Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/05/2004

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City was asked to cut back so she did not think the timing was right to purchase a tree Spade. Motion by C0uncilmember Kurak, seconded by Councilmember Pearson, to not authorize the bids for the tr~e spade in the amount of $40,000, but revisit the issue next year at this time. Further disc!aSi~ion: Councilmember Strommen stated that the Finance Committee talked about the purchase t~;f a tree spade at great length. During their discussion it was pointed out that there will be a cost Ravings to the City by having the tree spade so that the City can relocate existing trees within tlj. e City parks rather than having to purchase them. Assistant Director of Public Works Olson ~xplained that the original discussion was the purchase of a tree spade or a paver. Staff felt that Ivith the way the City is developing, now is the time to protect the trees that have been growing :in the City for years. Typically the time to relocate the trees is May through June and the availability of tree spade movers during that time is not real high. The tree spade would give the City the ability to get some of the assets before they are cut down to place them in parks, or right of wits to try and beautify the City. One of the opportunities for cost savings is in Elmcrest Par~ which they are looking at completing this year. Presently the City is looking at having to spend $!00,000 to $200,000 in trees. Staff feels that they could significantly reduce the expense b.y pulling trees from other areas in the City and placing them in the park. Councilmemb,~r Kurak replied that she thought it was a great idea, but the timing was wrong. She inquired as to how many trees staff expected to move into Elmcrest Park that will warrant the $40,000 ptj. rchase and how many of those trees will survive. The problem she has is that' the members of die City who were asked to pay the franchise fee because of a budget shortfall will pay the bond t~ack. The citY did add an additional $200,000 to the bonds, which she agreed with some of thoselitems like the sidewalk plow because that was purchased for safety reasons. With the tree spadelshe cannot answer to the people what the need is. Mayor Gamec noted that the amount of th~ bonds will be taxed to the residents with or without the tree spade because the bonds were already sold. Finance Officer Lund explained that the City Council did authorize around $700,0.00 to purchase capital items. Those bonds can be used to purchase any capital items, it just ~as to be for the life of the bonds. Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Kapler stated that froth a staff standpoint they think timing is crucial because of all the development that is occurring, i They feel that they will get a higher quality tree for the same or lower cost. Economics push them to get a smaller d~ameter tree, which ~s more susceptible to vandahsm. In five years thee feel th~s ~nvestment wall bring them a much a higher quahty ~nvestment. They are not proposing ~ vehicle, they are proposing that something be retrofitted for the front-end loader, which will all~)w them to get at things that a typical tree spade would not. Councilmember Kurak replied ithat she thought the tree ordinance required a smaller tree to be planted because they had a be~ter chance of survival. Assistaflt Director of Public Works Olson replied that certainly a two inch tree will survive better than a six inch tree during transplanting, but a six inch tree will §ave a better chance of survival once it is rooted. Councilmember Cook stated that during the discussions of the tree preservation ordinance the EPTF discussed the possibility of creating a "tr~ bank" within the City, which will save the City moneY and allow some of the smaller trees t9 grow before being placed in parks or along road right of ways. Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Kapler replied that staff is currently looking at a having a tree nursery at the Public Works ¢ampus and that would include a sedimentation pond. Councilmember Kurak called for the vote. Fm-ther discussion: Councilmember Pearson stated that he was not opposed to the tree spade, but City Council/January 13, 2004 Page 21 of 24 P123