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Effingham reviews 85-page urban forestry plan: inventory, removals and a 20‑year canopy goal
Summary
Public works staff presented a final urban forestry management plan (supported by a Morton Arboretum grant) that inventories ~1,902 public trees, identifies 201 removals (21 priority), nearly 2,600 planting sites and proposes a four-year cyclical pruning program with an estimated annual operating cost of $60k–$70k.
Public works director Harmon presented the city's final urban forestry management plan, developed after an $50,000 Morton Arboretum grant and work by Great Lakes Urban Forestry. The plan inventories public trees, assigns priority removal and planting recommendations and proposes a multi-decade management strategy.
Harmon said the consultant counted about 1,902 public trees across city property and right-of-way, representing roughly 96 species, and estimated the standing value of the tree infrastructure at about $4.2 million with annual benefits of approximately $63,680. "They counted 1,902," Harmon said, and staff summarized that the i-Tree Report and GIS inventory allow the city to attach hard-dollar values to canopy benefits.
The plan identifies 201 trees recommended for removal and flags 21 as high-priority for immediate attention because of safety risks (rotten trunks, proximity to power lines, or structural failure). It also identifies roughly 2,600 open planting spaces and sets a 20-year canopy goal that would add about 2,000 trees if the city plants an average of 100 trees per year.
Key operational proposals include establishing a four-year cyclical pruning contract (pruning 300–400 trees per year), maintaining the GIS inventory for removals and plantings, and contracting certified arborists for removals and pruning. Harmon said the city does not currently have a local certified arborist and would likely solicit bids for certified firms; the plan estimates initial program costs in the $60,000–$70,000-per-year range, growing over time with inflation and additional plantings.
Council members asked whether the plan will be incorporated into the comprehensive plan; staff said it will be included as an appendix. Councilors also discussed incentivizing local certification (college-degree and certification pathways) to build local capacity.
Harmon recommended returning in November or December with procurement documents to award the pruning contract and begin prioritized removals. The council signaled support for adopting the plan as the city's guide for public-tree management and directed staff to bring contract and budget details back for approval.
Ending: Staff will prepare procurement documents for cyclical pruning and prioritized removals and return to council with contract bid recommendations later this year or at the next meeting.
