GENERAL OPERATING FUND FORESTRY PURPOSE AND MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT / DIVISION
ACCOUNT  001-4200-592
The forestry division of the Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for the care and maintenance of all trees growing in public parks and along street right-of-way within the City of Lawrence. Responsibilities include removal of dead or dangerous trees, tree pruning, and mapping trees scheduled for removal due to disease or storm damage. Dutch elm disease has claimed many of the elm trees in the City, so the continuous monitoring of existing elm trees is performed by the division per city code, chapter 18.

Both the forestry and park divisions conduct reforestation through the planting of new trees in public areas and along right of ways. Replacement of diseased or damaged trees that must be removed falls under this responsibility.

Other responsibilities of this division include maintenance of forestry equipment used in the division such as chain saws, aerial trucks, front-end loaders, and the operation of the wood recycling program, which includes firewood and wood chip processing.

Significant Issues for 2003 - The increase in Personal Services for 2003 can be attributed to the 3% general wage adjustment and merit increases for eligible employees.

 
       
2003 DEPARTMENT / DIVISION SPENDING SUMMARY
EXPENDITURES 2001 Actual 2002 Adopted 2002 Estimate 2003 Budget
Personal Services  $     191,635  $     206,908  $     206,908  $     222,861
Contractual Services            25,785            27,500            27,500            29,200
Commodities            34,098            40,075            40,075            40,075
Capital Outlay              1,299            19,925            19,925            18,225
Debt Service                     -                       -                       -                       -  
Transfers                     -                       -                       -                       -  
Contingency                     -                       -                       -                       -  
Total  $     252,817  $     294,408  $     294,408  $     310,361
DEPARTMENT / DIVISION PERSONNEL SUMMARY CURRENT YEAR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
PERSONNEL 2001 Actual 2002 Adopted 2002 Estimate 2003 Budget
l Ice storm clean up, January 2002.

l Mulch give away to homeowners.
l Continue to provide homeowners with
    Saturday Brush collections service.
Authorized Positions 5.00 5.00 5.00 5.00
DEPARTMENT / DIVISION ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
MAJOR GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 2003
1. To design a district based work order system.

2. To continue a daily emergency response crew.

3. To expand tree removal service offerings.
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
2000                   Actual 2001                           Actual 2002 Estimated 2003 Projected
Number of City Parks Maintained 48 49 50 50
Number of trees pruned 1603 1990 2000 2010
*  Shading indicates positions funded from this account. Number of trees removed 429 430 400 420
Chips produced - cubic yds of wood 2744 3400 3500 3600