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Urban Forestry Description of the function: Eugene has an extensive urban forestry program that supports the high value placed on flourishing trees in the city. Approximately $760,000 of the $1,043,000 is charged against the Road Fund for maintenance of street trees. Comparison to others: Each of the cities surveyed is designated as a Tree City USA. However, they all have different service level when it comes to street trees. Only Eugene, Sunnyvale and Salem have an active program of street tree pruning and only Eugene charges this effort against .the Road Fund. Boulder, Fort Collins and Vancouver do some s emergency tree pruning by Eugene $1,568 $85..20 contract but the Parks Department Vancouver. $0 does the bulk of their urban Sunnyvale $3,256 $67.47' Boulder $1,869 forestry work on public land. Fart Collins $o Safe?n $1,518 The chart shows how the cities compare by level of effort on a system wide/per mile basis. Only Sunnyvale has per tree expenditure information to compare for services like tree pruning, which constitutes a majority of program expenses. Cost Factor Analysis: Crew size vs. safety considerations has been an issue as it often is with forms of aerial work and other work in traffic. The current approach of varying crew size to accommodate the level of hazard is appropriate. Contracting Options: Tree pruning services are available and could do some of the work currently done by city crews. Efficiency Opportunities: • Examine the possibility of providing some tree pruning service by contract within the existing budget to account for the staffing vacancies that routinely occur. This will allow direct comparison of city crew costs against those of outside contractors. The cost of contract administration should not be forgotten, however, in analyzing these costs. 17