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CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
EIGHTEENTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. F/S(2) R-09-204 ENACTMENT NO.. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Don Harris
RESOLUTION
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F/S(2) Providing For The Removal of Certain Non-Native Trees and Illegally Dumped Debris From The Tijeras Arroyo; Designating Previously Appropriated Funds For The Purposes of This Resolution (Harris)
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Providing For The Removal Of Non-Native Trees And Illegally Dumped Debris From The Tijeras ArroyoPROVIDING FOR THE REMOVAL OF CERTAIN NON-NATIVE TREES AND ILLEGALLY DUMPED DEBRIS FROM THE TIJERAS ARROYO. DESIGNATING PREVIOUSLY APPROPRIATED FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS RESOLUTION..
WHEREAS, the City of Albuquerque is the owner of Open Space within the Tijeras Arroyo; andand
WHEREAS, the City Council passed R-07-278 mandating a Master Plan to develop a Tijeras Arroyo Bio-Zone Preserve; andand
WHEREAS, located on the City owned Open Space in the Tijeras Arroyo are a number of non-native trees including Salt Cedar, Chinese Elm and Tree of Heaven; and and
WHEREAS, some of these non-native trees constitute noxious weeds that, if left uncontrolled, adversely impact biological diversity, alter hydrologic function, reduce wildlife habitat, and result in the spread of these weeds onto neighboring public and private lands; andand
WHEREAS, some of these non-native trees have been used to supply firewood for unauthorized and dangerously uncontained fires within the Tijeras Arroyo and to support unauthorized camping within the Tijeras Arroyo; andand
WHEREAS, the City should remove and permanently suppress the regrowth of some of these non-native trees both for the protection of the environment and for the safety of neighboring residents; andand
WHEREAS, there exists on privately owned land within the City of Albuquerque in the Tijeras Arroyo these same species of non-native trees causing the same problems for the environment and the community; and.
WHEREAS, the Tijeras Arroyo is used for illegal dumping, and the debris from that dumping harms the natural habitat, and provides an impediment to the goal of the City expressed in R-07-278 to create a Tijeras Arroyo Bio-Zone Preserve; and.
WHEREAS, the immediate removal of all non-native trees would adversely impact the habitat of birds and animals so that some non-native trees must be left until such time as native species have returned in sufficient size and number to provide necessary habitat; and.
WHEREAS, it is necessary to identify which non-native trees are beneficial to the habitat.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
SectionECTION 1. The City Parks and Recreation Department is directed to remove some of the non-native trees and debris from City Open Space within the Tijeras Arroyo.
SectionECTION 2. All existing mature trees, regardless of species, shall be left to provide habitat and cover for wildlife. Mature non-native trees may be limbed up or pruned to provide for visual security and public safety needs. Immature trees under 8 inches caliper may be selectively removed. Active revegetation and native tree or shrub planting will be initiated to provide for additional habitat. Upon successful establishment of new native habitat, mature non-native trees may be removed on a selective basis.
SectionECTION 3. The City Parks and Recreation Department is directed to establish a program to ensure that these non-native trees once removed do not re-establish within the Tijeras Arroyo and to prevent, as much as possible, future illegal dumping of debris within the Tijeras Arroyo.
SectionECTION 4. The Administration is directed to contact and work with Tijeras Arroyo land owners within the Tijeras Arroyo Bio-Zone area to accomplish the removal of some of the non-native trees and debris from private lands. The Administration is authorized to remove some of the non-native trees and debris from private lands within the Tijeras Arroyo without imposing a charge to the property owners due to the existence of City Policy, established in R-07-278 and elsewhere.
Section 5. The amount of up to Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000) is hereby designated from within the City Council Projects Activity Number 7299990 in order to carry out the provisions of this resolution.
Section 6. The Mayor is authorized to enter into a contract with the University of New Mexico to identify which non-native trees shall be removed and which mature non-native trees that benefit the wildlife habitat will be preserved.
SectionECTION 75. The Administration shall report back to the Council with respect to any problems in accomplishing the removal of non-native trees and debris from private lands so that the Council can consider legislation mandating such removal.
SectionECTION 568. The Administration is directed to work with the County of Bernalillo on a cooperative program in which the City and County can combine their efforts and remove non-native trees and debris from property within both the City and County.
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