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Item No: 8G �,�T Meeting Date: September 23, 2024 MOU--N-DS VIE Type of Business: CB Administrator Review: City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Don Peterson, Interim Director of Public Works Item Title/Subject: Resolution 9988 Approving a 3 year Contract with Upper Cut Tree Service for Diseased Tree Removals Background/Discussion: Public Works is charged to oversee the Forestry duties in the City, this includes trees in and on City grounds as well as trees in the ROW (right of way) also included with the Forestry duties are privately owned diseased/hazardous trees. Included with the Diseased Tree Ordinance are the Elm, Oak, and Ash. (Emerald Ash borer is currently the main concern of this Ordinance.) City Council has expressed the desire to continue to obtain quotes for tree removals with resulting in providing a lower cost for the Mounds View property owners to remove their trees. Staff sent a Request for Quote (RFQ) to sixteen (16) tree companies asking for costs regarding the removal of private Front and Backyard trees without stump removals. Staff also requested, as an alternate, costs associated with stump removals and seed/dirt restoration. NOTE: To eliminate hazards within the ROW and on City owned properties, tree stumps are removed. Further Discussion: The City Arborist is recommending not to remove the tree stumps based on recent data stating removal or keeping the stumps has minimal impact on disease spreading. The City Shade Tree Disease and Pest Control code includes the following language within 153.004 Section A-2, sub e: For any tree removal by the city, the city shall not be responsible for restoration of the removal site, including, but not limited to, seeding or replacement of sod, trees, shrubs, flowers, underground irrigation or any other improvements not specifically mentioned herein, which may be damaged, destroyed or removed during the tree removal process. Though the code states the City is not responsible for restoration to these areas, contractors have been instructed to do so because of past practice. Tree removal costs continue to rise and to assist the property owners in keeping costs down, Staff is recommending not to remove the tree stumps but instead, leave the stump at 3 inches or less above ground level. (This will also assist City Staff because many times the Contractor cannot remove the stump at the time of tree removal therefore resulting in phone calls/emails inquiring on the status of the removal by the property owners; this practice also delays invoicing by Finance.) Contract Information: Past contracts have been every two to three years; the current contract for the tree removals expired in 2024.