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• <br /> >on public property for the purpose of gleaning fruit for the community. <br /> This is but one of many benefits, potentially including: <br /> 1) attracting and sustaining birds and wildlife <br /> 2) helping to provide erosion control and soil management <br /> 3) landscaping otherwise barren areas (consider the grassed hills behind <br /> the playground and pool in Amazon park, for example) <br /> 4) providing fragrant foliage in spring time <br /> 5) diversifying the city's tree inventory to reduce our exposure to <br /> cultivar specific pests and diseases (such as dutch elm disease) <br /> 6) generating revenue from pruned materials (such as apple branches) <br /> that can be chipped and sold for burning by people who home -smoke <br /> fish and game <br /> 7) demonstrating Eugene's commitment to following multiple -use land <br /> management practices <br /> 8) encouraging community involvement in Eugene's public spaces <br /> 9) providing a test bed which would help citizens pick cultivars best <br /> adapted to the local climate for incorporation in their own yards <br /> and orchards <br /> 10) providing job training opportunities for displaced timber workers <br /> who'd like to continue working in a tree - related outdoor occupation <br /> -- being a nurseryman /orchardist is a job in a sustainable and <br /> growing industry <br /> 11) providing a new tourist attraction highlighting one of the Willamette <br /> Valley's unique advantages, its wonderful agricultural conditions <br /> > In this effort, I have contacted a number <br /> >of internal and external people to gather information and history concerning <br /> >this issue. The information indicates that while growing fruit trees on <br /> > public property may not be effective, there may be other opportunities that <br /> >could prove to provide better results. I hope this memo serves as a <br /> >starting point for this discussion. <br /> >I am sure you are aware, there are a number of problems with the growing of <br /> >fruit trees on street right of ways. Given the inherent problems of <br /> > liability, <br /> I am not entirely clear about the source of the liability envisioned here. <br /> Is the concern over windfall hazards or ? Use of semi -dwarf varieties can <br /> greatly reduce or eliminate this "risk ". <br /> > maintenance, <br /> By maintenance I assume you are referring to annual pruning during the late <br /> fall /winter months. I would think that such activities would provide an <br /> excellent counter - cyclical activity to balance the slower times for city <br /> grounds people following an active summer of maintaining turf, and a fall <br /> period when they're engaged in leaf collection, etc. <br /> > insect and disease control, <br /> I'd recommend exclusive introduction of non -spray insect and disease <br /> resistent varieties. For example: <br /> Page 4 <br />