IST REPORT OF THE. TREES AND FORESTS ADVISORY COMMllTEE

Transcription

1 IST REPORT OF THE TREES AND FORESTS ADVISORY COMMllTEE Meeting held on January 23, 2008, commencing at 12:17 p.m. PRESENT B. Gilmore (Chair), Councillor J. L. Baechler, C. Benson, P. Berton, J. Kennedy, H. McPhail, J. Ryan and D. Sheppard and B. Mercier (Secretary). ALSO PRESENT: Controller G. Barber (part-time), K. Elliott, I. Listar, A. Macpherson, M. Minielly, J. Parsons and C. Quinlan. REGRETS: D. Clarke, C. Joyes and G. Sinclair. I YOUR COMMllTEE REPORTS: Tree 1. (4) That the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee (TFAC) heard a Watering Bucket Plan verbal update from M. Minielly, Co-ordinator, Forestry Programs and Special Projects, with respect to a tree watering bucket plan; it being noted that J. Ryan will be finalizing the cost and contents of the tree watering bucket kit, at which time a sample kit will be brought to a future meeting of the TFAC for its review. Green 2. (5) That the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee (TFAC) heard a Infrastructure verbal update from A. Macpherson, Manager of Parks Planning and Design and I. Listar, Urban Forester, with respect to the Green Infrastructure Plan and the Urban Forest Effects (UFORE) model; it being noted that Staff are working on the terms of reference for the program, the creator of the UFORE model will be helping to run the actual model while a formal management plan will be established to provide the analysis of sample plots for the City of London, and timelines for a first draft report of the analysis is slotted for late Fall or early Winter with a final report in the Spring of 2009; it being further noted that the TFAC will review the information that comes out of the UFORE model analysis. Officialplan 3. (6) That the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee (TFAC) heard a Amendment verbal update from A. Macpherson, Manager of Parks Planning and Design, with Threshold of respect to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing regarding the City of Significance London's Official Plan Amendment 403 relating to a change to the Threshold of Significance in determining a significant woodland; it being noted that it may be 3 to 4 months before the City hears back on the outcome of the OMB's decision with respect to this matter. Update on 4. (7) That the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee (TFAC) heard a Deferred Matters verbal update from I. Listar, Urban Forester, with respect to pre-construction tree trimming, tree removal notice and delivery procedures, street tree diversity, tree protection standards and the removal of the Buckhorn tree on City boulevards; it being noted that: (a) J. Parsons, Division Manager of Transportation and Roadside Maintenance, will provide the TFAC with previous reports outlining the 30 meter, one-side of the street directive, along with a copy of the removal notice issued to homeowners and the communication policy for pending construction when tree removal is necessary; (b) (c) (d) I. Listar, Urban Forester will provide a list of the live trees in the City of London from the current tree inventory list at a future meeting of the TFAC; the attached Tree Protection Standards and the Ontario Provincial Standard Specification (OPSS) form the basis for tree protection from contract operations, equipment and vehicles, where such trees are not designated for removal under the construction contract; the TFAC asked staff to filter out the boulevard trees and trees by size category from the tree inventory list and asked J. Parsons, Division Manager of Transportation and Roadside Maintenance, to provide a map of

2 TFAC - 2 the areas where the Buckhorn tree can be found for the next TFAC meeting; and, (9 staff will update the TFAC at its next meeting on a recommendation from a 2006 Consultant Study entitled Tree Pit Survey and Recommendations relating to adding special fertilizer and inoculants to downtown trees. Enviroworks Publication Website Content 5. That the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee (TFAC) held a general discussion with respect to inserting a street tree watering message in the City s Enviroworks publication; it being noted that the TFAC asked its Members to draft a message for the next meeting of the TFAC for review for possible inclusion in the May/June 2008 Enviroworks publication. 6. That the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee (TFAC) held a general discussion with respect to the City s website content as it relates to the City s policies for tree watering, information for residents on tree care and the possibility of having a web link to the tree watering bucket kit. 7. That the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee (TFAC) noted and filed the following: 8th Report of the TFAC Trees of the Carolinian Forest Publication Clty Of London Tree Stock Next Meeting (a) (1) the 8th Report of the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee (TFAC) from its meeting held on November 28,2007; (b) (2) a Municipal Council resolution adopted at its meeting held on December 17, 2007 with respect to the TFAC purchasing copies of the publication Trees of the Carolinian Forest ; and, (c) (3) a Municipal Council resolution adopted at its meeting held on December 17,2007 with respect to the City of London growing its own tree stock. 8. That the Trees and Forests Advisory Committee (TFAC) will hold its next meeting on February 27, The meeting adjourned at 1:20 p.m.

3 .'... Y.. a.. Special Provisions -Tender Items Tree Protection I Root Cutting All tree protection barriers shall be erected prior to the commencement of any other onsite operations and shall remain for the duration of the project or as directed by the Contract Administrator. Barriers for tree protection zones shall be in accordance with OPSS , except where the tree is flanked by curb, sidewalk, roadway, etc. which limit the barrier placement to the furthest extent of the boulevard area, as approved by the Contract Administrator. Should the location of the tree(s) limit or prevent the use of a barrier as identified above, the trunk of the tree shall be protected from mechanical damage by banding boards together to form a protective barrier immediately adjacent to the tree trunk. Such a barrier shall be self supporting upon completion and installed with the approval of the Contract Administrator. Unless directed by the Contract Administrator in an emergency situation, operational constraints as per OPSS apply for all work in and around the immediate area of trees. The lump sum price bid to provide and maintain tree protection shall include all labour, equipment, and material required to provide proper tree protection zone as required. There will be no measurement for payment for this item of tree protection. Payment of the tendered Lump Sum price for this item shall be compensation in full for all related costs. Payment will be made 60% upon the first Progress Certificate, and 40% with the Substantial Completion Progress Certificate. Tree Removal The unit price bid for the removal of trees, brush, bushes, stumps shall be in accordance with OPSS 201. The Contractor shall remove all of the trees, brush, bushes and stumps identified in their entirety including the complete removal of all associated roots and grubbing for the area affected by the tree removal. The Contractor shall restore the area by means of grading the area and placing of 100mm topsoil and seed as per OPSS 572. All trees to be removed are to be marked for cutting, as directed by the Contract Administrator. Care should be taken during the removal operation to avoid damaging the branches, stems and roots of the trees to be retained. Where possible, trees are to be felled towards construdtion areas to minimize impact upon adjacent vegetation to be retained. The unit price bid for the removal of trees, brush, bushes, stumps shall be in accordance with OPSS 201. There will be no measurement for payment for this item. Payment will be made in accordance with the unit price as tendered and shall be full compensation for all labour, equipment, and material required to carry out the work, including restoration.

4 Tree Pruning All trees identified for pruning must be pruned before the commencement of any on-site operations and must be carried out by a certified arborist or approved equal, as approved by the Contract Administrator. There will be no measurement for payment for the tree pruning item. The hourly rate bid to perform tree pruning shall include all labour, equipment, and material required to provide proper pruning as directed by the Contract Administrator. Special Provisions - Non -Tender Items Root Cutting Roots 25mm or larger that are exposed during construction should be covered with wet burlap or soil as soon as possible and watered regularly to prevent them from drying out. Watering is required until such time as the topsoil and sod has been replaced satisfactorily or as otherwise directed by the Contract Administrator. There will be no measurement for payment for root cutting operations. Compensation shall be deemed to be included in the contract prices for the various tender items of the contract.

5 ... ONTARIO SPECIFICATION METRIC OPSS 565 APRIL 1988 CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF TREES SCOPE DEFINITIONS CONSTRUCTION TABLE OF CONTENTS, Operational Constraints.02 Barrier for Tree Protection c.03 Tree Cutting and Repair MEASUREMENT FOR PAYMENT Barrier for Tree Protection BASIS FOR PAYMENT General.02 Barrier for Tree Protection Item SCOPE This speciflcation describes protective measures required to safeguard trees from contract operations, equipment and vehicles where such trees are not designated for removal under the contract, and covers the installation of Barriers DEFINITIONS Specimen Trees: means trees so designated in the contract documents. Dripline: means the location on the ground surface directly beneath a theoretical line described by the tips of the outermost branches of the trees. Barrier: means fence consisting of approved material, supported by steel posts and being a minimum of 1.2 m high, without breaks or unsupported sections. Page 1 Rev. Date: 04/1988 OPSS 565

6 ,..... > CONSTRUCTION Operational Constraints The Contractor's operations shall not cause damage to the trunk or branches of trees not designated for removal. The Contractor's operations shall not cause flooding or sediment deposits on areas where trees not designated for removal are located. Unless the contract requires work within the Dripline of trees not designated for removal, equipment shall not be operated within that Dripline area. When the contract requires work within the Dripline of trees not designated for removal, operation of equipment within that Dripline area shall be kept to the minimum necessary to perform the work required. Equipment or vehicles shall not be parked, repaired or refuelled, construction materials shall not be stored, and earth materials shall not be stockpiled within the Dripline area of any tree not designated for removal Barrier for Tree Protection Barriers for tree protection shall be erected prior to commencement of construction operations, at locations specified in the contract, to provide a continuous barricade between trees and the area ofwork. The Barriers shall be maintained erect and in good repair throughout the duration of construction operations, and shall be removed upon completion of the work and disposed of outside the right-of-way. The Barrier shall be placed at the dripiine of trees or woodlot edges unless this is inadequate to provide a 1.5 m buffer zone between the Barrier and the limit of grading. The Barrier may be placed within the dripiine if necessary to provide a buffer zone of up to 1.5 m. Under no circumstances shall it be placed lessthan 0.75 m from the circumference of the trunk. When the trunks of trees are less than 4.5 m apart, the trees shall be considered a group, and the Barrier shall be placed to form a continuous barricade as specified in the contract. A Barrier is not required where an existing fence will serve the same purpose. At such locations, the barrier shall terminate at the existing fence so that a continuous barricade is provided between the trees and the area of work Tree Cutting and Repair Specimen trees and trees safeguarded by barriers shall be repaired in accordance with this subsection. Within five calendardays ofdamage, branches 25 mm orgreaterin diameterthatare broken as a resuit ofthe Contractor's operations shall be cut backcleanly at the break, or to within 10 mm oftheir base, ifa substantial portion of the branch Is damaged. Roots 25 mm or larger in diameter that are exposed by the Contractor's operations shall be cut back cleanly to the soil surface within five calendar days of exposure. Bark that is damaged by the Contractor's operations shaii be neatly trimmed back to uninjured bark, without causing further injury, within five calendar days of damage. Page 2 Rev. Date: OPSS 565

7 MEASUREMENT FOR PAYMENT Barrier for Tree Protection Measurement will be by length as measured in metres, Overlaps will not be measured BASIS FOR PAYMENT General Compensation for all costs associated with the work of protecting trees not designated for removal shall be deemed to be included in the contract prices for the various tender items of the contract Barrier for Tree Protection Item Payment at the contract price for the above item shall be full compensation for all labour, equipment and materials required to do the work. Progress payments for the above item will be based on the following percentage of the contract price: 60% for supply and erection 25% for maintenance 15% for removal and disposal. -. Page 3 Rev. Date: OPSS 565