firm or corporation shall interfere with the Tree Inspector acting under his or her authority while engaged in activities authorized by this section.
(L) Standard abatement procedure. Except as provided in divisions (M) and (O) below, whenever a Tree Inspector determines with reasonable certainty that a public nuisance as described by this section is being maintained or exists on premises in the city, the Tree Inspector is authorized to abate a public nuisance according to the following procedure.
(1) The Tree Inspector will notify in writing the owner of record or occupant of the premises of the fact and order that the nuisance be terminated or abated. The notice must be given in person or by mail. Failure of any party to receive the mail does not invalidate the service of the notice. A copy of the notice shall be filed with the City Administrator.
(2) The notice of abatement shall state that unless the public nuisance is abated by the owner or occupant, it will be abated by the city at the expense of the owner or occupant. The notice shall specify the control measures to be taken to abate the nuisance, and provide a reasonable amount of time to abate the nuisance. The notice will also state that the owner or occupant has the right to appeal the determination that a public nuisance exists by submitting a request in writing to the City Administrator within seven days after service of the notice, or before the date by which abatement must be completed, whichever comes first.
(3) If no timely appeal is submitted, and the notice of abatement and its prescribed control measures are not complied with within the time provided by the notice or any additional time granted, the Tree Inspector or designated person shall have the authority to obtain permission or an administrative search warrant, enter the property and carry out abatement in accordance with the notice of abatement.
(M) High cost abatement. If the Tree Inspector determines that the cost of abating a nuisance will exceed $5,000 based on a reasonable, good faith estimate, the written notice referred to in division (L) above must provide that if the nuisance is not abated within the reasonable amount of time provided, the matter will be referred to the City Council for a hearing. The date, time and location of the hearing must be provided in the notice.
(N) Appeal procedure. If the City Administrator receives a written request for a hearing on the question of whether a public nuisance in fact exists, the City Council shall hold a hearing within seven calendar days following receipt by the City Administrator of the written request. At least three days notice shall be given to the individual who made the written request for the hearing. The Council may modify the abatement notice or extend the time by which abatement must be completed. Each owner, agent of the owner, occupant and lienholder of the subject property or properties in attendance, if any, shall be given the opportunity to present evidence at the hearing. After holding the hearing, the City Council may issue an order requiring abatement of the nuisance.
(O) Abatement procedure in event of imminent danger.
(1) If the Tree Inspector determines that the danger of infestation to other shade trees is imminent and delay in control measures may put public health, safety or welfare in immediate danger, the Tree Inspector may provide for abatement without following divisions (L) or (M) above. The Tree Inspector must reasonably attempt to notify the owner or occupant of the affected property of the intended action and the right to appeal the abatement and any cost recovery at the next regularly scheduled City Council meeting.
(2) Immediate abatement. Nothing in this section shall prevent the city, without notice or other process, from immediately abating any condition which poses an imminent and serious hazard to human life or safety.
(P) Recovery of cost of abatement; liability and assessment.
(1) The owner of premises on which a nuisance has been abated by the city shall be personally liable for the cost to the city of the abatement, including administrative costs. As soon as the work has been completed and the cost determined, the City Administrator or other official shall prepare a bill for the cost and mail it to the owner. Thereupon the amount shall be immediately due and payable at the office of the City Administrator.
(2) After notice and hearing as provided in M.S. § 429.061, as it may be amended from time to time, the City Administrator may list the total unpaid charges along with all other charges as well as other charges for current services to be assessed under M.S. § 429.101 against each separate lot or parcel to which the charges are attributable. The City Council may then certify the charges against the property under that statute and other pertinent statutes to the County Auditor for collection along with current taxes the following year or in annual installments as the City Council may determine in each case.
(Q) Penalty.
(1) Any person, firm or corporation who violates any provision of this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor. The penalty which may be imposed for any crime which is a misdemeanor under this section, including the state statutes specifically adopted by reference, shall be a sentence of not more than 90 days or a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.
(2) Upon conviction of a misdemeanor, the costs of prosecution may be added. A separate offense shall be deemed committed upon each day during which a violation occurs or continues.
(3) The failure of any officer or employee of the city to perform any official duty imposed by this section shall not subject the officer or employee to the penalty imposed for a violation.
(4) In addition to any penalties provided for in this section, if any person, firm or corporation fails to comply with any provision of this section, the City Council or any official designated by it, may institute appropriate proceedings at law or at equity to restrain, correct or abate the violation.
(R) Declared shade tree pests, control measures and control areas.
(1) Oak wilt. Oak wilt is declared a shade tree pest and is defined as any living or dead tree, log, firewood, limb, branch, stump or other portion of a tree from any species of the genus Quercus existing within the control area defined that has bark attached and that exceeds three inches in diameter or ten inches in circumference and contains to any degree any spore or reproductive structures of the fungus Ceratocystis fagacaarum. Control measures prescribed for abating oak wilt disease are:
(a) Installation of a root graft barrier. A root graft barrier can be ordered installed to prevent the underground spread of oak wilt disease. The city will mark the location of the root graft barrier. The barrier disrupts transmission of the fungus within the shared vascular systems of root grafted trees. The barrier is created by excavating or vibratory plowing a line at least 42 inches deep between any oak tree infected with oak wilt disease and each nearby and apparently healthy oak tree within 50 feet of the infected tree.
(b) Removal and disposal of trees on property zoned for residential and commercial use. On property that is zoned residential and commercial the city may mark for removal trees that have the potential to produce spores of the fungus Ceratocvstis fagacearum. After, and in no case before the installation of the root graft barrier and no later than May 1 of the year following infection all marked trees must be felled. The stump from the felled trees must not extend more than three inches above the ground or, if taller, must be completely debarked. If, however, after the city prescribes the location for a root graft barrier, the city determines that installation of the barrier is impossible because of the presence of pavement or obstructions such as a septic system or utility line, the city may mark for removal all oak trees whether living or dead, infected or not and located between an infected tree and the marked barrier location. These marked trees must be felled and disposed of no later than May 1 of the year following infection. The stump from the felled trees must not extend more than three inches above the ground or, if taller, must be completely debarked.
(c) Removal and disposal of trees on all other property. On all other property the city may mark for removal all oak trees whether living or dead, infected or not and located between an infected tree and the marked barrier location. These marked trees must be felled and disposed of no later than May 1 of the year following infection. The stump from the felled trees must not extend more than three inches above the ground or, if taller, must be completely debarked.
(d) Wood disposal. All wood more than three inches in diameter or ten inches in circumference from the felled trees must be disposed of by burying or debarking or chipping or sawing into wane-free lumber or by splitting into firewood, stacking the firewood and immediately covering the woodpile with unbroken four mm or thicker plastic sheeting that is sealed into the ground until October 1 of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the tree was felled or by burning before May 1 of the year following infection. Wood chips from infected trees may be stockpiled or immediately used in the landscape.
(e) Control area. The control area for oak wilt disease is defined as all lands within the boundaries of the city.
(2) Emerald ash borer. Emerald ash borer is declared a shade tree pest and is defined as an insect that attacks and kills ash trees. The adults are small, iridescent green beetles that live outside of trees during the summer months. The larvae are grub or worm-like and live underneath the bark of ash trees.
(a) Control measures. Control measures prescribed for abating emerald ash borer are those provided in the document, Minnesota Emerald Ash Borer Science Advisory Group Recommendations on Preparing for Emerald Ash Borer in Minnesota.
(b) Definition of control areas. The control area for emerald ash borer is defined as all lands within the boundaries of the city.
(3) Dutch elm disease. Dutch elm disease is declared a shade tree pest and is defined as a disease of elm trees caused by the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi or Ophiostoma novo-ulmi, and includes any living or dead tree, log, firewood, limb, branch, stump or other portion of a tree from any species of the genus Ulmus existing within the control area defined that has bark attached and that exceeds three inches in diameter or ten inches in circumference and could contain bark beetles or any spore or reproductive structures of the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi or Ophiostoma novo-ulmi.
(a) Control measures. Control measures prescribed for abating Dutch elm disease are:
1. Use of fungicide. Fungicides may be effective in preventing Dutch elm disease when injected into living trees that do not already show symptoms of Dutch elm disease. Fungicide injections on private lands are optional and, if performed, are at the landowner's expense.
2. Removal and disposal of trees. Prompt removal of diseased trees or branches reduces breeding sites for elm bark beetles and eliminates the source of Dutch elm disease fungus. Trees that wilt before July 15 must be removed within 20 days of detection (alternative: 30 days). Trees that wilt after July 15 must be removed by April 1 of the following year. Diseased trees not promptly removed will be removed by the city at the landowner's expense. Wood may be retained for use as firewood or sawlogs if it is de-barked or covered from April 15 to October 15 with four millimeter plastic. The edges of the cover must be buried or scaled to the ground.
(b) Definition of control areas. The control area for Dutch elm disease is defined as all lands within the boundaries of the city.