Minutes - Council - 01/13/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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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 Councilmember Kurak, seconded by Councilmember Pearson, to not authorize the bids roi' the tree spade in the amount of $40,000, but revisit the issue next year at this time. Further discussion: Councilmember Strommen stated that the Finance Committee talked about the purchase of a tree spade at great length. During their discussion it was pointed out that there will be a cost savings to the City by having the tree spade so that the City can relocate existing trees within the City parks rather than having to purchase them. Assistant Director of Public Works Olson explained that the original discussion was the purchase of a tree spade or a paver. Staff felt that With 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 ways to try and beautify the City. One of the opportunities for cost savings is in Ehncrest Park, 'which they are looking at completing this year. Presently the City is looking at having to spend $100,000 to $200,000 in trees. Staff feels that they could significantly reduce the expense by pulling trees from other areas in the City and placing them in the park. Councihnember 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 purchase and how many of those trees will survive. The problem she has is that the members of the City who were asked to pay the franchise fee because of a budget shortfall will pay the bond back. The City did add an additional $200,000 to the bonds, which she agreed with some of those items like the sidewalk plow because that was purchased for safety reasons. With the tree spade she cannot answer to the people what the need is. Mayor Gamec noted that the amount of the 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 $700,000 to purchase capital items. Those bonds can be used to purchase any capital items, it just has to be for the life of the bonds. Director of Public Works/Fire Chief Kapler stated that from' a staff standpoint they think timing is crucial because of all the development that is occurring. They feel that they will get a higher quality tree for the same or lower cost. Economics push them to get a smaller diameter tree, which is more susceptible to vandalism. In five years they feel this investment will bring them a much a higher quality investment. They are not proposing a vehicle, they are proposing that something be retrofitted for the front-end loader, which will allow them to get at things that a typical tree spade would not. Councilmember Kurak replied that she thought the tree ordinance required a smaller tree to be planted because they had a better chance of survival. Assistant 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 have a better chance of survival once it is rooted. Councilmemb,er Cook stated that during the discussions of the tree preservation ordinance the EPTF discussed the possibility of creating a "tree: bank" within the City, which will save the City money and allow some of the smaller trees to :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 campus and that would include a sedimentation pond. Councilmember Kurak called for the vote. Further discussion: Councilmember Pearson stated that he was not opposed to the tree spade, but City Council/January 13, 2004 Page 21 of 24