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Community Development Services, Department of Transportation, and the Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board consider the following pertaining to the Tree Mortality Project, Phase III, Contract PW 17-31208:
1) Approve and adopt the Contract Documents; and
2) Authorize advertisement for bids.
FUNDING: California Disaster Assistance Act Funds (75% - State) and General Fund (25% - Local).
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Services, Department of Transportation (Transportation), and the Chief Administrative Office (CAO) recommending the Board consider the following pertaining to the Tree Mortality Project (Project), Phase III, Contract PW 17-31208:
1) Approve and adopt the Contract Documents; and
2) Authorize advertisement for bids.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Data collected by state and federal agencies demonstrates that drought conditions and bark beetle infestation have killed over 102 million trees in the State of California (State), and that tens of millions more are likely to die over the next five to six years. On October 30, 2015, Governor Brown proclaimed a State of Emergency due to unprecedented tree mortality caused by conditions of extreme drought and drought-related bark beetle infestations. The Governor's Emergency Proclamation contains 18 distinct actions that direct State agencies, utilities, and local governments to remove dead or dying trees in high hazard areas across the entire State.
Surveys conducted by the U.S. Forest Service estimated that new tree mortality, between October 2015 and May 2016, would affect an estimated 177,000 conifer trees in El Dorado County. Many of these trees are located in the Eldorado National Forest or on private land; however, some of these trees endanger County infrastructure, e.g., County roads and buildings. The County determined it had approximately 3,100 trees to remove that threaten County infrastructure. These numbers are just estimates.
On March 28, 2016 (Ite...
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