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HomeMy WebLinkAbout(2002, 04/23) - G-1 - AmendedIs G -1 RETENTION OR REMOVAL OF CITY TREES The purpose of this policy is to establish definitive standards for the retention, removal, maintenance, reforestation, and supplemental trimming of City trees. City trees are an important part of the character and charm of the entire City. Regular care, trimming, maintenance and programmed replacement are necessary to preserve this charm while at the same time protecting public and private property. SPECIAL CITY TREES It is the City's policy to retain City trees categorized as landmark, dedicated, or neighborhood trees, which contribute to and give character to an entire neighborhood. Landmark, dedicated, and neighborhood trees are identified on Attachment 1, and shall hereinafter be referred to as Special Trees. Trees within these categories shall be established, mapped, recorded and administered by the Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission ( "Commission "). Special Trees shall be retained, unless there are overriding problems, such as death, disease, or the creation of a hazardous situation, which require their removal. Prior to consideration for removal of Special Trees, the General Services Director, or designee, shall prepare a report identifying and implementing specific treatment to retain the tree(s). If specific treatment is unsuccessful in retaining a tree(s) then a full report shall be made to the Commission before any further action considering removal is taken. Prior to any removal of Special Trees, the City must comply with the noticing provisions of the Removal of City Trees section set forth in this Policy, unless a tree is considered hazardous that necessitates an emergency removal. Any such removal requires the approval of the City Manager. During normal sidewalk, curb, and street repair activity requiring root pruning, all steps shall be taken to retain Special Trees. If tree roots are to be pruned in association with sidewalk, curb, and gutter improvements, sufficient timing in advance must be planned to ensure that pruning will not destabilize or kill the tree. If both sides of a tree's roots are to be pruned, one side should be pruned 6 months to a year in advance of the other side depending upon the species and other related factors. If root pruning methods are not practical and /or critical to the health of the tree, then alternate or special hardscape improvements shall be installed by the City in order to retain the tree. All proposed root pruning shall be assessed by the Urban Forester. 1 G -1 so ALL OTHER CITY TREES It is the City's policy to retain all other City trees unless removal is necessary for one of the following reasons: A. The City tree has had a proven and repeated history (defined as two or more occurrences within an 18 -month period) of damaging public or private sewers, water mains, roadways, sidewalks, curbs, walls, fences, underground utilities, or foundations based on City records or other competent and reliable authority despite specific treatment by the City to alleviate repeated damage. Water or sewer stoppage that results from tree roots and causes significant documented private property damage (greater than $500) shall be sufficient criterion for tree removal. Regular drain or pipe clearing shall not constitute such damage, nor shall damage attributed to a failure by the property owner to perform such preventive maintenance. B. The City tree has had a repeated history (defined as two or more occurrences within an 18 -month period) of significant interference with street or sidewalk drainage, despite specific treatment by the City to alleviate repeated damage. C. The City tree is dead, diseased, dying, or hazardous, and presents a significant • liability to the City. Diseased trees are defined as those trees that cannot be cured by current arboricultural methods, are in an advanced state of decline, and have no prospect of recovery. Dying trees are those that have no prospect of recovery. Hazardous trees are defined as those that are defective, have a potential to fail, and would cause damage to persons and property upon failure. The Urban Forester will perform a hazard assessment whenever a tree is identified as hazardous. The assessment will identify: structural defects of the tree, parts of the tree most likely to fail, targets where imminent personal injury or property damage may result with tree failure, and procedures or actions necessary to abate the hazard. D. The tree(s) have been requested to be removed in conjunction with a City Council- approved City, commercial, neighborhood, or community association beautification program. E. The City Manager, upon the advice of the Risk Manager or Traffic Engineer, shall have the authority to remove trees to resolve claims or safety issues. 2 0 G -1 REMOVAL OF CITY TREES The initiation to remove any City tree may be made by the General Services Department, Public Works Department, a legally established community association, or a private property owner by making application to the General Services Director. After receipt of the application a tree inspection report shall be prepared by the City's Urban Forester (Attachment 2) to determine if the tree(s) meets the criteria outlined in the above All Other City Trees section for consideration for removal. Simultaneously, the Urban Forester shall provide a notice of the proposed tree removal to the affected property owner, the owners immediately adjacent to the applicant's property, and the appropriate community association if applicable, (not applicable to the emergency removal of hazardous trees with trees under Item C above). The Urban Forester shall determine whether in his /her judgment additional specific treatment can be initiated to retain the tree. If a tree(s) is to be removed, the tree(s) will be posted at least 30 days prior to the removal with a sign notifying the public that they have the right of appeal. The sign shall also note a staff contact. Once a recommendation is made by the Urban Forester and the Park and Tree Superintendent to the General Services Director and the General Services Director or designee concurs, then the applicant, the adjoining owners, and the community association, if applicable, shall be notified of the decision to remove or retain the tree within 30 days of the proposed removal. The General Services Director, or his designee, shall report at a regularly scheduled PB &R Commission meeting of all trees recommended for removal using the Trees Division Activities Report, except for those trees categorized in Paragraph C in the preceding section on All Other City Trees. An applicant, an adjoining property owner, or any interested party may appeal the decision of the General Services Director to the Commission. The Commission, in considering any appeal, shall determine whether the removal meets the criteria outlined in this Policy, as well as any unique factors which may be pertinent to the removal or retention of tree(s). The decision of the Commission will be considered final unless called up by at least one Councilmember or the City Manager. The General Services Department will delay any tree removal(s) for at least 14 calendar days following the date of the Commission decision in order to allow time for a Councilmember or the City Manager to call the item. The City will endeavor to replace all trees removed in accordance with the All Other City Trees removal criteria. Replacement trees will be a minimum of a 24" boxed size. 0 3 G -1 • REFORESTATION OF CITY TREES The concept of systematically replacing trees which are creating hardscape and /or view problems and cannot be properly trimmed, pruned or modified to alleviate the problems they create, or those which have reached their full life and are declining in health, is referred to as reforestation. It is recognized and acknowledged that City trees were planted many years ago and in some cases were planted with specific species that when fully mature cause damage to curb, gutter, sidewalk or underground utilities. In certain neighborhoods, City street trees may encroach into blue water views from public and private property depending on the length of time since the trees were last trimmed, or the age and height of the trees. Arborists continue to develop lists of tree species which will grow in restricted parkway areas without causing significant damage to curb, gutter, sidewalk, utilities or views. As a City which understands the importance of trees and the beauty they bring to a community, the City desires to continually improve the urban forest through reforestation. In areas where City trees have been removed through City initiation, the • City should expeditiously replace them with the appropriate designated City tree. Reforestation may also be initiated by residents utilizing the process outlined below. Individual private property owners, as well as community associations, may apply for single or multiple tree reforestation in their respective area by submitting a request to the General Services Director for consideration by the Commission that meets the following requirements: A. The proposed area must have clearly defined contiguous boundaries that include the tree(s) proposed for removal and replacement, street address(es), block number(s), or other geographical information. This section applies to individual and group requests. B. Residential communities, neighborhoods or business organizations must submit a petition signed by a minimum of 60% of the property owners within the area defined for reforestation. A neighborhood is defined for the purposes of this policy as ten or more homes in any given area of the City. As an alternative, 4 0 G -1 areas represented by a legally established community association empowered with CC&R's, may submit a resolution of the Board of Directors formally requesting a reforestation with a statement that all members of the community association having their residential views affected, have been officially notified and given an appropriate opportunity to respond before the Board voted on the request. Individual private property owners living within a legally established community association area empowered with CC &R's must petition for reforestation through their respective association. C. Individual private property owners not residing within a CC &R based community association area may submit individual requests for single or multiple tree reforestation. The applicant must submit a petition signed by a minimum of 60% of the residents within a one block distance in either direction from the reforestation site as well as the endorsement of the appropriate homeowners' association, if aplicable. D. A written agreement must be submitted by the petitioning sponsor (individual private property owners or group) to pay 100% of the costs of the removal and replacement of the public trees in advance of any removal activity. The actual removal and replanting will be coordinated by the General Services Department. The total costs shall include only the contractor's removal and replacement costs and be paid in advance of any removal actions. E. The replacement tree(s) for reforestation shall be the designated street tree(s) as prescribed by City Council Policy G -6, or the organization must request and obtain approval from the Commission of the designation of a different tree species prior to submitting any reforestation request. This section applies to individual or group requests. F. There shall be a minimum of a one - for -one replacement of all trees removed in reforestation projects. Replacement trees shall be a minimum size of 36" boxed trees, unless the parkway space will only accommodate a 24" boxed tree. If there is not room for the replacement tree within a specific site as prescribed by City Council Policy G -6, then the replacement tree shall be planted in the same neighborhood. This section applies to individual or group requests. The decision of the Commission on reforestation requests will be considered final unless called up by at least one Councilmember or the City Manager. 0 5 G -1 0 The City shall require the proper care and watering of replacement trees to ensure their proper growth and development as outlined in City Council Policy G-6. Furthermore, no person shall tamper with replacement trees in violation of Section 13.08.040 of the Municipal Code. All encroachment permits (permits for private property development which has encroached upon the City right of way) that involve the removal or replacement of City trees must be specifically noticed by the property owner to City staff prior to the building and /or demo permit process whenever possible. The proposed construction plans must indicate preservation of existing City trees wherever possible (exempt: dead, dying, or in an advanced state of decline). if the proposed development, as deemed by the General Services Director, requires removal of City trees, the property owner may submit a reforestation request and shall pay all related removal and replacement costs as indicated in the previous paragraphs. TREE TRIMMING STANDARDS/ SUPPLEMENTAL TRIMMING The City Council has adopted tree trimming cycles for trees of different ages and species. The current tree trimming cycles and trimming standards represent the maximum feasible frequency and extent of trimming given current fiscal conditions. • Except as provided in this Section, trimming shall be in accordance with the standards of the International Society of Arboriculture (1SA). The City will consider, and as a general rule approve, requests to trim certain trees more frequently or to trim trees consistent with practices applied prior to the adoption of 1SA standards (to enhance public and private views, preserve required sight /distance standards, or other public purposes) which are submitted by affected residents or the board of a legally established community association and the request is accompanied by a completed "Supplemental Tree Trimming Form' and full payment. However, since these practices often require 'topping' or severe disfiguring of a tree and are often aesthetically displeasing and injurious to a tree, reforestation shall be considered once this practice has occurred more than twice within a one year period. The General Services Director shall establish procedures to implement the supplemental trimming provisions of this Policy. An approval must be obtained from a legally established association by the requestor in areas with an active homeowners' association. W Attachment 1- Preservation of Special Trees] Attachment 2- Tree Inspection Report] Adopted - May 9,1966 Amended - August 14,1967 Amended - November 9,1976 Amended - November 12,1985 Amended - November 28,1988 Amended - March 14,1994 Formerly I -9 Amended - April 11, 1994 Amended - February 26,1996 Amended - July 14,1997 Amended (Administratively) - November 24,1997 Amended - August 10, 1998 Amended - February 22, 2000 G -1 7 C C PRESERVATION OF SPECIAL TREES it 09185 "m G -1 TREES Balboa Library Eucalyptus globulus Balboa Library Phoenix canariensis West Jetty (near Historical Marker) Phoenix canariensis Dover Drive at Westcliff Liquidambar styraciflua 400 block Poinsettia Eucalyptus corynocalyx Ocean Blvd. Corona del Mar Phoneix canariensis Westcliff & Dover (Groves) Eucalyptus globulus Main Street (between East Bay Ficus nitida Ave. and Balboa Blvd.) DEDICATED TREES No. Mariners Park (Marcie Schrouder) Pinus radiata Mariners Park (Frank Tallman) Pinus radiata No. City Hall grounds (Billy Covert) Ficus benjamina City Hall grounds (Walter Knott) Pinus halepensis City Hall grounds Calif. Bicentennial) Pinus halepensis Las Arenas Park (Ed Healy) Melaleuca linarifolia Mariners Park (Isy Pease) Pinus halepensis City Hall grounds U.S. Bicentennial Freedom Tree) Harpephyllum caffrum Buffalo Hills Park (Bahia Community Earth Day Celebration) Erythrina caffra Peninsula Park Gray Lunde Memorial Tree) Chamaerops humilis Cliff Drive Park Quercus agrifolia Gary Lovell) Begonia Park Prunus cerasifera Cheryl Bailey Ringwald) Castaways Park Quercus agrifolia Jan Vandersloot) Jean Watt) Peninsula Park Ravenea rivularis Don Perdue) Grant Howald Park 1 (Pete Munro) 2 (Mark Munro) Attachment 1 Metrosideros excelsus G -1 DEDICATED Bob Henry Park Ficus Rubiginosa TREES (contd.) (Bob Henry) Cliff Drive Park Quercus agrifolia Dr. Jan Vandersloot) Veterans Park Lagenstroemia Rosemary Rae Hill Hansen) indica faueri Mariners Park Stenocarpus N. Beach Sunrise Rotary Club) sinuatus Christopher & Marisha Thompson) Pinus eldarica Meghan & Camielle Thompson) Pinus eldarica West Newport Park Spathodea campanulata Brownie Girl Scout Troop 2072) Buffalo Hills Park Stenocarpus sinuatus N. Beach Sunrise Rotary Club) Castaways Park Quercus agrifolia Nancy & Jack Skinner) Bob & Susan Caustin) Bayside Park Pyrus calleryana Newport - Irvine Rotary Club) Castaways Park Quercus agrifolia Eva Victoria Najera) Begonia Park Bauhinia blakeana Dr. Leo V. Turgeon) L Street Park Cassis leptophylla Tim Van Ostenbridge) Castaways Park Platanus racemosa John D. Woodruff) Grant Howald Park Cassis leptophylla Jean & Coalson Morris) Old School Park Cassis leptophylla Jean & Coalson Morris) Mariners Park Bauhinia variegata Sierra Beth) Cliff Drive Park Cassis leptophylla Frances P. Hemenway) Grant Howard Park Hymenosporum flavum Skipper Mark Howes) U Attachment 1 2 49 NEIGHBORHOOD TREES Parkway in Shorecliffs Erythrina caffra Marguerite Avenue Phoenix canariensis Goldenrod Avenue Washington robusta Dover Drive (Mariners to Irvine) Eucalyptus globulus 15th Street (Newport Heights) Eucalyptus cladocalyx Irvine Avenue Median Eucalyptus globulus Holiday between Irvine & Tustin Eucalyptus globulus Along Avon Avenue Eucalyptus globulus Via Lido Bridge Eucalyptus globulus Marine Avenue (Balboa Island) Eucalyptus rudis Seaview Avenue (Corona del Mar) Pinus radiata Poppy Avenue (Corona del Mar) Eucalyptus rudis Heliotrope Avenue (Corona del Mar) Pinus radiata Candlestick Lane, etc. (Baycrest) Eucalyptus citriodora Commodore Eucalyptus citriodora Starlight Eucalyptus citriodora Glenwood Eucalyptus citriodora Candlestick Eucalyptus citriodora Sandalwood Eucalyptus citriodora Adopted - May 9,1 %6 Amended - November 9,1976 Amended - November 28,1988 Amended - October, 1993 Amended - July 14,1997 Amended - January 25,1999 Amended - February 22, 2000 Amended - April 23, 2002 0 Attachment 1 G -1