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Good afternoon.
Next week we coast into August and although we have broken some weather records in the Valley earlier in the season, the number of days over 110 so far this year is just 16. But in 2024 the Valley saw 70 days over 110 and broke a host of other weather streaks. As we continue to break records for heat and drought, we face new challenges to mitigate the effects of such extremes on things in our charge -- employees who work outdoors, water and power infrastructure, and the plants, cacti, and trees trying to survive outside till fall.
The city estimates we own roughly 11,400 trees in our parks and over 18,000 trees on municipal property and facilities throughout the city including alleys, stormwater channels, and public green spaces. In the last five years, staff estimates that we have lost approximately 3,255 trees due to broken, insufficient or outdated irrigation infrastructure, as well damage from extreme heat and drought.
During this period we responded by planting 2,571 trees, including 819 trees within the Heroes Park project, with our budgets on track to add an additional 6,618 trees by 2031. We have also committed more than $3M to replace irrigation lines, water meters, drip systems and other irrigation infrastructure.
These efforts along with our commitment to planting more drought resilient trees and shrubbery may be enough to meet the demands needed to thrive in a desert community into the next decade and I trust our team to do just that.
I have asked the management team to present this information to the Council and the community in an upcoming workshop so we can all become well versed on what it is going to take to compete with mother nature in our future.
Have a great weekend, and as always, keep cool and stay hydrated!
Councilman Bart Turner
Barrel District, City of Glendale
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