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<br />SHADE TREE PROGRAM <br /> <br />Provides for the control and eradication of Dutch Elm and Oak Wilt <br />disease through the education of employees who identify diseased <br />trees and either treat or remove the trees that are located on public <br />property. The city also assists the public in control of tree diseases <br />on private property. <br /> <br />Provides for a tree replanting program to offset the diseased trees <br />that are removed in an effort to maintain the aesthetics of the <br />community. <br /> <br />2000 BUDGET COMPARED WITH 1999 BUDGET <br /> <br />This departmental budget is: <br /> <br />- Proposed in the amount of $7,950; <br />- Is a $3,550 decrease compared to the adopted 1999 budget; <br />- Less than 1% of the total general fund expenditures. <br /> <br />The amount of staff time spent in the shade tree program and the amount of <br />supplies purchased and services contracted for are all relatively small. The <br />amount of staff time spent on this program is directly related to how much <br />time is required on other higher priority activities. Additionally, the amount <br />of time spent in this program is related to the amount of trees that become <br />available from time to time for city purposes. Finally, the amount of staff <br />time available for this program depends significantly upon the time required <br />for brush/tree clean up if a major storm event takes place. In the last five <br />plus years, the city has had a relatively passive shade tree program and this <br />budget is a very small part of the total city expenses. If a significant <br />program is desired to be undertaken in 2000, then these expenditures would <br />have to come out of the city council contingency budget or a reserve. In the <br />2001 budget, it is planned that this departmental budget will become a <br />program within the parks budget and these expenses will be incorporated <br />into the overall parks budget. <br /> <br />The 2000 operating supplies is for the purchase of additional trees to be <br />planted in the public boulevards and parks and for the replacement of trees <br />that are removed by the city. The equipment line item is for the rental of a <br />tree spade to plant trees and for the rental of a stump grinder that is <br />sometimes necessary after trees are removed. <br /> <br />Recently the city entered into a joint power agreement with neighboring <br />communities, and Sherburne County spent SCORE funds for us to jointly use <br />and maintain a large-scale brush grinder. <br /> <br />44 <br /> <br />~ , <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />