sr-071861-6bCITY OF SANTA MONICA
DATE: July 7, 1561
TO: The Honorable City Council 1.
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FROM: George Bundy, City 1.lanager +~ ~
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JUL L€31961
SUBJECT; Trees for Business Areas ~ggg jI ~ = t Ht3
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The City Council instructed the City Manager to prepare a report
regarding the cost per block of planting various types of trees in the
business areas.
The total estimated cost per tree, exclusive of maintenance, will
range from a minimum of $i 10.50 to a maximum of $435, depending
upon selection of tree and tree basin. As an example, the estimated
cost to plant the Indian Laurel with tree basin covered with brick is
$120. This wide range of unit costs is due to the great difference in
cost of the two types of tree basins--$300 for cast iron grating with
ornamental iron tree guard vs, $8 for brick and redwood stake.
Following are unit cost estimates per tree:
1. Cutting and removing concrete to provide a 4 ft, square
tree basin. $25.00
2. Excavation, prepared top soil, fertilizer, two 4 inch
clay pipes 3 feet long filled with crushed rock, tree stake
and planting. $b0. 00
3. Tree Basin:
either (a) Tree basin paved with common red brick laid
in sand and 2 X 2 redwood tree stake $8. 00
or (b} Furnish and install cast iron tree basin grating
with ornamental iron tree guard.
{$240 plus $60 labor) $300.00
4. Tree stock:
{a} Ficus 1\ritida (Indian Laurel) $27. 00 ea.
i~hay be seen growing on 20th St. , ?"Tilshire
to '1VTOntana.
(b} Callestemen Lanceolatus (Bottle Brush) $17.50 ea.
May be seen growing on Ashland Ave.,
17th to 23rd St.
(c) Podocarpus~acrophylla (Japanese Yew} $45.UG ea.
May be seer growing on 24th St, between
Pico & F'earl.
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(d) Ghamaerops Excelsa (Trachycarpus Palm) $50.00 ea.
May be seen growing on-Lipton Ave. between
Stanford and Centinala Ave.
A downtown city biock is 600 feet in length NW-SE and 300 feet NE_SW.
The tree spacing recommended by the Park Superintendent is 50
feet; therefore, the estimated cost for providing trees in business
districts for each 50 faot lot or 5G feet of street frontage is the same
as the range in cost per tree shown in the first paragraph.
The estimated cost to plant trees on both sides of the street in a
block 600 feet in length would be 24 times the unit price range given
in paragraph one, since there would be 24 trees (one for each of the
24 lots); and for the blocks 300 feet in length, the estimated cost
per block would be 12 times said price range, since there would be
12 trees.
The Park Superintendent estimates it would cast $2.00 per month per
tree to provide the following maintenance:
(a) Watering of trees twice a month, excluding rainy season.
(b} Fertilization and pest control on the average of twice a year.
(c) Shaping of trees twice a }>ear.
Therefore the estimated maintenance costs would be $24 per year for
each 50 foot lot of 50 feet of street frontage.
It is the opinion of the Park Superintendent that the sand and brick
cover would provide better protection and moisture retention than the
cast iron grating. Both Beverly Hills and Los Angeles have used the
brick cover, and such basins may be seen in Santa Monica on the west
side of Franklin Street immediately north of Wilshire Boulevard.
If it is the desire of the City Council to determine whether property
owners and merchants would favor the planting and maintaining of
ornamental trees at property owner expense on business streets, it is
suggested the Gity Ivlanager be instructed to make this determinatior,
by questionnaire on a pilot street, as is being dcne to determine
whether property owners in residential areas desire street lighting.
It is suggested Fourth Street from Wilshire Boulevard to Colorado
Avenue be considered for polling b
GB/mb