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02-24-14 CC WS Mtg Minutes CITY OF SHOREWOOD 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION COUNCIL CHAMBERS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 6:00 P.M. MINUTES 1. CONVENE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Mayor Zerby called the meeting to order at 6:01 P.M. A. Roll Call Present. Mayor Zerby; Councilmembers Hotvet, Siakel, Sundberg, and Woodruff; City Clerk Panchyshyn; Planning Director Nielsen; and, Director of Public Works Brown Absent: None B. Review Agenda Sundberg moved, Siakel seconded, approving the agenda as presented. Motion passed 5/0. 2. PRESENTATION BY HUMMING FOR BEES MEMBERS PATRICIA HAUSER, JEFF DINSMORE AND OHTERS Mayor Zerby noted that Patricia Hauser and Jeff Dinsmore and others are going to give a presentation about disappearing bees. Patricia Hauser, 5805 Minnetonka Drive, explained bees are in a precarious situation because of the huge challenges they are facing. Bees are critical to the food supply. She stated that a couple of months ago a group of likeminded people got together to talk about what could be done to help bees and thus their group Humming for Bees began. Humming for Bees seeks to make Shorewood a safe city for bees and a model for other cities. Humming for Bees is dedicated to contributing to a sustainable future for bees and other pollinators. She noted that she and Mr. Dinsmore contacted Mayor Zerby last month and asked if Humming for Bees could be placed on this evening’s agenda. She stated this evening they will first make a PowerPoint presentation, then present a resolution for Council’s consideration and lastly entertain questions from Council. She noted that they had provided information for inclusion in the meeting packet for this evening. The items included in Ms. Hauser’s presentation are as follows. In the United States and Europe bee colonies have experienced significant losses. This  phenomenon has become known as Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD. The losses are a significant concern because pollination plays a very important role in our food  production. CCD is the syndrome in which worker bees from a bee hive abruptly disappear. Just the queen  and the newly hatched bees are left at the hive with lots of honey thus causing the colony to stop functioning. There are several contributors to CCD which are sometimes referred to as the 4 P’s (poor  nutrition, pesticides, parasites and pathogens). CITY OF SHOREWOOD WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES February 24, 2014 Page 2 of 7 Poor nutrition   There is not enough bee food. In some cases bees are starving. There are not enough flowers in agriculture and suburban areas and often times the flowers are poisoned.  There is not enough plant variety. That causes malnutrition.  There is an inconsistent food supply over the entire foraging season.  In the suburban areas there is lawn monoculture; it is a food desert.  Weeds (including the flowering varieties) are mowed, weed-whipped and/or sprayed with poison. Pesticides   Starting in around 2006 there has been an increasing use of a family of pesticides known as “neonicotinoids” (or neonics). In heavy doses neonics are known to kill bees and other beneficial pollinators. In lesser doses they are known to disrupt bees’ reproduction, mobility, navigation, feeding, foraging, memory, learning, and overall hive activity.  Neonics are systematic – they turn the plant into a poison factory. All parts of the plant (roots, stem, leaf, pollen and nectar) and the surrounding soils contain the chemical. If other systemic pesticides come on the market they should not be used either.  In some cases various pesticides (i.e., insecticides, herbicides and fungicides) build up in bees and create problems due to the chemical combinations. This further weakens the bees.  Some countries have banned the use of neonics. In 2000 France banned the use of neonics on corn, sunflowers and canola. Starting on December 1, 2013, members of the European Union banned the use of three neonics family members.  Neonics are everywhere. There are numerous types with many different names.  In the United States the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been granting conditional registration of neonics with incomplete health and safety data, and then extending that registration without required studies. The EPA’s main action has been in facilitating labeling changes and providing guidance for the investigation of “beekill” incidents. The labels will be on the new products that are dangerous to bees. But, the products are still being sold. The EPA has estimated that it will be 2018 before it makes a decision on neonics. Bees can’t wait that long.  The bottom line is do not spray, drench or inject bee-killing pesticides. That means no insecticides, herbicides and fungicides on or near bee food.  The pesticide industry is a $1 billion a year industry. Parasites and Pathogens   There are a variety of parasites and pathogens (i.e., viruses) that exist in honeybee populations.  Weaknesses due to lack of nutrition and due to chronic and low levels of exposure to chemicals make bees more susceptible to pathogens and they more readily succumb to parasites. Solutions and Proposal   Turn public spaces into bee-safe areas. Buy plants, shrubs and trees from nurseries that guarantee they have not used neonics or  other systemics on their seeds, plants or trees. Utilize knowledgeable landscapers, gardeners and citizens who understand the issues.  Create bee-safe areas and plantings in public green spaces.   Plant pesticide-free flowers – bee food Plant a variety of garden and native flowering plants that bees like – pollen for protein  and nectar for carbs. Plant a variety of flowering plants that guarantee blooming from spring to fall – April  through October. CITY OF SHOREWOOD WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES February 24, 2014 Page 3 of 7 Bees need to eat from pesticide-free plants, shrubs and trees.   Don’t spray the bee food Do not use insecticides, herbicides or fungicides on or near the bee food.  Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) best practices. Systemic pesticides are not  consistent with IPM. According to the EPA IPM is a continuum approach to dealing with plants. It starts with having really good soils. It recommends starting with the least harmful pesticides if they are needed and monitoring the use and impact of them. Systemic pesticides are unavoidable for bees and other foraging insects.   Educate the public Tell the public what bees and pollinators are facing.  Tell the public what the cost of losing bees would mean to humans. One-third of the food  is due to pollinators. In the Sichuan province in China harmful pesticides destroyed the bees. People are now pollinating things by hand. Show the public the research from the Xerces Society, the Pesticide Action Network, the  University of Minnesota Bee Squad and the alarms that countless others are sounding around the globe. Ask the public to see things with different eyes – perhaps the green lawn with its tons of  upkeep, no flowering plants and no food for our bees is not the ideal after all.  Begin this spring to implement the Bee Safe City Resolution  Publish a Bee Safe City Report each spring Cost considerations   Instead of spending money spraying for weeds, buy bee-favorite-food plants (both garden and native species).  Instead of spending money mowing the grass every week or two in public places, use that money on pesticide-free plants, shrubs and trees that provide nectar and pollen for bees.  Once established, many perennial garden and native plantings can be sustainable and may cost less to manage.  Create healthy soils up front. Resources   Dr. Marla Spivak, “Why Bees are Disappearing”, TED Talk http://www.ted.com/talks/marla_spivak_why_bees_are_disappearing.html  University of Minnesota Bee Lab, www.beelab.umn.edu  Pesticide Action Network North American, www.panna.org  Beyond Pesticides, www.beyondpesticides.org  Xerces Society, www.xerces.org Jeff Dinsmore, 5805 Minnetonka Drive, read the resolution they had drafted. It reads as follows. “Whereas, bees and other pollinators are responsible for at least a third of the food we eat; and Whereas, we have a wide diversity of food: fruits, nuts and vegetables thanks to the great diversity of wild bees and honey bees; and Whereas, all bees (native bees and honey bees) are in a grave situation because of habitat loss, pesticides, pathogens and parasites; and Whereas, pesticides, especially systemic pesticides, are a key contributor to Colony Collapse Disorder, and they are unavoidable for foraging bees; and CITY OF SHOREWOOD WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES February 24, 2014 Page 4 of 7 Whereas, in the fall of 2013, thousands of bees from two neighborhood hives in Minneapolis were killed by a legal pesticide application; and Whereas, systemic pesticides are not consistent with Integrated Pest Management (IPM) best practices and pose particular risks by their chronic exposure to bees and other beneficial inspects; and Whereas, ideal pollinator-friendly habitat:  provides diverse and abundant nectar and pollen from plants blooming in succession  is comprised of both native species and garden species of annual and perennial flowers, shrubs and trees  includes, where possible, designated pollinator zones in public spaces with signage to educate the public and build awareness; and Whereas, it is essential that municipal staff and the public understand the vital role that bees and all pollinators play and what each of us can to do sustain them; Therefore, be it resolved that the City Council of Shorewood, Minnesota, adopt this resolution to become a Bee-Safe City by agreeing to: 1. Turn public spaces into Bee-Safe areas 2. Plant pesticide-free flowers 3. No Spraying of the Bee Food (not on it, not near it) 4. Educate All Citizens of Shorewood About Bees; their gifts and needs 5. Begin this spring to implement this resolution 6. Publish a “Bee-Safe City Progress Report” each spring” Councilmember Hotvet thanked Ms. Hauser and Mr. Dinsmore for the education and wonderful presentation. She was pleased to have people come together and offer up a solution to a problem. She asked how the success of such an effort could be measured. Ms. Hauser stated she hopes she would see more bees in her back yard and noted the absence of bees in her yard was very noticeable last year. Mr. Dinsmore stated if there is habitat there will be bees. Councilmember Sundberg stated she has been aware of this international bee issue for several years. She then stated she likes the idea of people coming forward with local solutions. The recommendations in the draft resolutions are good. She noted that children use the City’s parks. She asked if an increase in bees would result in an increase in bee stings to the children playing there. Ms. Hauser explained honey bees are busy doing their own business. Once they sting someone they die. Robert Schulz, 4075 Auburn Lane, a beekeeper, stated that when he was a child he used to pick bees off of flowers by their wings and he never got stung. He explained a lot of times people don’t see bees because they are flying to the next location where there is nectar. The only time you notice them is when there are no flowers blooming or no nectar source. Councilmember Sundberg asked Mr. Schultz if the flowers that should be planted for bee food are also deer food. Mr. Schultz stated he does not know. Mr. Schultz then stated that Roundhouse Park has lots of flowers in it that people will see bees on. He noted that in the spring he goes to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum and looks to see which flowers/plants have bees on them. He also noted that last year he did not see many bees there. CITY OF SHOREWOOD WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES February 24, 2014 Page 5 of 7 Dan Keyler, 5900 Minnetonka Drive, noted that he is a toxicologist by training. He stated people are not generally aware of the residual effect of pesticides on flowers and grass. He then stated neonicotinoids are the newer pesticide on the market and are on the forefront of things nationally and internationally. Therefore, there is not a lot of data to know what the long-term effects are. He noted he thought it prudent to be ahead of the surge. Councilmember Siakel stated some of what has been proposed in the resolution can be done now. For example, publishing some of the research findings in the City’s newsletter or on its website as part of a series. She noted that the City could get the volunteer gardeners and the community gardeners involved. Now is an appropriate time to think about what can be done to help the bees. Councilmember Woodruff stated from his perspective Council needs to have another session to talk about this. He would like to hear from staff about current City practices. He thought educating the public is a good idea. He commented that his wife and he basically operate in a pesticide-free manor. They have a lot of bees on their property. He stated there is a lot of controversy about the CCD. He noted he wants to explore things further. Mayor Zerby noted that he watched the YouTube video about disappearing bees and found it to be very eye opening. He encouraged people to watch it. He suggested staff put a link to it on the City’s website. Councilmember Sundberg agreed that the City has an opportunity to be more proactive about this and stated that education is a good start. She noted that the community is environmentally conscientious. There was Council consensus to direct staff to assess the City’s current practices and how they could be changed to be more bee friendly. He thanked people for coming this evening and educating people. 3. PRESENTATION BY CHERYL CULBRETH OF LANDSCAPE RESTORATION ON CONTROL OF GARLIC MUSTARD AND BUCKTHORN Mayor Zerby introduced Cheryl Culbreth, owner of Landscape Restoration, Inc., who is present to talk about control of the invasive species buckthorn and garlic mustard. Ms. Culbreth noted that her Landscape Restoration business helps people restore native habitat. She stated the first step in doing that is to get rid of invasive species. Two of the more prominent invasive species is this area are buckthorn and garlic mustard. Both are very devastating to the native habitat. She explained buckthorn is a small tree to shrub. She has seen them grow as tall as 35 feet. It arrived in North America around 1850 with European immigrants. In their native homeland it was valued as a hedge plant in its native ecosystem. Garlic mustard is an herbaceous biennial; it is edible. It arrived around 1860 with European immigrants. The herb is high in vitamin A and C and that is part of the reason they brought it here. It was used to treat gangrene and ulcers. And, it was used for erosion control. According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture buckthorn is a restricted noxious weed which means it is so prevalent it is not possible to eradicate it. Garlic mustard is newer and worse than buckthorn. It is a prohibited noxious weed. An attempt must be made to eradicate it. It is likely it will become a restricted noxious weed. Invasive plants and animals have no natural enemies in our ecosystem. They have unlimited growth; there are no checks and balances. For garlic mustard in its native environment in Europe there are more than 30 CITY OF SHOREWOOD WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES February 24, 2014 Page 6 of 7 natural predators that would attack garlic mustard leaves, blossoms, stems and seeds. The invasive species have a dense, rapid growth that crowd out native plants. As them become dense they rob natural resources such as soil nutrients, sun-light and water. The loss of native plants leads to a loss of wildlife habitat and pollinators. Lack of pollinators affects the food supply and there is the potential for species extinction. Buckthorn is a host plant for soybean aphid and crown rust fungus. That can result in an economic loss for those in the agriculture business because it will affect the quality and amount of yield. Minnesota Statute 1505.0732 makes it illegal to sell, import or transport buckthorn. She displayed photographs of a thick area of buckthorn. She then displayed pictures of a buckthorn terminal bud which is the twig at the end. She explained that buckthorn will have a small thorn between a pair of terminal buds. There is nothing else like it in the woods. The buckthorn leaf is also easy to identify. The leaves are broadly oval in shape with a finely toothed wavy margin. On both sides of a middle vein that goes from twig to tip there are 3 – 4 indented veins that curve toward the tip. The leaves remain green into the fall. Invasive species have a longer growing season. Leaves emerge earlier in the spring and remain attached longer in the fall than native woody species. Buckthorn berries have a stem that attaches to the twig; they attach singly. Berries are present only on female buckthorn. Each berry has 3 – 4 seeds. The berries ripen to purple-black in late August. They sometimes remain on the tree all winter long. The berries are not a food choice for birds because they act as a laxative causing diarrhea, dehydration and possible death. The best thing to do with the berries is to put the braches with the berries on them in a pile where it limits germination and, if necessary, the pile can be treated with an herbicide in a concentrated area. She noted she prefers using the cut-stump method for removing buckthorn. She explained the cut-stump method involves cutting it near the grade (near the soil line) and then applying an herbicide to the cambium area (the outer rim of the stump just inside of the bark) of the freshly cut stump. She uses a buckthorn blaster to apply it. The blaster is filled with the herbicide which she puts coloring into so she can see it when it’s applied. The tool only releases herbicide when pressure is applied. There is no risk of the herbicide translocating. It is very effective against re-sprout. She uses the herbicide glyphosate which is known by its brand name Round Up. The benefits of glyphosate are: it does not translocate in the soil (it stays where it is placed); it is inexpensive; and, it has a short half-life. For cut-stump or frill cut she uses an herbicide with a glyphosate strength of 18-20 percent. Frill cut is when you chop the bark or tree around the entire circumference at the base of the tree. Then she puts herbicide on that chopped area. The buckthorn is killed but left standing. If a foliar application is being done that involves spraying the leaves in late fall. For that she uses glyphosate strength 2 – 4 percent. Glyphosate can be diluted with water. During most of the year energy is being stored in the root structure of buckthorn. In the spring all of the energy stored in the root structure travels upward to develop leaves and grow. That is not the time to treat buckthorn. If the stump is cut during the spring a person will likely notice the stump appears to be wet. If it must be cut in the spring cut the stump a little bit high and come back and treat with herbicide at a later date. Don’t apply the herbicide treatment from May 1 through July 1. When buckthorn is cut at grade but not treated spouts come out and each one of them has to be cut and treated. If the stump is cut higher off the ground it will be easier to cut the sprouts off. When people do a mass removal of buckthorn all at once the next year they find massive amount of garlic mustard in that cleared area and that is worse than buckthorn. In this area it is very likely there are mustard seeds in or near an area. When a great deal of buckthorn is removed at once and the canopy is opened to bright sunlight the garlic mustard has a prime growing environment. She recommended a slow removal approach. CITY OF SHOREWOOD WORK SESSION MEETING MINUTES February 24, 2014 Page 7 of 7 When she is doing a restoration area she primarily looks for the buckthorn with berries on. Her number one objective is to stop the seed production by removing the berry producers. If she cuts out anything with berries she believes she is doing a great job. After that she looks for higher value native plants seedlings and she tries to clear an area around them so they can grow. She will be a somewhat more liberal with buckthorn removal in those areas. After that she monitors the area and lets the area adjust to where the buckthorn was removed. When going through that process she encourages people to celebrate nature's rewards. With regard to getting rid of garlic mustard, she recommends hand pulling it out when it is in its flowering stage. Once it starts to develop seed pods it needs to be bagged or composted separately after it is pulled. It is appropriate to spray herbicide on the first year seedlings but only in early spring or late fall when native plants are dormant. It's prudent to work the best areas first; the areas with one or two plants and with young plants. She displayed a list of restoration guidelines. Establish a pre - restoration timeline. Chart the restoration progress. Scout for new species and map if appropriate. Mayor Zerby stated the information provided was very, very good. He explained the City has a weed wrench tool to help with the removal of buckthorn. He asked Ms. Culbreth how effective she thought that tool is. Ms. Culbreth responded that approach takes a lot of energy and time to get the root out and when the root comes out there is a crater left behind in the disturbed soil for things such as weeds and garlic mustard to grow in. If someone wants to use that approach then it is prudent that they put some local origin native seeds in the holes. Mayor Zerby thanked Ms. Culbreth for coming and sharing her knowledge. 4. ADJOURN Woodruff moved, Sandberg seconded, Adjourning the City Council Work Session of February 24, 2014, at 6:59 P.M. Motion passed 510. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, Christine Freeman, Recorder ATTEST: can Panchyshyn, City Clerk Soo t7effiy, *ay r 4�.