Fiscal Note
This amendment provides $365,000 in funding from the Contingent Reserve to the Parks Division Operating Budget to chemically treat ash trees.
Funding of $365,000 is available in the 2014 adopted City operating budget, which has appropriated $1,200,000 in funding for the Contingent Reserve. The current uncommitted balance in the Contingent Reserve is $1,161,387 which will be reduced to $796,387 upon the adoption of this amendment. There is no net impact on the tax levy.
An additional $54,000 in Hourly Employee Pay, $48,000 in Overtime Pay, and $13,000 in associated benefits is required for the Parks Division to chemically treat one third of the ash trees located on the street terraces that do not need to be removed for public safety reasons. The chemical treatment is good for two years. The Parks Division will concentrate their chemical treatment efforts in 2014 beginning in areas of known infestation and increasing the area as time and staffing levels allow. Beginning in 2015, one half of the trees suitable for chemical treatment will be treated each year, thus all the trees will be treated within the two year cycle going forward.
An additional $220,000 is needed for the chemical supplies and $30,000 for other miscellaneous supplies and training.
An additional 1.0 FTE Forestry Specialist position is also created via this resolution, and will be funded through the management of salary savings within the Parks Division.
Additional equipment necessary for the removal and replanting of ash trees that are deemed to be a public safety hazard includes two pick-up trucks, one clam and a tower truck. The pick-up trucks and the clam will be purchased using the funding in the Parks Division’s approved 2014 capital budget project Emerald Ash Borer Mitigation (810766) of $220,000. Fleet Services will purchase the tower using their existing capital budget funding authority in capital project Replace Equipment (815506) and this resolution authorizes th...
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