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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO THE MINNEAPOLIS FOUNDATION FOR UP TO $350,000 FROM THE GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE THRIVING COMMUNITIES PROGRAM TO REMOVE AND REPLACE DISEASED ASH TREES IN DESIGNATED DISADVANTAGED NEIGHBORHOODS.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
BE IT RESOLVED that the proper City officials are hereby authorized to apply to the Minneapolis Foundation for up to $350,000 from the federally funded Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Program to remove and replace diseased ash trees in designated disadvantaged neighborhoods.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Duluth has the legal authority to accept the money and the financial, technical, and managerial capacity to ensure proper planning and maintenance of the project. There is no match required.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the Duluth City Council names the fiscal agent for this project as Jen Carlson, City of Duluth Finance Director, 411 West 1st Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes application to the Minneapolis Foundation for up to $350,000 from the federally funded Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Program to replace diseased ash trees in federally designated disadvantaged neighborhoods. Trees may be planted along street rights-of-way and in City parks. No City matching contribution is required. Eligible Duluth neighborhoods include the Hillside, portions of Observation Hill, Lincoln Park, Fairmount, Morgan Park, Smithville, Gary/New Duluth, and Fond du Lac.
Expedited removal of dead and dying ash trees from City boulevards is necessary to protect people and property from the tendency of Emerald-Ash-Borer-infested trees to abruptly collapse. Prior to the 2014/2015 arrival of the Emerald Ash Borer to Duluth, the City had approximately 3200 boulevard ash trees, many of them massive specimens reaching as high as 100 feet. With grant assistance, the City has thus far removed 2200 boulevard ash trees, replacing approximately half of them. This grant will enable the City to remove the remaining 1000 trees, complete replacement of the original 3200, and plant additional trees in the boulevards of disadvantaged neighborhoods.
Replacement of ash trees is important to the public good as boulevard trees in low-income neighborhoods have been shown to help improve health and well-being, reduce pollution, cool the air, increase property values, and attract new businesses, among other benefits.