RPVCCA_CC_SR_2014_09_30_02_Street_Tree_Maintenance_Practices_UpdateCITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MEMORANDUM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM: MICHAEL THRONE, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS 7/J)
DATE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2014
SUBJECT: STREET TREE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES -
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT UPDATE REPORT
(SUPPORTS 2014 CITY COUNCIL GOAL #2, PUBLIC
INFRASTRUCTURE)
REVIEWED: CAROLYNN PETRU, ACTING CITY MANAGER®
Project Manager: Nicole Jules, Deputy Director of Public Works 6L ~ /Uy·
RECOMMENDATIONS
Receive and file an update regarding street tree maintenance practices.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On November 19, 2013, Councilwoman Brooks presented a recommendation for the City
Council to consider agendizing proposed changes to the City's street tree maintenance
practices, as recommended by a proposal submitted by a resident. At that time, the
Council directed staff to place the item on a future Council agenda.
On June 17, 2014, staff presented an overview of the City's current street tree maintenance
methods to re-familiarize the Council and public on existing practices and the City's view
restoration policy for street trees. At that meeting, public comments were received and the
Council directed staff to work with the community with the goal of creating a proposal to
amend our process and report the findings in 90 days.
On September 10, 2014, staff held a community meeting at City Hall to discuss street tree
maintenance practices where 12 interested individuals provided input and participated in
lively discussion regarding the existing policies and past practices. Members represented
various areas of the City including the Miraleste Recreation and Park District, Berryhill
neighborhood, Miraleste neighborhood, and the Pacific View community. While there were
passionate opinions and accounts shared about the removal, trimming and replacement of
trees as a result of view restoration efforts, the group arrived at a common ground as to the
first steps at modifying the City's process. Some of the highlighted points discussed at the
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meeting were:
• Trees are a valuable community asset and necessary component of our natural
environment.
• Maintenance of public trees that impact views should follow the same requirements
established for private trees that impact views
• Consider a streamlined tree adoption and/or permit process for non-view and view
related issues.
• Improvements are needed to the service request process to address tree issues
more proactively which includes routine maintenance of newly planted trees and
maintenance of trees during the establishment period.
• City to undertake reforestation efforts to replace the trees that have exceeded their
useful life with more appropriate trees or drought tolerant trees for neighborhoods
(explore reforestation grant opportunities).
• City should consider eliminating the recordation of tree adoption agreements against
the property of the resident who is interested in adopting a tree.
• City should consider increasing the frequency of grid-trimming and including
trimming of tops of trees.
• Create language that defines what a "mature" tree is, as referenced in the Visual
Aspects section of the General Plan
• Improve the language of and include a definition for "infrastructure damage". This
language is currently vague and needs expounding.
Although a proposal has not been formulated yet, the group agreed that more time and
meetings are needed to address all the issues presented above. Ttie approach for
subsequent meetings will consist of focusing on two to three bullet points per meeting so
that each item can be fully discussed and a plan of action to address each item is
formulated. Staff proposes to meet once a month, for the next three months to accomplish
this. It is anticipated that the product of these meetings will be a proposal of recommended
changes to the City's current tree management/maintenance practices that is embraced by
the community and supported by staff. The proposal will be presented to City Council for
consideration.
After City Council's consideration, staff will begin to prepare all the required revisions to
relevant documents (ordinance amendments, specification and contract modification) to
advertise for tree maintenance services in March 2015.
FISCAL IMPACT
The recommended action to receive and file this report will not result in a fiscal impact to
the City's budget. However, future changes to the City's practices related to street trees
could have an impact on the City's budget. The impact will need to be analyzed once a
draft program has been fully developed.
Attachments:
September 10, 2014 Community Meeting Agenda and sign-in sheet for Tree
maintenance practices
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1. Introductions
2. ~ast Practices
3. Proposals
-Status Quo
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
City Tree Maintenance Practices
Public Information Gathering Meeting
9/10/14
-Modified Approach
-What others are doing
4. What Works?
s. Resident Comments
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Name
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City of Rancho Palos Verdes
City Tree Maintenance Practices
Public Information Gathering Meeting
9/10/14
Sign-In Sheet
Address Phone/Email
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