Submitted By
Rob Sproule, Public Works Director
Reviewed By
Ahmad M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager / Interim Director of Development Customer Services
Agenda Item Title
Title
A Resolution Approving the Purchase and Planting of Parkways Trees through Contracts Secured by the Suburban Tree Consortium in an Amount Not to Exceed $131,000.00 for the 2024 Tree Planting Program and Waiving the Village’s Bid Process for said Purchase
End
Overview
Overview
The Village purchases and plants approximately 300 - 500 parkway trees annually. Most of these trees replace those removed due to disease, insect infestation, damage, or safety considerations. The Village has contracted for tree purchasing and planting through the Suburban Tree Consortium (STC) for many years.End
Recommendation
Recommendation
Adopt the Resolution.
Background
The Village joined the Suburban Tree Consortium in 1987 via passage of Ordinance 1987-O-46. The STC has approximately 40 municipal members. The combined buying power of the STC enables its member communities to direct the nurseries as to the size, species, and specification of trees to be planted and grown for STC member needs. This guarantees the availability of a wide variety of trees to its members regardless of outside market pressures. Trees grown by these nurseries conform to STC specifications suited to parkway applications. This ensures uniformity of planting stock, optimum growth habit, and high survival rates. Trees are reserved for the current year and for the four following years, guaranteeing their price and availability.
Member communities are also able to take advantage of price declines. If published catalog prices fall below the forecasted price, members are able to purchase at the lower published price, minus ten percent (10%) rather than the original forecasted price. The tree purchase program is based on a unit price per tree, which varies depending on tree species and size.
The STC has secured contracts with five nurseries for 2024 plantings: Doty Nursery, Goodmark Nursery, Hinsdale Nurseries, Spring Grove Nursery, and Wilson Nurseries. The STC has also bid out tree planting services and secured contracts with Apex Landscaping. The Village has had excellent results using all these suppliers and planters for the STC.
Fiscal Impact
The Fiscal Year 2024 Capital Improvement Fund Budget includes $200,000.00 to perform parkway tree purchase, planting and watering in account # 3095-43780-101-570957 (Public Works, Capital Projects, Tree Replacement).
Of this budgeted amount, $131,000.00 is proposed for the purchase of trees and $65,000.00 is proposed for the watering of the trees from the planting last fall and this spring. The proposed allocation should allow for the purchase and installation of 300 - 325 new trees.
Staff is working with a local nursery on a program whereby seedlings are planted and grown until which time they can be planted in the parkway. This allows the Village to support its planting program with species that are not usually available from the STC nurseries. The remaining $4,000.00 in this account is dedicated to support this contract grow initiative and to purchase watering bags.
DEI Impact
Planting new parkway trees aligns with the Climate Ready Oak Park plan goal of increasing tree canopy cover and carbon sequestration, mitigating urban heat island impacts, and equitably distributing trees throughout the Village (EP03). The Tree Equity Score map is used to prioritize filling open planting locations.
Alternatives
The Board can delay action to gain additional information.
Previous Board Action
Funding for this project was approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget. The Village Board has approved the tree planting contract annually.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
It is anticipated that the Public Works Department will be bringing a Resolution authorizing tree purchase and planting through the Suburban Tree Consortium to the Village Board annually.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
The Suburban Tree Consortium is an excellent example of inter-governmental cooperation. By combining the purchasing power of its member municipalities, the STC allows the Village access to a diverse list of tree species grown to specifications suited to the Village’s needs, and ensures long-term price stability.