HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-08-31; City Council; Resolution 2021-202RESOLUTION NO. 2021-202
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA DIRECTING STAFF TO GRIND THE STUMP AND BURL OF A
DEAD HERITAGE STREET TREE AND REMOVE THE WOOD CHIPS FROM
THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF GRAND AVENUE,
EAST OF JEFFERSON STREET
WHEREAS, in early 2019, staff identified a large Eucalyptus street tree (Eucalyptus cladocalyx)
on the south side of Grand Avenue, immediately east of Jefferson Street, to be in declining health; arid
WHEREAS, the subject street tree was designated as a heritage tree as part of the City Council's
adoption of the city's updated 2019 Community Forest Management Plan; and
WHEREAS, in that report the tree was listed in poor condition and of declining vigor; and
WHEREAS, in July 2019, the tree was re-evaluated and found to be in an advanced state of
decline, suffering from a combination of lyrp psyllid and tortoise beetle infestations; and
WHEREAS, after monitoring the tree's condition for a few months after treatments, the tree
was subsequently determined to be dead; and
WHEREAS, the Community Forest Management Plan's Chapter 8 -Community Green Waste,
Wood and Tree Recycling Program, includes a Tree Material Recycling Policy; and
WHEREAS, staff intended to (and subsequently did) arrange for the salvaged wood from this
tree to be delivered to local mills for woodworking projects; and .
WHEREAS, in early November 2019, Mr. Don Christiansen inquired with staff about the
possibility of repurposing the tree trunk as a historic public art piece or bench; and
WHEREAS, staff advised Mr. Christiansen of the intent to deliver the salvaged wood from the
tree to local mills and then consulted with Library & Cultural Arts Department staff on his inquiry; and
Aug. 31, 2021 Item #8 Page 6 of 29
WHEREAS, the Library & Cultural Arts Department staff did not have an interest in repurposing
the subject tree trunk in this manner-due in part to the limited visibility of this location; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Christiansen later provided Public Comment on the concept of repurposing this
tree's trunk into a public art piece or bench at the November meetings of the Arts Commission, the
Parks & Recreation Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission; and
WHEREAS, none of the three Commissions acted to docket an item on this concept at a future
Commission meeting; and
WHEREAS, on Nov. 22, 2019, the subject dead tree was removed to the stump; and
WHEREAS, on Dec. 4, 2019, Mr. Christiansen sent an email to the City Council requesting that
the stump and burl. not be removed, and that citizen input be solicited for the "highest and best use"
of what remained; and
WHEREAS, staff refrained from grinding the stump and burl in order to bring an agenda item on
the request to the City Council for consideration in the spring of 2020; and
WHEREAS, due largely to the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, which the city began
experiencing in March 2020, and staff's need to address those impacts and other priorities, staff
• deferred action on this item for the City Council's consideration; and
WHEREAS, during that deferral period, the owner of the adjacent property indicated his desire
is for the stump and burl to be removed from the public right of way; and
WHEREAS, during that deferral period, Mr. Christiansen also continued to indicate his desire is
for the stump and burl to be carved into a public bench; and
WHEREAS, on June 22, 2021, the City Council received a staff report and presentation on the
disposition of the stump and burl and directed staff to explore the costs of relocating it, as an art piece,
to a city park; and
Aug. 31, 2021 Item #8 Page 7 of 29
WHEREAS, staff commissioned two local artisans who specialize in natural materials to prepare
assessment reports of the stump and burl; and
WHEREAS, the two artisans' assessment reports indicate Eucalyptus wood is not commonly the
first choice of materials for woodworking artisans; and tends to be difficult to carve or conform; and
WHEREAS, the two artisans' assessment reports indicate portions of the stump and burl have
the potential for carving artwork or a bench off-site; and
WHEREAS; the costs associated with removing and relocating the stump and burl, carving it off-
site, and repairing the sidewalk, curb and gutter damage, has been estimated at $40,000; and
WHEREAS, the two artisans' assessment reports also indicate this specific Eucalyptus stump and
burl contain rotting, significant cracks and fissures; are not desirable for carving artwork onsite; and
are not viable for carving a bench onsite; and
WHEREAS, the stump and burl remain intact today, awaiting further action by staff, based on
the direction received from the City Council; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends grinding the stump and burl and removing the wood chips from
the public right of way and repurposing the grindings as mulch; and
WHEREAS, sufficient funds are available in the Street Tree Maintenance District Operating
Budget to address the costs of the grinding and the removal of the wood chips; and ·
WHEREAS, the City Planner has considered the potential environmental effects of this project
and has been determined it to be exempt from environmental review per CEQA Guidelines Section
15301(h) -Existing Facilities, and that no exception to the exemption as set forth in CEQA Guidelines
section 15300.2 applies.
II
II
Aug. 31, 2021 Item #8 Page 8 of 29
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
' 2. That the City Council directs staff to grind the stump and burl of a dead heritage street tree
and remove the wood chips from the public right of way on the south side of Grand Avenue,
east of Jefferson Street.
3. That sufficient funds are available in the Street Tree Maintenance District Operating Budget
to address these actions.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad on the 31st day of August, 2021, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Hall, Blackburn, Bhat-Patel, Acosta, Norby.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
MATT HALL, Mayor
~v~ fir<
FAVIOLA MEDINA, City Clerk Services Manager
(SEAL)
Aug. 31, 2021 Item #8 Page 9 of 29