HomeMy WebLinkAbout(1997, 11/24) - G-1 - AmendedLl
RETENTION OR REMOVAL OF CITY TREES
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The purpose of this policy is to establish definitive standards for the retention,
removal, maintenance, reforestation, and supplemental trimming of City trees.
City street trees are an important part of the character and charm of certain
communities and regular care, trimming, maintenance and programmed
replacement are necessary 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 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 maintained by the
Parks, Beaches & Recreation Commission ( "Commission ").
Special Trees shall be retained, unless there are exceptional problems 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.
During normal sidewalk, curb, and street repair activity requiring root pruning,
all steps will be taken to retain Special 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 or kill the tree. If both sides
of a tree's root are to be pruned, one side should be pruned a year in advance of
the other side.
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:
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1. The City tree has had a history of damaging public or private
sewers, water mains, 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.
2. The City tree has had a repeated history of interfering with street or
sidewalk drainage, despite specific treatment by the City to
alleviate repeated damage.
3. The City tree is dead, diseased, or dying.
4. The tree(s) must comply with the criteria for reforestation as
contained in the Reforestation of City Trees section of this policy.
5. The tree(s) have been requested to be removed in conjunction with
a City Council- approved neighborhood or community association
beautification program.
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 with 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 above for consideration for removal. Simultaneously, a notice shall be
provided to the affected property owner and the owners immediately adjacent to
the applicant's property, and the appropriate community association if
applicable. 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 marked at least 30 days prior to the removal, in order
to notify the public at large. 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
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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, as well as any unique
factors which may be pertinent to the removal or retention of tree(s).
REFORESTATION OF CITY TREES
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
create significant problems in curb, gutter, sidewalk or underground utilities. In
certain neighborhoods, mature 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.
Today, arborists have developed lists of tree species which are able to grow in
restricted parkway areas without causing significant future problems to curb,
gutter, sidewalk, utilities or views. The concept of systematically replacing
mature 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 are reaching their full life and are declining in health, is referred to
as reforestation.
As a City which understands the importance of trees and the beauty it brings 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. 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.
Individuals or parties desiring to reforest City trees in their respective area, may
submit a request to the General Services Director for consideration by the
Commission that meets the following requirements:
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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 defined for the purposes of
this policy as ten or more homes in any given area of the City.
As an alternative, 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 have been officially notified and
given an appropriate opportunity to respond before the Board
voted on the request.
C. 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.
d. 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.
e. 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 24" box trees.
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.
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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 (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.
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 9,1966
Amended - August 14,1967
Amended - November 9, 1976
Amended - November 12,1985
Amended - November 28,1988
1997
Formerly I -9
Amended - March 14,1994
Amended - April 11, 1994
Amended - February 26,1996
Amended - July 14, 1997
Amended (Administratively) - Nov. 24,
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