The City Board has determined that the health of oak trees within the city is threatened by a fatal tree disease commonly known as oak wilt. It has been further determined that the loss of oak trees growing upon public and private property does substantially depreciate the value of property within the city and impair the safety, good order, general welfare, and convenience of the public. It is declared to be the intent of the City Board to control and prevent the spread of oak wilt disease and other epidemic diseases of shade trees and this subchapter is enacted for that purpose. It is also the intention of the City Board to conduct a program of plant pest control pursuant to authority granted by M.S. § 18.75 et. seq., as it may be amended from time to time. This program is directed specifically at the control and elimination of oak wilt fungus and is undertaken at the recommendation of the state’s Commissioner of Agriculture.
(Ord. 52, passed 7-18-1995)