Urbana staffs new arborist role, plans tree‑program expansion and streetlight upgrades tied to sustainability goals
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Summary
Public Works interim director Vince Gustafson told the commission the city added arbor technician staffing, seeks to post a new full‑time city arborist, plans procurement of a second lift truck, and is coordinating streetlight asset management and rooftop solar for new geothermal fire stations.
Interim Public Works Director Vince Gustafson told the Sustainability Advisory Commission the city won funding this fiscal year to add a full‑time city arborist position (job description expected to clear civil service commission) and has hired additional arbor technician staff. Gustafson said the city maintains roughly 13,000–14,000 municipal tree sites and aims for an industry standard seven‑year pruning cycle.
"We did get at this fiscal year approved, of new full time city arborist position... we're hopeful that that job description will be approved, this week through our civil service commission," Gustafson said. He added the department is procuring a second smaller lift truck so two arbor technician crews can work concurrently and the department is implementing a new asset‑management work‑order system to track hours and progress.
Gustafson also described recent capital projects aligned with sustainability goals: a facilities master plan led to a new storage facility with solar panels and the city recently held ribbon cuttings for two new geothermal‑heated-and‑cooled fire stations. He said the city plans to collect several months of utility bills from the new stations and then solicit rooftop solar proposals to offset grid electricity usage.
On streetlight asset management, Gustafson said the city initiated coordination meetings between engineering and operations and cited a grant‑funded Lincoln Avenue corridor streetlight replacement that was efficiently delivered using in‑house electricians.
Commissioners discussed how the Sustainability Advisory Commission can prioritize a small set of goals to present to city council and how to coordinate with the Imagine Urbana comprehensive plan; staff recommended outreach to council members and cross‑commission alignment. The commission approved the annual meeting schedule and adjourned; no formal policy changes to staffing or capital projects were adopted at the meeting.