Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout(1997, 07/14) - G-1 - Amended1, G -1 RETENTION OR REMOVAL OF CITY TREES The purpose of this policy is to establish definitive standards for the retentio"moval, maintenance, reforestation, and supplemental trimming of City trees. City,,itreet trees are an important part of the character and charm of certain communitieand regular care, trimming, maintenance and programmed replacement are necess to preserve this charm while protecting public and private property. SPECIAL CITY TREES It is the City's policy to retain City trees categorized as jindmark, dedicated, or neighborhood trees which contribute to and give character kti an entire neighborhood. Landmark, dedicated, and neighborhood trees are iden ' 'ed on Attachment 1, and shall hereinafter be referred to as Special Trees. Trees Mthin these categories shall be established, mapped, recorded and maintained by tb Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission ( "Commission'). Special Trees shall be retained, unless there are xceptional problems which require their removal. Prior to consideration for remov 'Special Trees, the General Services Director, or designee, shall prepare a repor identifying and implementing specific treatment to retain the tree(s). If specific trea ent is unsuccessful in retaining a tree(s) then a full report shall be made to Commission before any further action considering removal is taken. Prior to y rem oval of Special Trees, the City must comply with the noticing provisions of a Removal of City Trees section set forth in this policy. During normal sidewalk, curb, an street repair activity requiring root pruning, all steps will be taken to retain Specia Trees. If tree roots are to be pruned in association with hardscape improvements, sufficient timing in advance must be planned to ensure that pruning will not destabilize r kill the tree. If both sides of a tree's root are to be pruned, one side should be pru ed a year in advance of the other side. ALL OTHER CITY TREES It is the City's policy to reta n all other City trees unless removal is necessary for one of the following reasons: 1. The City tike has had a history of damaging public or private sewers, water mars, roadways, sidewalks, curbs, walls, fences, or foundations based on .City records or other competent and reliable authority despite specific treatment by the City to alleviate repeated damage. G -1 • 2. The City tree has had a repeated history of interfering with sK eet or sidewalk drainage, despite specific treatment by the City alleviate repeated damage. 3. The City tree is dead, diseased, or dying. 4. The tree(s) must comply with the criteria for refor tation as contained in the Reforestation of City Trees section of this po 'cy. 5. The tree(s) have been requested to be rem ed in conjunction with a City Council- approved neighborhood or co unity association beautification program. / REMOVAL OF CITY TREES l The initiation to remove any City tr6 may be made by the General Services Department, Public Works Departmeny-a legally established community association, or a private property owner by makingapplication with the General Services Director. After receipt of the application r'tree inspection report shall be prepared by the City's Urban Forester (Attachment 2)" to determine if the tree(s) meets the criteria outlined above for consideration for ; emoval. Simultaneously, a notice shall be provided to the affected property owner end the owners immediately adjacent to the applicant' s property, and the appropfiate community association if applicable. The Urban Forester shall determine whetlier 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 marked at least 30 days prior. /to the removal, in order to notify the public at large. Once a recommendation J6 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, except for those categorized in paragraph 3 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, and if the appeal cannot be resolved at the Commission level, then the final resolution will be determined at the City Council level. The Commission and Council, in considering any appeal, shall determine whether the removal meets the criteria outlined in this policy, 2 G -1 as well as any unique factors which may be pertinent to the removal or tree(s). REFORESTATION OF CITY TREES It is recognized and acknowledged that City trees were planted many yegts ago and in some cases were planted with specific species that when fully mature c ate significant problems in curb, gutter, sidewalk or underground utilities. In certa)6 neighborhoods, mature City street trees may encroach into blue water views frorypublic and private property depending on the length of time since the trees were las rimmed. Today, arborists have developed lists of tree species which able to grow in restricted parkway areas without causing significant future proble s to curb, gutter, sidewalk, utilities or views. The concept of systematically rep cing mature trees which are creating hardscape and /or view problems and canno, Se properly trimmed, pruned or modified to alleviate the problems they create, or thdse which are reaching their full life and are declining in health, is referred to as refore,siation. As a City which understands the importan¢6 of trees and the beauty it brings to a community, the City desires to continpfally improve the urban forest through reforestation. In areas where City trees have been removed through City initiation, the City should expeditiously replace thel with the appropriate designated City tree. Reforestation may also be initiated lyy residents utilizing the process outlined below. The City shall require the proper caXe and watering of replacement trees to ensure their proper growth and development xs 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. Individuals or parties desiring to reforest City trees in their respective area, may submit a request to the General, ervices Director for consideration by the Commission that meets the following req rements: a. The proposed area must have clearly defined contiguous boundaries that include the trees proposed for removal and replacement, street addresses, block numbers, or other geographical information. 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 3 G -1 • r defined for the purposes of this policy as ten or more homes in any given area of the City. C. Areas represented by a legally established community assoeta/tion empowered with CC & R's must submit a resolution of the.,&ard of Directors formally requesting reforestation with a statement that all members of the community association have been o i6ally notified and given an appropriate opportunity to respond.before the Board voted on the request. d. A written agreement by the petitioning sponsor 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. e. The replacement tree must be the designated street tree as prescribed by City Council Policy G -6, or the organization must request and have approval from the Commission of the designation of a different • tree species. In the event that the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission does not approve the reforestation request, the applicant has the option to appeal the proposal to the City Council. 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 providkd in this Section, trimming shall be in accordance with the standards of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). 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 ISA 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 commitment to fully reimburse the City for any costs of trimming. 4 • G -1 The General Services Director shall establish procedures to implement the supplemental trimming provisions of this Policy. Note: (Attachment 1- Preservation of Special Trees) Attachment 2- Tree Inspection Report) Adopted - May 9,1 %6 Amended - August 14,1967 Amended - November 9,1976 Amended - November 12,1985 Amended - November 28,1988 Formerly I -9 i Amended - March 14,199$/ Amended - April 11,199d Amended - February 2,6;1996 Amended - July 14, 7 5 fr IIIZ 1 ,-JC, G -1 PRESERVATION OF SPECIAL TREES LANDMARK 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 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 Attachment 1 Candlestick Lane, etc. (Baycrest) Commodore Starlight Glenwood Candlestick Sandalwood Adopted - May 9,1966 Amended -November 9,1976 Amended - November 28,1988 Amended - October/1993 Amended - July 14,1997 G -1 Eucalyptus citriodora • Eucalyptus citriodora Eucalyptus citriodora Eucalyptus citriodora Eucalyptus citriodora Eucalyptus citriodora Attachment 1 • CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TREE INSPECTION REPORT Q Address Phone Number Request Botanical Name Common Name Designated Street Tree Estimated Tree Value Damage Parkway: Concrete _ Brick Comments Inspected by Recommendation Reviewed by Turf _Other Date Date G -1 Attachment 2