Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Parks & Recreation Department

 

DATE:

January 27, 2014

TO:

Dave Corliss, City Manager,

 

Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager

 

Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

 

Ernie Shaw, Interim Director Parks & Recreation

FROM:

Mark Hecker, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation

RE:

Bid date for Forestry grapple truck

 

Please include the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at the February 4th, meeting:

 

Set a bid opening date of February 25, 2014, for the purchase of a grapple truck for the City’s Forestry Division.

 

Project Description

The City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department requests the bidding of a new grapple truck to assist crews in the removal of tree debris on the City right-of-way (see attached pictures).

 

The reasons for this request include:

1.    Inadequate existing equipment – currently a 1989 two-ton truck and a 1987 rubber tired loader are the primary pieces of equipment used for removal of fallen trees or large debris from tree removals. This equipment is in very poor condition and requires 2 operators.  

2.    Increased demand for forestry services - Staff are seeing more dead trees in the City inventory from the past 3 years of drought.  The dead trees list is growing faster than our crew can remove them.  Staff is estimating that there are currently 280 removals needed from the inventory.  

3.    Development of an Emerald Ash Borer Preparedness Plan - Over the next 15 years, we estimate 10 % of city right of way / park trees will be impacted by the Emerald Ash Borer. This could mean as many as 3000 ash trees may need to be removed as this pest spreads to this part of the country.  Further increasing the need for adequate removal equipment. 

4.    Emergency Preparedness – The equipment being requested would be highly beneficial in the removal of storm damaged tree or other debris.

5.    This equipment will be a back-up unit for the Solid Waste division of Public Works to assist in the in the removal of large household waste items.  

 

Project Funding

It is estimated that the total cost for this equipment would be $110,000 and will be funded using a combination of Solid Waste Division equipment funds and reserve funds.

 

Action Request

The City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department staff requests approval from the City Commission to set a bid date of February 25, 2014, for the purchase of a new grapple truck.

 

Thank you for your assistance.  Please advise if you have any questions.