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Public Works outlines tree‑removal progress, plans $200,000 air‑burner to reduce woody‑waste costs
Summary
Public Works reported 105 trees removed and 31 pruned under a $500,000 ARPA appropriation and said it intends to buy an air burner (quoted about $200,000) to process woody material and reduce off‑site disposal costs. Staff also said the city currently donates wood chips to community gardens and will publicize availability.
Public Works and Parks staff told council the ARPA tree removal appropriation of $500,000 has funded removal and pruning work and purchase of equipment to support future in‑house removals.
Public Works reported that 105 trees have been removed, 31 have been pruned and eight stumps removed. The presenter said the program has spent roughly $187,009.29 to date and that the balance in the ARPA tree removal account was approximately $387,005.
To deal with woody waste, staff said they plan to acquire an "air burner" unit; a quoted price for the burner was "around 200,000." Staff said the burner would reduce the need to transport woody material outside city limits and would avoid a growing dependence on third‑party disposal. Public Works said it currently pays for leaf and woody waste removal to outside haulers and that losing local disposal capacity was a concern.
Public comment and council members suggested alternative reuses for wood chips, including placing mulch around newly planted trees and donating chips to local community gardens. Deputy Director Sasha (full name and title provided in the slides) and Parks staff said the department already donates wood chips to community gardens and that residents can request deliveries.
Staff said EPA approval is pending for aspects of the burner purchase and that public works will post information about chip availability on the city website. Council asked staff to add a public notice so residents and grassroots gardens can request wood chips and to share cost estimates for the burner purchase and the expected savings from reduced off‑site disposal.
