Title
2024 Parkway, Park, and Facility Tree Inventory and Assessment
History
Between 2021 and 2022, the Village has worked with Great Lakes Urban Forestry Management (GLUF) to complete two (2) large-scale, GIS-based inventories and assessments of trees located in Village parkways, parks and facilities. Updating and maintaining the Village’s tree inventory helps the Public Works Department’s Natural Resources and Facilities Division more efficiently manage our urban canopy by providing accurate data on tree location, species, condition and diversity. The inventory also assists with identifying site- and species-specific concerns, project budgeting, risk reduction and community outreach.
A summary of Village tree inventory/assessment efforts since 2021 is provided below:
Park and Facility Tree Inventory and Assessment - 2021
The Public Works Department worked with GLUF in March, 2021 to complete an inventory and assessment of the 6,442 trees located on all Village Park and Facility sites (including Humphrey Woods), a GIS database of those trees, and a tree management plan. The tree inventory/assessment identified the quantity and quality of these trees, while the tree management plan focused on inventory data analysis.
Parkway Tree Inventory and Assessment - 2022
As a continuation of those efforts, Public Works worked with GLUF to complete an inventory and assessment in July 2022, of the 28,270 trees located on all Village parkways, including the identification of 6,500 open locations for new trees plantings, GIS data integration and support, and additional tree management and consulting support.
Additional Site Tree Inventory and Assessments - 2023
Tree inventories were conducted at 14101 and 14249 Wolf Road prior to the demolition of buildings at those sites. Additionally, an inventory and assessment of trees located at 10609 and 10629 163rd place, the site of the proposal Police Department Firing Range, was completed.
Accordingly, as of October 2023, the Public Works Department’s managed tree count is 38,096 trees, of which 28,270 were located in parkways; 4,861 on park and facility grounds; and 4,965 in natural areas. As tree removals and plantings, tree growth and transforming site conditions have taken place over time, the actual number of managed trees is currently estimated to be closer to 39,000.
As a tree inventory is only as useful as it is up-to-date, the Public Works Department is proposing to conduct a comprehensive update to the Village’s Parkway, Park, and Facility Tree data in 2024. Moving forward the plan would be to conduct comprehensive tree inventory updates to Village tree data on a three (3) year cycle.
Public Works Department reached out to GLUF for a proposal for a “2024 Parkway, Park, and Facility Tree Inventory and Assessment”. This proposal, which is attached for reference, includes a full update of all managed Village-owned parkway, park and facility trees, an ESRI geodatabase for integration into the Village’s existing GIS and an updated Tree Inventory Report.
If approved, GLUF would begin the parkway tree assessment/inventory as early as January, 2024.
The proposal from GLUF for is now before the Village Board for final consideration.
Financial Impact
Funding for the Parkway Tree Assessment was budgeted for in FY2024 and is available in Public Works account 1008010-443500.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve the proposal from Great Lakes Urban Forestry Management for “2024 Parkway, Park, and Facility Tree Inventory and Assessment” for an amount not to exceed $97,870.00;
AND
Authorize the Village Manager to execute all related contracts, subject to Village Attorney review.