[CANUFNET] Tree Maintenance Backlog

[Giroux, Paul]

Good afternoon,

Currently the City of Windsor's Forestry Division is experiencing an 'all time high' back log of Forestry services for both tree trimming and tree removals. This back log is about 6 years in the making, mostly as a response to the management of EAB (from 2003 to 2010'ish) and to deep cut's to our Forestry's Operating Budget over the years.

I have recently put together and presented to Council, a plan to reduce the back log and for a way to get back to Area Trims/Cycle Pruning through the use of both Operating and Enhanced Capital dollars. Currently our back log for tree removals and trimming is around 400 days or 12 to 18 months, depending on the activity and its associated risk rating. I am proposing to have this back log cleaned up by the end of 2017.gulp.

For one of our Councillors here in the City, this plan is not specific enough. He is enquiring what the 'new' waiting period will be, once I have established a 'return to preventative maintenance' through cycle pruning and other best management practices. Specifically, he would like to know the number of days or the waiting period for tree maintenance once the back log is completed and preventative maintenance is occurring (2018 and beyond).

My question to the group is, if you have a preventive maintenance program or even if you do not, what is your City/Municipalities current back log/waiting period (if any) for tree maintenance (tree trimming or removal only please). My assumption is that even with a preventative maintenance program in place, there will always be a manageable back log of tree services, not unlike any other City Service.

For those able to respond, thank you for your time.

Paul Giroux, RPF
City Forester/Manager of Forestry and Natural Areas
Parks Department
2450 McDougall Street, Windsor, ON  N8X 3N6
Office: 519.253.2300. ext. 2760.
Email: pgiroux at citywindsor.ca

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