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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/05/2006, BUS 3 - URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT - HIGH PRIORITY PRUNING, REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT PLAN, SPECIFICATION NO. 90 council M�D�Sept 5, 2006 j acEnaa Repoin �H CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Jay D. Walter, Director of Public Works Prepared By: Barbara Lynch, City Engineer SUBJECT: URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT - HIGH PRIORITY PRUNING, REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT PLAN, SPECIFICATION NO. 90544 CAO RECOMMENDATION 1. Authorize staff to proceed with the High Priority Removals and High Priority Pruning outlined in the Evaluation of Selected Street Trees report dated March 2006 by Bill Spiewak. 2. Direct staff to follow with replacement of all removed trees. DISCUSSION Background As part of the 2005-07 Financial Management Plan, the City Council approved the Downtown Urban Forest Management Plan project. The first year of the project funded an evaluation of a large number of trees in the downtown and along upper Monterey Street. These mature trees have experienced problems related to age or disease, and are more likely to experience structural failures that could cause injury or damage. The result of the review was a report by consulting arborist Bill Spiewak previously provided to the Council in August of 2006. The consultant has recommended the removal of a small group of trees and the trimming of another group of trees in the immediate future. This is in addition to a much larger group of trees proposed for removal and trimming. Staff anticipated there might be some concern regarding tree removals in the Downtown. To help both the public and the City Council to understand the issues relating to trees, staff approached the consideration of the tree evaluation report in several small steps. The first step was a presentation to the Downtown Association Board (DA) with a copy of the report summary furnished to the Board members and a copy of the full report left for review in the DA offices. A copy of the report was also provided to all the Tree Committee Members and a discussion held at the following committee meeting to discuss the findings. The most recent outreach was a public tour on August 4, 2006 inviting City Council, members of the community and staff. The DA and Tree Committee members were also invited to the tour and the tour was advertised in the Tribune. The tour, lead by the City's arborist, reviewed the condition of several of the trees listed as high priority for removal and also reviewed trimming issues and recent tree replacement plantings. It is now time to bring the high priority removals to the City Council for final approval prior to staff presentation of a comprehensive Urban Forest Management Plan. Such a comprehensive plan is still a few months off in order to prepare and have it reviewed by interested parties. As J`-� Urban Forest Management—Phase 1 Page 2 we are now close to the start of the rainy season, it appears prudent to begin work on the high priority pruning and removals to prevent damage from downed trees this winter. Plan Staff is recommending the following approach to implementing the first phase of the Urban Forest Management Plan: Est. Dates Activity Comments 9/06 City Council Approval Council approval of the high priority pruning, removals and replacement. 9/06 to 11/06 High Priority Pruning This work would be accomplished using the existing Stump Removal contract with West Coast Arborist and completed in conjunction with the regular pruning of trees in the Downtown to be completed prior to the holiday season. The work would be paid for within the current operating budget. 9/06 to 11/06 High Priority Removals This work would be accomplished using the existing Large Trees contract and completed concurrently with the annual pruning downtown. This would be paid for with the Urban Forest Management CIP project funds. 9/06 to 2/07 High Priority Removals This work would be accomplished using the City Small Trees Arborist and temporary staff. 1/07 to 3/07 Complete sidewalk This work involves completing concrete repairs at repairs, set treewell approximately 4 of the 12 sites, completing grates sawcutting, and purchasing and installing new treewell grates. The work would be accomplished by a minor contract. This would be paid for with the Urban Forest Management CEP project funds. 2/07 to 4/07 Plant wells vacated by This work involves the planting of the trees in the removals wells resulting from the High Priority Removals. The work would be accomplished by the tree maintenance temporary staff. The trees would be paid for out of the current operating budget. �—Z Urban Forest Management—Phase 1 Page 3 Est. Dates Activity Comments 1/07 to 1/08 Plant existing vacant This work involves planting the CURRENTLY vacant wells treewells. This work is accomplished by staff as time permits. Staff has been averaging about 1 tree per month. Some of this work could be included in an annual contract program which could accelerate it considerably. This would depend on the rate of funding for the program in the next budget cycle. 10/06 Draft Urban Forest Public Works staff completes the first draft of the plan Management Plan for review, which will include recommendations for replacement trees. 11/06 to 12/06 Draft Review Draft plan reviewed by the Community Development Department,DA and Tree Committee. 1/07 City Council Approval Council approval of a comprehensive Urban Forest Management Plan CONCURRENCES The Downtown Association and the Tree Committee have been supportive of getting the high priority removals completed to reduce the potential for property damage or injury. General Plan Conformance The Safety Element requires the City to identify and maintain or remove tree hazards on City property. The Land Use Element requires a nearly continuous tree canopy along sidewalks. The Circulation Element requires shade for sidewalk areas in the commercial core. The Urban Forest Management Plan project is intended to implement all of these elements of the General Plan. The study included in the CIP addressed only the identification of hazards in the downtown. The Urban Forest Management Plan that staff will bring back to the City Council will look at the issues in the General Plan in a more comprehensive manner to address long term maintenance of shade and canopy. Plantings planned for filling currently vacant tree wells and those vacated by trees removed this fall will assist in meeting the General Plan guidelines. FISCAL IMPACT The 2005-07 Financial Plan Appendix B, page 243, included a total of$28,000 to fund work for the Urban Forest Management Plan. The budget has been supplemented twice with operating budget salary savings, for a total of$57,250. The first addition provided funds to add the review of some additional trees to the hazard assessment report. The second provided additional funds to assist in accomplishing the high priority removals, the volume of which had not been anticipated during the budgeting phase. Urban Forest Management—Phase 1 Page 4 Study Construction Original Budget: $8,000 $20,000 Operating Budget Addition: $9,250 $20,000 Current Budget: $17,250 $40,000 Funds Expended: $17,250 $0 Funds Available: $0 $40,000 Engineer's Estimate * $40,000 * The Engineer's Estimate includes tree removals, sidewalk repair and new tree grates. It does not include work identified in the plan to be accomplished using operating account funding and/or City staff. ALTERNATIVES 1. Delay the removals until January so that the replanting follows more closely on the heels of the tree removals. The timing of the removals and the time needed to prepare a minor contract for the sidewalk and grate work is such that starting this work would likely put construction into the holiday season for the downtown. Staff has recommended completing the removals now, with the hardscape and replanting work to occur starting in January. Staff has not recommended this alternative due to the risk involved in leaving trees in place during a portion of the rainy season that have been identified as high priority for removal. ATTACHMENT High Priority Pruning and Removal Lists — Excerpt from Evaluation of Selected Trees for the City of San Luis Obispo by Bill Spiewak Note: The complete report by the consulting arborist, Bill Spiewak, is available for review in the City Clerks office. g:\sMH•reports-agenda rrinutm\_caA2000 p\90 44 urban fores*0544 phesellnprpLdoc Evaluation of-Selectee!Street Trees for the City of Scur Lids Obispo a4nrch 2006 HIGH PRIORITY PRUNING N w z H w ^` J � n N f V1 D LL Z O Z u o o g w a w M o o w u Q.a u v~i a ut H OCOMMFNTS Key tree but high risk due to major co- dominant limbs with Included bark.Trunk growth is enveloping curb and sidewalk&tree 640 X Higuera F 41 27 conflicts with adjacent olive. Crown thin including removing 6'-12"limbs throughout crown,prune away from olive,consider cabling �oanclino treewell, F34 26 Crown thin 4'-6'limbs throughout crown and 641 Higuera remove 8"and 12'limbs close to bldg. Remove 16"diameter center limb that ends 661 Higuera F 32 19 over bldg..Also crown thin 4'-12'diameter limbs over bldg.and throughout crown. F 23 16 Thin tree and remove damaged 10"diameter E- [!- lim over road. Low southem co=dominant leader is heavy. F 36 19 Prune to Include removing 3--8'diameter There are major co-dominant Iambs that- - FR 25 Z3 require pruning.Note decay at the crotch. Also I I triangular Mc=m. Prune tree Incluoing n moving limbs Y'-3'in 23 HigueF 91 19 - - - lifting v Needs major pruning..Note the major co- 790 Higuera F 36 26 dominant limb to the NE.Remove 8'-12'limbs from co-domiant leaders over road&lift crown. Nice tree but trunk is next to curb and Is FR 28 18 damaged from vehicles.Remove north,center 856 Higuera co-dominant limb over road.Bulb out curb or n idestree removal. - Nicetree but co-dominant limbs are concerning.Crown thin and cable.Pruning 687 Higuera FR 22 15 must Include removing 4'-6"diameter limbs throughout crown,and removing north- growing 14'co-dominant limb and southern 10"CD-dominant limb .. north of 2 Prune to reduce end weight of 3'-6'diameter 1011 Higuera FR f_c_us 25 14 co-dominant limbs&lift over bldg. - Tree has dense crown,co-dominant limbs with 437 Marsh F 32 17 included bark&decay,high risk.Note cavity in crotch.Crown thin limbs 3'-6'in diameter. Consider cab Tree has dense crown,co-dominant limbs with 441 Marsh F 26 10 included bark&decay,high risk.Crown thin lim "-6'-in diameter. Tree has dense crown,co--dominant limbs with 461 Marsh F 30 12 Included bark&decay,high risk.Crown thin limbs " "in diameter. --- - Infested with scale insects.Major co-dominant stems,huge root system,overhangs expensive 1219 Monterey St. F 30 ib car lot.Oversized,crown thin 6"limb and Iifto -move, A great huge tree.Major wound in limbs over road,major 6-dominant limb over bldg., 1232 Monterey St. F 33 19 sidewalk damaged from small tree well. Remove 3'-6'diameter limbs over bldg.& mad, I south of 2 Needs major pruning&-sidewalk repair with 1530 Monterey St. C carrot 21 14 root pruning,nicecanopy.Reduce weight on F 29 18 Major co=dominant limbs with included.bark 1.536_ Monterey St. n iv nin 3rd from east Crown thin.Remove damaged 12"limb over 1101 X Morro F of r ficus 35 22 street.Remove 6"-l0"limbs over bldg.and lirou hcrown. F west of 4 31 21 Crown thin by removing 6'-12'limbs 1101 X Morro fiN .throughout. Infested with scale.Crown thin.Remove 6"co- 1003 Osos F east of.2 ficus 29 9 dominant limb,with included bark,growing east over curb at 12'above ground. at 1000 eastern of 4 Specimen tree needs major pruning to reduce 999 x Santa Rosa Monterey, F trees 31 13 weight. ountv 111da Figure 4: The trees on the 600 & 700 blocks of Higuera need pruning ASAP. _S Attachment t -2 Evaluation of Selected Street Trees for the City of San Luis Obispo March 2006 HIGH PRIORITY REMOVALS V) W W W J rL to o 0 f th N 2 O Ln N 0 th Z O uito O C UCUJIF �i °t ui W S W 0 W oC O O LL tiQ tan 0I D H COMMENTS 1135 Chorro C 22 Remove west side 12'limbs to crotch at 2' e. 586 Hlguera C north 3 14 Remove tree Very weak crotch In high area. Danaamus tree, south of 2 Major decay below major co-dominant crotch 1011 Higuera FR fives 23 with major included bark,considerremoval. x wPrivate tree In with Nipomo 600 Marsh private-dell C 19 vary poor condition.High parking risk.Remove tree. Leaningtreewith extreme decay St 717 Marsh C 16 overhanging bench-remove,risk wil increase over time, 696 Monterey St. C south of 2 13 large decay column.Remove tree,high risk.carrot 1301 Monterey St. on Johnson by C 13 Major crack in trunk,high risk.Remove ASAP 1511 Monterey St. C 18 Decay column in crotch warrants tree.removal. Very large for area.Limited sidewalk and a 1521 Monterey St. F 28 hazard due to homeowner's curb and low clerance over sidewalk. Remove tree. north of 2 Major dewy In trunk,leans toward bldg., 1530 Monterey St. C carrot 19 conflicts with private landscape,remove. The upper part of the trunk is partially 1701 Monterey St. F 23 obstructing the sidewalk,which was was once repaired and rerouted. Roots lift entire area. Remove tree. Tree iscreating damage to public and private 1145 X Morro F 33 infrastructure.Will get worse. Remove tree. Also note circling roots. 1003 Osos near comer F west of 2 28 Scale infested.Major cavity In trunk.High with Monterey ficus risk.Remove tree. Figure 3:The bold face text represents the six trees that should be removed ASAP. Bill Spiewak—Consulting Arborist 16 ` C2