HomeMy WebLinkAbout(1997, 07/14) - G-1 - Amended1,
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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.
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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
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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,
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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
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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.
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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
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Amended - March 14,199$/
Amended - April 11,199d
Amended - February 2,6;1996
Amended - July 14, 7
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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
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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
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Attachment 2