CC_Minutes_2014_1208 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Regular City Council Meeting Monday,December 8, 2014 Page 29 environments for those trees. However, Mr. Schwartz noted that staff continued to learn over the years through research and recommendations for stormwater management how to do a better job in planting and maintaining those trees in parking lots and along streets. Going forward, Mr. Schwartz noted that staff would be looking at different species and management techniques for them to be- come even more successful, much related to stormwater management and getting appropriate planting materials. Mr. Schwartz further clarified that this didn't limit those same best practices for other development and park concerns. Councilmember McGehee questioned how Mr. Schwartz would see contract ser- vices serving in this role. Mr. Schwartz responded that there may still be more expertise needed from out- side sources for design services, tree boxes or stormwater design. However, Mr. Schwartz noted that those services were different than typical maintenance, trim- ming and disease monitoring, and could be different people used for different functions. Specific to the six new Firefighter positions as they proceeded with implementa- tion, Councilmember Willmus stated that he would be seeking additional discus- sion and information from Fire Chief O'Neill of how callback rates and auto aid agreements would work. From her perspective and from information provided to-date, Councilmember McGehee reiterated that she would prefer departments to use contract services for a Forester position and as needed. Councilmember Etten opined that the very reasons Councilmember McGehee brought up provided sufficient reasoning relevant to why the City needed a full- time forester for planning and coordination purposes to better streamline and manage that citywide. Etten moved, Willmus seconded, approval of the newly-created positions as de- tailed in the RCA dated December 8, 2014; and authorizing staff to begin the pro- cess of recruiting and filling those positions as presented by staff and outlined in the RCA. Councilmember McGehee reiterated her opinion that a full-time forester didn't have sufficient expertise; and would prefer to continue with a part-time forester position and using the remaining funds to hire outside expertise as needed versus spending the money on a single individual. Councilmember Laliberte recognized the positions expressed by both of her col- leagues, and while looking forward to see how this worked out logistically in practice, she spoke in support of a less fractured approach to forestry-related is-