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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda Report - September 1, 1999 E-08CITY OF LODI COUNCII, COMMUNICATION AGENDA TITLE: Caltrans Highway 99 Landscaping Project MEETING DATE: September 1, 1999 PREPARED BY: Public Works Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: Information only. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Following the removal of the oleanders in the Highway 99 median through Lodi, a citizens group, led by Lodi resident Glenda Hesseltine, asked for a City representative to attend a meeting with Caltrans concerning the removal of the oleanders. Transportation Manager Carlos Tobar attended the meeting. At the meeting, we learned Caltrans had planned a landscaping project along the edges of the highway and some of the ramp areas. The proposed landscape project is being done to replace the ice plant that died in the freeze a few years ago. No formal environmental or public review process was done on the removal of the oleanders. Following that meeting, we were furnished with a copy of the draft landscaping project plans. They have been reviewed by Tree Operations Supervisor Bill Hobson, Community Development Director Rad Bartlam, and Public Works Director Richard Prima. Mr. Hobson eloquently described the project: These are good plans with an appropriate and appealing use of plant materials for our area. These plans are typical in numbers and sizes of plant materials compared to other Caltrans landscape projects that I have seen across central portions of our State. The plant materials are low water usage or drought tolerant. This is a good use of California natives, such as Coffeeberry, Sugarbush, Coast Live Oak, Valley Oak, California Buckeye, and Western Redbud, along with the non-native plants. The profuse flower production on the Lady Banks Rose and Meidland Rose will highlight these areas during much of the warm season. The durable, drought tolerant, and inexpensive Hottentot Fig or Giant Iceplant will be used as a major ground cover. This will allow more money to be spent on the rest of the plant materials. We did note some shortcomings that we would like to bring to the Council's attention. They are: • The large islands at Turner Road and Victor Road are lacking in ground cover and could use more trees. • Nearly all the plant materials are one -gallon -container size and are spaced roughly 10 feet apart. This means that it will be many years before the areas fill in. We suggest larger plants or decreased spacing. • The project extends from the Lodi overcrossing near Century Boulevard to Turner Road. We suggest that the project extend south to Harney Lane and north to the River. • There are some gaps in the planting plan that should be filled. APPROVED: Flynn -- City CALTRNSHWY99LNDSCP 08/24M Caltrans Highway 99 Landscaping Project September 1, 1999 Page 2 e Much of the length of the landscaping along the freeway consists of adding screening shrubs - Sugarbush,.Silverberry, Coffeebeny,. and.Photinia. In many areas, trees could also be added. We have some concern about screening the view of adjacent property along the entire highway. Certainly, where the highway is adjacent to homes and the rear of businesses, screening would be fine. However, along vineyards and other farm/open spaces, a view would be desirable. A copy of the plans for the west side of the freeway ramptisland on the south side of Victor Road and Turner Road are attached along with some staff notations. These are representative of some of the above comments. (A full set of plans is available for review at the Public Works Department in City Hall.) We should also note that whether heavily landscaped or not, if trash is not routinely picked up, the area will not look very good. Also, the City is submitting an application for a State Transportation Enhancement Activities (TEA) grant for "entrance" landscaping to the City. We may be able to make these two projects complement each other. The subject of the now -bare median is of great concern to the group led by Ms. Hesseltine. Their suggestion is to build a double -median barrier, fill the interior space with soil, and plant some hardy plant, such as rosemary, honeysuckle or dwarf oleanders. While this could be done, there are some serious drawbacks to maintaining an irrigation system and plants in such a situation, particularly if the width of the shoulders is reduced. Given level of maintenance provided by Caltrans on the old median and present shoulders, such a design may be impractical. The group also had concerns about the level of "mitigation" proposed for the number of plants that were removed and their aesthetic value. Staff intends to contact Caltrans, in writing, offering the above comments. We have been in contact with the project manager and have a meeting set for Monday, August 30, 1999, to review the project. We also intend to discuss landscaping and shoulder maintenance of both highways 99 and 12. FUNDING: Not applicable. , U�,30.6 Richard C. Prima, Jr. Public Works Director RCP1lm Attachments cc: Rad Bartlam, Community Development Director George Bradley, Street Superintendent Bill Hobson, Tree Operations Supervisor Carlos Tobar, Transportation Manager Glenda Hesseltine Mark Leja, Caltrans District 10 Director Gregg Albright, Caltrans CALTRNSHWY99LNDSCP r NOTE. for ompi*t* Right of Way and Accurate Access Data. see Right of Way record"'U. at District Office. ROS MARINUIS `7FWML"!,rm;, v4b-F�FmoTov rie t 4.109NUD CN =APE —TEC a CN F—S AP"PAmMft AAM .1 I LADY MAI, ROS MARINUIS `7FWML"!,rm;, 5 a MULCH v4b-F�FmoTov rie t 4.109NUD CN =APE —TEC 0 F—S AP"PAmMft AAM .1 7.1 X4 $I aof shrubs between godeft Trees- — ;9 0.1 of mainline, Shoulder planting - could use more trees and groundcover. — ---------------- 219.37 M2 DO 24.9 E12 MULCH ........ ................ ... ..... .................. ti 195 z 1152.2 M2 Needs more plants In Island. 19 RHA MAJ mm emit-ikup vtose- AL 40 91 xxxxiL ............................................................. ....... ............ ... ........ ................. . ...............W 87 mzRm BLANKET.,. THIS PLAN ACCURATE 1. PLANTING WOIIK .1 ---F- 5 a MULCH LADY BANKS FtO615 1111 CAR EMU/ 40'r,re"mT, FIG 23 VIT CHAS -Fr. -rRi OAK ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN METERS UNLESS OTHERWISE SHOW OAK PAVVVIMUI.nA'PUVAVI, CRECEW RIORDISLID a PLANTING PLAN SCALE. IT SOO P-11 V/rj 101 4.109NUD CN =APE —TEC F—S AP"PAmMft AAM .1 7.1 X4 $I aof shrubs between godeft Trees- — ;9 0.1 of mainline, Shoulder planting - could use more trees and groundcover. 24.9 E12 MULCH ......... ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... .. . . ...... I' Needs more plants In Island. 19 RHA MAJ mm xxxxiL ............................................................. ....... ............ ... ........ ................. . ...............W 87 mzRm BLANKET.,. -231.8* .2 09 19 ....... ... ............... . P-12 IEET 1 WATCH S aw Ata LADY BANKS FtO615 1111 CAR EMU/ 40'r,re"mT, FIG 23 VIT CHAS -Fr. -rRi OAK ALL DIMENSIONS ARE IN METERS UNLESS OTHERWISE SHOW OAK PAVVVIMUI.nA'PUVAVI, CRECEW RIORDISLID a PLANTING PLAN SCALE. IT SOO P-11 V/rj . ...... .... Eti� - Ll' ,jI5f7;aj J- r IA2 P in P rp CITY COUNCIL H. DIXON FLYNN KEITH LAND, Mayor City Manager STEPHEN J. MANN CITY OF L O D I ALICE M. REIMCHE Mayor Pro Tempore City Clerk SUSAN HITCHCOCK CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. 60X•3006 RANDALL A. HAYS ALAN S. NAKANISHI City Attorney PHILLIP A. PENNING LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (209) 333-6706 FAX (209) 333-6710 August 26, 1999 Ms. Glenda Hesseltine Mr. Mark Leja, Director Mr. Gregg Albright 215 S. Hutchins Street Caltrans, District 10 Caltrans Lodi, CA 95240 P. O. Box 2048 50 Higuera Street Stockton, CA 95201-2048 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 SUBJECT: Caltrans Highway 99 Landscaping Project Enclosed is a copy of background information on an item on the City Council agenda of Wednesday, September 1, 1999. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Carnegie Forum, 305 West Pine Street. This item is on the consent calendar and is usually not discussed unless a Council Member requests discussion. The public is given an opportunity to address items on the consent calendar at the appropriate time. If you wish to write to the City Council, please address your letter to City Council, City of Lodi, P. O. Box 3006, Lodi, California, 95241-1910. Be sure to allow time for the mail. Or, you may hand -deliver the letter to City Hall, 221 West Pine Street. If you wish to address the Council at the Council Meeting, be sure to fill out a speaker's card (available at the Camegie Forum immediately prior to the start of the meeting) and give it to the City Clerk. If you have any questions about communicating with the Council, please contact Alice Reimche, City Clerk, at 333-6702. If you have any questions about the item itself, please call me at 333-6759. ta Richard C. Prima, Jr. Public Works Director RCPAm Enclosure cc: City Clerk NCALTRNSHWY99LNDSCP.D0C