HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Grove Residential Development - Evaluate Date Palm TreesX L,
CITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: APPROVAL TO EVALUATE THE DATE PALM TREES AT THE
GROVE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT USING RELIABLE TREE
SERVICE, AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS FROM UNOBLIGATED
RESERVES IN FUND 281
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works
CONTRACTOR: Reliable Tree Service
48-522 Camino Real
Coachella, CA 92236
DATE: November 15, 2012
CONTENTS: Proposal
Photos
Recommendation
By Minute Motion:
1. Approve the evaluation of approximately 91 date palm trees at The
Grove;
2. Approve the use of Reliable Tree Service, Coachella, California, as the
sole source provider for the evaluation; and
3. Appropriate funds in an amount not to exceed $11,830 from
unobligated reserves in Fund 281 to Account No. 281-4374-433-3095.
Background
On September 14, 2012, there was a significant wind storm in the Coachella Valley that
resulted in widespread damage to a large number of City trees including the loss of the
tops from two mature date palms in The Grove Landscape and Lighting District. The
Grove is located on the west side of Deep Canyon between Fred Waring Drive and
Highway 111. One of the failures resulted in a date palm head breaking off and falling
onto an adjacent property owner's patio cover causing significant damage; and the
Staff Report
Approval to Evaluate the Date Palm Trees at The Grove
Page 2 of 3
November 15, 2012
second failure resulted in the date palm head landing on the pavement in Royal Canyon
Lane.
It is staffs' understanding that these palms were part of the original date grove located
on the property that was developed into The Grove. The palms were either left in their
original locations, or were moved to their existing locations as part of the development's
design plan. The palms are mature and may or may not have received appropriate care
before the current development was built.
As a result of these two failures and the lack of early maintenance history for these date
palms, staff believes there is a good possibility that defects may exist in some of the
remaining date palms. Therefore, staff is requesting that all of the remaining date palms
(approximately 91 trees) be evaluated for defects. The evaluation process involves two
activities. First, would be the removal of any palm frond petioles ends that remain
(skinning of the trunks) followed by a visual inspection for defects (i.e., holes in the trunk
or trunk sections that have a reduced diameter). The second part of the evaluation
would be locating soft or hollow areas by "sounding" (tapping with a mallet) the trunks
from ground level to the top of the trunk. Depending on the quantity of and/or severity of
any defects discovered, removal of the tree may be required. These two procedures will
not provide 100 percent definitive discovery of all defects, but will provide sufficient
information to make an educated decision on how to manage the palms. Staff is aware
of two other methods to perform this type of investigation: one method is Resistograph
drilling (which causes some tree wounding), and the other is the use of Sonic and
Electric Impedance Tomography. These methods require the use of expensive
equipment and specially trained technicians, are offered by very few companies (none
are located in the Coachella Valley), are extremely expensive, and may or may not offer
more conclusive results.
Staff has requested and received a price quote for this work from Reliable Tree Care.
The cost for this work is $130 per tree ($75 per tree for any skinning required and $55
per tree for sounding and visual inspection). Reliable Tree Care was selected based on
their expertise in working with date palms, which comes from their staff having multi -
generational experience working with date palms both in agricultural production and in
an urban setting. In addition, they performed knowledgeable work on this year's palm
tree pruning contract.
If Council approvals the recommendation to perform this evaluation, notification will be
mailed out to each property owner in The Grove informing them of the reason for the
work, the timing, and the consequences depending on results of the evaluation.
Staff Report
Approval to Evaluate the Date Palm Trees at The Grove
Page 3 of 3
November 15, 2012
Fiscal Analysis
This evaluation will reduce the reserve account in Fund 281 by an amount not to exceed
$11,830. However, expenditure of these funds at this time may prevent future claims
against the City due to failure of these date palm trees.
Prepared By:
H. Vpenter Kni T,
Landscape Manager
LALk-
Peul S. Gibson, Director of Finance
n M. Wohlmuth, City Manager
CITY COUNCTG ACTION
APPROVED ✓ DENIED
RECEIVED OTHER
MEETING DATE. l /- /'5- aC/.;�_
AYES: , fa,504,L'�tJef4i4i 14art1 i f�
NOES: QInaP--
ABSENT: 610 L
ABSTAIN: IV 11 e-
VERIFIED BY: �j
Original on Fite with City Clerk's difice
Mark Grejenfvood, P.E.
Director 6f Rublic Works
RELIABLE TREE CARE
48-522 CAMINO REAL
COACHELLA CA 92236
CELL(760)899-7180
(760) 347-2829 CA.LIC.915745
Bill To:
CITY OF PALM DESERT
73-510 FRED WARING DRIVE
PALM DESERT, CA 92260
Ship To:
Proposal
Number: E0194
Date: October 17, 2012
PO Number Terms
Project
THE GROVE
Date
Description
Hours
Rate
Amount
- -- - - -
110-16-2012
-- - ----
PROPOSAL TO SOUND DATE PALMS ANDI
�VISUAL
INSPECTION OF DATE PALMS
AT THE GROVE.WORK WILL CONSIST
OF SOUNDING DATE PALM TRUNK FROM
BASE TO TOP WITH RUBBER
MALLET.IF ANY HALLOWNESS IS
DETECTED FURTHER INSPECTION WILL
BE NEEDED TO SEE THE EXTENT OF
(DECAY.
THE PRICE WILL ONLY BE FOR
j 1.1
55.00
55.00
VISUAL INSPECTION AND
SOUNDING.FURTHER INSPECTION OF
I
DATE PALMS IS NOT INCLUDED
BECAUSE THE PALM ME HAVE TO BE
i
REMOVED.TOTAL FOR VISUAL
INSPECTION & SOUNDING,PER DATE
1
PALM $55.00
i
j
l
ALSO IF DATE PALMS NEED TO BE
1.001
75.00
75.00
SKINNED TO INSPECT UNDER THE
i
(DEAD HUSK FOR PENCILING.PRICE
I
PER DATE PALM TO SKIN $75.00
(EACH
Total
1 $130.00
i
Date palm head on
patio cover of
residence at 44450
Kings Canyon
Removal of date palm
head from residence at
44450 Kings Canyon
Removal of date palm
head on Royal Canyon
Lane