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Item No: 8D Meeting Date: June 28, 2010 Type of Business: Consent Agenda Administrator Review: ____ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Nick DeBar, Public Works Director Item Title/Subject: Resolution 7639, Reauthorizing Contract Agreements for 2010 Tree Removals with Upper Cut Tree Services and 4 Seasons Tree Care Background: As part of the Urban Forestry activities, the City removes trees on public property (rights-of-way and parkland) that pose hazardous conditions to the public. Some common hazards from these trees include dead trees or branches, located too close to roadway or too overgrown making traffic signs difficult to see or interfering with vehicles, and miscellaneous tree defects from improper growth, lightning strikes, etc. Diseased trees on public property are also removed as part of Chapter 605, Tree Disease Control, of the Municipal Code. Private property owners are also required to remove any trees infected with Dutch Elm Disease or Oak Wilt. If the trees are not removed in a timely manner, the City will remove the diseased tree and invoice the private property owner for the removal costs. The City contracts with licensed tree contractors to perform the above tree removals. Separate contracts are typically given for tree removals with good vehicular access (boulevard, front yard, parks, etc.) and without good vehicle access (back yards, etc.). Removal costs are based upon tree diameter at 4.5 feet off the ground. Quotes were solicited in March 2009 and contracts were approved by the Council on March 23, 2009 (Res. 7424) for 2009 tree removals as follows: Tree Locations Without Vehicular Access: Upper Cut Tree Services - $23/dia.-in. (0 up to 28.5 in.), $33.50/dia.-in. (28.5 in. up to 40 in.) Tree Locations With Vehicular Access: 4 Seasons Tree Care - $15/dia.-in. (0 up to 35 in.) and $25/dia. inch (35 in. up to 40 in.) Discussion: The contract agreements for the 2009 tree removals expired on December 31, 2009. City staff has recently discussed tree removal pricing for 2010 with Upper Cut Tree Services and 4 Seasons Tree Care. Both contractors are amenable to reauthorizing contract agreements for 2010 tree removals without any increase in 2009 unit prices. The City has favorable past experience with each contractor, and each has licensed arborists on staff and possess the equipment and ability to perform the work. Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council consider adopting Resolution 7639 reauthorizing contract agreements with Upper Cut Tree Services and 4 Seasons Tree Care for 2010 tree removals. Tree removal costs are budgeted for 2010 under 100-4380-3630 for $28,000. Respectfully submitted, Nick DeBar - Public Works Director Attachments: • Resolution 7639 • Independent Contractor Agreements