ADMINISTRATION - Rebecca Haug, Water Resources Manager
Title
ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL FROM PLT IN THE AMOUNT OF $38,531.75 FOR ASH TREE REMOVAL AT THE BLAINE WETLAND SANCTUARY
Background
The City of Blaine has experienced a significant amount of diseased ash trees caused by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The Blaine Wetland Sanctuary (BWS) is one of the areas that is experiencing a high number of diseased ash trees. Unfortunately, all ash trees at the BWS are diseased or dead.
Due to the difficulty of getting heavy equipment out to the uplands of the BWS, staff has requested a quote from three contractors; Precision Land and Tree (PLT), Minnesota Native Landscaping (MNL) and Reliable Tree Service, Inc.
• PLT, since they will already be mobilized to complete the southern portion restoration work to remove diseased ash trees throughout the site, quoted a price of $38,531.75.
• Reliable Tree Service, Inc. quoted $125,000 since they would need to mobilize equipment to do the work.
• MNL chose not to bid on the project.
The funding source for this project would come from the Open Space Capital Improvement Fund, which has sufficient funds to cover this expenditure. The budgeted amount for this project is $40,000. The NRCB has reviewed and is recommending to the City Council to enter into a contract with PLT to remove all ash trees throughout the BWS. This item was discussed by the City Council at the workshop held on November 16, 2020.
Based on the discussion with the City Council, communication with the surrounding neighborhoods will be through the city website, social media outlets, city notification system, and a letter will mailed to the adjacent property owners. The communication will include details of the project, and note that all work is weather-dependent.
Removing dead and diseased trees from the entire site in conjunction with the southern restoration work this winter will provide a savings to the city, versus doing this work at a later time. The contractor will already be at the site with the equipment to remove the trees, thus limiting mobilization costs.
Choosing not to remove the trees could create safety issues with the use of trails, and would require city staff to remove the trees. In addition, leaving the dead and diseased trees could make prescribed burns more difficult at the site because they can become a fire hazard.
Please see the attachments: a map with areas of ash tree removals at the BWS and the proposal from PLT.
Recommendation
By motion, accept the proposal from PLT in the amount of $38,531.75 for ash tree removal at the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary.
Attachments
Ash tree removal at the BWS map
PLT proposal