G-2 DPR - Tree Maintenance - Arlingtonva
Subject: DPR – Tree Maintenance
FY 2017 Proposed Budget Budget Work Session Follow-up April 7, 2016 The following information is provided in response to a request made my Mr. Fisette at the work session on March16, 2016, regarding feedback on the Urban Forestry Commission’s request of $100,000 dollars for tree maintenance.
Arlington has approximately 19,500 street trees and currently has a tree maintenance pruning cycle of approximately 17 years. Street trees begin to mature two years after planting, the point at which regular watering is not as necessary, and regular maintenance and pruning ensure the health and well-being of the mature trees. The overall tree maintenance budget for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is about $275,000, divided between tree removal and cleanup, watering, and pruning. On average, about $120,000 of that budget is available for tree pruning, which results in approximately 1,100 trees pruned per year (any variability in funding is due to issues like emergency tree removal after large storms; funding is not specifically dedicated only to pruning). With an inventory of 19,500 street trees, this means that each tree in the inventory can be pruned approximately once every 17 years. International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): The ISA offers a number of goals for tree maintenance and care. Many are “stretch” goals such as the concept that street trees in an urban environment should be pruned at least once every five years; however, any measurable progress towards that goal will only benefit Arlington’s tree population. DPR staff have surveyed surrounding jurisdictions and those that responded indicated that their jurisdictions do not have control of nor maintenance responsibility for their street trees, most likely due to Arlington County’s control of most roads in the County. For Arlington to reach the ideal ISA cycle of five years, DPR would have to increase the average number of trees pruned by 254% (from 1,100 per year to 3,900 per year). Such an increase would require new annual funding of $305,200. The Urban Forestry Commission’s recommendation to increase DPR’s funding by $100,000 would allow to DPR to prune an additional 917 trees annually, nearly doubling the amount of trees maintained and improving the tree pruning cycle from 17 to 10 years. Based on staff knowledge and a review of the literature, reducing the pruning cycle to 10 years would have a significant impact on the health of the tree inventory. The pie charts below show the difference in how much of the ISA goal would be achieved with the Urban Forestry’s recommendation of an additional $100,000 toward tree pruning.
L:\DMFBUD\Bud17\Work Sessions\Follow-up which has gone to the Board\G-2 DPR - Tree Maintenance v10.docx
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Subject: DPR – Tree Maintenance
Current Annual Tree Pruning
Potential Annual Tree Pruning
28%
52%
Trees Pruned Annually - 1,100
Trees Pruned Annually - 2,017
Remaining Trees to Prune [to achieve 5-year pruning cycle] - 2,800
Remaining Trees to Prune [to achieve 5-year pruning cycle] - 1,883
The table also shows a recent history of tree pruning and routine maintenance, along with a projection of what an additional investment beginning in FY 2017 would look like. Tree Pruning/Maintenance Detail: Fiscal Year
FY 2011
FY 2012
FY 2013
FY 2014
FY 2015
FY 2017 FY 2016 Proposed FY 2017* Adopted Budget
Actuals / Base Budget **
$125,350
$136,250
$141,700
$119,900
$83,385
$120,000 $120,000 $220,000
Number of Street Trees
19,500
19,500
19,500
19,500
19,500
Number/% of Trees Pruned Annually (1 Time per Cycle)
1,150/6%
1,250/6%
1,300/7%
1,100/6%
765/4%
19,500
19,500
19,500
1,100/6% 1,100/6% 2,000/10%
*FY 2017 estimates assume an additional $100,000 investment. ** As noted above, the overall budget for tree maintenance is $275,000, divided between tree removal and cleanup, watering, and pruning. Of the $275,000 the targeted budget for tree pruning is $120,000. However, actual spending varies from this level due to issues like emergency tree removal after large storms; which reduces the available funding for tree pruning.
On average, the County loses approximately 663 trees per year, with the majority of the loss due to trees dying, becoming unhealthy, or developing hazardous conditions. By investing in an ongoing tree pruning and maintenance program, a significant dent in the average number of trees lost per year and emergency responses to hazardous limbs can be made, allowing for investment in adding to and maintaining the healthful effects of the overall canopy. The success of an ongoing tree maintenance and pruning program will be measured, in part, by reducing the number of trees lost per year.
L:\DMFBUD\Bud17\Work Sessions\Follow-up which has gone to the Board\G-2 DPR - Tree Maintenance v10.docx
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FY 2017 Proposed Budget Budget Work Session Follow-up April 7, 2016 The following information is provided in response to a request made my Mr. Fisette at the work session on March16, 2016, regarding feedback on the Urban Forestry Commission’s request of $100,000 dollars for tree maintenance.
Arlington has approximately 19,500 street trees and currently has a tree maintenance pruning cycle of approximately 17 years. Street trees begin to mature two years after planting, the point at which regular watering is not as necessary, and regular maintenance and pruning ensure the health and well-being of the mature trees. The overall tree maintenance budget for the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is about $275,000, divided between tree removal and cleanup, watering, and pruning. On average, about $120,000 of that budget is available for tree pruning, which results in approximately 1,100 trees pruned per year (any variability in funding is due to issues like emergency tree removal after large storms; funding is not specifically dedicated only to pruning). With an inventory of 19,500 street trees, this means that each tree in the inventory can be pruned approximately once every 17 years. International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): The ISA offers a number of goals for tree maintenance and care. Many are “stretch” goals such as the concept that street trees in an urban environment should be pruned at least once every five years; however, any measurable progress towards that goal will only benefit Arlington’s tree population. DPR staff have surveyed surrounding jurisdictions and those that responded indicated that their jurisdictions do not have control of nor maintenance responsibility for their street trees, most likely due to Arlington County’s control of most roads in the County. For Arlington to reach the ideal ISA cycle of five years, DPR would have to increase the average number of trees pruned by 254% (from 1,100 per year to 3,900 per year). Such an increase would require new annual funding of $305,200. The Urban Forestry Commission’s recommendation to increase DPR’s funding by $100,000 would allow to DPR to prune an additional 917 trees annually, nearly doubling the amount of trees maintained and improving the tree pruning cycle from 17 to 10 years. Based on staff knowledge and a review of the literature, reducing the pruning cycle to 10 years would have a significant impact on the health of the tree inventory. The pie charts below show the difference in how much of the ISA goal would be achieved with the Urban Forestry’s recommendation of an additional $100,000 toward tree pruning.
L:\DMFBUD\Bud17\Work Sessions\Follow-up which has gone to the Board\G-2 DPR - Tree Maintenance v10.docx
G-2
Subject: DPR – Tree Maintenance
Current Annual Tree Pruning
Potential Annual Tree Pruning
28%
52%
Trees Pruned Annually - 1,100
Trees Pruned Annually - 2,017
Remaining Trees to Prune [to achieve 5-year pruning cycle] - 2,800
Remaining Trees to Prune [to achieve 5-year pruning cycle] - 1,883
The table also shows a recent history of tree pruning and routine maintenance, along with a projection of what an additional investment beginning in FY 2017 would look like. Tree Pruning/Maintenance Detail: Fiscal Year
FY 2011
FY 2012
FY 2013
FY 2014
FY 2015
FY 2017 FY 2016 Proposed FY 2017* Adopted Budget
Actuals / Base Budget **
$125,350
$136,250
$141,700
$119,900
$83,385
$120,000 $120,000 $220,000
Number of Street Trees
19,500
19,500
19,500
19,500
19,500
Number/% of Trees Pruned Annually (1 Time per Cycle)
1,150/6%
1,250/6%
1,300/7%
1,100/6%
765/4%
19,500
19,500
19,500
1,100/6% 1,100/6% 2,000/10%
*FY 2017 estimates assume an additional $100,000 investment. ** As noted above, the overall budget for tree maintenance is $275,000, divided between tree removal and cleanup, watering, and pruning. Of the $275,000 the targeted budget for tree pruning is $120,000. However, actual spending varies from this level due to issues like emergency tree removal after large storms; which reduces the available funding for tree pruning.
On average, the County loses approximately 663 trees per year, with the majority of the loss due to trees dying, becoming unhealthy, or developing hazardous conditions. By investing in an ongoing tree pruning and maintenance program, a significant dent in the average number of trees lost per year and emergency responses to hazardous limbs can be made, allowing for investment in adding to and maintaining the healthful effects of the overall canopy. The success of an ongoing tree maintenance and pruning program will be measured, in part, by reducing the number of trees lost per year.
L:\DMFBUD\Bud17\Work Sessions\Follow-up which has gone to the Board\G-2 DPR - Tree Maintenance v10.docx
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