Agenda - Public Works Committee - 03/15/2011

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Public Works Committee Date: 03/15/2011 By: Mark Riverblood Engineering/Public Works Information Title: Consider Policy for the Disposition of Surplus Wood and Tree Waste Item #: 5. 2. Background: On a semi -regular basis the Public Work's Department removes trees in the city's ROW and on public property and either leaves the firewood for an adjoining homeowner or brings the wood with brush to the city's shop for disposal. Additionally, in some years when the city has experienced significant Storm events, park spaces have been open to the public for dumping large volumes of tree debris. In the latter case of a city-wide storm Council has determined the manner and funding of the wood and brush disposal as needed (which can vary from 0 dollars to 10's of thousands). The purpose of this case is to develop a policy for handling the disposal of those wood wastes (saw logs and firewood suitable material) that have monetary value, such that it is fair, transparent, and may yield a small amount of revenue for the city. It should be noted here, that in most cases, the volume being discussed may be equivalent to a pick up truck full of low-grade firewood every month or so on average. However, occasionally there can be a tree or a number of hardwood trees to be removed that may equate to a few hundred dollars in firewood or saw log value. It should further be noted as background information that the policy this case proposes, is not intended to address diseased tree materials that can be a hazard to sell or relocate (or illegal), nor does it address brush, stumps, or other woody debris that does not have identifiable monetary value. Notification: Observations: The proposed policy would be that: Pubic Works separate any desirable wood in either saw log lengths of 100" inches and any firewood suitable material into two piles at the Public Works Campus, and when there is sufficient volume, that this be 'let for quotes' to the highest quote received. At the time the city first has enough material, a notification would be issued on the web site and Ramsey Resident calling attention to this first sale, and also offering the public the ability to sign up to be *e-mail notified in the future when additional wood is available. The following bullets would be relate to the above 'policy' for disbursement of wood wastes: • *The city may use any manner of notification when there is wood available to be bid on, however at a minimum, an e-mail list is believed to be most cost effective. • If sufficient volume develops of either or both saw logs an firewood, the two piles may be bid on separately (sealed quotes received at the 'front desk') - but normally the two would be bid on as one unit. • A stipulation on bidding is that chain saws may not be used on city property whatsoever, the bidder must remove all wood bid on, and that all material must be removed in a timely period (probably two weeks, encompassing three weekends); and that no city equipment be used for loading, unless it was clearly in the city's interest to do so (which would be determined in advance, and made known to the persons quoting, that this was an option). The intention is that the firewood suitable wood would be cut into 'hand -able lengths - and not into 'firewood' ready material.