03-20-23-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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Page 2 of 2 In 2022, the City treated 32 ash trees’ root structures with insecticide, mostly along the public boulevard on Highway 96. This treatment is for smaller diameter trees that are not mature enough yet handle the injection treatment. This ground treatment is done annually. The cost in 2022 was $928.73 or $4.35/diameter inch. The pricing is expected to be similar for 2023 for the same 32 ash trees. The City also treated 6 trees by injection that were not completed in 2021 at a cost of $337.25. Similar to EAB, staff have been made aware of large spikes in activity in the past couple years of damage to oak trees being impacted by the two-lined chestnut-borer. Public Works staff is creating an inventory of public oak trees this summer for use in the future to track this new threat, as well as oak wilt. Rainbow Tree Care uses the same method to treat high value oak trees as is does to inject ash trees, so pricing is the same and would be applied every other year. This is shown in Attachment B as well. Lastly, in 2022, Margolis Company was hired to install 55 disease and salt resistant trees along Highway 96, Oak Ave, Thom Ct and Perry Dog Park (25% Honeylocust (thornless), 25% Kentucky Coffeetree, 25% American Elms, 25% Hackberry plus four maples in the park). This 2022 project is substantially complete. Currently, approximately $47,420 remains within the tree fund budget after that project. In conversations with staff, Margolis Company has stated that they would honor last year’s pricing if the price is adjusted for their annual union labor rate increase. This remaining budget would equate to roughly 45 more trees that could be installed within public space in 2023. Locations that additional trees could be installed are 29 spaces that remain along Highway 96 (this would get us back up to the original tree amount of 213 on Highway 96 which have been lost and died off since the 2006 streetscape project) and two at Hazelnut Park, which was suggested by PTRC to replace two trees that were removed. That would leave roughly 14 trees open for other locations, if desired. Discussion The intention of this discussion is to review the Tree Management Plan for 2023 and provide an opportunity for Council feedback. Currently, these are all items that have been performed in the past, and Staff is requesting direction from Council on how to proceed. Budget Impact Ash Tree Injection Treatment - ~$4,700 Ash Tree Ground Treatment - ~$1,000 Oak Tree Injection Treatment – TBD ($5.15/diameter inch) Additional tree installation – $47,420 (remaining tree fund budget) Attachments Attachment A – Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan Attachment B – Public Tree Treatment Pricing Attachment C – Private Tree Treatment Pricing Attachment D – 2022 Tree Plan (installed by Margolis)