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Home My WebLink AboutTree Committee Report to Council 2008Port Townsend Tree Committee Presentation to Port Townsend City Council February 11, 2008 1 IJi S�r� b "V- Today's Agenda Why Tree Committee formed Who we are Our Goals: Overall and today Why Water Street Focus Provide Background on Water Street Trees Issues with Trees on Water Street Process for trees Short and Long Term Plans Recommendations Costs The BIGGER Picture Tree Committee Research Cities visited and what we learned 2 The Tree Committee Formed a Citizen's Committee to address a Tree Ordinance George Bush Retired soil scientist Richard Hefley Arborist Dave Keeler Tree Manager 2004 Jeff Randall Previous City Building and Planning Mgr Solar Energy Industry Consultant Bob Schramek Retired Forester Nancy Stelow Citizen Real Estate Agent 0 Why Form the Citizen's Committee? Draft the Tree Ordinance Assist the City in Managing the Ordinance Advise and counsel to City for Street and other tree issues Maintain the "Tree City USA" Designation Design and Draft City Tree Plan ., It Trees on Water Street - Background 1973 -1986 Port Townsend Beautification Program 2 Ladies Donna Daubenberger and Marge Abrahams Trees on Water Street Steps from Washington to Water at Tyler Street Planted Hawthorns- broke in the wind Planted European Hornbeams Fund raising in and outside the city. Plaques on cement for some. Mill- cement cutter blade People -labor Watering for 2 years y i IMP on �i Ih' � � E. - , t �..._ F. 4� ��•. ��1 7 9 We know trees... have numerous positives Reduce traffic noise and assist in traffic calming Residents walk more on streets with trees Street trees have a measurable effect on air quality Cityscape is important to all citizens. 40, 9 We also know...... `No cutting or replacing' is a management plan with repercussions. An urban forest needs to be managed Trees grow, become hazardous, diseased or invasive and need management. Big living trees in small planting space behave poorly Our Major issues on Water Street are.... Tree root invasion of leaky sewers. Costs. Trees are raising the sidewalks for dangerous conditions. Cost Large overgrown trees are invading our economic abilities. Costly When these trees are pruned- become denser Risk Management for street trees is an issue that can be addressed by an active Tree Plan Process. 10 S ' - i Port Townsend se' _ -- - -- - - _ 11 IK 12 Research Tree Plans- Across the nation. Most have large sidewalk trenches and canopy room. Most are housing neighborhoods What other smaller cities have done: Ketchum, Idaho Rapid City, South Dakota Leavenworth, WA Yakima, WA Walnut Creek, CA Lafayette, CA 13 14 Tree Process #1 1. Identify trees for the next winter to be replaced. Who? Team coordinated by Arborist. Coordinate with Public Works and business /property owners When? Late Summer to fall. (Unless hazard tree identified for earlier removal. Tree Committee define /document process with City PW.) How many? Estimated 10 -12 trees a year replanted in and /or removed in winter. Communication: Tree Comm., PW, Building Owner /tenant and annually with City Council 15 Step #2 Tree Replacement 1. Identify the problem area 2. Establish type and how many trees to be planted 3. Order tree(s), soil and watering solution 4. Establish site preparation. • Cut down tree. • May need to cut open bigger tree well • Cut out as much old stump and roots as possible • Barriers if not same day remedy. 5. Plant Tree `in a bag' 6. Deal with sidewalk What it could look like. Yakima,WA Ketchum,ID Walnut Creek and Lafayette, CA 16 "Tree in a bag" Concept 0 14 Prevents aggressive invasive roots Provides denser roots Can get a relatively big tree in a small bag Allows for easier removal when tree outgrows space And replant to other areas or sell to citizens to raise money for future trees This tree on small side. Typical we may plant is 6 to 12 -20 feet Trunk size 8 to 10 inches Planting Bag 30" wide but larger sizes available New soil with high water retention amends 17 Soil and Amendments Tree Replacement 1. Identify Trees to be removed or replaced 2. Identify Tree to be installed or other options 3. Tree removal, could include concrete cutting 4. Replace with Tree from City List, in bag 5. Method for watering 19 Step #3 Maintenance of Trees 1. Watering essential first 2 years. 2. Watering solution 3. Possibilities: • Community Service Hours for High Schools • Service Clubs contract for 1 year • Business Groups contract for 1 year • Friends of Water Street Trees ( ?) 4. Tree `Medical Exams' bi- annually Decision to replace or move made by PW, Tree Committee and Arborist E Process When Tree is Not Replaced 1. 2. 3. 9 Establish Detail Plan of Water St (See Leavenworth, WA example) Approval of property and shop owners. g: Replace with approved • benches - • pots • bollard - - -- • sculpture (art) • Directional marquee - --- Team up with citizens to purchase -Y. from pre- approved plan., t_ 21 What to Plant See List in packet. (Explanation) Examples 22 Chinese Stewartia Eastern Redbud (flower and fall colors) 23 Callery Pear MI, UP. Crape Myrtle 25 9.1 Recommendations Allow for Test Area of how to Replace Trees. 1. 2. Approve development of short and long term plans to manage and replace the trees on Water Street Consider an overall Citizen /City Scape Committee for city scape including items such as trees down Water Street to the Ferry Dock. Basic Local Issues Review Overgrown, crowded, diseased trees Buckling sidewalks Sewer issues Dark downtown Cannot see business Cannot see architecture Damage old buildings 27 5 Test Areas for Winter 2008 #1 In front of Lewis Building El Sarape Issues: crowded /unhealthy trees Raised sidewalks Crumbling curbs and tree gates. Test site #2 In front of Museum Historical site. Building not visible Signs not visible Damaging Building q . 29 Test Site #3 Trees invade leaky sewer regularly. Very costly to building owner. Replace with less intrusive w low ARM IAL, t F, Air I f� Y, fir° I r r W WP t r (i o-1• -..._ .. - ,, Oil Test Site #5 Pope Marine Park Out of control small trees 32 Test Site #5 Pope Marine Park Out of control small trees Ketchum, Idaho lit 33 Ketchum Idaho 34 Our world today..... Ketchum Idaho Without Tree Plan 36 Ketchum Idaho Without Tree Plan With Tree Plan 37 Ketchum, Idaho Imlm�m 9: 39 Rapid City, South Dakota IT I I� V 45 m Thinking Outside the "Tree Box" 47 What about costs? Cost per Tree replacement Removal expense Concrete cutting Grinding Stump Concrete replacement Trees Soil and amendments Installing Trees Watering Solution Watering Remove and replant: Or remove Pots Plants and soil $450.00 per tree City donate? $275.00 per stump $500 -2500 $350.00 per tree $100.00 ( + -) $ 300.00 ( +_) $15.00 per tree Volunteer organizations $1,900.00 approx. each $ 725.00 plus concrete and /or $175.00 5- series bulk order $150.00 Other Options Bollards, Benches Lights solar and stands Signage Funding Options PSE Tree `tags' Department of Natural Resources Grants Other Government Grants Community Building Owners Business Owners Individuals (plaques today) Organizations Main Street Kiwanis Rotary Soroptimists New organizations? Friends of Trees Friends of Water Street i • Overall Recommendations 1. Consider the Start of the Tree Plan 2. Test Areas for Tree Planting process 3. Establish Tree and City Scape Citizen Task Force ..z f °� Te _ 4W? ' Awn.v • 6 "N" IM 50