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<br /> . ~ ~ <br /> in i :The three annual inspections consist of an installation inspection at the <br /> time of planting and inspections to ensure establishment maintenance has occurred at the <br /> end of the first and second years the tree has been in place. The conclusion inspection is <br /> a fourth inspection occurring one year later, at the end of the third year, and is a detailed <br /> inspection immediately prior to the City accepting jurisdiction. These inspections are <br /> necessary to ensure street trees are property planted, healthy, and well estalllished. No <br /> adjustments to these fees should be made at this time. <br /> Comment 3: The fee having to do with dividing the total length of lots by 30 and <br /> then multiplying by 300 should be changed to read "total street length of lots multiplied <br /> by 10" which means the same thing. The dollar amount for arterials or collectors should <br /> also be reduced from 400 to 300 dollars. There is no logical reason why these two <br /> amounts can't be kept the same for simplicity. <br /> Finding: While using the total lot length multiplied by 10 would result in the <br /> same answer, the current formula more closely represents the methodology used to <br /> calculate the costs for providing the service. Using a formula which closely follows the <br /> methodology of fee calculation is easier to explain to concerned citizens. <br /> The difference in caliper of the trees required to be planted on local streets and <br /> collector/arterial streets is based on our experience with vandalism to trees planted in the <br /> City. New trees on local streets typically do not receive a high degree of vandalism. It <br /> is suspected this is due to the lower amount of neighborhood foot traffic and to the <br /> abutting resident supplying a protective presence. Therefore, the less expensive but more <br /> fragile 1-1/2 caliper trees are the minimum required. <br /> Trees on collectors and arterials receive a much higher degree of vandalism. While <br /> the trunk of a 1-1/2" caliper tree can fairly easily be broken, most people would have <br /> difficulty in breaking a 2" caliper tree. Therefore, the more expensive but much stronger <br /> 2" caliper trees are the minimum required. The higher fee for collector and arterial streets <br /> represents the greater cost in purchasing, planting, establishing, and the risk of vandalism <br /> for the 2" caliper trees along the arterials and collector streets. The fees should be <br /> implemented as proposed. <br /> Comment 4: The Street Tree Program will affect the cost of homes. <br /> 'Finding: This issue was raised and considered by the Planning Commission and <br /> City Council when the ordinance establishing the program was considered and approved. <br /> Comment 5: An exemption is needed in the formula representing areas in the <br /> right-of--way where planting new trees is impracticable due to terrain and that a credit is <br /> needed for leaving existing trees within the Right of Way. <br /> Fin 'n : It is agreed that the ability to obtain an exemption from the fee formula <br /> is needed to recognize those areas where the terrain does not allow proper planting and <br /> Administrative Order - 2 <br /> <br />