FY2022

• Horticulture: Horticulture staff provides design, installation and maintenance of planter beds and islands in parks, City Plaza (Pedestrian Mall), City Hall and all city owned areas with landscaping. Horticulture staff manages approximately 125,000 square feet of landscaping in ROWs, gateways and traffic islands throughout the city. Horticulture staff also assists with the installation and maintenance of natural areas. Forestry Forestry staff provides routine arboricultural services such as inspecting, pruning, removing and planting trees located in the city rights-of-way, city parks and city-owned properties. Forestry staff responds to emergency storm damage of public and private trees when public facilities or services are impacted. Forestry staff issues and inspects contracts for tree and stump removal and tree planting. Forestry staff regularly advises Engineering and Housing Inspection Services staff regarding tree protection during construction and/or demolition projects, species selection for building permits and zoning requests. Staff contracted or completed internally: pruning of 1,500 trees, removal of 365 trees, treatment of 117 ash trees, planting of 450 trees and 1,200 tree seedlings.

HIGHLIGHTS

Recent Accomplishments:

• City Park playground project • Wetherby Park playground, shelter, restroom and trail projects • Scott, Fairmeadows and Napoleon playground projects • Willow Creek playground, shelter, and restroom project

• Prairie establishment project: 28 Acres in 2019; 78 acers in 2020. • 4 Consecutive REAP Grant awards totaling almost $700,000 • Iowa Ave median planting project • STMA Environmental Management Certification of Napoleon Softball Complex • Derecho storm prompt response to tree damage • Emerald Ash Borer Infestation • Derecho damage inspection and pruning • Expanding park system and amenities • Additional public use of outdoor facilities and spaces during pandemic. • Expanding City boundaries with additional ROW tree planting, pruning and removals • Climate Change - Trend toward extreme weather events

Upcoming Challenges:

Staffing:

FY2020

FY2021

FY2022

Total FTE’s

21.00

23.00

23.00

231