Planting new? Water what’s here first

Improved landscaping near the intersection of St. Francis Drive and Cerrillos Road would be welcome — who doesn’t want to see trees, shrubs and native grasses in place of weedy and unkempt lots?

The landscaping is part of putting the finishing touches on the Acequia Trail Underpass, which will allow pedestrians and bicyclists to cross under the six-lane St. Francis Drive. On Monday, the city Finance Committee heard a proposal for Santa Fe to spend $104,000 for the project.

Trees, shrubs and grasses would be planted, with the project being designed so that rainwater remains on-site. Part of the city’s stormwater management plant calls for collecting precipitation in such a way as to reduce the city’s need to irrigate and being a thrifty user of water. That’s smart use of resources — the city’s and the planet’s. (The drawings showing the proposed landscaping are worth seeing, too; go to www.santafenm.gov/finance_committee and click on the July 31 Finance Committee packet, where information about the proposal can be found at item 14.)

What is less welcome news is the cost of the trees and shrubs included in this landscaping project. Some of the trees will cost $800 apiece (including planting and maintenance); ornamental grasses, $140 each; and deciduous native shrubs, $200 each. These are some pricey trees, even though the planting and maintenance is included.

Members of the Finance Committee raised their eyebrows at the cost — and that’s a good thing. The city should always take care when spending public money. Workers from the Public Works Department need to be prepared to defend the costs with more than providing an answer that a consultant had determined the prices were “pretty affordable.”

To be fair, with maintenance included, $800 might be more reasonable than skeptics think — a large cherry tree, purchased locally by a homeowner a few years back, cost $500. But, as they say in school, show your work. We are pleased to see that maintenance is included in the price.

After all, trees already in the ground aren’t being cared for properly. It would be somewhat ludicrous for tourists or commuters to tool along St. Francis Drive from the north, only to see dead and dying trees in the medians — their first sight of Santa Fe, perhaps — and then cruise along to a lush landscape of thriving trees and grasses. Before adding new plants to kill, take care of the ones in the ground.

That said, the proposal promises to bring beauty to an ugly intersection, one that has been neglected for too long. Endorsed, with skepticism, by the Finance Committee, the concept will head to the full City Council next month. Between now and then, perhaps Public Works Department employees can show why they aren’t paying too much, or look for better deals on trees and shrubs. Landscaping was in the original $4.3 million tunnel project (paid for with a mix of federal and municipal funds) and then removed, then put back again with leftover cash from a Santa Fe River Trail and Rail Fund. This might need to be reworked before going ahead.

Along the way, perhaps someone at the city can figure out how to redirect dollars to care for dying trees elsewhere in town, especially on St. Francis Drive, an important gateway to Santa Fe. Until we better care for what is planted, adding more trees — as much as this intersection could use the landscaping — could become an exercise in futility.