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Title:
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Approve the Substitution of the Camphor Tree in Lieu of the Tree Recommended in the City’s Street Tree Master Plan, the Victorian Box, along the 4100 and 4200 blocks of Baldwin Avenue.
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City of Culver City, California
Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 12/1/2009 Item Number: _A-2
AGENDA ITEM: Approve the Substitution of the Camphor Tree in Lieu of the Tree
Recommended in the City’s Street Tree Master Plan, the Victorian Box, along the
4100 and 4200 blocks of Baldwin Avenue.
Contact Person/Dept.: Eric Mirzaian/PW Phone Number: (310) 253-6410
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: []
Commission Action Required: Yes [X] No [] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas – Parks, Recreation and Community
Services Commission (11/25/09); (Letter) Residents/Property owners along the 4100 and
4200 block of Baldwin Avenue (11/24/09).
Department Approval:
Charles D. Herbertson (11/19/2009)
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
approve the substitution of the Camphor tree in lieu of the tree recommended in the
City’s Street Tree Master Plan, the Victorian Box, along the 4100 and 4200 blocks of
Baldwin Avenue.
BACKGROUND:
In June of 2009, the Public Works Department evaluated the Victorian Box
(Pittosporum Undulatum) and Queensland Pittosporum (Pittosporum Rhombifolium)
trees along the 4100 and 4200 blocks of Baldwin Avenue. Of the 38 trees that were
analyzed, 13 were identified to be in an advanced state of decline and were
subsequently removed to protect public health and safety. The following reasons
have attributed to the state of decline:
• Weak root system leading to branch failures
• Susceptibility to pest infestation
• Excessive defoliation
• Canopy decline due to weak immune system
DISCUSSION:
Per the Street Tree Master Plan, the recommended tree species for this area is the
Victorian Box; however, due to the problems indicated above with this species, the
Public Works Department has determined a more suitable replacement tree will be City of Culver City, California
Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission
Agenda Item Report
the Camphor tree (Cinnamomum Camphora). The Public Works Department is
requesting the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Commission waive the
requirement of planting the Victorian Box and approve the substitution of the
Camphor tree instead.
The Public Works Department is recommending that a more diverse tree selection is
desirable in this area and the Camphor tree has done quite well on neighboring
streets, including Elenda Street, Jasmine Street, La Salle Avenue, Le Bourget
Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, Madison Avenue and Park Avenue. The suggested
Camphor tree has a much stronger root system and aromatic leaves; unlike the
Victorian Box, it is not susceptible to pest infestation.
This recommended substitution will address the short-term replacement of trees in
this area. As a long-term strategy, the Public Works Department will be working with
the Community Development and the Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Departments to evaluate the entire Street Tree Master Plan and make necessary
modifications. Staff will return to the Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Commission for review and comment on the revised Street Tree Master Plan.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The cost to plant Camphor trees in this area will be paid from the Public Works
Department tree maintenance budget. The trees will be planted by the Public Works
Tree Maintenance crew. The Public Works Department will plant the number of
trees this current fiscal year’s budget will allow and complete the planting of the
remaining trees in fiscal year 2010-11.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
MOTION:
That the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission:
Approve the substitution of the Camphor tree in lieu of the tree recommended in the
City’s Street Tree Master Plan, the Victorian Box, along the 4100 and 4200 blocks of
Baldwin Avenue.