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r <br /> UFBCMEM.WPD Page 2 <br /> amended the strategy objectives to reflect the current state of the measure and added language to clarify the <br /> system efficiency measure. <br /> Additional Background Information <br /> Many Urban Forestry services the Public Works Department provides are relatively new. Historically, the tree <br /> program consisted of two field crews working on park and street trees. This changed in 1992 when the City's <br /> involvement in Urban Forestry was expanded by adoption of the Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP). <br /> Under direction of the Eugene Tree Commission, this policy document sets long term goals and policies for the <br /> management of trees on both public and private lands, including the provision of tree education and protection <br /> of Heritage Trees. <br /> Since 1992, we have implemented a number of Urban Forestry services supporting policies or goals cited in the <br /> UFMP. These include: creation of the "NeighborWoods" volunteer street tree planting program; development <br /> of a street tree species planting list that ensures trees are well sited, suited to soils, provide species diversity, <br /> including use of native species; implementation of International Society of Arboriculture pruning standards; <br /> adoption of minimum planting area widths for new streets and required street tree planting in all developments <br /> which create new streets; and code provisions requiring protection of "Heritage" street trees. (NOTE: funding <br /> used for the purchase of trees for the NeighborWoods program was eliminated in the FY98 proposed CIP) <br /> The Urban Forestry staff of 10 employees consists of: an Urban Forester who provides supervision and <br /> program management; a technician who processes tree removal requests, provides information, investigates <br /> citizen complains, and manages the NeighborWoods program; a technician who administers the noxious and <br /> nuisance vegetation ordinances; and 7 tree maintenance workers (forming 2 tree crews) who perform work on <br /> city owned street and park trees. <br /> Funding for Urban Forestry is provided by the General (2.7 FTE), Road (7.05 FTE) and Stormwater (0.25 <br /> FTE) Funds. Only 1 FTE is funded within the General Fund for tree work within our 1,980 acre park system. <br /> Due to this, assignments are predominately hazard reduction and removal of storm damage from high usage <br /> areas within the developed parks. 1.2 General Fund FTEs provide program supervision, administer the Tree <br /> Preservation Ordinance and provide tree consulting services to other City departments (e.g., review of Planned <br /> Unit Developments and other land use actions). One FTE (prorated 0.5 General Fund /0.25 Road Fund /0.25 <br /> Storm Sewer Fund) provides administration of the obnoxious and nuisance vegetation ordinances. The <br /> remaining 7.05 FTE are supported by the Road Fund and work within the street tree maintenance program. <br /> The street tree maintenance program is, like the parks tree program, based primarily on hazard reduction. It is <br /> estimated that Eugene has 75,000 - 100,000 street trees. International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) standards <br /> for tree pruning recommends a 5 -7 year pruning cycle for tree health and dead wood removal. Eugene's 2 tree <br /> crews have been averaging 2,500 trees pruned per year. This equates to a maintenance cycle of 30 - 40 years. <br /> Program enhancements or service requests for aesthetic or low liability pruning of street trees receive low <br /> priority. <br /> Staff respond to a large number of service requests from the public. Contacts include requests for general tree <br /> information, tree removal information, reports of damaged trees, and consulting requests from other <br /> departments. In Calendar year 1996, urban forestry staff received over 15,600 customer telephone requests <br /> for information or services, or an average of one call every eight minutes over the entire year. This intense <br /> customer contact competes for the limited staff resources available for program development or service <br /> enhancements. <br /> Various portions of the Urban Forestry Service Profile have been reworded or expanded to include this <br /> information and /or clarify the language. For more information, please call Johnny Medlin or Scott Plamondon, <br />