HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2011-02-07 - Study Session Pub/lc rkk
Date: February 7, 2011
To:. Mayor and Members of the City Council
Thru: Patrick P. Importuna, City Manager
From: Sean Crumby, P.E., Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: STUDY SESSION - STREET TREE MASTER PLAN
OVERVIEW:
In 1996, the City Council established a "City Tree Advisory Board" to provide
assistance to the City Council in the development of the City's Street Tree
Preservation and Improvement Plan. In 1997, the City of Seal Beach
accomplished that goal and adopted "Street Tree Policy and Administrative
Guidelines ". Since that time, the City of Seal Beach has invested heavily in
planting trees within the community with the accomplishment of becoming a
"Tree City" in 2009. A few of the planting projects have included medians (Seal
Beach Boulevard, Westminster, etc.), parks (Gum Grove, Bluebell, etc.), and
street parkways (Seal Beach Blvd. — South of PCH, Ocean Avenue, Lampson
Avenue, etc.). In 2010, the City has planted nearly 400 trees. In addition to
these tree plantings, the City of Seal Beach has an urban forest that includes
numerous species of trees that are currently uplifting concrete sidewalks and
require continuous maintenance.
As a result of these items, the City of Seal Beach desires to update the 1997
Street Tree Policy and Administrative Guidelines with a Street Tree Master Plan.
In April of 2009, the City began the process of preparing this Master Plan.
The goals of the Street Tree Master Plan include:
• A Goal Statement
o Tree Policies
• Standard Tree Planting Plan
• Tree Trimming Standards
• Tree Palette
• Tree Planting Plan by street and by block
• Tree Inventory
o Implementation Plan
Page -2-
On December 14, 2009, staff brought forward an action to the City Council
requesting direction on a series of items needed for preparation of the Street
Tree Master Plan.
These items are as follows:
Item A: Should potential damage to sidewalks, curbs, and gutters
be considered in the selection of the tree palette and
specific tree planting plan?
Item B: Should street trees be planted in the parkway and bulb-
outs on Ocean Avenue from 1st Street to 8th Street?
Item C: Should residents select from 3 possible tree options or
should there be just one tree designated for each block?
Item D: What is the tree removal policy? What level of risk does
the City wish to accept?
Item E: What is the desired frequency of tree trimming city wide?
Item F: What is the current and future status of the "City Tree
Advisory Board "?
Due to the complexity, these items were not addressed at that time and were .
forwarded to a City Council Study Session that was held on January 19, 2010.
During that study session, direction was provided that these items should be
studied further and have recommendations made by the Street Tree Master Plan.
This master plan addresses all of these concerns.
On May 10, 2010, a contract was awarded to the firm of RMA international to
prepare the Street Tree Master Plan. The Street Tree Master Plan addresses all
of the issues and concerns. The plan is available for review and will be briefly
summarized. This plan is recommended for approval by staff, has been
presented three times to the Tree Advisory Board, and was recommended by
that Board for approval on January 5, 2011.
Copies of the Street Tree Master Plan were provided for review to the City Council and
are available for public viewing at the Mary Wilson Library and City Clerk's Office.
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