City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 08/03/10 Item Number: _A-1
PRCS COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of a Recommendation to the
City Council to Substitute the London Plane Tree and White Orchid Tree in Lieu of
the Tree Recommended in the City’s Street Tree Master Plan, the Yew Pine, as
Replacement Trees along Sepulveda Boulevard between Culver Boulevard and the
City Limit Line South of Franklin Avenue.
Contact Person/Dept.:
Michael Pasternak, Management Analyst
and Todd Tipton, Redevelopment
Administrator /CDD
Phone Number: (310) 253-5708/5783
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [X] No [] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas – Parks, Recreation & Community
Services Department (07/29/10); (Public Meeting) Business/Property Owners along
Sepulveda Boulevard between Culver Boulevard and Franklin Avenue [4300, 4400 and
4500 blocks of Sepulveda Boulevard] (07/14/10).
Department Approval:
Sol Blumenfeld/CDD (07/23/10)
Pam Robinson (07/27/10)
City Attorney Approval: N/A
Chief Financial Officer Approval: N/A City Manager Approval: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission
consider recommending the substitution of the London Plane Tree and White Orchid
Tree in lieu of the tree recommended in the City’s Street Tree Master Plan (STMP),
the Yew Pine, as replacement trees along Sepulveda Boulevard between Culver
Boulevard and the City limit line south of Franklin Avenue.
BACKGROUND:
The portion of Sepulveda Boulevard between Culver Boulevard and Franklin Avenue
is somewhat unique due to the reduced vehicle speeds (caused by the narrow width
of the street), neighborhood oriented business composition and access to bus lines
and walking/bicycle paths. Due to these factors staff believes the addition of
pedestrian oriented amenities would further improve the boulevard by creating an
environment conducive to walking, shopping and lingering in the area.
In October 2007, the City of Culver City executed a Letter of Agreement (“LOA”) with
the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“Metro”) for projects
programmed through the Metro Call for Projects and State Transportation
Improvement Program - Transportation Enhancement (“MTA Grant”). The MTA City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Grant was awarded in the amount of $291,000 for pedestrian improvements, which
include replacement street trees, pedestrian oriented lighting, new street furniture
and crosswalk enhancements. Construction is scheduled to begin during the first
quarter of 2011. The project was included in the Redevelopment Agency work plan
for 2010 and will be implemented by Redevelopment staff. In accordance with the
MTA Grant implementation schedule (Attachment 5) staff is requesting that the
PRCS Commission review this item prior to forthcoming discussions on
comprehensive revisions to the STMP.
DISCUSSION:
Staff believes planting of a uniform street tree species is one of the most effective
ways to improve the area aesthetically. Currently, five species are present and all
vary in shape, size and health (Attachment 2). Staff recommends removing the
existing trees and replacing them with the recommended London Plane and White
Orchid trees (Attachment 3) to harmonize the streetscape design.
To better understand business and property owner concerns, staff conducted a
public meeting on July 14, 2010 to receive input on the proposed improvements
(including street trees). Owners expressed dissatisfaction with the Boulevard’s
existing mix of street trees, noting the lack of uniformity across the streetscape and a
tendency for trees to block business signage and create maintenance issues with
respect to tree trimming, droppings on the sidewalk and root damage. Owners also
stressed the importance of selecting a replacement tree that will allow business
signage to remain visible from the street.
Culver City is fortunate to have a variety of tree species along its commercial
corridors. Unfortunately, the existing street tree species do not always provide the
features (shade canopy, compact form, drought tolerance, etc.) needed to create an
inviting commercial corridor. To address this, staff from the Community
Development Department, Public Works Department, and Parks, Recreation &
Community Services Department worked together to establish street tree selection
criteria based on:
• Appropriateness to the scale of the street;
• Width of existing sidewalk and pedestrian clearance to ADA requirements;
• Tree maintenance, drought tolerance and resistance to pests;
• Impact on street maintenance budget, root damage potential, and droppings;
• Ability of tree canopy to provide shade for pedestrians; and,
• Compactness of tree form to preserve business signage.
Of the hundreds of species available, staff identified six street trees they believe
suitable for commercial corridors.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Based upon the selection criteria, staff believes the London Plane Tree and White
Orchid Tree are best suited for this area due to their canopy
form/transparency/shade properties, hardiness, and growth characteristics. The
smaller White Orchid Tree adds further seasonal benefit due to its colorful flowers
and scents during its spring bloom.
The Street Tree Master Plan indicates the Yew Pine as the recommended street tree
species for this portion of Sepulveda Boulevard. However, the Yew Pine does not
provide adequate shading for pedestrians on the sidewalk and occasionally blocks
signage due to its dense canopy. Therefore, staff is recommending the substitution
of the London Plane Tree and White Orchid Tree in lieu of the Yew Pine as
replacement trees on Sepulveda Boulevard between Culver Boulevard and the City
limit line south of Franklin Avenue.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
A portion of the MTA Grant award will fund the removal of existing trees in the
project area and planting of the London Plane and White Orchid trees. The contract
to construct pedestrian improvements and plant replacement trees will go out to bid
pursuant to MTA Grant guidelines. The Culver City Redevelopment Agency has
budgeted matching grant funds in the fiscal year 2010/2011 and will cover the costs
of conceptual design and preliminary engineering. The Public Works Department’s
street maintenance budget will account for replacement tree care on an ongoing
basis.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Project Limits for Sepulveda Boulevard Pedestrian Improvements MTA Grant
B. Existing Street Tree Species on Sepulveda Boulevard between Culver Boulevard
and Franklin Avenue
C. Recommended Street Tree Species
D. Streetscape Rendering with Recommended London Plane Street Tree
E. MTA Grant Implementation Timeline
MOTION:
That the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission:
1. Recommend to the City Council the substitution of the London Plane Tree and
White Orchid Tree in lieu of the tree recommended in the City’s Street Tree
Master Plan (STMP), the Yew Pine, as replacement trees along Sepulveda
Boulevard between Culver Boulevard and the City limit line south of Franklin
Avenue;
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
OR
2. Provide staff with an alternate recommendation;
OR
3. Recommend that the City Council not deviate from the Street Tree Master Plan
and therefore maintain the Yew Pine as the street tree replacement species for
this portion of Sepulveda Boulevard.
MEETING DATE: August 3, 2010
AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of a Recommendation to the City Council
to Substitute the London Plane Tree and White Orchid
Tree in Lieu of the Tree Recommended in the City’s
Street Tree Master Plan, the Yew Pine, as Replacement
Trees along Sepulveda Boulevard between Culver
Boulevard and the City Limit Line South of Franklin
Avenue.
ATTACHMENTS
Page
A. Project Limits for Sepulveda Boulevard Pedestrian
Improvements MTA Grant
1
B. Existing Street Tree Species on Sepulveda Boulevard
between Culver Boulevard and Franklin Avenue
2
C. Recommended Street Tree Species
3
D. Streetscape Rendering with Recommended London
Plane Street Tree
4
E. MTA Grant Implementation Timeline 5
Attachment A: MTA Grant Project Limits
Project Limits
Culver Blvd.
Bicycle &
Walking Path
LEGEND
0.2 miles to
Ballona Creek
Bicycle Path
Entrance
City
Boundary
Franklin Avenue
Culver Boulevard
Sepulveda Boulevard
Page 1Attachment B: Existing Street Trees
1. YEW PINE Podocarpus macrophyllus
2. FERN PINE Podocarpus gracilior
3. INDIAN LAUREL FIG Ficus microcarpa ‘Nitida ’
4. QUEEN PALM Syagrus romanzoffianum
5. MEXICAN FAN PALM Washingtonia robusta|101010101010|Page 2London Plane Tree
Platanus acerfolia
Attachment C: Recommended Replacement Trees
White Orchid
Bauhinia
aculeata
Leaf detail Flower detail
Page 3Attachment D: Streetscape Rendering with Recommended London Plane Tree
EXISTING
CONDITIONS
EXAMPLE
REPLACEMENT TREES
(London Plane)
Page 4June 30, 2010 California Transportation Commission (“CTC”) Allocation Vote
CTC awards funds for MTA Grant project.
July 14, 2010 Public Meeting for Business and Property Owners
Staff takes public input on project scope of work.
August 3, 2010 Parks, Recreation & Community Service Commission Agenda Item:
Recommendation for Replacement Tree Species
PRCS Commission makes formal tree species recommendation to
City Council.
August 4, 2010 Public Meeting for Business and Property Owners :
Review of Conceptual Design Plans
Staff takes public input on conceptual design.
August 23, 2010 Joint City Council/Redevelopment Agency Agenda Item: Approval of Conceptual
Design, Substitution Street Trees, and Consideration of Construction Bid Documents
City Council/Agency Board approves substitute tree species /conceptual design
and authorizes staff to draft bid documents OR provides staff with alternative direction.
September 20, 2010 Redevelopment Agency Agenda Item: Approval of Final Design Plan and
Authorization to Advertise Construction Bid
Agency Board approves final streetscape design plan and authorizes staff to
advertise construction bid OR provides staff with alternative direction.
November 15, 2010 Redevelopment Agency Agenda Item: Construction Bid Award
Agency Board awards construction contract OR provides staff with alternative
direction.
December 30, 2010 MTA Grant Deadline to Award Construction Bid
Agency Board must award construction contract or grant funds rescinded.
First Quarter 2011 Anticipated Start of Construction
Attachment E: MTA Grant Implementation Timeline
Page 5