CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Approve the award of Option Year Two to Contract 22-059.2, Emerald Ash Borer Insecticidal Treatments, to Kinnucan Tree Experts and Landscape Company, Inc., for an amount not to exceed $265,000
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DEPARTMENT: Department of Public Works
SUBMITTED BY: Richard Dublinski, Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
In March 2022, the City Council awarded Bid 22-059, EAB Insecticidal Treatments, to Kinnucan Tree Experts for a one-year term from March 9, 2022, to December 31, 2022, with three one-year options to extend. In February 2023, the City Council awarded the first option year. The term of the first extension was January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2023, with two one-year extensions years remaining.
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 70% 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 2023, more than 85% 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. 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).
In 2018, DPW began treating 25% of the larger trees with TREE-age on a three-year cycle, instead of a two-year cycle. The performance of this group has been tracked as compared to the trees on a two-year cycle. As positive results have been seen with the three-year cycle, the City now has moved all large trees to the longer treatment interval. Transitioning TREE-age treatments to a three-year cycle has reduced costs by about 30%. As the EAB population continues to decline, the City will continue to find ways to reduce cost by further reducing treatments.
DISCUSSION:
During the original term of the contract and the first option year Kinnucan Tree Experts and Landscape Company, Inc performed well.
There are approximately 11,500 city parkway ash trees. Through a combination of Tree-Age and Xytect, the City treated 6,688 trees in 2023. TREE-age treatments are applied once every three years, so not all ash trees are treated every year. The results of the 2023 inspection were:
• 87% of the parkway ash trees exhibited only minor or no EAB damage.
• 10% of the parkway ash trees exhibited moderate signs of EAB.
• 3% of the parkway ash trees required removal.
The City has approximately 3,620 trees that will receive Xytect treatments and approximately 2,600 parkway ash trees that will receive TREE-age treatments in 2024.
Kinnucan Tree Experts has agreed to no rate increases for the new contract term.
The term of this extension is January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 with one additional extension year remaining.
FISCAL IMPACT:
CIP #: N/A
EAB Treatments are expensed to the Operational Services account below. A total of $275,000 is approved for EAB treatments as part of the 2024 budget. The requested award is within budget.
|
Account Number |
Fund Description |
Total Budget Amount |
|
31251100-531308 |
General Fund |
$2,164,965 |