CITY OF REDONDO BEACH
Budget Response Report #9
June 1, 2023
Question:
What are the current and future annual tree trimming costs? Response
The City’s urban forest is comprised of approximately 12,000 trees, located in parks, parkways, medians, and facility exteriors. Trimming is provided on a four-year cycle, with the majority of trees serviced once every four years, while most palm and Chinese elm trees are trimmed on a two-year cycle. The Public Works Department’s core budget for tree trimming is $250,600. Another $32,400 is typically available in the City’s Tree Enhancement Account to cover the cost of new tree plantings, bringing the total funds available for trimming and planting to $283,000 each year.
The City’s current agreement with West Coast Arborists for trimming and planting services will expire on July 3, 2023. Staff has negotiated terms for a four-year extension that will be brought to the Council for consideration on June 6, 2023. The proposed extension contains a total cost increase of 19.6%, which staff feels is reasonable and fair.
The pricing of the current Agreement has been fixed since July 2019, when the contract was approved through a request for proposals, and the proposed pricing for the extension period would be fixed until June 2027, so the 19.6% increase is in effect spread over an eight-year period.
If the extension is approved, the cost for services and the subsequent core funding/shortage over the next four years (absent the proposed budget modifications) would be as follows:
Projected Core Available Projected
Year Costs Funds Shortage
2023/2024 $594,781 $283,000 $311,781
2024/2025 $563,331 $283,000 $280,331
2025/2026 $652,139 $283,000 $369,139
2026/2027 $380.468 $283,000 $ 97,468
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Totals $2,190,719 $1,132,000 $1,058,719
The Urban Forrest is a key attribute to the community’s quality of life and regular trimming of the mature tree canopy is needed to protect the public from falling limbs and to protect the overall health of the tree. In order to pay for the increased costs, the City in recent years has appropriated one-time, supplemental, funds to cover the annual funding gap.
The proposed FY 2023-24 Budget, via Decision Package #32, includes an on-going increase to the tree trimming budget of $207,851 and a one-time appropriation of $103,930. The DP, if approved, would fully fund tree trimming services for FY 2023-24 and substantially reduce the gap between core contract funding and future year expenses.