Title
Parkway Tree Replacement Program
History
The Public Works Department had a tree planting/replacement program in place a few years ago to plant trees in public areas that had minimal or no trees. One such area was 143rd Street from LaGrange Road to 80th Avenue. Another area was the 80th Avenue medians from 151st Street to 157th Street. With the onset of the Emerald Ash Borer infestation, tree plantings in public areas will be vital to ensure maintaining an Urban Forest.
As a proactive approach to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation, and as part of our inventory project, we categorized parkway and median trees by species and condition. Based upon this tree inventory, we have determined that approximately up to two hundred (200) Village-owned trees have been impacted thus far by the emerald ash borer. As this infestation presents itself slowly, staff anticipates that the EAB impact will be felt for years to come. Removal of many of the severely impacted trees will be needed and subsequent replacement with an alternate species will be required.
The Recreation and Parks Department went out to bid for the Village’s tree purchase requirements in November 2010 for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 budget years (Board Action Number 2010-0588). The low bidder for the materials and planting work was Mid-America Tree and Landscape of Mokena, Illinois. The bid costs were as follows:
2011 2012 2013
3” diameter trees planted: $160 $165 $170
Staff contacted Mid-America Tree and Landscape to determine if they would extend their bid pricing to the Public Works Tree Replacement Program for fiscal years 2011 through 2013. Mid-America has agreed to honor this pricing.
On July 18, 2011, this item was reviewed and approved by the Public Works and Engineering Committee and referred to the Board for approval.
INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED AS PART OF THE JULY 18, 2011, PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING COMMITTEE PACKET.
Financial Impact
The Fiscal Year 2011 Budget has...
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