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HomeMy WebLinkAboutArborist Report4 McKinley & Associates(818) 240-1358 Arborist Report 1045 Don Robles Drive Arcadia, California Prepared for: Mr. Eric Wu 1045 Don Robles Drive Arcadia, CA 91006 Prepared by: William R. McKinley, Consulting Arborist American Society of Consulting Arborists Certified Arborist #WE -4578A International Society of Arboriculture 1734 Del Valle Avenue Glendale, CA 91208 Arborists and Environmental Consultants McKinley & Associates(818) 240-1358 March 22, 2020 Mr. Eric Wu 1045 Don Robles Drive Arcadia, CA 91006 Dear Mr. Wu: Recently you contacted me concerning a notice of violation that you had received from the City of Arcadia concerning the severe cutting of a large native Oak tree in front of your property at 1045 Don Robles Drive, Arcadia. I was asked to prepare an Arborist Report documenting the damage to the tree and providing a tree restoration plan. The following report summarizes my findings: Background On Monday, March 2, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. I arrived at the subject property located at 1045 Don Robles Drive, Arcadia, California. At our meeting I was told that your homeowner's insurance had been cancelled because the tree grew over the house. I was told that the tree was pruned to clear low growing branches away from the roof of your house. You told me that you had assumed that the tree trimmers knew what was permitted in the City of Arcadia. The subject tree is in the front of the subject property near the front of your house. After our meeting I began my tree and site inspection. The Tree/Site Inspection Section describes my observations concerning the subject tree. Tree/Site Inspection Tree #1 is a Quercus engelmannii or Engelmann Oak. The tree measures 28 inches in diameter at D.B.H. (Diameter Breast Height) as measured 54 inches above the soil grade. The tree has a drip line, which measures roughly 32 feet from the tree's trunk. The spread of the tree is approximately 45 feet. The height of the tree is estimated to be roughly 55 feet tall. The tree is located in the front yard 8 feet east of the southeast corner of the garage. The tree is situated in a recessed tree well planter roughly 4.5 feet by 5 feet in size and the tree is 2 feet below the soil surface. The Oak is surrounded by an irrigated lawn area. The tree has a basal cavity on the northwest side of the trunk. The cavity is 14 inches wide, 12 inches high and 8 inches deep. The bark is missing surrounding the cavity. The bark tissue is also loose on the lower trunk. The tree's crown has been pruned and raised. Recent pruning has resulted in the cutting of a 12 inch diameter limb on the east side an 8 inch diameter limb on the southwest side and a 10 inch diameter limb on the west side. Sections of limbs recently cut are dangling from the crown where they Arborists and Environmental Consultants Page 1 McKinleyAssociates(818) 240 Tree/Site Inspection -Continued were once supported by a cable. There is peel -back on the bottom side of 10 inch and 12 inch diameter limb which were recently cut. Large limbs in the crown were previously cut and removed in the past. The tree's crown is unbalanced and asymmetrical. The crown grows more toward the house. The foliage size and color appear normal, however the crown density is sparse. The tree is in below average health and condition. Rating: D+ General Observations The subject property is situated in a single family home residential neighborhood in the City of Arcadia. The nearby homes in the neighborhood are landscaped and well maintained. The subject tree identified as Tree #1 in this Arborist Report is a protected, native Engelmann Oak in the City of Arcadia. While examining this Engelmann Oak I noted that it has had a history of large limb failure on the north and south sides of the tree's crown. The pruning cuts which were recently made on several large limbs were not done professionally. No under -cut was made on these large limbs prior to attempting to cut them from the upper side. Consequently when the upper side cut reach a point roughly half the limb diameter, the weight of each limb caused the bottom portion of the limb to break and peel back on the bottom side of the limb. Severe or heavy pruning is not permitted to take place on native, protected trees in the City of Arcadia. The pruning which was performed on these trees does not meet Best Management Practices or ANSI A-300 Pruning Standards. This type of pruning reduces the landscape value of the trees and can reduce the property value. This pruning was not professional and was clearly performed by individuals who lacked the necessary skills and education to prune this tree correctly. At this point the restoration of the tree crown will be necessary in order to re- gain the tree's beauty and value. Tree Restoration Plan/Recommendations Based upon my inspection of the subject tree I would recommend that the following tree restoration plan be followed: 1) Any torn, ripped or damaged limbs and branches must be correctively pruned. Stubbed limbs and branches should be pruned to a branch union just outside the branch collar using Best Management Practices and ANSI A-300 Pruning Standards. 2) Avoid watering within the tree well area and especially around the tree's trunk. The bark tissue on the tree's trunk must remain dry. Remove all debris within the tree well. The soil in the tree well must be exposed to air. Arborists , Environmental Consultants McKinley & Associates(818) 240-1358 Tree Restoration Plan/Recommendations 3) Apply a balanced, slow-release tree fertilizer within the tree dripline according to manufacturer's directions at least 2 times per year for the next 3 years to assist in stimulating new, healthy growth. 4) The Oak's torn and exposed tree limb cuts should be sprayed with orange oil or a termiticide or a comparable insecticide to prevent insect infestation. 5) The tree must be monitored by an I.S.A. Certified Arborist for 3 years from the point that the City accepts this tree protection plan. 6) The I.S.A. Certified Arborist shall provide the City with an annual update report on the health and condition of the tree. 7) Photographs of the trees shall accompany each annual Arborist Report so that each tree's progress toward recovery can be documented from Year 1 to Year 3. 8) The subject trees must receive corrective structural pruning each year for the next 3 years in order to manage and train the new growth. This pruning must be supervised by an I.S.A. Certified Arborist. 9) The Tree Contractor performing the pruning must have a valid State of California Contractor's License, Worker's Compensation and Liability Insurance and a City of Arcadia Business License. 10) The I.S.A. Certified Arborist must provide a letter at the end of the 3 year monitoring period certifying that the trees are alive and have been restored. Summary/Conclusion In conclusion, it is my professional opinion that this Engelman tree were severely cut and that the pruning does not meet tree industry standards. You were deceived by the tree cutter through no fault of your own. You hired them because you assumed that they knew what they were doing. On the positive side, your Engelmann Oak tree has not been killed. This species is a very strong, hardy and resilient species. Restoring the crown of this tree so that it is balanced and produce healthy, normal leaves and crown density would be the goal and objective of this Tree Restoration Plan. The tree well area must be routinely cleaned out so that the bare soil can be permitted to dry out. The trunk must not be wetted and must remain dry. No watering should take place within the tree well area. The cavity area should be cleaned out. The Oak should be monitored over the next 3 years and its health and condition reported annually to the City. If the above stated Tree Restoration Plan/Recommendations are followed then it is my professional opinion that this tree will survive and that it can be restored back to their original appearance. Arborists and Environmental Consultants Page 3 4 McKinley & Associates(818) 240-1358 Limitatinns Information contained in this report covers only those areas that were examined and reflects the condition of those areas at the time of inspection. The inspection was limited to visual examination of accessible areas. Arboriculture is not an exact science and there is much that is still to be learned about trees. Observations and recommendations provided in this report reflect the latest research, knowledge and training available through university and professional research. There is no warranty or guarantee, expressed or implied, that problems or deficiencies of the trees or property in question may not arise in the future. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you and your environmental and horticultural needs. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me during the day on my business cell phone at (818) 426-2432 or you may call my office at (818) 240-1358. Yours truly, William R. McKinley, Consulting Arborist American Society of Consulting Arborists Certified Arborist #WE -4578A International Society of Arboriculture Arborists and Environmental Consultants Page 4 m "n"C l" ' 7ri.x.52a-r F �1 4� 1—!@ C i ►am uc� CI CI ,;1i 1734 Del Valle Ave. Email: william@mcldnleyarborists.com Work (8 18) 426-2432 Glendale, CA 91208 Website: Home (818) 240-1358 a'l7Ttrt�y_r Or QUA [ Practicing ConsultingA--.bO!iSL IMeniber of Americar, Society of Consulting Arborisis (ASCA). Certified Arborist, lntemational Socieiji of AfbanCulti a since Septem. ber')D1 1999. �_S _ 1t.hDin st4TaCf- 45 71 kecogitiued Oak Tee Exper [ avoikahoin Souther:? Cal forma. 1-coare arborst reports for developers, Home^?;-nea-s man -A an rni:-rs. ?Isscss 0he 1u'ldscape- vallu: oftra.es.==`asSess and Identify hazardous ri6;S _ i*c' landscape_ Provided hillside and Oak -Woodland landscape and irrigation recommendations_ Provide expert witness testimony on arboriculture related cases_ Public speaker and presenter at community se vice group meetings, homeowner's association meetings and speaker at professional seminars and conferences. Presenter at Trees, People and Our Urban Environment Seminar, March 2002- Arbor Day Guest Speaker, City of Glendale, March 2005. Tree City USA toward Presenter — GIendale Arbor Day 2010, Tree City USA Award Presenter —Glendale Arbor Day 2D!'—) Arbor Day Guest Speaker, Glendale, Mach 2014. !�U �`�f� T i �fi%.I'.• ,�.'���_,jl( j� jG (��CT Ii ` ri L"'1^..��i=� �! ca`w -art •,."` � s.: � •� ., _ .._ 2��+'? J�'�` it ii orT�,rr �=^i:?i:;l'e� i�erfiJ�iits Ctllllt Ct 2 ti►±nISir atlfln for p9lC Services Section. Manage grounds m2?rienance Poi - sports fields, community buildings, parks, medians, and histadc areas. Administers thio City's landscape maintenance contract_ Writes contract specifications— Administers the bidding process_ Awards contracts to successful bidders. Conducts construcdou meetings and oversees the construction and inspection for these projects_ performs and assumes all former duties and responsibilities under the former Administrative Analyst position. Writes arborist reports. Hazardous tree assessment. Serves as expert witness in tree related cases. Administradae A nary s=, 1988-2001 Administer landscape maintenance contract for medians, reservoi=rs_ pump houses and misc. areas. Administer and supervise the Division's Work Management System involving the scheduling and t adding of work and performance of over 50 tall-drae employees. Supervise one part-time data entry employee and supervise and Coordinate with the .California Conservation Corps, Boy Scot -its and other cornmunity ser rice volumeers in the parks. Supep�ise, monitor and report water and utility usage ft the par€os_ Administer anc supervise all tree platir_ng projects and programs including the Arbor Dai, and Urban Forest Donation pro lams. Assist t+uh buftupsepamfio ! wid acquisiti n ofcapi� equip;+_'tei-aL-5epare Capit2l 1•rrtprovement Project specifications and assist with administering contracts. Administer the City of GIendale's indigenous Oak Tree Ordinance. Coordinate with Planning, Permit Services- l;naineerikz _... Building, Neighborhood Ser: ices and Fire Department to insure the care and protection of trees, both during and after construction. lReidew grading, construction, landscape and irrigation plans. Modify and approve plans as 'necessary to protect indigenous trees. Perform field inspections on hazardous trees and make recommendations to park staff and the public. Serve as code enforcement officer and paralegal during Administrative Office Hearings regarding Indigenous Oak Tree Ordinance. Perform tree and landscape appraisals. Served as special show and marketing consultant to the Glendale Rose Pruning and Garden Show Committee. 2.Sststed in park inventory development and implementation of the "Work i�aFla�eSTleRt S}rSieLt?, Served as ,grit spe lfer at the National. Panics unle-I Recmation Coniorence on lie subject of coniputerS and.dtheir rule it park riiaintenance_ Supervised Lie Capital Imo ovemept Project Construction at Pacific Park and Brand Parla Coordinated with and supervised California Conservation Corps. Crews in planting, staicuig and tying hundreds of trees as part of the Arbor Day Program- Served as Arbor Day Co -Chairman, Glendale Rose Pruning Carden Show Co-Cha€rman and President of Glendale Beautiful. Served as 'Ways and Means Chairman C Q.R.S. District JR -57. MMUCAIIGN 1983 California Polytechnic University, Pomona Bacheter os Science Degree,. ?ark AeEjss? reuoll G aG�'-E?aiea Tg2p a '.a7?3de, -de Pokt Average: 3-55 1983 -Present BU's U?ive 9tv of C61- o a. Landscape Contract Maintenance. Hazardous Tree ideni fication. & Assessment_ Specimen Tree Aupraisal_ Advanced Tree Ap}sraisal Theory and Ps ac re. Tree and Laadscage Liability —Trees and the Law. Oak Toe Symposium Graduate. SlsowlecLe of oak tree Raaolo- ,and native ulanthabitat ASCD. 2007 Consulting Academy Natdot30 A�bar Dp-y Foundaflun Graduate. SWDQsitimr. Consixur.don Around Trees; Trees and the L.a1v. RecoStdzed Tree Expert; Cit<< of Los Angles. County off Los Angeles. CittofPasadena. Cit! of La Canada.Plintridse. City o: BurbauL City of Calabasas. Coung ofitentum. City of sans amita. 1994 - Present - Certified Arborist international Society of Arboriculture 19g6�1999 � Secreta�i(I"re3sureL; C PRS. ParkC3Perations Section 1994-1995 - Pmsident, C.P.R.S.DistrictXY i994-1945 - Treasurer_ Glendale beautification Advisory £ouncR 1992-1994 -Treasure, C F-R.S- DisIlicL M 1993=1994,193a' C.P.M. Park Operations Scholarship FI -TSL Second and Third Maar_ Graduate. PnCTte Southwest Maintenance Mgmt. School 19$3-1994 — rrmidcnt, GleQdale Beauffp?uu l 1923, 191x1 - T,,4ce placed on Dean`-sllanorLrst 1992 - Wiio's Who in American Caiiemes and Universities 1978 - Recipient orwayueStriiitwrMamoriaiScholarship 1975...- Awarded R± 6r e Scout Ranh_ Boy Scouts of America Member - ,American Society of Consulting Arborim (AICA) Member - _nternational SoFiety ofA.r'ooricultu o Member - Western Chapter: International Socieb, of Arboriculture iYlember- Glendale Bcautiiul Pastilr3ember - National ArborDayFoundation Past irlember - California Cal: Poundadon ?CIRIFEIR t. =1 Randall S_ Stamen, AttornavlArborist Susan & GaZI Sims, Sims Tree 5pecialiSu Pow & Diana Hamisch, Hmnisch Trw Care PROFRRESSItGINTFAL JERRerCE, F - Site inspection - S100.00 per hour Consultation - S125-00 Der hour Arborist Report - $150.00 per hour Public Hearin - S200-00 per hour Arbitration - S225.00 per hour Deposition - $250.00 perhour Court v, itness - $$350.00 per hour (951) 787-9788 (951) 655-6662 (57$)A44-7997