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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - February 16, 2000 E-10CITY OF •DI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION AGENDA TITLE: Removal of Olive Trees, 400 Block of West Oak Street MEETING DATE: February 16, 2000 PREPARED BY: Public Works Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council authorize the removal of the eight olive trees located on the south side of the 400 block of West Oak Street. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The eight olive trees located on the south side of West Oak Street have been the subject of ongoing citizen complaints to the Public Works Department for many years. The complaints mainly involve the mess created by olives which fall on sidewalks and lawns, plus allergies (see attached letter). We have attempted to control the nuisance of fruit droppings by spraying, which is often ineffective, and by trimming the trees, which is not practical in the long run. Because the olive trees are next to a sidewalk, they are a possible liability risk with their fruit droppings. However, while the trees are very old, they are still healthy and the City's tree policy (attached) discourages their destruction. Staff has looked into relocating the trees and has found that they can be moved within the Lodi area at a cost comparable to that of just removing them and grinding the stumps. We propose to use an informal bid process supplemented by a newspaper advertisement to seek bids for the trees. Staff anticipates receiving similar requests from other locations where we have olive trees. Unless Council gives us other direction, we propose to follow a similar process at those locations. Staff has spoken to the adjacent property owners and involved parties and we anticipate replacing these trees with cork oak trees. FUNDING: Funding for this project will come from the Street Operating Budget Project Estimate: $6,800 ($4,400 removal/$2,400 replacement) Richard C. Prima, Jr. Vicky McAthie Finance Director Public Works Director Prepared by George M. Bradley, Street Superintendent RCP/GMB/dsg attachments cc: Street Superintendent Tree Operations Supervisor Property Owners/Residents - 400 Block West Oak Street APPROVED: . Dixon Flynn -- Ity Manager C:\WIN DOWSITEMP\CCOakStOliveTrees.doc 212/00 October 19, 1999 Richard Prima Director of Public Works City of Lodi 221 West Pine St. Lodi, CA. 95240 Dear Richard, I am seeking the City's help in dealing with the City-ownedpblive trees on the 400 block of West Oak Street. ✓ My husband and I have owned the home at 410 W. Oak Street for 10 years. There are eight old olive trees along our street: three next door at 406 W. Oak St., three in front of our house, and another two at 414 W. Oak St. These trees, although beautiful, are unfortunately inappropriate and hazardous in an urban setting. Starting this month they begin dropping green olives. In this state the olives are simply a nuisance and fairly easily raked up, but in another month the olives turn soft and purple and become a nightmare, They drop all over the street, on the sidewalks, in our yards, and onto any cars parked in front of our houses. The olives squish and splatter when they fall or are stepped on and become an unbelievable mess. The olives stain our shoes and we track the stain into our homes, onto our rugs, into our cars... it's tiresome and expensive to purchase new car mats every year and to have our carpets cleaned at the end of "olive season". The olives drop from October until January or February. At times, Mndreds scattdr from the middle of the street to our front porch — day in and day out. They cover the sidewalks and are impossible to hose off or sweep away. Older people in the surrounding apartment buildings slip and slide their way through them as they walk downtown. Moms pushing strollers or walking with toddlers heading for Little Methodist Preschool must also negotiate the gooey sidewalk. It's a hazard that's become intolerable for we homeowners who must deal with this problem for weeks on end. After the fruiting season, the pollen formation begins. Along about March pollen literally snows down onto our homes, cars, and sidewalk. Many people are extremely allergic to this pollen. I had weekly allergy shots for four ,years just so I could live inside my own home without medication during the pollen season. This year the fruit on the trees is heavier than I've seen it in the 10 years I've lived here. Every year I contact the City's tree manager to talk about how to deal with these trees. They've tried spraying, pruning... everything short of a weekly yard service. Nothing works. William Hobson suggested the possibility of selling the trees. There is a very good market for mature olive trees in the landscape business. If this were possible we would heartily support such a move. Our hope is that these trees could be replaced with oaks, giving our street the elegant and historic feeling of the downtown area (as well as reflecting the name "Oak Street"). I have contacted the neighbors whose homes border these trees and asked them to sign this letter urging that the olive trees be removed as soon as possible and replaced with oaks. We would appreciate your comments on this. If you have any questions, please call any of us at the telephone numbers listed. Thank you very much for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Rob Knowlton 410 W. Oak St. 368-8269 %6 Uj 6j& - -r C3 -33-04,a6) U) . cc: City Manager Fri CITY OF L O D I TREE POLICY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT P, .41` 1�� I. GENERAL Trees which are 50°io or more within the public right of way shall be considered City trees. This measurement shall be token at the base of the trunk at the ground surface. The City of Lodi is responsible for caring for all City trees within the public right of way including trimming, spraying, general maintenance and performing root surgery where property owner is replacing sidewalk and existing sidewalk is removed by property owner. Property owners are responsible for any required watering OF newly planted trees in parkways. The City is not responsible for maintenance of non -City trees. Property owners and City personnel are not allowed to remove or alter any City trees unless one of the criteria listed below is met or special approval is received from the City Council. H. TREE REMOVAL A. City Responsibility - The City will remove a City tree at its expense w en: 1. Tree is dead; 2. Tree is diseased beyond cure; 3. Tree is hazardous to the public or necessary root surgery would render it hazardous; 4. Tree conflicts with sidewalk to be installed by property owners on parcels where curb and gutter Is in place; 5. Tree removal is necessary for a City Improvement project; or 6. Tree causes repeated extensive damage to utilities or curb, gutter and sidewalk. B. Property Owner ResponsObflft - With the issuance of an encroachment permit G7 the Public Works Deportment, a tree within the public right of way may be removed under the following conditions at the property owner's expense: 1. Trees bearing fruit and causing a nuisance to the property owner may be removed. Trees in parkways will be replaced at City's expense as part of its tree planting program. 2. Trees may be removed to widen existing driveway or to construct a new driveway. Trees in parkways will be replaced at City's expense as part of its tree plant- ing program. 3. Tree may be removed when less than 509/6 or the free is within public right of way. 4. Trees may be removed as part of on approved develop- ment where curbs and gutters do not exist. ock,L. Ronsko ubli , Works Director Resolution No. 4304 adopted by the City Council at their meeting of December 15, 1976. CITY COUNCIL STEPHEN J. MANN, Mayor ALAN S. NAKANISHI Mayor Pro Tempore SUSAN HITCHCOCK KEITH LAND PHILLIP A. PENNINO CITY OF NODI CITY HALL, 221 WEST PINE STREET P.O. BOX 3006 LODI, CALIFORNIA 95241-1910 (2 09) 333-6706 FAX (209) 333-6710 February 10, 2000 Property Owners/Residents — 400 Block West Oak Street Mw, SUBJECT: Removal of Olive Trees, 400 Block of West Oak Street H. DIXON FLYNN City Manager ALICE M. REIMCHE City Clerk RANDALL A. HAYS City Attorney �6C _kkr- LUA Enclosed is a copy of background information on an item on the City Council agenda of Wednesday, February 16, 2000. 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 Carnegie 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 George Bradley, Street Superintendent, at 333-6740, or me at 333-6759. Richard C. Prima, Jr. Public Works Director RCP1Im Enclosure / cc: City Clerk ✓ NOAKSTOLIVETREES STEPHEN B & SUSAN C DAVIS STEFAN & ROBIN SEKULA JOHN E DRAEGER ETAL P O BOX 1568 410 W OAK ST 4433 MERLIN ST LODI CA 95241 LODI CA 95240 SOQUEL CA 95023 MICHAEL E & MARY THOMAS TR P O BOX 1187 BONITA CA 91908 404 BUILDING PTP 404 W PINE ST #7 LODI CA 95240 NAOMI J CAREY 402 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 WILLIAM & M JOHNSON TRS 907 TARA PL LODI CA 95240 PROP MGR/RESIDENTS 414 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 PROP MGR/RESIDENTS 411 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 PROP MGR/RESIDENTS 428 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 OAKSTOLIVETREESLBLS CRAIG & S RASMUSSEN ETAL 15 S FAIRMONT AVE LODI CA 95240 DONALD & S A CHARPENTIER 407 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 ALVIN C & K INMAN TRS 308 W CHESTNUT LODI CA 95240 PROP MGR/RESIDENTS 427 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 PROP MGR/RESIDENTS 423 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 PROP MGR/RESIDENTS 406 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 HUGH & CLARA STEACY LF EST E 1025 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 RICHARD & E CHAFFEE TRS 401 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 VICTOR & RUBY MERTZ TR 709 S CRESCENT LODI CA 95240 PROP MGR/RESIDENTS 415 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 PROP MGR/RESIDENTS 417 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240 PROP MGR/RESIDENTS 420 W OAK ST LODI CA 95240