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Attachment D <br />R1�� <br />1 �� <br />City Manager's Office <br />� �' 1 <br />To: c��y coun�� <br />From: Patrick Trudgeon, City Manager <br />Date: December 2, 2015 <br />Re: Budget comments from the November 30�' City Council meeting <br />Below are responses to the budget related comments raised at the November 30 City Council <br />meeting. <br />Forestry Coordinator. The 2015 budget proposed to include a full-time City Forester to take <br />care of the multiple needs for the city regarding tree and forestry management. $65,000 was <br />allocated for this position (salary and benefits). During the recruitment process, the City was <br />unable to secure a full-time candidate to undertake all of these items. Instead, the City <br />Manager decided to expand the seasonal (600 hours annually) positon to a half-time Forestry <br />Coordinator (1040 hours annually). To address the review of tree preservation efforts in <br />development proposals, the City entered into a contract with S&S Tree Services to provide <br />services on an as-needed basis with a$65 hourly rate. <br />This arrangement has worked well and as part of the 2016 budget, I have proposed to keep the <br />same arrangement moving forward. With the half-time Forestry Coardinator position the City <br />is now better served to carry out the overall diseased and hazardous tree program, including <br />EAB. With the extra hours, we are now able to better coordinate the public tree inventory, <br />obtain and manage grant funding, research and manage the EAB Program and connect with <br />residents. We have also been able to initiate field surveys in Roseville and will wark closer <br />with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture in conducting these field surveys. <br />This arrangement also creates improved consistency for the existing diseased and hazardous <br />tree program that property owners have utilized for years. Under this new arrangement we are <br />not only able to provide year round services to residents with diseased or hazardous tree <br />issues, we are now able to respond quicker and mare consistently. <br />The total cost of the half-time position is $35,000 (wage and benefits). <br />Our contract with the S&S Tree Services has also proven to be beneficial. Mark Rehder of <br />S&S provides the review services to the Community Development Department for <br />