INC PARC Meeting Oct 15 2019 Brookdale

Speakers for evening were Mike Swanson City Forester and Tom Morris proponent for moving zoning in parks back to City Council.

Topic Emerald Ash Borer and Spruce IPS beetle.

Highlights, please see handout

The Ash borer has jumped from Boulder, Broomfield, Westminster to Denver

DPR is starting to shift focus and working with private land owners with diseased trees on their property and to steer to licensed tree service providers.

After removal of ash tree the goal is to replant with other varieties.

Some trees are Burr Oak, Texas Red Oak and Kentucky Coffee Tree

Call 311 if suspect infestation but even better contact a licensed tree company for assessment. Denver Forester has list licensed tree companies

DPR has an enforcement budget and includes the Be A Smart Ash program

DPR can remove trees on Right Of Way but also has authority to go on private property to assess and remove infested trees. Infested trees are ground to mulch and reproduction from the borer is not possible

SEE PDF PLEASE

Tom Morris

Tom Morris came to the committee to ask for support in getting many people from around the City to go as a group to a City Council meeting and be there as concerned citizens when several people get up to ask for an change by ordinance to move zoning for parks and open space under Council responsibility.  In 2010 when Blueprint Denver was adopted the zoning for parks and open space which was the same zoning surrounding the park to OSA.  The zoning decisions were given to the Manager of Park instead of Council.

Defining OSA zoning uses is left up to the Manager of Parks.  Tom requests that Council take back the zoning of OSA and then sit with citizens to define OSA use and criteria to weigh proposed uses.

Tom has talked to Council Members and feels there is support for this change but the sticking point is their expectation that Tom needs to  bring something written as to what would be necessary to have this occur.

Following discussion the committee encouraged Tom to get the ordinance written by Larry Ambrose and work with Maggie to have something to give to the committee and to council.