SR 06:139 - Laserfiche WebLink

maintenance program (3-year pruning cycle) to correct structural problems and eliminate future hazards. The program would also include pruning for approximately 600 of the larger, more difficult trees to trim located within City park and facility sites. Knowledge gained after completing the initial 3-year pruning cycle should provide sufficient data to determine the trimming frequency necessary for future tree work. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for Annual Tree Trimming and Removal were solicited in April 2005. Due to the inventory data that had been collected, the need to increase annual tree trimming work was anticipated. Interested firms were informed that annual contracts could reach as high as $600,000 per year, depending upon funding and work levels, and proposals should reflect costs for varying service levels. At its June 21,2005 meeting, the City Council awarded a one (1) year contract to WCA for a maximum of $250,000. The approved Agreement also allowed four (4) additional one (1) year contracts at the mutual consent of both parties. Realizing that expanded tree work may be desired in the future, the contract maximum was fixed at $600,000. This proposed contract extension is for a one-year period, July I, 2006-June 30, 2007, at a not- to-exceed amount of $425,000/year. The Agreement also includes a 5% contingency for emergency after-hour call-outs, storm clean-up, and creek clearing work. If the City is satisfied with the contractors' performance during this period, there is the option to extend the contract an additional year, up to a maximum of three (3) years. WCA is prepared to accommodate the additional work, with all other terms and conditions of the original Agreement remaining in effect. FISCAL IMPACT In FY 2006-07, annual expenditures for tree trimming will be moved from the Parks Division operating budget to the ParklMedian Renovation Fund to more accurately reflect the ongoing cost of maintaining the City's urban forest. For the past 3 to 5 years, the Council has approved the accumulation of Parks Division budget savings in a reserve for future expansion of the tree trimming program. These accumulated funds, which total $675,000, are being transferred from the General Fund into the Park/Renovation Median Fund effective in FY 2006-07. This will provide $225,000 in additional funding over each of the next three (3) years for expanding the tree trimming program. In addition, the allocation in the Parks Division budget for tree trimming (typically $220,000) will also be transferred into the ParklMedian Renovation Fund on an annual basis. This will provide a combined total of $425,000 for the program over each of the next three (3) years. Once the initial backlog of tree trimming work is accomplished, however, it is expected that the annual amount needed for this service will be approximately $375,000 per year. As a result, the annual contribution of $220,000 will need to be increased by $155,000, beginning with the FY 2009/10 - 2010/11 biennial budget. SR06:139 Page 3