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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - December 20, 2000 H-09r >o COUNCILCITY OF LODI �v�7FOCL�� AGENDA TITLE: Determine the Removal or Relocation of the Eight (8) Olive Trees on the South Side of the 400 Block of West Oak Street MEETING DATE: December 20, 2000 PREPARED BY: Public Works Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: That the City Council authorize the removal of the eight (8) olive trees located on the south side of the 400 Block of West Oak Street. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: For several years, residents of the 400 Block of West Oak Street have expressed concerns over the olives dropped from the eight (8) City -maintained olive trees at that location. These complaints mainly involve the mess created by olives falling on sidewalks and lawns, and allergies. We attempted to control the nuisance of fruits dropping by spraying, which is often ineffective, and by trimming the trees, which is not practical in the long-term. At the February 16, 2000 meeting, Council authorized staff to relocate these olive trees in part, based on an estimated cost of $870 per tree. With the publicity surrounding this decision, staff received numerous calls from persons interested in the trees. A bid to try to sell these trees was prepared by staff and sent to interested parties. At bid opening time, no bids were received. Staff contacted several nurseries; none were interested. Staff then contacted the original interested parties to determine if there was an interest if the trees were free of cost. There was interest, but by this time the weather had warmed and the chances for a successful relocation had diminished. It was decided to wait until this winter. This fall, an attempt to relocate these trees met with failure due to the contractor underestimating the size of equipment needed to move these trees. We have been working with Mel Freund, who is recognized as a lead expert in this procedure. This meant a change in cost estimate from the original $870 per tree to $1,900-$2,000 per tree. These trees are approximately 80-90 years old, still healthy, and have a value of approximately $400 each. With this substantial increase in cost, staff was uncomfortable proceeding without receiving Council direction. For Council's information, the City has been successful in relocating other trees in the past. Recent examples are the Chinese Pistachios that were relocated from Lodi Station to Hutchins Street frontage median near Century Boulevard at a cost of $250 per tree. The Chinese Pistachios at the site of the parking structure are also scheduled to be relocated this winter. Staff has evaluated the cost, value, and risk in determining which trees are good candidates for relocation. Due to the expense involved in relocating these olive trees, which we feel would be better utilized in the overall tree program, staff recommends the olive trees at the Oak Street location be removed and replaced with a more suitable tree. Project Estimate: Cut down and grind stump ($260 each) Relocate ($2,000 each) Prepared by George M. Bradley, Street Superintendent RCP/GMB/dsg cc: Joel Harris, Purchasing Officer Jack Harrison, Interim Parks and Recreation Director George M. Bradley, Street Superintendent Bill Hobson, Tree Operations Supervisor APPROVED: $ 2,080 $16,000'�/��,, tJ'��rcr CLu�x.G-�. Richard Crima, Jr. Public Works Director H. Dixon Flynn -- City anager C:\windows\TEMP1CCOliveTrees#OakSt.doc 12/08/00 Jennifer Perrin From: Stefan Sekula [rknowlton@lodinet.net] Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2000 11:27 AM To: nakanish@lodi.gov am"writing to you to ask your support for H-9 on tonight's agenda. It is in regards to either cutting down or removing I live in the middle of the block and these trees are an incredible hazard. I have been working with the City officials for ten years on having these trees removed. Can you help we home owners have some final resolution on this matter? It would be nice to have new trees planted ASAP while trees are dormant and have the best chance of survival. I don't care if they are removed by cutting down (the City has 90 of these trees) or dug up. Thank you so much, Robin Knowlton 368-8269 410 W. Oak Street 9