<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Hello Russell,</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">My understanding is that Trees are not
going to be part of the process as they do not have to be accounted as
a tangible capital asset. </font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">This is part of a project called
PSAB 3150</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">If you can access this site http://www.amcto.com/home.asp</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">There is an interpretation from the
Association in a newsletter within the site.</font>
<br>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">I have been advised by our Finance Staff
that we do not have to pursue this.</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Hope this helps</font>
<br><font size=2 face="sans-serif">Regards,<br>
Peter Wynnyczuk</font>
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<td width=40%><font size=1 face="sans-serif"><b>"Friesen, Russell"
<Russell.Friesen@calgary.ca></b> </font>
<br><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Sent by: canufnet-bounces@list.web.net</font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif"> </font>
<p><font size=1 face="sans-serif">03/14/2008 06:41 PM</font>
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<div align=center><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Please respond to<br>
Canadian Urban Forest Network <canufnet@list.web.net></font></div></table>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">To</font></div>
<td valign=top><font size=1 face="sans-serif">"Canadian Urban Forest
Network" <canufnet@list.web.net></font>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">cc</font></div>
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<div align=right><font size=1 face="sans-serif">Subject</font></div>
<td valign=top><font size=1 face="sans-serif">[CANUFNET] Tangible Capital
Asset Registry - Reporting Trees and Urban
Forest Assets</font></table>
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<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Tangible Capital Asset Registries are topic
that has great implications for municipal forestry operations across the
country, but I am pretty sure most CANUFNET subscribers have probably never
even heard of it. Around 2005, the Public Sector Accounting Board
(PSAB) recommended that governments including municipalities report "Tangible
Capital Assets" (TCA) on their balance sheets. In Alberta, this recommendation
became law and is now a legislative requirement commencing Jan. 1 2009.
The Province of Ontario also appears to have similar requirements, and
many municipalities in that jurisdiction are well on their way to reporting
TCA. </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial"> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Unfortunately, there does not appear to be
a standard practice or consensus on how to report trees. The advice
given by the PSAB isn't specific and opinion from other sources is contradictory,
ranging from don't report the value of trees, to report the value of trees
that were planted with a purpose (like visual screening), to report the
value trees as if they were converted to pulp wood.</font>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Most municipalities involved in building
TCA registries have hired consultants to aid with the developing the reporting
process. In some cases the same consultants have been hired by several
municipalities, but for ethical reasons the consultants can't share what
one municipality is doing with another municipality. All this results
in a dearth of guidance and information about how to report trees and the
urban forest in a Tangible Capital Asset Registry. </font>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Therefore, I think that it is important for
municipal foresters to share with each other what they know about TCA registries,
what their TCA will report, how their reporting policy is worded and how
they are going to track, collect and manage their asset reporting in subsequent
years. . </font>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">So now for my questions. </font>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Which other municipalities are in the process
of building their TCA?</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">How are you planning on reporting trees?
</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Have you tried to make the case that tree
appreciate in value rather than depreciate? ... and how did that go?
</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Are you using historic costs of acquisition
(planting) for your starting point and depreciating from there? </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Are you reporting individual trees or lumping
trees into a general average land improvement value? </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">What is your useful lifespan for a tree?
</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">How are you taking into account vintages?
</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">And my final question, does anybody - anywhere,
understand this? </font>
<br><font size=3> </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Thank You </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Russell Friesen</font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">Urban Forestry Coordinator </font>
<br><font size=2 face="Arial">City of Calgary Parks </font>
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