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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/07/2002 - PB&R CommissionMAY 7, 2002 APPROVED PB &R COMMISSION MINUTES CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH • Parks, Beaches ft Recreation Commission Regular Meeting May 7, 2002- 7pm CONVENED AT 7:03pm ROLL CALL Commissioners Present: Allen, Beek, Englebrecht, Franklin, Macfarland, Skoro, Tobin Staff Present: David Niederhaus, General Services Director Andrea McGuire, Recreation Superintendent Teri Craig, Administrative Assistant APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Commissioner Macfarland to approve the minutes of April 2, 2002. Motion carried by acclamation. Public Comments Chair Skoro thanks Recreation Coordinator Peart for the outstanding Arbor Day event on April 27. Consent Calendar 1. Correspondence • Fm: Kathy Hamilton, April 24, 2002 Ralph Bernard, May 6, 2002 (added) Dona &t Secondo Colombero, May 7, 2002 (added) 2. Pulled by Chair Skoro 3. Community Services 4. Tree Donation Accept donation from Stop Polluting Our Newport (SPON) of one Gold Medallion tree to be located at Castaways Park. 2. Park i3 Tree Division - Chair Skoro asked staff to update the Commission on the Bonita Canyon Sports Park at every meeting and that it should be recorded in the activity report. Director Niederhaus stated that east side of Bonita Canyon Sports Park should be completed in June; mid side in September; and west in November. He noted that the MacArthur section would not be completed until next year and that the park should be fully operational by spring of 2004. Motion by Commissioner Beek to accept items 1- 4 of the Consent Calendar. Motion carried by acclamation. • n LJ Parks, Beaches I} Recreation Commission RegultTr Meeting May 7, 2002 Page 2 DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. Main Street Ficus Tree Removals — Director Niederhaus introduced the following staff and their role in the revitalization of Balboa: • Sharon Wood, Assistant City Manager — development and Balboa revitalization Bob Stein, Public Works Engineer — Engineer in charge of the revitalization • John Conway, Certified arborist with 25 years experience. Director Niederhaus added the following communications to the staff report: • Secondo and Dona Colombero, 1003 E. Balboa Boulevard, May 7, 2002 - urging support of the removal of the trees on Main Street • Ralph Bernard, 1801 East Bay Avenue, May 6, 2002 — urging removal of the Ficus trees. Petition with 127 names from Virginia Herberts urging that the Ficus trees not be removed. Director Niederhaus stated that the G -1 Policy provides that the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission administers Special City Trees, and that the Director shall provide recommendations on the removal of All Other trees. He stated in accordance with the G -1 Policy a independent analysis was done by Integrated Urban Foresters in March 2001, • suggesting three species of replacement trees if the Ficus trees were to be removed. He also noted that the City Urban Forester had completed an individual tree report on each tree. Director Niederhaus stated that a removal notice had been posted on each of the 25 trees and that adjacent property owners and interested parties were notified of the Commission meeting. He noted that staff had received only 10 calls concerning the removals. Director Niederhaus provided a PowerPoint presentation that included some of the following information: • Fact Sheet — 68% of the tree claims paid by the City are caused by damage from Ficus Trees • Concerns — other municipalities have similar concerns with Ficus Trees. • Ficus Trees should not be grown in limited park spaces, but should be planted in parks. • That the Main Street Ficus Trees are 35 -40 years of age Examples of evasive Ficus roots were shown Picture showing the tree scape obscuring the Pavilion. Trees obscure businesses and that their canopies are extremely big. • Pictures portraying hardscape damage on Main Street; asphalt repair or cement grinding every 6 -9 months. Damage to underground utilities, particularly private sewers. • • Picture of the Coral Gum tree that staff recommends as replacement tree and would be planted next spring. Chair Skoro adjourned meeting for 5 minutes for audience to go outside and look at the sample Coral Gum Tree. Parks, Beaches ft Recreation Commission Regular Meeting May 7, 2002 is Page 3 Chair Skoro reconvened meeting at 7:45pm. Commissioner Beek questioned Director Niederhaus on criteria from the G -1 Policy used to effect removal of the trees. Director Niederhaus stated that paragraph 2, section D stated that trees "Other Trees" can be requested to be removed as part of a City Council approved City Beautification Program. That same criteria has been applied to `Special Trees." Sharon Wood, Assistant City Manager, that the City has actively been working on controlling the damage caused by these trees for the past 10 -15 years. That Council has approved a $7.5 M revitalization program for Balboa and that the plans include the removal and replacement of the trees. Commissioner Englebrecht questioned staff regarding the timeline for the removal of the trees. Director Niederhaus stated that the removal process would begin in September with Phase 2 of the improvements, along with the repair of the hardscape. In March, 32 Coral Gum • Trees would be planted and placed so as to not obscure the buildings. He noted that staff had already purchased 32 Coral Gum trees, which are 7 -8 feet in height, with the approval of the City Manager and that they would be delivered in the next couple of weeks and that they expect at least a 3 -4 foot growth before installation. He stated that should the Commission or the Council vote to retain the trees that the Coral Gums would be placed in parks throughout the City. Discussion ensued regarding the size of the tree well (30 versus 6x6). Mr. Stein stated that by enlarging the tree well it would counter one of the major goals of the project to increase sidewalk space. Commissioner Beek asked what the appeal process would be if the Commission voted to remove the trees. Director Niederhaus stated that one of the Council Members or the City Manager could ask that it the issue be included on a future Council agenda. Chair Skoro opened the public discussion Gus Chabre, 1130 E. Balboa Boulevard, Peninsula Point Association President stated that the membership had voted to remove the Ficus Trees in 1999. The Association convened a • special meeting in late April and again voted to remove the trees. Kay Moretenson, 1520 Miramar, Peninsula Point Association Board Member, stated that the Association supports the removal of the trees and that they are very excited about the Parks, Beaches ft Recreation Commission Regular Meeting May 7, 2002 • Page 4 revitalization to the Balboa area. She urged the Commission to remove the trees and give the Balboa area a new beginning. Commissioner Beek asked if the Peninsula Point Association was contributing money to the revitalization project. Ms. Mortenson stated that she could not speak to that but possibly someone else could. Chuck Hutton, stated that he had Ficus Trees in his yard that had been planted in 1932 and has not caused any damage. He noted that the revitalization project was very expensive and noted that he was not prepared to support the removal of the trees. Aldon Kelly, arborist, stated that he does not recommend the removal of the trees because the City has not taken the opportunity to try and fix them by installing root barriers. He noted that the Coral Gum would make the residents just as unhappy as the Ficus. He recommended that the City retain the trees and provided 6x6 cutouts. He stated that people do not come to Balboa because it looks nice but rather to visit because of its location to the ocean. Debbie Robson, 926 W. Balboa Boulevard, stated that she would be very sad to see the • trees removed, noting the beautiful archway and shade they provide. She suggested that something be built to cover the roots; and voiced concern about the flower droppings from the Coral Gum. She urged the Commission to retain the trees. Jan Vandersloot, 2221 E. 16`h Street, stated that there should not even be a vote to remove these trees. He stated that nothing has been done to retain these trees, and that in fact the City has not even taken a first step. Mr. Vandersloot stated that at the very least root barriers should be used on the trees on the North side. He also noted that these trees should not be evaluated en masse but rather as separate trees. He stated where is the repeated damage that must be shown to remove such trees as stated in the City Policy. He urged the Commission to retain the trees. He also noted that he was not notified and that he should have been given more time to speak. Curtis Herberts, 2290 Channel Road, stated that it is not the Ficus trees that cause the sewer damage but rather a hole in the sewer and the root seeks out the water. He stated that the sewer lines will need to be replaced anyway. He urged to retain the trees. Cheryl McDowell, 1537 E. Ocean Boulevard, stated that the beautification is needed in the area but not at the expense of the trees. She stated that she had talked to business owners who will not do their share of keeping the front of their business clean by sweeping up leaves. She stated that a lot of residents do not know that the City is even considering removal of the trees and that once it begins all "hell" will be raised. She urged the • Commission to retain the trees. Ryan Gee, 1355 E. Balboa Boulevard, stated that the revitalization project never even took into account for the Ficus trees, but rather began work on the assumption that they would Parks, Beaches it Recreation Commission Regular Meeting May 7, 2002 • Page 5 be removed. He stated that the City has not even tried to fix any of the problems association with the trees. He urged that the Commission retain the trees. Virginia Herberts, 2290 Channel Road, stated that the revitalization project is beautiful but that it should include retaining the Ficus Trees. She stated that staff should make these trees viable. Gay Wassail- Kelly, 409 E. Edgewater, President, Balboa Merchants Association, stated that the Association had always believed that the south side trees would be removed long before now and most of the merchants owners have paid for sewer problems. She stated that the Association voted to remove these trees, but especially now in light of the revitalization project. Commissioner Beek asked if the Balboa Merchants Association has committed any funds to the revitalization. Ms. Kelly stated that no money has been committed but assures the Commission that once details are final that they will. Commissioner Beek stated that she was baffled that the Merchants Association has not • committed money for the project and that the City has not even asked them to. Commissioner Allen stated that she was worried that the Coral Gum tree might eventually obscure the signs just as the Ficus trees now have. Ms. Kelly stated that they believe that the Coral Gum is the best choice of the area and that Director Niederhaus has promised that the City staff that the trees will be trimmed on a frequent basis. Cindy Doman, stated that she and some friends had planted flowers in the pots around the area and had asked the merchants to water them. They stated that the did not have the time and that it should be the City's responsibility. She noted that she has concerns that 4 of the Coral Gums that have been plated on Balboa Boulevard are already dead and that 15 of them are having problems.. She also noted that she did a merchant study and that only 3 of the 21 merchants had had problems with their sewers. On that assumption, only three of the trees should be removed. She stated that she has a petition that she will present to Council that includes 250 names against the removal of the trees. She urged the Commission to retain the trees. Christy Wood, 2046 Seville Avenue, business owner stated that the trees are probably not going to cause any more damage and that the Commission should vote to retain the trees. • Dona Colombero, 1003 E. Balboa Boulevard, stated that she has sued the City for damages due to these trees in the past. She stated that the Peninsula needs an attraction that will serve the City and retain tourists in that area and that by removing the trees they will be able to see the businesses and then can visit them. She urged the Commission to remove the trees. Parks, Beaches It Recreation Commission Regula "r Meeting •May 7, 2002 Page 6 Richard Fogel, 351 Old Newport, ##363, owns Balboa Hardware, states people are drawn to shade and that business owner windows are what should attract business. He stated that removing the trees will make the area more formal and less inviting. Brooke Landers, stated that these trees are beautiful and should not be replaced. Sharon Wood, Assistant City Manager, stated that they expect that the private business will elect to upgrade the outside of their businesses as the revitalization project moves along. She stated that the Balboa Inn is already working on a rehab and construction program and that the Balboa Liquor Store is also considering doing the same. Chair Skoro closed the public discussion Commissioner Franklin stated that he appreciates the comments made and agrees that the revitalization project is beautiful, but is troubled that staff has not taken all the steps to save the trees. Commissioner Tobin asked what was causing the trees on Balboa Boulevard to appear brown. • Bob Stein stated that the construction and masonry debris has caused some of the problems for the trees and that when the Coral Gum trees are planted that precautions will be taken to keep the trees clean. Commissioner Tobin asked if the Ficus trees are causing safety issues with the gas main. Director Niederhaus stated that staff failed to emphasize that all public underground utilities will be inspected for any damage and appropriate repairs made. Commissioner Macfarland stated that although he agrees with the revitalization that the City forgets that these trees are "Special Trees" and that precautions should be done first to retain them. Commissioner Beek stated that staff should look at the possibility of removing 3 trees, but certainly not all 25. She stated that these trees are beautiful at night and that she cannot support the removal of the trees as she does not believe that it follows the G -1 Policy. Chair Skoro stated that he had met with the City Attorney and asked if the removal of these trees was in conformance with the G -1 Policy and that he had been assured it was. Chair Skoro also stated that we need to Listed to the merchants and the homeowners directly affected by the trees and that he hears that they should be removed. • Commissioner Beek asked if removing the trees will increase business? Parks, Beaches Ft Recreation Commission Regular Meeting May 7, 2002 • Page 7 Motion by Commissioner Tobin to support staff's recommendation to: . Remove 15 Ficus nitida trees on Main Street that are designated "Special/ Landmark trees. Remove 10 Ficus nitida trees on Main Street that are designated "All Other Trees." . Plant 32 Coral Gum as replacement trees on Main Street. Motion carried by the following vote: Ayes: Allen, Englebrecht, Skoro, Tobin Nay: Beek, Franklin, Macfarland Committee Reports Finance - Chair Skoro reminded the Commission that City budget hearings would begin in June. Park Development - Commissioner Allen stated that a meeting would be set for June. Recreation & Open Space Element - None. Recreation Activities - Superintendent McGuire stated that the Committee needed to meet and would set a meeting soon. Seniors - None FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS • Field Allocation Procedures — July Castaways - Status of Grant Funding - July ADJOURNMENT - 9:15pm Submitted by: Teri Craig, AdmitlAssistant