DATE:
November 21, 2023
TO:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
FROM:
Mohamed Alaoui, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
Study Session On Status Of City Street Tree Opportunity Study And Report Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council receive information on the draft Street Tree Opportunity Study Report.
Background
On November 1, 2022, the City Council approved a contract with PlaceWorks for a comprehensive street tree audit and roadmap for expansion of Emeryville’s street tree inventory, including reports detailing best locations, tree species, and management practices to increase canopy cover throughout the City. The project’s deliverables were defined as:
GIS inventory and mapping of existing street trees and tree wells GIS inventory and mapping of opportunity sites for street trees, including both empty tree wells and potential locations, including along railroad tracks where feasible Suitability for planting
Above-ground limitations and known below-ground limitations Sidewalk width and width of planting strip if present
Driveways and other impediments to tree planting
Identification and ranking of tree planting opportunity areas Cost estimating tool/template for use in potential projects Tree type and soil recommendations, with input from the City Arborist Mapping of opportunity areas in a searchable web application, GIS shapefile, and a printed format.
Discussion
A draft report is available for the City Council’s review. Staff from the City and from PlaceWorks will present the draft report, which recommends tree species for specific locations based on soil conditions and anticipated climate, physical conditions and limitations, and equity considerations by census block group. The equity factors considered were existing tree cover per capita, surface temperatures, median income, asthma rates, elderly and/or very young residents, racial demographics, and exposure to pollutants. The report presents information based on an assessment of all these factors to come up with a final prioritized map for tree planting Citywide.
The report focused only on street trees and not on trees in parks or other public spaces based on the significant street tree need and opportunity. However, the winter 2022-23 storms, which came after the PlaceWorks contract was underway, caused extensive tree loss in the Marina. While the massive tree loss in the Marina is obvious, figuring out the best tree species and locations within the Marina for that climate with high wind and water challenges needs analysis. As a result, staff are proposing to add the following scope to the existing effort:
Include the Marina park trees as part of the study since there is an urgent need to replace them.
Conduct soil analysis at prioritized planting sites.
Create drawings and bid documents based on the study that can be utilized to directly solicit bids for the planting of trees Citywide including the Marina.
By including this additional scope in the existing planning effort, it will allow us to make the planting season of 2024 which occurs in the fall and winter. Without it we would need to engage in a separate RFP process which would mean bidding would occur in the fall of 2024, and we would likely miss the planting season.
Staff Communication with the Public
This project was discussed at the City Council meeting on January 18, 2022, September 6, 2022, and November 1, 2022, and at the Transportation Committee meeting of November 13, 2023.
FISCAL IMPACT
Costs for adding the Marina area to the tree study as well as the soil analysis and bid documents have not been determined. Staff will bring those before Council should that be a desired way forward. The FY 2023/24 budget has $1,000,000 in capital funds budgeted for urban forestry.
Conclusion
This study session will provide a review of the draft Street Tree Opportunity Study.
PREPARED BY: Nancy Humphrey, Environmental Programs Supervisor Approved and Forwarded to the
City Council of the City of Emeryville:
Paul Buddenhagen, City Manager
Street Tree Opportunity Study
City Council Meeting | November 21, 2023
City of Emeryville
CALIFORNIA
MEMORANDUM