HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-10-25 - AGENDA REPORTS - TREE INVENTORY CONTRACT (2)AGENDA REPORT
City Manager
Item to be
Rick
CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE: October 25, 1994
SUBJECT: Tree Inventory Contract Service
DEPARTMENT: Parks, Recreation, and Community Services
BACKGROUND
The Urban Forestry Section of the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department
has worked toward a budget savings of $40,000 in fiscal year 1994-95, and is requesting the
use of those funds to inventory approximately 30,000 of its 35,000 street, park, and facility
trees.
In fiscal year 1993-94 the Urban Forestry Section purchased a tree inventory software
program (Tree Keeper) and handheld computer for $9,900. The system was purchased in
response to the Department's need to operate more efficiently.
The Tree Keeper software program is capable of storing information such as individual tree
type, species, growing environment, location, condition, maintenance needs, etc. The
program's many functions include the capability to locate all trees in a particular class should
an epidemic occur, or to locate all trees of a certain species in need of two-year maintenance.
Information regarding a citizen's street tree can be easily accessed and conveyed to the public
over the phone as needed. Automating all of our current Urban Forestry programs would
become quicker and more efficient with the Tree Keeper inventory system fully in place.
The next step, in the process for fiscal year 1994-95 is to gather tree inventory data. The
collection process, via contract service, consists of contracting a tree inventory firm to gather
field information on handheld computers of each tree's type, size, condition, obstructions, site,
address, voids, etc. This information would then be downloaded into the Department's Tree
Keeper software program. The Tree Keeper program is optimally useful only when all data
is input.
A tree inventory service could inventory 30,000 trees and download the data into Tree Keeper
within three months.. Utilizing staff to perform the inventory may take several years at
current staffing levels.
APPROVED
Tree Inventory Contract Service
October 25, 1994
Page 2
Staff has achieved a $40,000 savings in its Contract Services account no. 01-9230-227 for the
possible use of procuring a contract tree inventory service. These savings stem from the
following:
• A Small Business Association tree planting grant$20,000
............
• Pest control savings through conversion to an hourly rate
contract from a flat fee contract . . ......................... $12,000
• Reduction of landscape services ............................ $ 8,000
TOTAL: $40,000
RECOMMENDATION
City Council approve the allocation of $40,000 in account no. 01-9230-227 for the purpose of
procuring contract tree inventory services.
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