SR-509-000-03 (2)
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JIIN 1 J, J3b~
California JUN 2 1 1988
DTA:JG
Santa Monica,
council Meeting, June 14, 1988
TO:
Mayor and City Council
FROM:
City Staff
SUBJECT:
Recommendation to Amend Municipal Code section
7610 Regarding Unauthorized Removal of city Trees
INTRODUCTION
The following recommends that the city Council authorize the
amendment of Municipal Code section 7610 to enable the City to
charge individuals responsible for the unauthorized removal of
City trees for the appraised value of such trees. In addition,
City staff proposes that the City initiate a program to educate
the development community about the need to preserve City trees
and revise the plan review process to insure that every effort is
made to design projects which incorporate current City trees
rather than require their removal.
BACKGROUND
Curently, under Section 7610 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code,
removal of city trees is prohibited unless a permit is issued by
either the Director of General Services or the Director of
Recreation and Parks and is a misdemeanor offense. In the past,
very few permits have been issued as part of the city's
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JUN 2 1 19~1l 1 ,', IPUl
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commitment to maintain the many trees which are an integral part
of Santa Monica's streetscapes.
In recent months, City staff has noted a significant increase in
the number of requests made by architects and developers to
remove or transplant street trees obstructing redesigned driveway
entrances to new and renovated residential projects. As such,
staff believes it is necessary to further define the City'S
policy with respect to tree removal.
DISCUSSION
Santa Monica has been recognized by several organizations for its
efforts to plant and maintain street trees and for its efforts to
beautify the community through the creation of an "urban forest".
As a "National Tree City" for the past seven years, significant
resources have been devoted to the planting, maintenance and
replacement of the City's extensive network of street trees.
Due to the importance of City trees in the streetscapes of Santa
Monica, City staff feels it is critical that the local
development community be educated about the value the City places
on the preservation of its tree resources. In particular,
architects and developers must be urged to design and construct
proj ects which can incorporate such trees rather than require
their removal.
Toward this end, City staff recommends a three phased effort to
insure that design and construction efforts recognize the
significance of City trees. First, staff proposes to develop
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informational material to be mailed to all local architects and
developers and distributed at the Planning, Building and Safety,
and General Services Department public counters which will
outline the city I s policy regarding the preservation of City
trees. Second, staff proposes to develop a special sign-off
procedure which will require that all plans submitted for plan
check indicate the location of existing trees and will insure
that no tree penni t is issued until the Recreation and Parks,
Planning, Building and Safety, and General Services Departments
have concurred with the request. Third, staff recommends that
Section 7610 of the Municipal Code be amended to enable the city
to bill the developer or property owner for the appraised value
of a tree which is removed without authorization.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
The budget/financial impact of implementing a replacement value
penalty fee for unauthorized tree removal is unknown since the
frequency of violation cannot be predicted. Staff anticipates
that the cost of the educational component of the proposed
program can be absorbed within departmental budgets.
RECOMMENDATION
City staff recommends that the city Council:
1) Amend Section 7610 of the Municipal Code to require that
parties responsible for the unauthorized removal of City
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trees pay a penalty to the city of the appraised value of
such trees.
2) Direct City staff to initiate an informational program to
educate the development community about the importance of
design efforts which incorporate city trees, and to revise
the plan check sign-off procedures to insure that all
relevant City departments concur with the need to remove city
trees before a tree permit is issued.
Prepared by: Don Arnett
Director, Recreation and Parks Department
Julia N. Griffin
senior Management Analyst
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