HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Packet - BC - 1997.02.06NOTICE
BURLINGAME BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION
FEBRUARY 6,1997
5.30 P.M.
CITY HALL
CONFERENCE ROOM "A"
AGENDA
I. ROLL CALL
II. MINUTES OF JANUARY 2, 1997
III. CORRESPONDENCE
IV. OLD BUSINESS
A. Arbor Day/Spring Garden Seminar
B. CalTrans Plan to Remove 115 Trees Along El Camino (Update)
V. NEW BUSINESS
A.
VI. REPORTS
A. Park Superintendent
B. Chairman
C. Commissioners
VII. FROM THE FLOOR
M
CITY OF BURLINGAME
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council DATE: February 19, 1997
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: City Staff Meeting with Caltrans -- El Camino Real Trees
On February 19, staff met with three representatives of Caltrans for over 2'/2 hours
to discuss El Camino Real tree problems. The good news is that Caltrans is now
calling this a tree replacement program. They are concerned with issues of traffic
safety, liability, health of the trees, ADA sidewalk access, drainage and roadway
problems, and maintenance costs. The state's major issue is liability from view
obstructing or falling trees, which can result in million dollar claims.
We discussed the city's review of traffic accidents over the last six years that
found only one-half of one percent of the total of 1,220 accidents during the period
may have involved trees. While there were clear differences of opinions on how to
deal with the issues, there seemed to be agreement that we did not wish this to
become a city -versus -state issue. The public is best served if we try to develop a
cooperative approach on how to deal with the problems and possible ways of
mitigating them so that as many trees as possible are preserved. The city indicated
that its primary criteria for removal of any trees should be based on the health of
the tree and that we desire to have El Camino Real continue to be a tree lined
street. The state indicated they are agreeable to replacement of trees that are
removed. They presented the city with a letter from the Department of Forestry
concerning its views on the status of the health of the trees and the need for a
gradual replacement. In the past fourteen years, 75 Eucalyptus trees have been
removed along El Camino with 45 trees being replanted. Of the trees removed,
fifteen were whole tree failures.
At the conclusion of the meeting, we agreed that we would create three staff
committees to review (1) the issue of health of the trees; (2) traffic safety issues;
and (3) drainage and ADA issues. These would be joint committees of Caltrans and
city staff with outside experts, if necessary, to advise on the health of the trees.
Caltrans and city staff will meet again in 30 days to review progress of the three
subcommittees.
t.ity manager
V[C:\WPWIN60\WPDOCS\MANAGERS\ECRTREES.97]
Attachment: Dept of Forestry letter
�- c: Carl Bianchini
STATE OF CALWORNIA-TM RESOURCES AGENCY PUM wu'SON• GQ 0
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE FROTECHON
COAST -CASCADE REGION
`-135 Ridgway Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
(707) 576-2936
Nathaniel Cradle
Landscape Specialist, Caltrans
111 Grand Ave.
P.O. Box 23660
Oakland, CA 94623-0660
February 10, 1997
Dear Natc,
Thanks for the opportunity to comment on the Caltrens proposal to remove eucalyptus trees
along the El Camino Real in San Mateo. Aldwugh I recognize that these are of historic and
esthede significance to the commuraty, they are also nearing the end of their useffil life span And
are, in my opinion, hazardous. They are approacbing what foresters refer to as their pathologicatl
rotational age. In essence, they arc becoming unstable due to their great size, unnafiural structuae,
and to wood decay resuking from past poor priming practices and wounding from vehicles. Heavy
urban development now swnrounds these missive trees, which were planted over a century ago in
what was then a rural settia& Many of the tutees now leave stem diameters exceeding the width of
their planting strip. Some trusts actually lean out into the traffic lanes and have been bit
repeatedly by trucks. Visibility for residents backing out inoto traffic and for motorists at
intersections is justiSnbly of concern. Budded sidewalks and damaged pavement have been an
ongoing problem. Extensive sidewalk modification and planting strip enlargement would help
alleviate this problem, but would not solve the larger problem of public safety. There is also the
nuisance of continual leaf and litter drop that many residents have complained about.
Eucalyptus trees, especially older blue gums, are notorious for blow down m stom, and for
branch failure due to brittle wood and summer branch drop. Extensive remedial pruning
conducted over the years has obviously helped reduce the incidence of failure, but has also
crested additional problems. Past pruning practices have siWficaudy altered natural structure;
and allowed the entry of decay emnsing pathogens. As the result of a topping, a practice no longer
accepted by the International Society of Arboriculture, the National Arborist Association and the
National Arbor Day Foundation, the resulting branches (scaffolds) originate near the old pruning
CIA. ConseNuendy, they are crowded, poorly tapered, and weakly attached. Branching along these
scaffolds is nearly nonexistent, thus much of the foliage (wind sail) is dism'buted in the upper
portion of the canopy. This creates instability especially during strong winds and saturated soil
conditions. Trees nee most stable when two thirds of a trWs branaes originate in the lower two
thuds of the tree. Root and lower trunk decay, a common cause of failure is over -mature
eucalypt4 is a potential concern for these trees.
The proposed restructuring (topping) of these trees, is short sighted and imprudent. Topping. a
substandard practice that can contribute to failure potential, would expose you up to charges of
negligence. You have the same duty to apply the care, skill and knowledge normally possessed by
reputable arborists in your area, and to use accepted industry standards. Extensive restructuring is
a stopgap measures tbat will not solve the woederlying problern.of massive siu and species
unsuitability.
From ray perspective as an urban f ester. these trees should be gradually phased out and replaced
with more suitable species. From all appearaum that trees require an inordinate amount of
maintenance and arc a aip&c=t bability risk Considering your priorities to mintaitt roads and
road safety, you are justified in looking for a more permanent solution. I'm told that the streets,
sidewalks and other inibLit ructure are scheduled for renovation. This invariably will add Rather
insult and igjury to the trots. However unpopular, gradual removal and replacement with a
mixture of more suitable tree species will, in the long run, produce a healtdder, safer and more cost
effective plwWmg. These trees are obviously an important resource that needs reoewal. Spend
your lizaked resources in a manner that promotes sustainabity, rather thou perpetuating a problem
or postponma the inevitable. To remove these trues without a practical replacement plan or
adequate funding to aoeowpHA the worst, is imprudent and wasteful.
Additisnal tboogbts:
Urban forestry decWow must take bno.
• esthetio and historical sngnifioance
• species. Ixadth, age, w2r, struchrre, and relative safety
• costJbemefit ratio
• lifetime test of tree - purchasing, planting, maintenance, removing, disposal, and
rqAwtmcnt
• hazard and nuisance potential
• accrued bevz ts:
• esthetics
air, water, and soil Quality
carbon sequesteAng
• eneW use reduction
• property value enhancement
• witilM habitat
Management Decisions:
• decisions trade over 20 years ago have created many of our current urban forest problem
• duorl4aw planning leads to crisis management, and increases costs.
• poor pig decisions, wastciid policies and practices lead to increased maintenance
costa, decline and li"ty.
• costs increase with tree age:
• intervals between sidewalk repairs decreases
• potential for faiiuure increases as tree ages - root loss, decay.
• planting and/or maintenance of high cost trees must be a conscious decisions.
certain trees cause less infrastructure damage, live longer and require less miaintenanm
• decisions made today will affect future costs.
• there is a direct correlation between cost and management decisions_
• base decisions on best technical information available.
• diversity in age and species is most cost effective
Factors determining the cost -benefit ratio of a city forest are:
• species composition (diversity)
• age composition
• soil characteristics
• environmental conditions
• space - cutout, planting strips, overhead utilities, traffic patterns
Effective decision making
• right tree is the right place
• no trees in some sites
• emphasize quality not quantity
• improved site assessment
• spend more to install properly or to increase space or improve conditions.
• increase species diversity
• replace trees as they reach their rotational age. .
Gerdy.
�7
e W. I�agen
Urban Forester '
3