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, . . I . . I) Introduction by Vice Mayor Howard, Chair of the Pride and Beautification Committee; '-- Vice Mayor Howard advised that the genesis of this discussion was the petition organized by Gerry Benesch and submitted to the Council on August 12, 1996 asking for the Council to stop staff from cutting down more trees in Garrett Park. She said the Council took advantage of the opportuoity to conduct a complete review of the City's policies and procedures regarding all trees in the City. Vice Mayor Howard advised that the City had three certified arborists on staff: Public Works SuperintendentJArborist Mann, Public Works Supervisor/Arborist Littlefield, and Public Works Supervisor/Arborist Mullins, and Redwood City had been named "Tree city USA" for the last fifteen years. 2) Overview and Purpose of this Report to Council by Peter Ingram, Director of Public Works Services; Director Ingram introduced Public Works Superintendent of Rights of Ways/Arborist Mann, and Parks, Recreation and Community Services Acting Superintendent Gibbons. Director Ingram said that staff also took advantage of this opportunity to examine protocols and the community's position on trees as well as participate in a quality discussion of the issues. - 3) Philosophy, Principles and Practices of Urban Forestry by Gordon Mann, Superintendent of Public Works Services/Arborist, and Mike Gibbons, Acting Superintendent of Parks, Recreation and Community Services; REPORT: Overhead slides for City Council Study Session on Tree Removal Policies, October 7,1996 Superintendent ManniArborist used overhead slides to describe the City's urban forest: a) street and rights-of way trees (28,000), b) park trees (19,000) and private property trees (150,000.) Superintendent Mann described tree removal and planting statistics and staff's commitment to save as many trees as possible, wherever possible. Superintendent/Arborist Mann described the value of trees including cleansing the air, soil stability, shade and cooling affects, flowers and fall colors, increasing property values, aesthetics, wildlife habitat, visual screening, neighborhood character and their emotional contribution. He advised that trees in the forest obviously do very well, but in the City they tend to outgrow their allotted space, create debris that must be removed, suffer root compaction, and in an urban forest when trees fall they cause property damage and sometimes endanger lives. Superintendent Mann described the less than ideal growing conditions in urban forest areas, and elaborated on urban I-- forest management that has as its goal: Maintain a healthy, safe, mature urban forest using high quality maintenance practices and accepted standards. ADJOURNED REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 7,1996 MINUTES MINUTE BOOK NO. 54 PAGE 6 Page No. 518