Arborist.
An individual certified as an arborist by the International
Society of Arboriculture (ISA).
Arborist, city.
An arborist employed by or chosen and retained by the City
to review, evaluate and prepare reports and requests to remove and/or
relocate protected trees. In performing the duties and responsibilities,
the City arborist may conduct field inspections independently or in
the company of City employees and/or other arborists.
Arborist report.
A report prepared by an arborist containing specific information
on the location, condition, potential impacts of development, recommended
actions and mitigation measures regarding one or more trees on an
individual lot or project site.
Certification letter.
A concluding statement by an arborist stating that work that
was performed was observed by an arborist and complies with the conditions
of the discretionary project, the arborist report, the Tree Permit
and this Zoning Ordinance.
Cutting.
The detaching or separating of any limb, branch or root from
a tree.
Dead tree.
A tree that does not contain any live tissue (i.e., green
leaves or live limbs).
Deadwood.
Limbs or branches that contain no green leaves or live limbs.
Deadwooding.
The act of removing deadwood. (Not a regulated activity when
performed by or under the direct supervision of a certified arborist.)
Developer.
Any person conducting any regulated activity within the protected
zone of a protected tree.
Diameter at breast height (DBH).
The diameter of a tree measured at four and one-half feet
above ground level on the high side of the tree. The diameter may
be calculated by use of the following formula: DBH = circumference
at breast height/3.142.
Dripline.
The outermost edge of a tree’s canopy prior to any
cutting. When depicted on a map, the dripline will appear as an irregular
shaped circle that follows the contour of the tree’s branches
as seen from overhead.
Encroachment.
Any regulated activity conducted within the protected zone
of a protected tree.
Grading.
Any removal or deposit of soil or earth material.
Irrigation.
Transfer of water to a site by artificial means.
Native oak tree.
Any tree of the genus Quercus and species lobata (valley
oak), douglasii (blue oak), wislizenii (interior live oak) or hybrids
thereof.
Preconstruction phase.
The time between the approval of a discretionary project
and the site planning meeting.
Protected Public tree.
Any protected tree with one-half or more of its trunk or
canopy on or above public land.
Protected tree.
Native oak tree equal to or greater than six inches diameter
at breast height (DBH) measured as a total of a single trunk or multiple
trunks.
Protected zone.
A circle equal to the largest radius of a protected tree’s
dripline plus one foot. The radius is measured from the trunk at the
base of the tree to the greatest extent of the tree’s dripline.
Regulated activities.
Any activity done within the protected zone of a native oak
tree, (with the exception of routine maintenance performed by or under
the direct supervision of a certified arborist) which would adversely
impact the health of a native oak tree, including, but not limited
to, cutting, grading, irrigating and trenching.
Removal.
The physical removal of a tree or substantially all of a
tree.
Routine maintenance.
Actions taken for the continued health of a protected tree
including, but not limited to, deadwooding, mowing grass close to
a tree, and application of insecticides in conformance with standards
established by the International Society of Arboriculture or the National
Association of Arborists.
Site planning meeting.
An on-site meeting with the developer and the developer’s
contractors, superintendent, and engineers; utility providers; the
arborist; and City representatives to delineate special procedures,
limits of work, lines of authority and special conditions or procedures
not specifically covered by this chapter.
Tree permit.
An authorization to conduct specific work or regulated activities
within the protected zone of a protected tree.
(Ord. 5428 § 1, 2014)
The arborist’s report required by Section
19.66.040 shall be prepared in accordance with this section.
A. Minimum Information. The arborist’s report shall include
the following information:
1. Identification
of each protected tree by number;
2. Botanical
name of tree(s) by tree number;
3. Common
name of tree(s) by tree number;
4. Location
of tree(s) by tree number;
5. Diameter
at breast height (DBH) by tree number;
6. Height
by tree number (optional);
7. Dripline
radius by tree number (measure longest radius);
8. Condition
by tree number; and
9. Recommendations
for each protected tree by number.
B. Determination of a Tree’s Condition. The information
on tree condition in the report shall be developed as follows:
1. Rating System. The condition of each tree is to be considered
when determining a tree’s rating according to the following
categories: excellent (it is rare that a tree qualifies in this category);
good; fair to good; fair; fair to poor; or poor.
2. Factors to Be Considered. At least the following factors shall
be considered in light of a tree’s life expectancy under existing
and planned conditions when determining a tree’s rating:
a. The condition and environment of the tree’s root crown (also
roots, if applicable).
b. The condition of the trunk, including decay, injury callusing or
presence of fungus sporophores.
c. The condition of the limbs, including strength of crotches, amount
of deadwood, hollow areas, and whether there is excessive weight borne
by the limbs.
d. The condition and growth rate history of the twigs, including pest
damage and diseases.
e. Leaf appearance, including abnormal size and density as well as pest
and disease damage.
f. The dripline environment, including evidence of grade changes and
presence of water courses or ponding.
3. Formulation of Tree Condition. Using an averaging of the above
factors together with the arborist’s best judgment, the tree
shall then be described using the above rating categories. It is important
to rate the tree’s structural condition separately from the
tree’s vigor condition if they are different. Root crown, trunk
and limb ratings relate most to structure, while twigs and foliage,
including growth rate, relate most to vigor. The structure of the
root crown-trunk area is of primary importance and takes precedence
over any other factor. This information should not be considered to
be a formula but simply a guideline to help describe a tree’s
condition.
C. Arborist’s Recommendations. The arborist’s recommendations
shall be developed in compliance with the following:
1. Recommendations by Tree Number. Based upon the conditions
and findings, recommendations should be made that logically follow
the report conditions. For instance, if weak crotches are reported,
cabling may be a logical recommendation to include in the report.
These recommended mitigation measures should be spelled out and in
some cases may even improve the tree’s condition ratings.
2. General Recommendations. Specific and general preservation
measures to be taken for each tree not being removed. The specific
recommendations must consider the impacts from the activities proposed.
(Ord. 5428 § 1, 2014)
Great care must be exercised when work is conducted upon or
around protected trees. The purpose of this section is to define procedures
necessary to protect the health of the affected protected trees. The
policies and procedures described in this section apply to all encroachments
into the protected zone of protected trees. All Tree Permits shall
be deemed to incorporate the provisions of this chapter except as
the Tree Permit may otherwise specifically provide.
A. Trenching Procedure. Trenching within the protected zone of
a protected tree, when permitted, may only be conducted with hand
tools or as otherwise directed by an arborist, in order to avoid root
injury.
B. Cutting Roots.
1. Minor
roots less than one inch in diameter may be cut, but damaged roots
shall be traced back and cleanly cut behind any split, cracked or
damaged area.
2. Major
roots over one inch in diameter may not be cut without approval of
an arborist. Depending upon the type of improvement being proposed,
bridging techniques or a new site design may need to be employed to
protect the root and the tree.
C. Ground Surface Fabric. If any native ground surface fabric
within the protected zone must be removed for any reason, it shall
be replaced within 48 hours.
D. Irrigation Systems. An independent low-flow drip irrigation
system may be used for establishing drought-tolerant plants within
the protected zone of a protected tree. Irrigation shall be gradually
reduced and discontinued after a two-year period.
E. Plant Materials Under Oaks. Planting live material under native
oak trees is generally discouraged, and it will not be permitted within
six feet of the trunk of a native oak tree with a diameter at breast
height (DBH) of 18 inches or less, or within 10 feet of the trunk
of a native oak tree with a DBH of more than 18 inches. Only drought
tolerant plants will be permitted within the protected zone of native
oak trees.
F. Protective Fencing.
1. Type of Fencing. A minimum five-foot high chain link or substitute
fence approved by the Manager shall be installed at the outermost
edge of the protected zone of each protected tree or groups of protected
trees. Exceptions to this policy may occur in cases where protected
trees are located on slopes that will not be graded. However, approval
must be obtained from the Planning Division to omit fences in any
area of the project.
2. Fence Installation. The fences shall be installed in accordance
with the approved fencing plan prior to the commencement of any grading
operations or such other time as determined by the review body. The
developer shall call the Planning Division for an inspection of the
fencing prior to grading operations.
3. Signing. Signs shall be installed on the fence in four equidistant
locations around each individual protected tree. The size of each
sign must be a minimum of two feet by two feet and must contain the
following language:
“WARNING, THIS FENCE SHALL NOT BE REMOVED OR RELOCATED
WITHOUT WRITTEN AUTHORIZATION FROM THE ROSEVILLE PLANNING DIVISION.”
Signs placed on fencing around a grove of protected trees shall
be placed at approximately 50-foot intervals.
4. Fence Maintenance. Once approval has been obtained, the fences
shall remain in place throughout the entire construction period and
shall not be removed, relocated, taken down, or otherwise modified
in whole or in part without prior written authorization from the Planning
Division.
G. Performance Guarantee. A minimum $10,000.00 deposit (or greater, if deemed necessary by the Approving Authority) shall be posted and maintained to insure the preservation of protected trees during construction. The deposit shall be posted in a form approved by the City Attorney prior to any grading, delivery of materials, or movement of heavy equipment onto the site, or issuance of any permits. Each violation of any Tree Permit condition regarding tree preservation shall result in forfeiture of a portion or the entirety of the deposit, at the discretion of the Approving Authority, provided that such determinations may be appealed as provided by Chapter
19.80.
H. Retaining Walls and Root Protection. Where a Tree Permit has
been approved for construction of a retaining wall(s) within the protected
zone of a protected tree, the developer will be required to provide
for immediate protection of exposed roots from moisture loss during
the time prior to completion of the wall. The retaining wall shall
be constructed within 72 hours after completion of grading.
I. Preservation Devices. If required, preservation devices such
as aeration systems, oak tree wells, drains, special foundation systems,
special paving and cabling systems must be installed per approved
plans and certified by the project arborist.
J. Grading.
1. Every
effort should be made to avoid cut and/or fill slopes within or in
the vicinity of the protected zone of any protected tree.
2. No
grade changes are permitted which would cause water to drain to the
area within twice the longest radius of the protected zone of any
protected tree.
3. No
grade changes are permitted which would result in the ground being
lowered on all sides of the tree.
K. Chimney Locations. A chimney for wood burning fireplaces or
stoves shall not be located within the canopy of the tree or in such
a location that sparks emitted from the chimney may damage a tree.
L. Certification Letters. Certification letters are required
for all regulated activities within the protected zone of protected
trees, attesting that all work was conducted in accordance with the
appropriate permits and the requirements of this chapter. The project
arborist will be required to submit a certification letter to the
Planning Division within five working days of completing any regulated
activity.
M. On-Site Information. The following information must be continuously
maintained on-site while any construction activity is ongoing for
a project requiring a Tree Permit:
1. Arborist’s
report and all modifications;
2. Tree
location map with a copy of the tree fencing plan;
3. Tree
Permit conditions of approval and compliance verification and inspection
checklist;
4. Approved,
stamped construction plans;
5. Tree
preservation guidelines; and
6. Approved
planting and irrigation drawings.
N. Information on Standard Policies and Procedures. The developer
shall be responsible for informing all contractors, subcontractors
and persons who will be performing work around protected trees, of
the standard policies and procedures for working around trees and
conditions of approval for the project’s Tree Permit. The developer
shall provide all such information in writing.
O. Utility Trenching Pathway Plan. As a condition of the Tree
Permit, the developer will be required to submit a utility trenching
pathway plan for approval concurrent with approval of the project
improvement or civil plans.
1. Contents. The trenching pathway plan shall depict all of the
following systems: storm drains, sewers, easements, water mains, area
drains, and underground utilities. The trenching pathway plan must
show all lateral lines serving buildings. To be completely effective,
the trenching pathway plan must include the surveyed locations of
all protected trees on the project as well as an accurate plotting
of the protected zone of each protected tree.
2. Standards for Plan. The trenching pathway plan should be developed
considering the following general guidelines:
a. The trenching pathway plan must be developed to avoid encroaching
into the protected zone of any protected tree.
b. Where it is impossible to avoid encroachment, the design must minimize
the extent of such encroachment. Encroachments and mitigation measures
must be addressed in a supplemental arborist’s report.
P. Final Certification of Tree Work. All of the tree preservation
measures required by the conditions of the discretionary project approval,
the arborist’s report and the Tree Permit, as applicable shall
be completed and certified by the project arborist prior to issuance
of an occupancy permit.
(Ord. 5428 § 1, 2014)
The Approving Authority may condition any Tree Permit involving
removal of a protected tree upon the replacement of trees in kind.
The replacement requirement shall be calculated based upon an inch
for an inch replacement of the DBH of the removed tree(s) where a
15-gallon tree will replace one inch DBH of the removed tree; a 24-inch
box tree will replace two inches, and a 36-inch box tree will replace
three inches. The replacement trees shall have a combined diameter
equivalent not less than the total diameter of the tree(s) removed.
A minimum of 50 percent of the replacement requirement shall be met
by native oaks. Up to 50 percent may be met by non-native species.
The Approving Authority may approve a replacement program using one
of the following four methods or any combination of the four methods.
The preferred alternative is on-site replacement.
A. Replacement Trees. Replacement trees may be planted on-site
or in other areas where maintenance and irrigation are provided to
ensure survival of the trees.
B. Relocation of Trees. In certain cases, the City may consider
the relocation of native oak trees from one area in a project to another.
Credit shall be given for relocation on the same basis as replacement.
The guidelines and limitations for relocation are as follows:
1. The
tree(s) being recommended for relocation must be approved by the Approving
Authority whose decision will be based upon factors relating to health,
type, size, time of year and proposed location.
2. The
relocation of a tree shall be conditioned to require a secured five-year
replacement agreement for the tree with security provided by the developer
in a form satisfactory to the City Attorney. If at the end of five
years the tree is deemed by an arborist to be in a substantially similar
condition to that prior to the transplanting, the agreement will be
terminated. If the tree dies during the five-year period, it shall
be replaced as required by this section.
C. Revegetation Requirements. The Approving Authority may, instead
of requiring replacement trees, require implementation of a revegetation
plan. The developer shall enter into a written agreement with the
City obligating the developer to comply with the requirements of the
revegetation plan. A performance security or bond for 150 percent
of the cost of the revegetation plan shall be required to insure that
the agreement is fulfilled. The Approving Authority shall approve
the proposed plan. The revegetation program shall propagate native
oak trees from seed using currently accepted methods. A revegetation
program shall identify the seed source of the trees to be propagated,
the location of the plots, the methods to be used to ensure success
of the revegetation program, an annual reporting requirement, and
the criteria to be used to measure the success of the plan. A revegetation
program shall not be considered complete until the trees to be propagated
have reached one-half inch in diameter or the revegetation plan demonstrates
the need for alternative success criteria and achieves mitigation
on an inch for inch basis as approved by the Planning Commission.
D. In-Lieu Mitigation Fee. The Approving Authority may determine
that the remedies described above are not feasible or desirable and
may require instead payment of a cash contribution based upon the
cost of purchasing, planting, irrigating and maintaining the required
number of 15-gallon trees. The cost of purchasing, planting, irrigating
and maintaining a 15-gallon oak tree shall be set by City Council
resolution. The cash contribution shall be deposited into one or both
of the following funds as determined by the Planning Manager:
1. Native Oak Tree Propagation Fund. This fund shall be used
to propagate, purchase, plant, protect and maintain native oak trees.
Uses of the fund include, but are not limited to, purchasing property
to plant or protect native oak trees, propagating native oak trees
from seed or container stock and maintaining existing and replacement
native oak trees.
2. Non-Native Tree Fund. This fund shall be used to purchase,
plant, irrigate and maintain non-native trees within Roseville. Uses
of the fund include, but are not limited to, purchasing and propagating
non-native trees from seed or container stock and maintaining existing
and replacement non-native trees.
(Ord. 5428 § 1, 2014)