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EWEB.RFT Page 1 MEMORANDUM January 3, 1993 TO: Eugene City Council FROM: Johnny Medlin, Public Works Maintenance SUBJECT: EWEB /Citv of Eugene Tree Trimming Task Force Staff from the City of Eugene's Public Works Maintenance Division and EWEB has been meeting since August to discuss environmentally sensitive tree trimming practices in street rights -of -way. The group has talked about tree trimming standards and ways to streamline and improve the coordination of the tree programs in both agencies. They are exploring options that will help the two organizations work more closely as partners on future tree trimming projects and in a more coordinated and cost efficient manner. The tree trimming practices of both agencies have evolved to meet federal, state, and local environmental and land -use laws and regulations. EWEB 's program focuses on removing dangerous trees and tree limbs that may interfere with transmission and distribution lines and also on preventing outages due to winter storm damage. The City's tree trimming program focuses on maintaining the long -term health of Eugene's urban forest by protecting them from disease and damage. City trees are trimmed to remove dangerous limbs and "dead wood" and to provide vision and regulatory sign clearance for motorists along streets. Both agencies agree that, in the past, work efforts to achieve these goals have sometimes not been well coordinated. EWEB extended an invitation to the City to participate in a task force to resolve these issues. As a result of the meetings, EWEB and the City are working to develop tree trimming criteria and a cooperative approach for tree planting that will improve the tree programs of both agencies. In addition, the group is developing an intergovemmental agreement that outlines future approaches to tree trimming and tree planting practices. On January 10 and 11, tree crews from both agencies will participate in a two- day workshop on environmentally - sensitive tree trimming practices that protect the health of the tree. As part of the training, EWEB and City crews will work together on a power line clearance project on Coburg Road near the Oakway Mall. This project will provide hands -on training using methods taught in the class. Both agencies plan to begin incorporating these practices in future projects. In addition to the jointly sponsored project on Coburg Road, City and EWEB staff are currently in the planning stage on a project to trim trees under power lines in the Whitaker Neighborhood. The cooperative project is tentatively planned for late February. We will continue to update you on the progress of the task force. Please call me at x5255 if you have questions.