Authorizing City Council's Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs to hold public hearings regarding the current state of park and street trees and their continued maintenance.

WHEREAS, Philadelphia is the home of approximately 250,000 trees, located throughout the City, on residential streets, as well as, within Fairmount Park which consists of over 11,407 acres

The City of Philadelphia Emerald Ash Borer Management Plan (2012)

, and is considered the largest landscaped urban park in the world; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs is tasked with the general maintenance of all trees located in Fairmount Park and within the public right-of-way; and

WHEREAS, During fiscal year 2014, the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs facilitated the removal of 1,200 trees throughout the City, at a cost of $820,000 (capital funds) and the pruning of 6,550 trees, at a cost of $775,000 (operating funds); and

WHEREAS, Despite the fact that 1,200 trees were removed throughout the city, currently there is a backlog of 2,000 requests for tree removals, which are estimated to cost $1,540,000, and for which there is an average wait time of two (2) years for the tree removal to commence; and

WHEREAS, Despite the fact that 6,550 trees were pruned throughout the City, currently there is a backlog of over 8,000 requests for tree pruning, which is estimated to cost $1,000,000, and which has created an actual pruning cycle of eight to ten (8-10) years, a far cry from the industry standard which recommends a five (5) year pruning cycle; and

WHEREAS, Trees in need of removal and repair, which stand unabated create hazardous conditions for Philadelphia residents and their personal property; and

WHEREAS, Lengthy delays in abating dead and damaged trees, and pruning of overreaching and overhanging tree limbs, lead to increased removal costs when the trees become uprooted during rainy or snowy weather, and strong gales of wind and ice storms cause unstable tree limbs to dislodge from trees, creating a risk of death, serious bodily injury, and property damage; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby authorize the Committee on Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs to hold public hearings regarding the current and continued maintenance of park and street trees within Philadelphia.

End