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EUGENE Public Works Maintenance Division City of Eugene M EMORANDUM 1820 Roosevelt Boulevard Eugene, Oregon 97402 (541) 687-5220 (541) 683 -6883 FAX Date: November 19, 1996 To: Mayor Bascom and City Council From: Scott Plamondon, Urban Forester Subject: Hendricks Park Tree Removal Hendricks park represents one of the most valuable forested assets in the City. Over the years, construction of roads, parking areas, structures, and abutting residences have impacted this mature forest. These changes have resulted in the need to manage this asset by removing diseased, insect infested, and hazard trees, and by planting replacements. This managed effort helps to ensure the continued health of the forest and safety for the public. Within the last few years, there have been at least ten tree failures that have caused some damage to abutting residences or disruption of electrical service. Hendricks Park staff has expressed concern about the hazard condition of many of the Fir trees in the park located near roadways along the east side of the park, near the shelter, and in the picnic area. In addition, numerous calls have been received from neighbors along Floral Hill Drive expressing concern of the possibility of trees falling on their residences. Due to the tree failures and concerns expressed, an International Society of Arboriculture certified arborist was contracted to inspect the trees located primarily on the east border of the park along Floral Hill Drive. The arborist's hazard assessment report included the inspection of 233 trees, within striking distance of residences, structures, or roadways and has resulted in more than 100 trees identified as potential hazards. Specific hazard criteria observed ranged from diseased, decayed, dying or dead trees to those with a severe lean in potentially unstable soils. Since March of 1996, nineteen hazard trees have been removed from Hendricks Park. Four of the trees were Oaks with the remaining trees being Firs. Two of these hazard tree removals were generated due to liability concerns expressed by an abutting property owner. Upon thorough examination, I concurred that these trees were hazards and a potential liability. Ten removals were generated due to liability concerns expressed by Hendricks Park staff. Of these ten, five were also listed in the hazard assessment report. The remaining seven trees removed were generated from the hazard assessment report. The attached map shows the areas where these removals occurred. Due to budget restraints, verification of the consulting arborist's examination and removal of hazard trees has been performed only as resources have allowed. No additional trees are scheduled for removal at this time. Of the remaining 95 trees identified in the hazard assessment report, each will be thoroughly examined with those possessing the highest degree of hazard scheduled for removal as resources allow. In order to preserve the forested nature of the park, each tree removed will be replaced by the planting of two new trees. This replacement planting will help sustain and preserve the forest with species that are well sited, safe, and appropriate along the forest edge which border residences and are near park structures and roadways. For more information contact Scott Plamondon, Urban Forester, at 687 -5220.