On-Call Tree Maintenance

Qualified and interested companies for all labor, equipment, and materials required provide on-call tree maintenance services for tree pruning, tree removal, tree planting and or stump grinding within parks, public rights-of-way, and other public grounds throughout the City of Grand Junction. 1. The contractor will be required to provide the necessary labor, tools, equipment and supplies to perform the required services. 2. All tree pruning and removal operations shall be in accordance with the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and OSHA standards as interpreted by the City Forester. If tree pruning or removal practices are not in accordance with ISA and OSHA standards or to the reasonable satisfaction of the City Forester and/or his/her representative, it shall result in the possible termination of contract. 3. For tree pruning and removal, the diameter of each tree shall be measured at Breast Height (DBH), 4.5 feet above ground. A. Upright, fairly straight trees shall be measured at 4.5 feet above ground. B. Trees on a slope shall be measured at 4.5 feet above ground at the midpoint of the trunk. C. Leaning trees shall be measured at 4.5 feet above ground at midpoint of the trunk. D. For split trunk trees that fork below 4.5 feet from the ground, DBH shall be measured at the narrowest point below the fork. E. Multi-stem trees, which are trees that have more than one trunk at 4.5 feet above ground and originating from a common trunk or common root system, will be measured as follows: • Each stem will be measured at 4.5 feet above ground using the above rules. • All diameters will be converted to cross-sectional areas and aggregated to a cumulative cross-sectional area. • The cumulative cross- sectional area will be used to determine the aggregate DBH measurement for the multi - stem tree. 4. All tree planting shall follow a combination of the International Society of Arboriculture’s best management practices and the City of Grand Junction’s tree planting detail (appendix A) per direction of the City Forester. If trees are not planted in accordance with these standards and detail or to the reasonable satisfaction of the City Forester and /or his/her representative, it shall result in the possible termination of contract. Tree Pruning on Public Right-of- Ways, Public Grounds and in Parks: A. Tree pruning will focus on “cleaning” and “clearance” techniques as defined and detailed below: a. Cleaning shall consist of selective pruning to remove one or more of the following tree parts: dead, diseased, structurally compromised, and/or broken branches. b. Clearance pruning shall consist of raising the crown over the street / alleys (14’) and sidewalk (8’). B. The contractor shall follow lowest impact (to natural resources, agricultural resources, and recreational resources) methods of access and application while accessing City Parks, including the least amount of vehicle use required on site. Any changes in scheduled activities must be arranged through the City Forester or City Forester representative. C. A pruning cut that removes a branch at its point of origin shall be made close to the trunk or parent limb without cutting into the branch bark ridge or collar or leaving a stub. Flush cuts shall not be made. The contractor shall prune previously existing stubs and storm damaged limbs. D. The contractor shall prune to provide clearance for regulatory signs, traffic signals, traffic vision, and pedestrian/streetlights as directed by the City Forester or City Forester representative. E. The contractor shall prune dead wood equal to or greater than two inches (2”). F. The contractor shall prune broken, hanging, and/or poorly attached limbs equal to or greater than two inches (2”) in diameter. G. The contractor shall prune interfering and rubbing branches equal to or greater than two inches (2”) or have obvious defects that compromise structural integrity. H. The contractor shall prune obviously hazardous live limbs that are equal to or greater than two inches (2”) in diameter. I. When pruning to a lateral, the remaining lateral branch shall be large enough to assume the terminal role, at least one- third the size. Such cuts shall be considered proper only when the remaining limb is vigorous enough to maintain adequate foliage to produce woody growth capable of sealing the affected pruning cut within a reasonable time frame as defined by the City Forester or City Forester representative. J. Tree limbs shall be removed and controlled in such a manner as to cause no damage or injury to people, animals, property, other parts of the tree, or other plants. K. Limb removal shall be made by using at least three (3) cuts: a. An undercut beyond the branch collar of the limb to be removed, b. A cut on top of the limb beyond the undercut so that portion of the limb will break away without tearing the bark on the remaining limb, c. A final cut on the outside of branch collar. d. The first two (2) cuts are to be repeated as often as necessary on the same limb when removing large limbs. L. The use of climbing spurs or spike shoes in the act of PRUNING trees is prohibited and shall result in the possible termination of contract. M. All tools must be in clean, safe and proper working order, and insect and disease free before working in a tree under a City pruning contract. All tools used on a tree known to contain an infectious tree disease shall be properly disinfected after each pruning cut and prior to the next use of the tool. N. The contractor shall notify the City Forester upon discovery of trees with extensive internal decay that could compromise the structural integrity of trees being pruned when not removing the portion of tree containing said decay.

Division 32 -

Exterior Improvements, Operation and Maintenance of Exterior Improvements, Irrigation, Planting Irrigation, Planting, Planting Preparation, Soil Preparation, Landscape Grading.