URBAN FOREST TASK FORCE 09/27/2017

Transcription

1 URBAN FOREST TASK FORCE 09/27/2017

2 1. SPECIAL AGENDA ITEMS A. Swearing in of Task Force Members

3 2. REPORTS OF STAFF/MEMBERS

4 NEXT URBAN FOREST TASK FORCE MEETING 11/15/2017

5 3. PUBLIC INPUT

6 4. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Approve the Minutes of the May 24, 2017 UFTF Meeting B. Approve the Minutes of the August 23, 2017 Special UFTF Meeting C. Approve Revision of Minutes from July 15, 2015 and September 23, 2015

7 5. NEW BUSINESS A. Tree Removal Appeal : 1128 Euclid St.

8 1128 Euclid Street Segment 233

9 1128 Euclid Street Segment 233 Primary Cedrus deodara Secondary Agonis flexuosa

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15 5. NEW BUSINESS B. Pasadena s Private Tree Protection Policy

16 Oak Trees LA County Need a permit to prune, transplant, damage or remove trees of the oak genus over 8 at four and a half feet above grade. Native Trees LA City Need a permit to remove certain native trees over 4 at four and a half feet above grade. These species are: Oak genus indigenous to California excluding scrub oak Southern California black walnut Western sycamore California bay

17 Background Tree Protection Ordinance since 2002 Purpose: Preserve and grow Pasadena s canopy cover. Four types of tree protected: 1. Public (already in CSM) 2. Landmark (already in CSM) 3. Native (LA County/City also) 4. Specimen (Species & Size)

18 Native Trees Pasadena* 13 species Trees must be over 8 DBH to qualify Species include: California black walnut Canyon live oak California sycamore Coast live oak Valley oak Englemann oak Scrub oak California buckeye *City of Pasadena, 2002

19 Specimen Trees Pasadena* Combination of desirable species and size (DBH): Example of Protected Trees from Pasadena (108 Total) *City of Pasadena, 2002

20 Where are They Protected? Source: City of Pasadena, 2010

21 Removal of Native or Specimen Trees Removal permit will only be issued in these six circumstances*: *City of Pasadena, 2010

22 Removal of Native or Specimen Trees Removal permit will only be issued in these six circumstances*: 6. The project includes a landscape plan that emphasizes a sustainable tree canopy over the long term by adhering to the replacement matrix *City of Pasadena, 2010

23 Sustainable Long-term Tree Canopy: Tree Replacement Matrix 50% Must be Planted On-site 6 3

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25 What the Research Tells Us? Green Cover Loss Between 2000 and 2009 (Lee et al., 2017)

26 What the Research Tells Us? Green Cover Loss Between 2000 and 2009 (Lee et al., 2017)

27 5. NEW BUSINESS C. Private Tree Law by Member Raskin

28 TREE LAW IN THREE MINUTES OR LESS Presentation by Ellis Raskin Santa Monica Urban Forest Task Force September 27, 2017

29 Tree Ownership Trees belong to the person (or entity) that owns the land where the trunk touches the ground. (Civil Code section 833). When a trunk is located on the border between two properties, both property owners are coowners of that tree. (Civil Code section 834).

30 Branches and Roots that Cross Boundary Lines The portion of the branches or roots that cross over the boundary line belong to the individual who owns the property upon which the branches or roots encroach. (Grandona v. Lovdal (1889) 78 Cal. 611; see also Civil Code section 829.) OLD RULE: Property owners had an "absolute right" to cut off encroaching branches or roots. (Bonde v. Bishop (1952) 112 Cal.App.2d 1.) CURRENT RULE: The right to cut encroaching branches and roots is constrained by a duty to act reasonably; in general, property owners cannot unilaterally take actions that may cause harm to a neighbor s tree. (Booska v. Patel (1994) 24 Cal. App. 4th 1786.)

31 Privately Owned Trees that Encroach Into Sidewalks and Streets By ordinance, a city can force a private property owner to remove trees that obstruct sidewalks, parkings, or streets, and the city may charge the property owner for the cost of removal. (Government Code section ) A city can also require property owners to remove weeds and rank growths from sidewalks. (Government Code section ) Photo Credit: Mark Ahsmann via Wikipedia Commons

32 Municipal Regulation of Trees on Private Property Land use regulations must have a substantial relation to public health, safety, morals, or general welfare. (Associated Home Builders etc., Inc. v. City of Livermore (1976) 557 P.2d 473.) California law recognizes the rights of property owners to trim trees on their property (as long as doing so does not harm cause harm to others). (Booska v. Patel (1994) 24 Cal. App. 4th 1791.) California courts have upheld landscaping restrictions that preserve views and regulate aesthetics. (See, e.g., Echevarrieta v. City of Rancho Palos Verdes (2001) 103 Cal.Rptr.2d 165, )

33 Examples of Tree Ordinances San Francisco: Protects significant trees within 10 feet of a public right of way that meet the following size requirements: 20 feet or greater in height, 15 feet or greater canopy width, or 12 inches or greater diameter of trunk measured at 4.5 feet above grade. Pasadena: In specified zones, protects native and specimen trees in: Established front yard, Required side yard, Established corner yard, or Required rear yard

34 5. NEW BUSINESS D: Meeting Frequency

35 5. NEW BUSINESS E: Updates to Species Designations

36 New Segments Segment Issue Proposed Resolution Schinus molle and Cupaniopsis 212A Centinela from Wilshire to Pico 279F 326A 368A Longfellow Street - Ozone to Marine OPB- Median from Barnard to Neilson Maybe too narrow s/w for Lemon scented gum or Carrotwood; tree wells measured at 3ft in width Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy' and Arbutus 'Marina' Syagrus romanzoffianum Replace Carrotwood with Eriobotrya deflexa (bronze loquat) New Segment New Segment New Segment New Segment Ocean Ave Median from Pico to Bicknell OPB from Main to 5th median OPB from 5th to Lincoln median Ocean Ave Median from Colorado to Pico Brahea edulis only Melaleuca linarifolia and Brahea armata Brahea armata and Koelreuteria bipinnata Brahea edulis and Arbutus 'Marina'

37 Segment Issue Proposed Resolution 23 Residents don't like replacement species in 2017 update. Wanted Magnolia 'Samuel Sommer' as per Replace Afrocarpus with Quercus suber, MPW has gone back and agreed this with residents. 191 WD flagged duplicate Primary and secondary, need underwire for west of Beverley Melaleuca viminalis A Dewey update species Dead end to 21st Dewey update species - 21st Street to 23rd Street Euclid from OCP to Ashland- No secondary species Hollister - Ocean to Main Duplicate and covered by 264 Hollister - Bernard to Main Replace Arbutus N/S primary = Rhus lancea, secondary = Cercis texana & S/S Primary = Pinus torreyana - secondary = Pinus canarenisis N/S primary = Rhus lancea, secondary = Cercis texana & S/S Primary = Pinus torreyana, secondary = Pinus halepensis Add secondary Pinus halepensis Delete segment Metrosideros excelsus and Leptospermum petersonii

38 6. CONTINUED ITEMS URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT UPDATE

39 Magnolia Scale 106 mid city trees were treated in June Excellent efficacy = 90%+ scales are dead Another trees to treat in the same vicinity In the future, only target trees that are very healthy and vigorous

40 Magnolia Scale

41 Xylella fastidiosa Bacterium-gel like substance clogs vascular tissue Affects hundreds of plant species Vector-GWSS In many the host species there are no symptoms In CSM = Sweetgum, Oleander, Olive, Oak and Sycamore. Various fruit trees

42 Xylella fastidiosa January 2014 Present Sweetgum 43 removed 806 remain Oleander 100 removed 95 remain

43 Work Type 2013/ / / /2017 Since July 1st 2017 Tree Pruning 6,862 9,281 9,612 9,008 2,292 Tree Removals Emergencies * Planting Small Tree Care Visits Government Outreach Requests 13,976 11,613 9,442 8,488 4, * Updated tracking protocol for this metric

44 Achievements FY16/17 Urban Forest Work Plan 1. Pruned 9,000 (9,008) trees and planted over 600 (827) trees 2. Completed updating of the Urban Forest Master Plan 2. a) Updated species matrix and public tree valuation 2. b) Adopted sustainability metrics for the urban forest 3. Established a five-year priority planting plan for Santa Monica 4. Updated and improved our specifications for urban tree care 5. Continued to improve & deliver educational programs

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46 Key Goals FY17/18 Urban Forest Work Plan 1. Prune 9,000 trees and plant 800 trees 2. Complete updating of the Urban Forest Master Plan s Appendices 3. Plant year 2 of the a five-year priority planting plan for Santa Monica 4. Establish contract growing if feasible for some tree species 5. Promote educational tree programs for children 7. Add five additional trees to the Heritage Tree Program 8. Complete the UTC Study 9. Create a park priority planting program 10. Ficus study using a forestry intern

47 Urban Forest Sustainability Metrics Metric Last Measured Due Date Urban Tree Canopy 10 years Ecosystem Services Net Tree Gain/Loss Annual Sustainable Urban Forest Management Metrics Species Diversity Annual Street Tree Stocking Net tree gain/loss 7/1/2016 7/1/2017 Species diversity 7/1/2016 7/1/2017 Stocking level N/A 7/1/2017 Young tree Mortality Jun-14 Jun-19 Ecosystem Services Aug-15 Aug-20 UTC Study 2001 Now 5 years Young Tree Mortality Annual 5 years

48 Annual Sustainability Metrics Net Tree Gain/Loss Annual 34,059 Trees Removed 371 & Planted 827 = 456 Net Gain N Street Tree Stocking Annual 93%* *Further analytics and tracking required

49 Annual Sustainability Metrics Species Diversity Annual August

50 Partnership with Task Force 1. Providing input into City public improvement projects 2. Review tree removal appeals 3. Assist with the selection of Heritage Trees 4. Advocate and support funding initiatives 5. Evaluate progress on achieving environmental performance goals as specified in the Master Plan 6. Provide input on implementation of LUCE and development requirements related to public and/or private trees

51 9. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

52 THANK YOU