HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 305-08TO:
City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: UTILITIES
DATE:
SUBJECT:
JULY 7, 2008 CMR: 305:08
TREE REMOVAL RELATED TO EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY
WELL SITE DEVELOPMENT AT THE MAIN LIBRARY/COMMUNITY
GARDEN
This is an informational report and no Council action is required.
BACKGROUND
On June 23, 2008, the Council approved an agreement with Siegfried Engineering, Inc. for pre-
design and design-build procurement services for the Eleanor Pardee Park and the Main
Library/Community Gardens Emergency Water Supply wells, as part of the Emergency Water
Supply Project. At this meeting, Council included a condition that staff provide information
related to the removal of trees located at the Main Library/Community Garden property. The
specific tree issues Council requested staff input on were: the removal of two Italian Stone Pines
near the Library and the removal of non-native tree species along the fence line between the
Community Garden and the residences on Walnut Drive.
DISCUSSION
The Emergency Water Supply and Storage Environmental Impact Report (EIR) included a
description of the proposed well site development at the Main Library/Community Gardens on
Page 2-9 and Figure 2-3. The EIR anticipated that construction of the new well might require the
removal of some of the garden plots. To compensate for the loss of these plots, and in order to
create an area for replacement plots, the EIR evaluated removing the invasive non-native species
along the fence line and the Stone Pines near the Library. The Stone Pines were considered for
removal because the Planning Arborist identified that the two trees exhibit a potentially unsafe
condition that will worsen with time, due in large part to a heavy uncorrectable lean and the
advanced age of the trees. In the EIR, a small area near the fence was identified as a replacement
plot, although the actual well design of the project may require additional tree removal to replace
lost garden plots. The full extent of thetree removal cannot be determined until a portion of the
design has been completed.
Tree removal will be limited to areas needed to replace lost garden plots due to the construction
of the project. Tree removal at the Main Library/Community Gardens site will also be addressed
CMR: 305:08 Page 1 of 2
in the pre-engineering package developed by Siegfried Engineering that will be completed prior
to the issuance of a design/build contract. This contract will be submitted to Council for
approval in 2009.
RESOURCE IMPACT
None.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
None.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Council certified the Final EIR for the Emergency Water Supply and Storage Project on March
5, 2007. This informational report does not meet the California Environmental Quality Act’s
definition of a project pursuant to Public Resources Code §21065, therefore no environmental
review is of this report is required.
PREPARED BY:
Assistant Director- Utilities Engineering
DEPARTMENT APPROVAL:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
VALEI~ ._~.~. NG
DirectorMf UtW~ties/ ~
STEVE EMSI~IE~’/K~LY MORARIU
Deputy Ci~ Managers
CMR: 305:08 Page 2 of 2
Attachment A - Well Site Locations
ATTACHMENT A
SOURCE: Carollo Engineers
City c¢ Palo Alto Ernergency Water Supply and Storage Proled EIR. 201493
Figure 2-3
Proposed Eleanor Pardee Park
Well Site
LEGEND
Rernove non-designated trees and iw. Replace fence as necessary,
Replant with native species per City arborist.
Area for relocation c~ displaced plcCs.
~ Remove Italian stone pines (2).
Twelve designated trees * to be prote,~ed and retained.
~Hollywood Juniper
@ Oak
O Catalina Ironwood
E Potential new well location area,
SOURCE Carollo Engin eers City of laalo Alto Emergency Water Supply and ~orage Prolec{ EIR. 201490
Figure 2-4
Proposed LibrarylCommunity Center
Well Site