RESOLUTION NO. 2024-057
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, DESIGNATING SEVEN TREES -FOUR TREES IDENTIFIED ON CITY
OWNED PROPERTY AND THREE TREES IDENTIFIED ON PRIVATELY OWNED
PROPERTY -AS HERITAGE TREES
WHEREAS, the City Council approved the updated Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan in September 2019; and
WHEREAS, that plan lists goals and strategies that promote city-wide tree preservation, community education and sustainability, and showcases specimen or heritage trees to generate interest in the diversity of trees; and
WHEREAS, Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 11.12.020, Definitions, Subsection A.4., defines a heritage tree as "any tree existing within the city limits which has been so designated by resolution by the City Council. Heritage Trees shall be trees with notable historic interest or trees of an unusual species or size;" and
WHEREAS, Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 11.12.140, Heritage Trees, Subsection A., further states "The City Council recognizes the important role trees have played in the history and development of Carlsbad and recognizes that a wide variety of trees can grow in its unique and temperate climate. The city may officially designate as Heritage Trees those trees in the community which have significant historical or arboricultural interest . It is the policy of the City Council that all designated heritage trees that are on public streets shall be protected."; and WHEREAS, the Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan, Chapter 6 -Heritage Tree Program, indicates that " ... these trees are important facets of the City of Carlsbad's history, arts, and cultural resources ... They offer special opportunities for people interested in science and history to learn more about trees outside of the typical arboretum or classroom setting;" and WHEREAS, with the approval of the Carl sbad Community Forest Management Plan, the City Council designated 116 previously identified trees, some of them located on city-owned property and some of them located on privately-owned property, as heritage trees; and WHEREAS, the Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan Chapter 6, Heritage Tree Program, describes the significance of heritage trees in the community, lists a brief description of each of the heritage trees in Carlsbad, provides management recommendations for heritage trees, and outlines the process for nominating trees to be con sidered for heritage tree designation; and
WHEREAS, the Historic Preservation Commission and the Parks & Recreation Commission are tasked with making recommendations to the City Council regarding the designation of additional heritage trees; and
WHEREAS, the process for nominating trees for heritage tree designation includes the completion of a nomination form, staff's review and acceptance of the nomination, and submission of the nomination to the Historic Preservation Commission and to the City Council for action; and WHEREAS, Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 2.36.070. -Duties, Subsection C., states "The Parks & Recreation Commission shall ... review all tree-related issues and make recommendations to the City Council regarding the needs of the city with respect to its tree planting, replacement, maintenance and preservation programs;" and
WHEREAS, seven trees, four identified on city-owned property and three identified on privately- owned property, have been nominated for heritage tree designation; and WHEREAS, the seven nominations are for: one Melaleuca quinquenervia (paper bark tea tree) at 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive on city-owned property -in the City Hall courtyard; two Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum) at Victoria Lane, west of Carlsbad Village Drive, on city-owned property -adjacent to the Village H South trailhead; one Quercus agrifolia (coast live oak) at the east end of Lake Calavera Preserve, on city-owned property -adjacent to the access from Oak Riparian Park; two Quercus suber (cork oak) at 2778 Arland Road, on privately-owned property -in the front yard; and one Sequoia sempervirens (Santa Cruz redwood) at 4970 Cindy Ave., on privately owned property -in the side yard;
WHEREAS, the nomination forms and photographs of the seven heritage tree candidates are on file in the Office of the City Clerk; and
WHEREAS, the nominations were reviewed by staff and determined to warrant further consideration; and
WHEREAS, the initial six nominations were accepted by the Historic Preservation Commission on March 8, 2021, and accepted by the Parks & Recreation Commission on Nov. 20, 2023; and WHEREAS, the last nomination was accepted by the Historic Preservation Commission on March 11, 2024, and the Parks & Recreation Commission on March 18, 2024; and WHEREAS, the Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan, Chapter 6 -Heritage Tree Program, includes management recommendations for the health, safety and longevity of heritage
trees. These recommendations are mandatory for city-owned heritage trees but advisory only for privately owned heritage trees; and
WHEREAS, staff are prepared to apply the management recommendations to the four city- owned heritage tree candidates with existing resources; and WHEREAS, the owners of the three privately-owned heritage tree candidates have been informed of these nominations; and
WHEREAS, heritage tree designations for trees located outside of a street, sidewalk, median or other public right-of-way of the city do not affect the property owners' rights to exercise control of their properties, including development of their properties.; and WHEREAS, The Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan, Chapter 6 -Heritage Tree Program, states "It is important to preserve heritage trees, but even though the best plant health care practices available may be applied to keep heritage trees in good condition, trees do age and naturally senesce and succumb to factors beyond the control of arboriculture professionals. When a heritage tree reaches the point of needing to be removed out of safety or practicality concerns, the tree may have an extended use and be further memorialized through the Community Green Waste, Wood and Tree Recycling Program ... ;" and
WHEREAS, in keeping with these management recommendations, a suitable tree is to be planted in exchange if a city-owned Heritage Tree must be removed.; and WHEREAS, sufficient funds are available in the City Council approved Fiscal Year 2023-24 Parks Maintenance Operating Budget to account for application of the heritage tree management recommendations of the four city-owned heritage trees; and WHEREAS, funding for ongoing management of the four city-owned heritage trees will be included in future operating budget submittals for the City Council's consideration; and WHEREAS, the City Planner has determined that pursuant to Public Resources code Section 21065, this action does not constitute a project within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a rea sonably foreseeable indirect change in the environment, and therefore does not require environmental review.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. That the City Council hereby designates the following seven trees as heritage trees:
a. one Melaleuca quinquenervia (paper bark tea tree) at 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive on city-owned property -in the City Hall courtyard;
b. two Eucalyptus camaldulensis (river red gum) at Victoria Lane, west of Carlsbad Village Drive, on city-owned property -adjacent to the Village H South trail head; c. one Quercus agrifolia (coa st live oak) at the east end of Lake Calavera Preserve, on city-owned property -adjacent to the access from Oak Riparian Park; d. two Quercus suber (cork oak) at 2778 Arland Road, on privately-owned property - in the front yard; and
e. one Sequoia sempervirens (Santa Cruz redwood) at 4970 Cindy Ave., on privately owned property -in the side yard.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 26th day of March, 2024, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
BLACKBURN, BHAT-PATEL, ACOSTA, BURKHOLDER, LUNA.
NONE.
NONE.
NONE.
SHERRY FREISINGER, City Clerk
(SEAL)