Forestry Jim McGannon, Manager 1401 Recreation Way, Colorado Springs, CO 80905 (719) 385-5942 jmcgannon@springsgov.com MISSION To ensure the City's urban forest is healthy, safe, and sustainable; maintain the original forest legacy; manage risk; and increase the canopy coverage for shade, stormwater retention, and property value. HISTORY $1,350,000 $1,300,000 $1,250,000 $1,200,000 $1,150,000 $1,100,000 $1,050,000 $1,000,000 2000 2001 2002 2003 Approved as of January 1 SERVICES Manage and maintain public trees Provide planting on public rights-of-way and parkland Utilize Tree Fee Fund for new subdivisions Clear traffic signs and visibility obstructions Respond to tree-related emergencies Provide technical assistance related to forestry matters Manage insect and disease problems Provide tree service licensing and certifications Manage City s urban forest including those in Special Improvement Maintenance Districts (regional and open space) SUMMARY Uses of Funds Salary/Benefits $ 848,744 $556,855 $ 990,172 $ 1,033,184 Operating 253,337 272,234 259,374 259,374 Capital Outlay 2,962 3,573 3,700 3,700 Total $1,105,043 $832,662 $1,253,246 $1,296,258 Forestry Page 10-14
PERSONNEL GENERAL FUND Classification Manager 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Supervisor 2.00 2.00 2.00 2.00 Professional 2.00 3.00 3.00 3.00 General 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 FTE Total 13.00 14.00 14.00 14.00 For, a Forester position was added to assist in diseased tree inspections and area management. OTHER FUNDS Fund Conservation Trust (Lottery) 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 FTE Total 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 Page 10-15 Forestry
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 12% % of Crew Time Spent on Scheduled Pruning 14% 16% 17% 16% 2002 2003 15% The safety and health of all public trees are a high priority. To accomplish this, trees must be pruned. Tree pruning is done on a contractual basis and by in-house crew maintenance. Contractors perform street tree pruning on larger diameter trees while Forestry s crews concentrate on the small caliper trees and combine this detail with other duties to accomplish more than one goal during this scheduled cycle. Forestry technicians conduct more specialized and quality-control specific goals that are not practical with contracted work. The Division anticipates increasing the pruning schedule by 5-10 percent. Percent of Time Target The Forestry Division divided the City s tree population into management areas, including Special Improvement Maintenance Districts. Each area has a scheduled street and park tree pruning cycle. The national standard is 8 to 10 years for a prune cycle, especially for street trees. Forestry s current tree pruning cycle is 16 years. As the urban forest expands, Forestry must adjust its priorities to meet the demands that a regularly scheduled prune cycle requires. A scheduled prune for public trees is needed for health, safety, storm damage, insect/disease control, and overall vigor of the urban forest. The ability to keep a cycle low is directly related to resources available. 25 20 15 10 5 0 Prune Cycle of Park and Street Trees (Frequency in Years) 14 13 19 20 16 2002 2003 Frequency Target 18 128,000 126,000 124,000 122,000 120,000 118,000 # of Street and Park Trees 122,000 119,000 118,500 118,500 123,700 126,000 The inventory is based upon geographic information system (GIS) and field inventory data. The tree population expands as a result of the Department s efforts and those of many commercial developments. Based on the inventory, there is an approximate 104,300 street tree population. In addition, the City s park inventory shows a population of approximately 18,700. Due to the interest in the new subdivision planting program and commercial rights-of-way landscaping, the street tree population has increased and results in a longer pruning cycle. 116,000 114,000 2002 2003 Forestry Page 10-16
CHANGES TO THE Funding of $20,694 is included for the salary and benefit increase. Funding of $22,318 is included for PERA, Workers Compensation and Medical increases. MAJOR OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVE Maintain the urban forest for public safety, welfare, and benefits to the community (Strategic Action Plan 2.2.0) Establish contracts that address scheduled and unscheduled pruning, pest management, tree removals, planting, and general maintenance needs. Staff will continue to maintain and monitor many different aspects of the urban forest to assure quality control. Forestry supports the Fire Department on vegetation management issues as it relates to the Wildfire Mitigation program and continues to collaborate on vegetation management issues relating to public lands, parklands, and private lands. OBJECTIVE Coordinate tree-related emergencies (Strategic Action Plan 2.2.0) Work with the Police and Fire Departments by implementing the Forestry Emergency Response Plan as needed. Coordinate with Emergency Operations Manager and Police Dispatch Supervisors. In addition, Forestry works closely with the Police Department to address treerelated emergency issues (i.e. Code Enforcement and after-hours callout) that arise on a continual basis. OBJECTIVE Manage insect and disease problems Manage major insect and disease problems to maintain the health and vigor of the City s urban forest. Major diseases include Dutch Elm Disease and diseases related to major insect outbreaks. Major insect problems include bark beetles, i.e., elm bark, Mountain Pine and Ips beetles. OBJECTIVE Provide New Home Tree (Tree Fee Fund) Program Continue the intent of the 1976 ordinance enacting a process for the establishment of tree-lined streets in new subdivisions. With the enactment (August 2003) of the revised Tree Fee Fund by City Council, Forestry staff continues to issue certificates to homeowners and use the fund balance for additional tree plantings. Page 10-17 Forestry
CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS DETAIL GENERAL FUND FORESTRY ACCOUNT 51205 CIVILIAN SALARIES 640,117 408,080 718,237 736,193 51210 OVERTIME 306 1,402 3,100 3,100 51220 SEASONAL TEMPORARY 17,936 22,194 19,966 19,966 51245 RETIREMENT TERM VACATION 86 0 0 0 51260 VACATION BUY 1,670 2,093 0 0 51299 SALARIES REIMBURSEMENTS (2,551) (1,964) 0 0 51610 PERA 64,213 42,679 72,959 78,408 51615 WORKERS COMPENSATION 36,099 17,470 73,402 84,963 51620 EQUITABLE LIFE INSURANCE 1,948 1,257 2,765 2,819 51625 VISION CARE 796 507 882 882 51640 DENTAL INSURANCE 4,930 3,327 5,962 5,962 51665 CASH BACK 1,572 1,608 0 0 51690 MEDICARE 5,861 3,908 6,991 7,251 51695 CITY EPO MEDICAL PLAN 75,762 54,294 85,908 93,640 TOTAL SALARIES AND BENEFITS 848,744 556,855 990,172 1,033,184 52105 MISCELLANEOUS OPERATING 1,442 1,897 0 0 52110 OFFICE SUPPLIES 850 950 810 810 52115 MEDICAL SUPPLIES 979 654 1,600 1,600 52120 SOFTWARE MICRO WORD PROCESS 0 0 420 420 52122 CELL PHONES EQUIP / SUPPLIES 0 45 0 0 52125 GENERAL SUPPLIES 3,587 3,403 4,013 4,013 52135 POSTAGE 14 34 0 0 52140 WEARING APPAREL 2,551 2,406 1,500 1,500 52145 PAINT AND CHEMICAL 595 106 1,025 1,025 52165 LICENSES AND TAGS 67 100 0 0 52175 SIGNS 37 41 0 0 52190 JANITORIAL SUPPLIES 0 0 200 200 52205 MAINT LANDSCAPING 29,265 27,940 25,086 25,486 52210 MAINT TREES 198,302 219,051 207,000 207,000 52220 MAINT OFFICE MACHINES 0 1,213 150 150 52225 MAINT MICROS WORD PROCESSOR 400 0 0 0 52230 MAINT FURNITURE AND FIXTURES 0 334 480 480 52235 MAINT MACHINERY / APPARATUS 2,391 637 2,815 1,015 52265 MAINT BUILDINGS / STRUCTURE 146 121 0 0 52575 SERVICES 729 1,583 2,207 2,207 52605 CAR MILEAGE 0 0 300 300 52615 DUES AND MEMBERSHIP 542 802 400 400 52625 MEETING EXPENSES IN TOWN 119 130 185 185 52630 TRAINING 3,236 1,546 1,850 1,850 52645 SUBSCRIPTIONS 50 25 25 25 52655 TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN 30 1,407 800 800 52736 CELL PHONE AIRTIME 27 56 0 0 52775 MINOR EQUIPMENT 5,009 6,023 4,608 6,408 52795 RENTAL OF EQUIPMENT 1,255 652 1,400 1,000 52874 OFFICE SERVICES PRINTING 1,716 1,080 2,500 2,500 TOTAL OPERATING EXPENSES 253,337 272,234 259,374 259,374 Forestry Page 10-18
CITY OF COLORADO SPRINGS DETAIL GENERAL FUND FORESTRY ACCOUNT 53050 MACHINERY AND APPARATUS 2,962 3,573 3,700 3,700 TOTAL CAPITAL OUTLAY 2,962 3,573 3,700 3,700 ORGANIZATION TOTAL 1,105,043 832,662 1,253,246 1,296,258 Page 10-19 Forestry