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Home My WebLink About2026-01-26 City Council Workshop Packet AGENDA MAPLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL MANAGER WORKSHOP 6:00 P.M. Monday, January 26, 2026 City Hall, Council Chambers Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D.02, one or more councilmembers may be participating remotely A. CALL TO ORDER B. ROLL CALL C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA D. UNFINISHED BUSINESS E. NEW BUSINESS 1. 2026 Legislative Program Discussion 2. Oak Wilt Management Discussion F. ADJOURNMENT RULES OF CIVILITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY Following are rules of civility the City of Maplewood expects of everyone appearing at Council Meetings - elected officials, staff and citizens. It is hoped that by following these simple rules, everyone’s opinions can be heard and understood in a reasonable manner. We appreciate the fact that when appearing at Council meetings, it is understood that everyone will follow these principles: Speak only for yourself, not for other council members or citizens - unless specifically tasked by your colleagues to speak for the group or for citizens in the form of a petition. Show respect during comments and/or discussions, listen actively and do not interrupt or talk amongst each other. Be respectful of the process, keeping order and decorum. Do not be critical of council members, staff or others in public. Be respectful of each other’s time keeping remarks brief, to the point and non-repetitive. E1 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP STAFF REPORT Meeting Date January 26, 2026 REPORT TO: Michael Sable, City Manage r REPORT FROM: Michael Sable, City Manager PRESENTER: Michael Sable, City Manager AGENDA ITEM: 2026 Legislative Program Discussion Action Requested: MotionDiscussion Public Hearing Form of Action: Resolution OrdinanceContract/Agreement Proclamation Summary: The City of Maplewood is seeking legislative changes to Minnesota Statutes to further its community goals. The 2026 Legislative Session begins in February. Recommended Action: Discussion only. Fiscal Impact: Is There a Fiscal Impact? No Yes, the true or estimated cost is $0 Financing source(s): Adopted Budget Budget Modification New Revenue Source Use of Reserves Other: n/a Strategic Plan Relevance: SafetyFocus Area: Sustainability Focus Area: Maintain strong financial health and stability Development Focus Area: Background: Attached is the City of Maplewood 2025 Legislative Program, which highlights the CityÓs legislative policies and priorities as a draft for consideration. The legislative policies contain references to the League of Minnesota Cities and Metro Cities legislative platforms. Attachments: 1.2025 Legislative Program Workshop Packet Page Number 1 of 14 E1, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 2 of 14 E1, Attachment 1 Workshop Packet Page Number 3 of 14 For the Permanent Record Meeting Date: January 26, 2026 Agenda Item #E1 additional attachment E2 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP STAFF REPORT Meeting Date January 26, 2026 REPORT TO: Michael Sable, City Manager REPORT FROM: Steven Love, Public Works Director Audra Robbins, Parks and Natural Resources Manager Shann Finwall, Sustainability Coordinator PRESENTER: Steven Love, Public Works Director AGENDA ITEM: Oak Wilt Management Discussion Action Requested:MotionDiscussionPublic Hearing Form of Action: Resolution OrdinanceContract/Agreement Proclamation Summary: Oak wilt is a serious fungal disease that primarily affects red oaks. Red oaks often die within weeks of being infected. As this disease is now common in Maplewood and Ramsey County, staff have reviewed our current management practices to determine whether the policy and procedures continue to meet the needs of Maplewood property owners. City Staff’s presentation will cover what oak wilt is, where it is located in Minnesota and Maplewood, control options, how neighboring cities are managing oak wilt, and management options. Staff is looking for direction from the City Council on Maplewood’s approach to oak wilt management. Recommended Action: No action is required. Fiscal Impact: Is There a Fiscal Impact? No Yes, the true or estimated cost is $0 Financing source(s): Adopted Budget Budget Modification New Revenue Source Use of Reserves Other: NA Strategic Plan Relevance: Safety Sustainability Advance environmental stewardship initiatives Development The City's urban forest is an important asset to the City and the public. Oak wilt has a significant impact on the health of oak trees in Maplewood and the surrounding metro area. Workshop Packet Page Number 4 of 14 E2 Background: Oak wilt is a serious and often fatal disease that affects oak trees, caused by a fungal pathogen that disrupts the tree’s ability to transport water and nutrients. It spreads quickly through connected root systems and by insects that carry fungal spores from infected to healthy trees. Infected red oaks typically show leaf discoloration, wilting, and rapid leaf drop, often dying within weeks or months. Oak Wilt Management The management of trees on private property is the responsibility of the property owners. Maplewood’s City Code covers the management of diseased and hazardous trees. The contracted City forester inspects for signs of oak wilt each year. If the City is notified of concerns that a tree may be infected with oak wilt, the contracted City forester inspects the tree. The City then notifies the property owner and requires that the tree be removed. If a property owner fails to comply with the City's direction to address the diseased tree, the City will take the steps needed to address the issue. All costs are then assessed back to the property owner. Oak wilt management focuses on preventing spread, protecting healthy trees, and removing infected trees. Common options to control oak wilt on a property include trenching/vibratory plowing to sever root connections between trees, promptly removing and properly disposing of infected trees, and applying herbicides. Trenching/vibratory plowing has been found to be the most effective, but is labor-intensive, often costing several thousand dollars depending on site conditions and length. Tree removal costs vary widely by size and location, and have been found to rarely stop the spread of oak wilt. Herbicide treatments must be repeated over time, and research on their effectiveness is limited. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MnDNR) Oak Wilt Management Guide has recommended control options depending on the situation. These range from the three control options mentioned previously to no control required. Choosing which control option varies depending on the situation. Factors that may affect the situation include being in an area with no oak wilt, being in an area where oak wilt is common, cost being a limiting factor, a yard or forest setting, property owners’ desire to control oak wilt on their property, or the absence of oaks nearby. MnDNR maintains data on oak wilt locations throughout the state. Their goal is to slow the northward progression of this disease. Ramsey County is now located in an area where oak wilt is common. Reporting of oak wilt locations to MnDNR is no longer required in Ramsey County. Oak Wilt Management in Surrounding Cities Staff reviewed our oak wilt data from 2022 to 2025. During that time, 131 oak wilt-infected trees were identified on 47 properties. The majority of the properties are located in the south leg of Maplewood. The average property had almost three trees identified with oak wilt. Over this time period, 21% of the properties had oak wilt identified in multiple years. Multiple years of oak wilt management can have a significant impact on property owners. Staff reviewed how our neighboring cities are managing oak wilt. Both the City of St. Paul and Maplewood currently have active management programs that include inspection for oak wilt and code enforcement to ensure compliance. The City of Woodbury currently responds to complaints. And the cities of Little Canada, Newport, North St. Paul, Oakdale, Roseville, White Bear Lake, and Vadnais Heights do not have oak wilt enforcement programs. Oak Wilt Management Options Based on the information above, staff identified the following options for management of oak wilt on private property: Option 1 – Inspect and Enforcement (this is Maplewood’s current program) Workshop Packet Page Number 5 of 14 E2 o Conduct annual oak wilt inspections o Notify property owners o Require removal of infected trees. Option 2 – Inspect and Educate o Conduct annual oak wilt inspections o Notify property owners o Provide education on oak wilt and control options Option 3 – General Education o Use the City newspaper and social media to provide education on oak wilt and control options Option 4 – Do nothing o Assist residents who contact the City with oak wilt concerns and direct them to available resources Attachments: 1. Oak Wilt Discusion Presentation Workshop Packet Page Number 6 of 14 E2, Attachment 1 Oak Wilt Discussion City Council WorkshopJanuary 26, 2026 Workshop Packet Page Number 7 of 14 E2, Attachment 1 Often die within weeksRoot grafts between treesBy insects ¤¤¤ Serious fungal diseasePrimarily affects red oaksNo known cure7ňŗąńŹ϶Ƃİđ϶ƂŵđđЪŹ϶êăĳňĳƂƢ϶Ƃŗ϶Ŏŗƚđwater and nutrientsHow oak wilt spreads ¤¤¤ ¤¤ Workshop Packet Page Number 8 of 14 E2, Attachment 1 Goal -Slow northward progressionReporting Ramsey County -CommonDo not report ¤¤¤¤ Significant Risk AreasCommon Areas ¤¤ êń϶ËĳňƂ϶ĳŏ϶~ĳŏŏđŹŗƂê ~϶?¤϶АͮͬͮͰ϶?êƂê ¤ Workshop Packet Page Number 9 of 14 E2, Attachment 1 131 Identified TreesxŗąêƂĳŗŏ϶А¨ŗƇƂİ϶xđĩ47 PropertiesAverage Property -2.7 trees21% -Multiple Years ¤¤¤¤¤ êń϶ËĳňƂ϶ĳŏ϶~êŲňđƜŗŗċ ͮͬͮͮ϶Аͮͬͮͱ ¤ Workshop Packet Page Number 10 of 14 E2, Attachment 1 9ŗŏƂŵŗň϶ŲƂĳŗŏŹ Trenching or vibratory plowingRarely stops from spreadingIs oak wilt common in the area?Cost TerrainLandowners' opinion ¤¤¤¤¤¤ SituationalUnderground control most effectiveRemoval Herbicides Factors to Consider ¤¤¤¤¤ ~϶?¤϶А¤đąŗŎŎđŏċêƂĳŗŏŹ ¤ Workshop Packet Page Number 11 of 14 E2, Attachment 1 Maplewood -yes¨Ƃϼ϶¡êƇň϶АƢđŹËŗŗċăƇŵƢ϶АąŗŎŲňêĳŏƂЎăêŹđċLittle Canada -noNewport -noNorth St. Paul -noOakdale -no¤ŗŹđƚĳňňđ϶АŏŗÈêċŏêĳŹ϶cđĳĩİƂŹ϶АŏŗWhite Bear Lake -no ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ Workshop Packet Page Number 12 of 14 E2, Attachment 1 Current programIdentify oak wilt locationNotify property ownersProvide management optionsCity newspaperSocial media ¤ ¤¤¤¤¤ ŲƂĳŗŏ϶ͭ϶АfŏŹŲđąƂĳŗŏ϶ъ϶EŏĨŗŵąđŎđŏƂŲƂĳŗŏ϶ͮ϶АfŏŹŲđąƂĳŗŏ϶ъ϶EċƇąêƂĳŗŏ ŲƂĳŗŏ϶ͯ϶А\]đŏđŵêň϶EċƇąêƂĳŗŏŲƂĳŗŏ϶Ͱ϶А?ŗ϶ŗƂİĳŏĩ ¤¤¤ ¤ Workshop Packet Page Number 13 of 14 E2, Attachment 1 Based on MnDNRrecommendationsProperty owners' choicePrivate tree relief program eligible ¤¤¤ Identify locationsNotify property ownersProvide management optionsConsistent with neighboring citiesControl optionsLess burden on property owners ¤¤¤¤¤¤ ŲƂĳŗŏ϶ͮ϶АfŏŹŲđąƂĳŗŏ϶ъ϶EċƇąêƂĳŗŏBasis ¤¤ Workshop Packet Page Number 14 of 14