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Home My WebLink About8.1 Citywide Tree Reportr DUBLIN CALIFORNIA STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL DATE: March 19, 2024 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers FROM: Linda Smith, City Manager SU BJECT: Citywide Tree Report Prepared by: Debbie Bell, Public Works Manager EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Agenda Item 8.1 The City Council will receive a report on the status of City trees at public facilities, parks, and streets. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Receive the report. FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. DESCRIPTION: Background In February 2017, the City Council received a Citywide Tree Report which indicated the City owned 12,700 trees and budgeted approximately $185,000 annually for tree maintenance funded by the General Fund. Typical tree maintenance efforts focused on pruning City trees about every five years depending on the tree species and growth cycles, and emergency tree removals. Budgeted funds did not specifically include funding to replace trees. Recognizing the need to replace City trees, the City Council included in the Fiscal Year 2017-18 budget an additional $100,000 for tree replacement with the intent of also including $50,000 annually in the next three budget years for the same purpose. From Fiscal Year 2017-18 through Fiscal Year 2021-22, $250,000 was spent to replace 545 trees, in locations that required removal of 253 stumps and 62 dead or dying trees. Current City Tree Status The Public Works Department maintains a tree inventory and maintenance history in a Page 1 of 4 1 Geographic Information System (GIS) database. The database includes tree location, species, age (if known), approximate height and trunk diameter, approximate value, and maintenance history. The database also identifies sites as 'vacant' at locations at which there once was a tree, but for a variety of reasons, no tree exists today. Based on this data, nearly 13,900 trees have been identified as City -owned and City -maintained. Approximately 6,100 of these trees are in City - owned parks and City -owned properties and 7,800 trees are in public street rights -of way. The City's tree inventory is valued at approximately $23,000,000. Tree Benefits and Tree City USA Designation Trees provide many benefits to the community and are important assets to the City. Trees improve air and water quality, lower heating and cooling costs, clean the air, produce oxygen, reduce storm water runoff, reduce traffic speeds, provide shade, and provide wildlife habitat. Trees also increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify the community. The City of Dublin is recognized as a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation, by meeting certain requirements that include having a tree ordinance, spending at least two dollars per capita on urban forestry, and observing Arbor Day. Tree City USA recognition indicates that the City emphasizes robust tree maintenance and urban forest management programs. City Replanting Best Practices The City follows tree replanting best practices, including selection of appropriate species, proper planting techniques, accounting for environmental conditions, and consideration of budget constraints. A certified arborist provides site -specific recommendations to determine timing and replacement procedures. Ideally, trees are replaced during the season with the highest likelihood of success and in locations that are appropriate for replanting. This means the site of a fallen tree could remain vacant for several months to avoid planting in the wrong season or a site could remain permanently vacant based on soil quality, available space, proximity to utilities, and other limiting site -specific factors. Based on funding availability, the City prioritizes planting locations in areas with low tree canopy coverage, high pedestrian traffic, or environmental restoration needs. Tree Removal Trees are typically removed only if there are extenuating circumstances or concerns, such as a dead tree, a structural deficiency, signs of illness or disease, or proximity to something that could render the tree a hazard. The City uses the services of a certified arborist to evaluate trees proposed or requested for removal. The arborist provides recommendations based on a site evaluation of the tree. Page 2 of 4 2 Drought Prior to last winter, California experienced a significant drought that had a detrimental effect on trees. In 2017, Staff estimated the City might expect as many as 10% (approximately 1,300) of the City's tree inventory to perish as a direct result of the drought through 2027. The exact number of trees that Dublin has lost or will lose due to the drought is difficult to ascertain as trees can often take several years to die off. Some City trees have perished due to drought stress, and some are in a state of decline due to drought stress and may eventually die off. Other trees may rebound from two years of wet winters and the lifting of watering restrictions. Recycled Water Much of Dublin's irrigation systems utilize recycled (reclaimed) water infrastructure. While treated to a high standard, recycled water contains some residual total dissolved solids (TDS) and salinity (salt). Some tree species do not perform well over the long term when irrigated with recycled water. For example, redwood trees are particularly sensitive to the trace amount of salt content in recycled water. Landscaped areas converted to recycled water in our community have seen redwood trees die off or show significant signs of decline. As a result, redwood trees are no longer selected for planting in areas that use recycled water for irrigation. Storm and Accident Loss Trees are vulnerable to damage during extreme weather events. During the 2022-2023 winter storms and high -wind events, the City lost approximately 55 trees. Some of these trees fell due to oversaturated soils and high winds. Other trees were damaged and then removed if deemed hazardous or if the extent of damage was such that the tree was determined to lack long term viability. In addition to weather -related damage, City trees are also lost throughout the year from damage or knock -downs due to automobile related accidents. Current Tree Inventory and Replacement Needs The City currently owns and maintains approximately 13,900 trees. Since 2017, over 1,200 new trees have been planted, increasing the City's tree maintenance responsibilities. Additionally, the cost of tree maintenance has risen significantly since 2017 due to several economic factors, including increases to the prevailing wage for tree maintenance laborers. Currently, the City budgets approximately $350,000 annually for regular tree maintenance at all City buildings, parks, and streets. The budget provides for pruning and trimming (each tree is scheduled for pruning once every five years), emergency response efforts, hazardous tree removals, and tree replacements. Although the tree budget has increased since 2017, the funding has not allowed for replacement and replanting of each tree that is lost annually. The City's GIS database currently indicates the need for tree replacement at 1,530 sites, which includes 230 locations where tree or stump removal is also needed. While costs vary, the average cost to replace a tree is approximately $415 per site, including labor. As such, the total cost to plant trees at every site would be approximately $640,000. Funding The City has relied upon the General Fund to cover the expenses associated with tree maintenance and replacement. Grant funding may be an opportunity to fund City tree efforts. Recent tree - related grants available to local governments have been highly competitive and often give Page 3 of 4 3 preference to communities that are economically disadvantaged, distressed, or lack parkland and natural open space areas. Other grants have focused on forest health, wildfire resilience, and green schoolyards. Staff will continue to review and pursue appropriate grant funding opportunities to support City tree maintenance efforts. STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE: None. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: The City Council Agenda was posted. ATTACHMENTS: None. Page 4 of 4 4 Citywide Tree Report March I 9, 2024 V DUBLIN CALIFORNIA Overview I. City Tree Inventory 2. Tree Maintenance Program 3. 2017-2O22Tree Replacements 4. Current Tree Replanting Efforts 6 City Tree Inventory • 13,900 Trees Citywide — 6,100 in Parks and Properties — 7,800 in Public Right of Ways • CurrentTree Inventory — Estimated $23M • Tree City USA Recognition • CurrentTree Maintenance Operating Budget: $350K/year 7 Tree Maintenance Program Five -Year Maintenance Cycle Emergency Response: Storm and Vehicle Damage Hazardous Tree Removals: Dead, Structurally Deficient, Etc. Tree Replacements: Species, Site, Season 8 Tree Maintenance Program • Drought — expected 1 0% loss (1,300 trees) - Trees often take years to show signs of decline — Stressed trees become more susceptible to diseases and pests • Recycle Water Over 90% of all public landscaping irrigation Some species are sensitive (Redwoods, Pines) 9 2017-2O22Tree Replacement Effort • City Council included $250k budget to replace missing trees over 5 years • All funds spent and 545 Trees replaced —Included stump and dead/dying tree removals Current Tree Replanting Needs • Estimated I,53OVacantTree Sites - Replacement Cost: —$415/per tree — Approx Budget: —$640k for 1,530 trees - Analysis to Determine Locations and Species • General Fund or Grants Replanting Opportunities i 7 411 a • !1 't • Harlan Hill 4*-St • \ 7326ft Wafshs Pocket Donlan Point7123ft 6 S 8, O el t2 G. 0 a co cow} 2." 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