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Q&A
Update on tree stump removal backlog and funding
1:14:25
ยท
78 sec
Council Member Carr inquires about the current status of tree stump removals, including the backlog and funding. Deputy Commissioner Greenfeld provides an update on the department's efforts to address stump removals.
- The Parks Department estimates there are about 30,000 stumps on city streets.
- Improvements have been made, including incorporating stump removal into smaller tree removal contracts.
- The department receives funding from both the city baseline and additional support from the council for stump removals.
- A new neighborhood program will address stump removal through capital funding, supplementing existing expense-funded removals.
David M. Carr
1:14:25
Appreciate that.
1:14:25
And I guess I have a similar question with respect to tree stump removals.
1:14:29
There was a time in the not too distant past, there was a large backlog.
1:14:32
I think there's been strides made to, to improve that.
1:14:35
But is there a backlog?
1:14:36
And do you have sufficient funding to address stump removals as you are aware of them?
Jennifer Greenfeld
1:14:42
Great.
1:14:43
That's a great question.
1:14:47
We haven't, for a very long time, had a good estimate of stump removals, and we've been taking this past year to work with a consultant to get a good number.
1:14:55
And we don't think there's more than about 30,000 stumps, I know that sounds like a lot, on the streets.
1:15:00
But remember, we remove close to 10,000 trees a year, and any trees that are done by our in house crews, they don't take the stump out because it's not the same sort of tree risk issue.
1:15:09
But we've improved certain things like our, smaller tree removal contracts include stumps as well, and that's in addition to the generous funding that we've received from the council each year and the baseline funding that the city has dedicated to stump removals.
1:15:24
In addition, as the commissioner said earlier, now that we're switching to this new neighborhood program where we're not kind of sort of dropping in and putting a tree in where there are opportunities, we're going block by block, we'll be getting stumps through that capital program, which is in addition to our existing expense funded stump removals.
David M. Carr
1:15:43
That's great.