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Committee endorses $700,000 award to Rosehill Gardens for large ash tree removal and replanting program
Summary
Staff recommended and the committee approved recommending council award a bid not to exceed $700,000 to Rosehill Gardens for ash tree removals and planting (estimated 1,500 trees) as part of the city’s emerald ash borer response and canopy diversification program.
City forester Bailey Patterson presented the committee with an update on the city’s large‑scale emerald ash borer (EAB) response, including removal, preservation requests and replanting plans funded largely by ARPA and the Maintenance & Improvement Program (MIP). Patterson said the city expects the current round and prior funding to cover the estimated removals and replantings through 2027.
Patterson said staff recommend awarding the tree planting contract to Rosehill Gardens for a total price not to exceed $700,000. The recommendation reflected an apples‑to‑apples comparison of competing bids, and staff said Rosehill Gardens is the incumbent, has good inventory and has performed without complaints on prior work. Patterson said the $700,000 would cover roughly 1,500 trees given current per‑tree estimates and that park and trail locations will be used for trees that cannot be replanted in the original private locations.
Committee members discussed the city’s “preserve” option for some ash trees where homeowners can demonstrate sustained trunk‑injection treatment (typically six years) to prevent EAB; staff explained preserved trees remain the homeowner’s responsibility and that the city could later require removal if treatment stops. A motion to recommend city council approval of the award to Rosehill Gardens passed unanimously in committee.
Staff told the committee the overall project aims to finish planting by 2027 and that ARPA funding will be exhausted by the end of the year, with MIP funding and future MIP cycles planned to continue the program.
