HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW West End Village Work UpdateCITY OF
Agenda Item No: 12
Meeting Date: 8-4-08
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Public Works s
Prepared by:
Director of Public Works (SC)
City Manager Approval:
File No. 16.01.229
SUBJECT: REPORT AND UPDATE ON THE FOURTH STREET/WEST END
VILLAGE TREE PLANTING PLAN, PROJECT #11056.
RECOMMENDATION: Accept report
BACKGROUND:
Construction on the Fourth Street/West End Village project began this past May. The contractor,
Ghilotti Construction, is working on an aggressive accelerated schedule to complete the project
by Thanksgiving 2008. The work is now approximately 40% complete and is on schedule for
the early finish. All (104) trees are in storage at a nursery in Lodi, waiting for delivery and
installation in mid-October. The planting will take approximately one month. Parks
Superintendent John Tune, a certified arborist, will visit the nursery in the near future to review
and hand -select the trees for this project.
Abey-Arnold, a San Rafael firm, is the landscape architect for the Fourth Street/West End
Village project. Principal Phil Abey attended all pre -construction public outreach meetings and
conducted considerable research in an effort to select trees that will flourish in these difficult site
conditions. The landscape architect selected species based on the following characteristics:
■ trees with minimal sidewalk upheaval potential
■ trees that will not generate excessive leaf litter
■ trees that will not threaten adjacent buildings
■ trees that will not produce tripping hazards like the previous liquid ambar seed pods
■ trees that will flourish in an urban environment
■ trees with a red./orange fall color
■ trees with flowering accents at intersections
■ deciduous trees to provide shade in the summer and warmth in winter
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
File No.: 4-1-600 x 9-3-40
Council Meeting: 08/04/2008
Disposition: Accepted report
Page 2
trees that will not block solar access to building roof tops (potential solar panel locations)
on the north side of the street.
Tree species include the Platanus `Columbia' London Plane at locations with room for a large
spreading canopy, typically near or adjacent to open space or a parking lot on the private
property side of the project. This species was requested by the community. At the remaining
locations, species were selected that are better suited for locations approximately 10' from
private property and buildings.
Red Maple and the larger Chinese Pistache are the two primary mid -block trees. Crape Myrtle
and Redbud species are recommended to distinguish intersections from the mid -block
experience. Red Maples and Crape Myrtles were used at mid -block locations along Fourth
Street between Lincoln and D Street for the 1998 Fourth Street Sidewalk project. Chinese
Pistache trees have been successfully planted on A and C streets.
ANALYSIS:
During the community outreach phase of this project the design team held four community
meetings with residents and merchants to develop an overall design and tree planting plan. In
addition, the team conducted two "tree walks" with special interest groups to review tree
removal and replacement recommendations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The subject trees are part of the Contractor's bid. Therefore, there is no additional cost to the
City by proceeding with the current design plan. The funds are already part of the Fourth
Street/West End Village Project, # 11056, approved by Council on April 7, 2008.
OPTIONS:
The City Council may reject the tree planting plan designed by Abey-Arnold and decide to
install different species trees. Public Works does not recommend this option. The tree planting
plan as designed meets the interests of the City and the stated needs of the West End Village
neighborhood. Specifying different trees may cause delay to the mid-October installation
timeframe, depending upon the type and quantity selected.
ACTION REQUIRED:
Staff recommends that the City Council confirm the Abey-Arnold tree planting plan and allow
Public Works to continue with the contract.
