CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Option Year Three to Contract 17-210, Emerald Ash Borer Insecticidal Treatment, to The Davey Tree Expert Company, for an amount not to exceed $300,000
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DEPARTMENT: Department of Public Works
SUBMITTED BY: Richard Dublinski, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
In 2012, the City implemented a comprehensive Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) management program consisting of four major components:
1. the annual inspection of ash trees to assess their health,
2. the treatment of healthy ash trees,
3. the removal of poor ash trees that no longer benefit from treatment, and
4. the replacement of removed ash trees with a diversity of species.
This comprehensive management program has proven to be an efficient, cost-effective method to manage the EAB. Since treatment began in 2012, nearly 80% of the trees have survived.
As part of DPW’s EAB containment strategy, staff inspects and assesses the extent of EAB damage throughout the city. Beginning in 2012, trees were rated on a five-point scale ranging from good condition to dead. Trees in good condition show little or no sign of EAB and have the highest chance of surviving. These trees continue to be treated and monitored. Marginal trees have serious signs of EAB but have a chance to survive. The marginal trees are re-evaluated before treatment the next year. Poor or dead trees are no longer worth preserving and require removal. In 2020, more than 90% of the ash trees exhibited little or no sign of EAB damage.
EAB Treatments
The City uses different treatment methods for controlling the EAB depending on the size of the tree. Imidacloprid (Xytect) is used for smaller trees while TREE-age is applied to larger trees. Both treatments are administered in the spring and early summer. The Imidacloprid treatments are applied as a soil drench and are less effective on larger diameter trees, especially if the trees are already infested. In general, Imidacloprid is used for trees that are less than 18 inches in diameter.
The most effective treatment method, especially for larger diameter trees, is the TREE-age treatment. TREE-age treatment lasts a minimum of two years and the chemicals are injected directly into the tree, which research shows is the most effective way to treat larger diameter ash trees. In 2018, DPW began treating 25% of the larger trees with TREE-age on a three-year cycle, instead of a two-year cycle, and is closely monitoring the results. TREE-age will continue to be used for the trees that are 18 inches and greater in diameter (12 inches or greater for white ash). Each year more trees are phased from the two-year cycle to the three-year cycle.
In January 2018, the City Council approved the award of Contract 17-210, Emerald Ash Borer Insecticidal treatments, for a one-year term through December 31, 2018 with two one-year options to extend. On February 5, 2019 and February 18, 2020, the City Council approved the first and second one-year extensions.
Since that time, staff discovered a discrepancy in the original award. The contract was for a one-year term through December 31, 2018 with three, one-year options to extend. As a result, there is a third option year available to extend the contract.
DISCUSSION:
The Davey Tree Expert Company performed well during the second option year of the contract and agreed to maintain the rates and terms provided for under the contract for the third option year.
There are approximately 12,100 city parkway ash trees. Through a combination of TREE-Age and Imidacloprid, the City treated 8,200 trees at a total expense of $321,300 in 2020. TREE-age treatments are applied once every two or three years, so not all ash trees are treated every year.
The City has approximately 4,700 trees that will receive Imidacloprid (Xytect) treatments and approximately 2,900 trees that will receive TREE-age treatments in 2021.
The term of the third option year is March 1, 2021 through December 31, 2021, with no option years remaining.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CIP #: N/A
EAB Treatments are expensed to the operational service account below. A total of $300,000 was budgeted for EAB Treatments in 2021. The requested award of $300,000 is within the budgeted amount for this expense.
|
Account Number |
Fund Description |
Total Budget Amount |
|
31251100-531308 |
General Fund |
$1,816,345 |