11 ATTACHMENT 04 - Laserfiche WebLink

EXHIBIT N HE CITY OF I)LrE ASAN TONt MEMORANDUM Date: January 25, 2011 To: Pleasanton City CL. uncil From: Mike Futford City Landscape Architect Subject: Pi ID-82 Location: 4171 and 4189 Stanley Boulevard Proposed Removal of Deodar Cedar 4162, HortScience Tree Report At its regular meeting on December 7, 2010, the Council expressed concern regarding states recommendation to allow the renrrval of a Heritage Cedar tree from the subject property. While the subject tree is in `good health," its overwhelming structural problems make it a poor candidate for preservation. Per the 'free Report, dated July 16, 2010, prepared by I lortScience, Inc., the three Heritage Deodar Cedar trees located near the (rent of the property are healthy, mature specimens with good overall vigor. I Iowever, each of the trees has experienced branch failures in the past. As stated in the report, the structural condition of all three trees has been compromised by the history of poor pruning, including topping. In general, topping is a harmful pruning practice that does not reduce hazard but in fact, will make a tree more hazardous in the long term by causing numerous shoots or branches to develop from buds below each topping cut. Unlike branches that develop normally, these branches are poorly attached to the parent branch and therefore are prone to failure, particularly as they mature and become heavier. Tree 1162 was either severely topped, or lost its central leader at a height of approximately 35 to 40 feet above ground level, at some time in the distant past. As a result, its branches have developed in a manner which makes them prone to failure. The subject tree has experienced several branch failures in just the past few years. While each of the three trees possesses defects in structure, pruning to reduce the weight on heavy lateral branches of'frees #61 and #63 should reduce the potential for further branch failures. However, there is no corrective pruning technique that will alleviate the asymmetric form of Tree #62. Due to the loss of its central leader, and pool past pruning practices including probable topping, Tree #62 is a poor candidate for preservation.