5.1.
Environmental Policy Board (EPB)
- Meeting Date:
- 02/02/2015
- By:
- Chris Anderson, Community Development
Information
Title:
Tree Sale & Environmental Expo Status
Purpose/Background:
The purpose of this case is to update the Environmental Policy Board (EPB) regarding both the Tree Sale program and the Environmental Expo event. Staff has reviewed each of these offerings for the past three years and noted that both have been generally trending downward. As a result of the downward trend of each, Staff believes it is time to move away from these programs and look at other opportunities to promote tree planting and environmental awareness.
Observations/Alternatives:
Tree Sale
In 2012, the Tree Sale format was redesigned out of necessity (the former vendors that participated all opted out for various reasons, one of which was declining sales). The City began working directly with a wholesaler and purchased trees directly to offer through a pre-order program. This provided an opportunity for residents to purchase trees at wholesale prices and encouraged planting trees within the community. However, this new format also provided direct competition with the private market.
Moreover, in reviewing the Tree Sale program over the last three (3) years (since changing to current format), sales have not rebounded like we had hoped. While it is true that the total number of trees sold in 2014 more than doubled as shown in the table below, six (6) orders combined to account for seventy-three (73) trees. Typically, there’s a limit to how many trees one can order because we only have a limited number to begin with but when the sales are lagging, we have had to try and work with what residents have requested.
*73 trees were purchased through 6 orders
Each year, it is conservatively estimated that about twenty (20) hours of Staff time goes into the Tree Sale program, including working with the wholesaler, marketing, webpage development, receiving orders, addressing questions about trees, confirming orders, and coordinating the pick-up of purchased trees. When this position was more evenly split between environmental and planning responsibilities, the time commitment was more manageable. However, with the reorganization of responsibilities, the time commitment has become problematic.
When looking at the number of residents this program has served over the past three (3) years, it appears that the Tree Sale program no longer has the value it once did. Additionally, the Anoka Conservation District has their own, well established seedling sale. While that program focusing on seedlings rather than the larger stock the City's Tree Sale typically offers, it provides residents an extremely inexpensive option to purchase and plant trees. These factors, along with the fact the City's program provides direct competition with the private landscaping/nursery market, has led to the decision to not offer the Tree Sale in 2015. Staff may reconsider and re-evaluate the program if there is public demand or desire for it to be brought back in future years.
Environmental Expo
This event used to be a partnership between the City and Ramsey Elementary School. The event previously was held at the elementary school in conjunction with the Tree Sale. However, in 2007, the elementary school notified the City that it could no longer commit staff time to the event and the partnership dissolved and there was no expo event in 2007.
In 2008, the City brought back the Environmental Expo in a revamped format at the Ramsey Municipal Center. This site was not ideal for an expo venue but nonetheless, from 2008 to 2012, it was home to the event. Attendance at the event has always been an estimation, but it is estimated the event had anywhere from 100-200 attendees annually while it was held at the Municipal Center. The number of vendors typically ranged from 25-30 each year.
In 2013, in an attempt to reinvigorate the program and to capitalize on cost efficiencies and greater community visibility, the Environmental Expo was incorporated into Happy Days. Again, attendance was hard to gauge but it appears that foot traffic through the expo tent did increase (although, how much of that was really just wandering through without much or any interaction with exhibitors is not known). However, participation of exhibitors began to decline. In 2013, there were fourteen (14) exhibitors and by 2014, there were only seven (7) exhibitors.
Considering the amount of staff time that goes in to coordinating this event, the overall cost of the event (has ranged from about $4,500 to $6,000), and the declining trend of exhibitors interested in participating, Staff believes that it is time to look at alternative ways to promote awareness of environmental issues.
Rather than focusing some much time and effort on seeking out interested exhibitors for the Environmental Expo, more benefit could come from having an EPB presence at other venues, such as The Draw Summer Event Series and/or the Spring Business Expo. If exhibitors that typically would have been a good fit for the Environmental Expo were looking for an opportunity to promote their message, Happy Days still has the business and craft expo components, which could accommodate those exhibitors if so desired. This would allow more time for Staff to focus on making Happy Days (and other community events) more sustainable overall, including working toward becoming a zero-waste event (which could be funded through the recycling program SCORE funds).
In terms of promoting sustainability and environmental awareness and education, key themes of the Environmental Expo, there are other opportunities to accomplish this. First, the EPB could, if it so desired, still sponsor an exhibit at Happy Days. This could involve bringing in an organization with live raptors and reptiles, one of if not the most popular exhibit at past expo events, or bringing in a theater group with an environmental message (such as recycling, watersheds, conservation, etc.). to perform. Additionally, as noted previously, The Draw Summer Event Series continues to grow in popularity and would be an opportunity for the EPB to have a presence and promote awareness of current environmental issues.
In 2012, the Tree Sale format was redesigned out of necessity (the former vendors that participated all opted out for various reasons, one of which was declining sales). The City began working directly with a wholesaler and purchased trees directly to offer through a pre-order program. This provided an opportunity for residents to purchase trees at wholesale prices and encouraged planting trees within the community. However, this new format also provided direct competition with the private market.
Moreover, in reviewing the Tree Sale program over the last three (3) years (since changing to current format), sales have not rebounded like we had hoped. While it is true that the total number of trees sold in 2014 more than doubled as shown in the table below, six (6) orders combined to account for seventy-three (73) trees. Typically, there’s a limit to how many trees one can order because we only have a limited number to begin with but when the sales are lagging, we have had to try and work with what residents have requested.
| Year | Total # of Orders | Total # of Trees Sold |
| 2012 | 14 | 60 |
| 2013 | 15 | 49 |
| 2014 | 23 | 129* |
Each year, it is conservatively estimated that about twenty (20) hours of Staff time goes into the Tree Sale program, including working with the wholesaler, marketing, webpage development, receiving orders, addressing questions about trees, confirming orders, and coordinating the pick-up of purchased trees. When this position was more evenly split between environmental and planning responsibilities, the time commitment was more manageable. However, with the reorganization of responsibilities, the time commitment has become problematic.
When looking at the number of residents this program has served over the past three (3) years, it appears that the Tree Sale program no longer has the value it once did. Additionally, the Anoka Conservation District has their own, well established seedling sale. While that program focusing on seedlings rather than the larger stock the City's Tree Sale typically offers, it provides residents an extremely inexpensive option to purchase and plant trees. These factors, along with the fact the City's program provides direct competition with the private landscaping/nursery market, has led to the decision to not offer the Tree Sale in 2015. Staff may reconsider and re-evaluate the program if there is public demand or desire for it to be brought back in future years.
Environmental Expo
This event used to be a partnership between the City and Ramsey Elementary School. The event previously was held at the elementary school in conjunction with the Tree Sale. However, in 2007, the elementary school notified the City that it could no longer commit staff time to the event and the partnership dissolved and there was no expo event in 2007.
In 2008, the City brought back the Environmental Expo in a revamped format at the Ramsey Municipal Center. This site was not ideal for an expo venue but nonetheless, from 2008 to 2012, it was home to the event. Attendance at the event has always been an estimation, but it is estimated the event had anywhere from 100-200 attendees annually while it was held at the Municipal Center. The number of vendors typically ranged from 25-30 each year.
In 2013, in an attempt to reinvigorate the program and to capitalize on cost efficiencies and greater community visibility, the Environmental Expo was incorporated into Happy Days. Again, attendance was hard to gauge but it appears that foot traffic through the expo tent did increase (although, how much of that was really just wandering through without much or any interaction with exhibitors is not known). However, participation of exhibitors began to decline. In 2013, there were fourteen (14) exhibitors and by 2014, there were only seven (7) exhibitors.
Considering the amount of staff time that goes in to coordinating this event, the overall cost of the event (has ranged from about $4,500 to $6,000), and the declining trend of exhibitors interested in participating, Staff believes that it is time to look at alternative ways to promote awareness of environmental issues.
Rather than focusing some much time and effort on seeking out interested exhibitors for the Environmental Expo, more benefit could come from having an EPB presence at other venues, such as The Draw Summer Event Series and/or the Spring Business Expo. If exhibitors that typically would have been a good fit for the Environmental Expo were looking for an opportunity to promote their message, Happy Days still has the business and craft expo components, which could accommodate those exhibitors if so desired. This would allow more time for Staff to focus on making Happy Days (and other community events) more sustainable overall, including working toward becoming a zero-waste event (which could be funded through the recycling program SCORE funds).
In terms of promoting sustainability and environmental awareness and education, key themes of the Environmental Expo, there are other opportunities to accomplish this. First, the EPB could, if it so desired, still sponsor an exhibit at Happy Days. This could involve bringing in an organization with live raptors and reptiles, one of if not the most popular exhibit at past expo events, or bringing in a theater group with an environmental message (such as recycling, watersheds, conservation, etc.). to perform. Additionally, as noted previously, The Draw Summer Event Series continues to grow in popularity and would be an opportunity for the EPB to have a presence and promote awareness of current environmental issues.
Action:
No action is necessary.
Attachments
No file(s) attached.
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Anderson (Originator) | Chris Anderson | 01/30/2015 08:25 AM |
- Form Started By:
- Chris Anderson
- Started On:
- 01/23/2015 04:07 PM
- Final Approval Date:
- 01/30/2015