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Item 03 - 213 Tait Ave - Staff Report Exh. 8-.- i 00 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist Service since 1984 ARBORIST REPORT #1 Tree Inventory, Tree Descriptions and Recommendations Relative to Proposed Construction 213 Tait Avenue, Los Gatos Property Owner: Joey McCarthy Prepared for: Jennifer Armer Town of Los Gatos Community Planning Department 11 0 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95031 Prepared by: Deborah Ellis, MS. Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist Registered Consulting Arborist #305, American Society of Consulting Arborists Board Certified Master Arborist WE-0457B, International Society of Arboriculture Cert ified Professional Horticulturis t #30022, American Society for Ho rticultural Science JULY 19, 2016 Reoort Hi storv: This is my first report for this project. I PO Box 3714. Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net.--http]/www.decah.co m. I EXHIBIT 8 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulting Arboris t & Horticul t urist Service since 1984 Table of Contents TREE MAP .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Table 1 Tree Ta b le ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Purpose & Use of Report ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 Plans Reviewed ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 10 OBSERVATIONS .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 10 Site Conditions ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 0 APPENDIX ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Explanation of Tree Table Data Colu mns: ......................................................................................................................................................................... 11 Tree Root Protection Distances ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 15 Los Gatos Tree Protection Requirements ........................................................................................................................................................................... 17 Tree Photos .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Assumptions & Limi ta ti ons ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 24 Enclosures: ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 25 References: .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 26 Glossary .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 Cover photo : English walnut #1, New Zealand tea tree #2, black walnut #3 and coast live oak #4 viewed from Ta i t Avenue to the east. All photos in this report were taken by D. Ellis on July 11 , 2016 . I PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell .net. http://www.decah.com. I TREE MAP --! )> --! )> < m z c m !!' ~: ;; )- ' l · I I I I e Save Tree Deborah Ellis, MS Consulti ng Arborist & Horticulturist Service since 1984 I ' i I L --._...,_::-::::,~....__-...,.._..__ ____ ~. J I •. ------~ ----' " /il ) l • I I l. ~---"'-m_ • ' ----·--"II --,~I :,: ; I ·~ f I I ~ -< ,~ )> -< · ":1714, S aratoga, CA 95070 . 408-725-1357. decah@pacb e ll.net. ht t p:/ /www .decah.c om . I PO Box:... Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave . July 19 , 2016. Page 1 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist Service sin ce 1984 SUMMARY Seven (7) protected trees 1 are discussed for this report. These trees are described in t he Tree Table on pages 3 -4. The Table also includes design change or other recommendations for specific trees. No trees a re proposed for removal for th is proj ect, and it shou ld be possible to save all seven trees if grading for a drainage swale is adjusted near bees #2, 4 and 5 . According to the topographic map I have reviewed for this project, bees #3, 4, 5 and 7 appear to be boundary line trees 2 • Tree #1, an English walnut, is probably a C ity Street Tree because it grows within the parkstrip planter between the curb and sidewalk in front of the 213 Tait Avenue house. The project involves remodeling a two-story house with modifications to the existing second story . The second story w ill raise the roof line, w hich is of some concern relative to the closest tree, coast live oak #4 . Th is tree will li ke ly require some amount of construction clearance pruning. The canopy of th is tree as well as most o f the other trees are already fairl y high on this site, due to past construction of the previous second story, w hich wi ll be helpful to nearby trees. Additional room (at least 5 feet) is necessary beyond the actual roof and house in order for scaffolding and work. I recommend that story posts be erected, so that we can better judge the impact of rais i ng the roof on t he canopy of coast live oak #4 and possib ly black walnut #3. Even though any proposed constru ction may be relatively far from trees #6 and 7 , these trees as well as trees #1-5 still require standard Town of Los Gatos tree protection measures such as protective fencing. The Town of Los Gatos Tree Protection Directions are included o n pages 15-21 and I hav e also included a separate copy o f the Directions which must be included in the final project plan set. 1 For the ouroose of this report a protected tree is: all trees which have a (4) four-inch or greater diameter of any trunk, when removal relates to any review for which zoning approval or subdivision approval is required . Exceptions are: fruit or nu t trees that less than eighteen (18) inches in diameter or any of the following species that are less than 24 inches in diameter: black acacia (,;tcada tnefano>('JIIon), tulip tree (Uriodendron tt.J/ipifeta), tree-of-Heaven (,;tilanthi..JS altissirr,a), Tasmanian blue gum Eucalyptus (£l.Jcalyptt.Js globtli..JS), Red River gum Euca lyptus (&calyptt.Js carr,aldulensis), other Eucalyptus species (£. spp.) (Hillsides only), glossy privet (Ugustrurn luddurn) and and palms (except Phoeni)( canariensis). http:/ /www .decah.com. Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave . July 19 , 2016. Page 2 of 27 Debor ah Ellis, MS Consulting Arb orist & Horticulturist Service since 1984 TABLE 1 TREE TABLE An explanation of the date columns is included on pages II-15. *Denotes tree species native to the area within the vicinity of the site. All other tree species are not native to the immediate area. This table is continued on the next page. I I I TREE ROOT ~ONDITI ON PROTECTION Species Expected I DISTANCES Tree & Trunk Preservation # Common Diam. Size Qj Suitability Value Construction Action Notes ... ... Impact :I: :I: :I N Name I 0 "t II II II co co a. ! I QO Q Q 1-I I > :I I )( )( 0 ... .... M \0 II) 1 Juglans regia, 17 (4) 22x25 75 60 Fair $1,400 Low/Moderate Save Construction : any surface soil for 5 8 21 English walnut grading in the front yard should be kept a minimum of 8 feet from the trunk of this tree. Condition: this tree grows within a 2 -foot wide parkstrip planting area between sidewalk and curb (too small for this la r ge-growing tree). The root collar of the tree is starting to overgrow the sidewalk. I assume that this is a City Street Tree due to its location. 2 Leptospermum 5,3 18x16 80 80 Fair/Good 1,520 Moderate Save Construction: any surface soil for 5 5 7 'scoparium, grading in the front yard should New Zealand tea be kept a minimum of 5 feet tree from the trunk of th is tree. Right --------· [ PO Box 3714 , Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net. http:/ /www.decah.c;,:;-----I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19 , 2016 . Page 3 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulti ng Arborist & Horticulturist Service since 1984 I I TREE ROOT ~ONDITION PROTECTION Species I DISTANCES Expected Tree & Trunk Size Preservation Value Construction Action Notes # Common Diam. Q) Suitability ... ::1: ::1: ... ~ Impact N Name 0 ~ I I I I I ID ID a. I till ' ! 0 0 1- ! ! I I > ~ )( )( 0 ... I m \D ... Cl) I now the centerline of a swale is 2 feet from the trunk. Condition: somewhat shaded by adjacent English walnut #1. *3 Juglans 19 40x30 80 70 Fair/Good 4,130 Low/Moderate Save Construction: construction 5 10 24 californica clearance pruning will probably hindsii, N. Calif. not be necessary, but erect story black walnut posts to check. *4 Quercus 23 60x30 80 60 Good 10,100 Moderate Save Construction: construction 6 12 17 agrifolia, clearance pruning will probably coast live oak not be necessary, but erect story posts to check. Centerline of drainage swale is 4 feet from trunk; there should be no soil disturbance closer than 6 feet from edge of base of trunk. *5 coast live oak 27 60x40 80 60 Good 13,900 Low Save Construction : centerline of 7 14 20 drainage swale is 1 foot from trunk; there should ' be no soil disturbance closer than 7 feet from edge of base of trunk. I PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net . http://www.decah.com. I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave . July 19 , 2016. Page 4 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulti ng A rb ori st & Horticulturist Se rvice since 1984 I i TREE ROOT ~ONDITION : PROTECTION Species I Expected DISTANCES free & 'Trunk Size Preservation Value Con struction Action Notes # Common Diam. Cll Suitability ... ... :I: :I: I ::J Impact N Name 0 ~ I I . I I I co co Q. I I I 11:10 I I Q Q 1-> ::J )( )( 0 ... M ID ... II) Condition: a notch was created in the wood fence around this tree; and so we were not able to measure trun k diameter-it is estimated. 6 Pinus densiflora, 16 70x30 50 70 Fair/Poor 3,960 Low Save Condition: canopy is sparse; 5 8 16 Japanese red some needles have died. This pine may have something to do with an artificial turf lawn installed 18 inches from the base of the trunk. *7 coast live oak 24 60x30 80 60 Good 10,100 Low Save Condition: this tree is growing 6 12 18 behind a fence on neighbori ng property to the north, so trunk diameter is estimated and the tree is not tagged. ----------------------- -----------------------------~------------------------------- End of Table I PO Bo x 371 4, Sara t oga, CA 9 50 7 0 . 408-725-13 57. de cah@ poc bell.net . http:/ /www .decah.co m. ] Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave . July 19 , 2016 . Page 5 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist Service since 1984 RECOMMENDATIONS 1) Existing trees to be saved or removed should be renumbered on all site-based plans to match the tree t ag numbers that are used in this arboris t report. 2) Do not remove or prune to remove m o re tha n 25% of the live branches of any protected tree until a valid tree removal permit has been obtained from the Town of Los Gat os. 3) Story posts are recommended to better assess the impact to the canopies of trees #3 and 4 . Please have me recheck and report on these trees after the story posts have been installed. If pruning is necessary in order to avoid branch breakage during demolition or const ruction, the general con tractor shall hire a q ualifie d tree service to perform the minimum necessary construction clearance p runing. Pruni ng should be determined via story posts. 4) The drainage swale along the north side of the property should be eliminated or modified . See recommendations for specific trees in t he Notes column of t h e Tree Table. 5) Follow the Town of Los Gatos Tree Protection Directions included in this report on pages 17 through 2 1. A separat e copy of the Directions is attached and mus t be incorporated into the final project plan set. Additional tree protect ion in f ormation is also available from Deborah Ell is if necessary. 6) Neighboring trees: whose canopies overhang t he project site mus t receive tree protection in the same manner as existing trees to rema in on the project si t e; for example t ree protection f encing and signage. The general contractor shall fence off the dripline of these trees as much as possible in order to avoid damaging branches and compacting the soil beneath the canopy. If pruning is necessary in order to avoid branch breakage, the general contractor shall hire a qualified tree service to perform the minimum necessary construc tion clearance pruning. 7) I should rev iew a ll site-based p lans for this proj ect. I have reviewed the p lan sheets listed on page 9. Additional improvements on p lans that were not reviewed or have been revised may cause addit ional trees to be impacted and/or removed. Plans reviewed by the arborist shou ld be full-size . to-scale and w ith accurately located tree trunks and canopy driplines relative to proposed improvements. Scale sh ould be 1:20 or 1:10. I PO Box 3714, Sar atoga, CA 95070. 40 8-725-1357. decah @pacbell .net. http:/ /www.decah.com. I Ar bo r ist Report #1 for 213 Ta it Ave. J ul y 19, 2016 . Page 6 of 27 Deborah Ellis , MS Consulti ng Arborist & Horticulturist S ervice si11 ce 1984 8) As a part of the design process, try to keep improvements (and any additional over-excavation or work area beyond the improvement) as far from tree trunks and canopies as possible. 6xDBH 3 or the dripline of the tree. whichever is greater. should be used as the minimum distance for any soil disturbance to the edge of the trunk. 3xDBH should be considered the absolute minimum distance from any disturbance to the tree trunk on one side of the trunk only, for root protection. Farther is better. of course. For disturbances on multiple sides of the trun k. then 6xDBH or greater should be used . and farther is also better here. Tree canopies must also be taken into considera tion when designing around trees. Don't forget the minimum necessary working margin around improvements as you locate those improvements. Disturbance usually comes much closer to trees than the lines shown on the plans! 9) Construction or landscaping work done underneath the dripline of existing trees should preferably be done by hand. taking care to preserve existing roots in undamaged condition as much as possible and cutting roots cleanly by hand when first encountered. when those roots must be removed. A qualified consulting arborist (the project arborist) should be hired to monitor tree protection and supervise a ll work underneath the dripline of trees. This also applies to trees on neighboring properties whose canopies overhang the work site. 1 0) Landscaping: a) New landscaping and irrigation can be as much or more damaging to existing trees than any other type of construct ion. The same tree root protection distances recommended for general construction should also be observed for new landscaping. Within the root protection zone it is usually best to limit landscape changes to a 3 to 4-inch depth of coarse organic mulch such as wood or bark chips or tree trimming chippings spread over the soil surface. The environment around existing trees should be c hanged very carefully or not at all -please consult with me regarding changes in the landscape around existing trees and/or have me review the landscape and irrigation plans for this project. b) This site contains oaks that are native to the immediate area (coast li ve oak). This tree species fares bes t with no irrigation during the normal dry months of the year. Th e best treatment of the ground beneath the canopies of native oaks is nothing but their own natural leaf and twig litter mulch. Exceptions to irrigation restriction include during the winter in extended drought periods. as temporary compensation for root loss due to construction. and for newly planted trees during their 2 to 3 year establishment period after installation . Native oak species are often killed due to inappropriate landscaping that is installed around them; mostly common ly landscaping that requires frequent irrigation such as lawns or other high water-use plants. Large drought tolerant trees such as native oaks can become dangerous when exposed to frequent irrigation. especially c lose to their trunks. California native oaks that are treated in this manner may contract root rot diseases and fall over at the roots; often causing great damage and aaes 15-16 for an exolanation of tree orotection root distances. PO Box 3714, Sarat oga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net. http:/ /www .decah.com. Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave . July 19 , 2016. Page 7 of 2 7 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist Service since 1984 personal injury I there are targets in their vicinity such as homes, cars and people. It is important to landscape correctly around our native oaks; e.g. summer dry. I have attached a publication entitled Keeping Native California Oaks Healthy to assist in best managing the oaks on the property, as well as the directions to follow in items 'b' and 'c' below. c) Around the native oaks: there shall be no planting or irrigation (including drip irrigation) within a m in imum radius of 10 feet from the trunks of the oaks or the inner half of the dripline of the tree, whichever is greater. Fa rther is better. Within th is 10-foot (or greater) radius around the trunk a 3 to 4-inch depth of coarse organic mulch such as wood or bark chips or tree trimming chippings shall be spread over the soil surface. Shredded redwood bark is not allowed. Keep the mulch off the root collar of the trees. Beyond this 1 0-foot (or greater) protective, mulched area only drought-tolerant, summer-dry plant species, p referably plant species that are native to the immediate area and grow commonly in association w ith the native oaks, may be planted. Only summer-dry tolerant plants are allowed within the outer half of the dripline of the tree or 20 feet from the trunk, whichever is greater. Such plants may be planted from no larger than 1-gallon cans in holes that are hand-dug manually with a shovel (no power equipment such as augers allowed). These plants must be spaced sparsely (e.g. planted no closer than 4 feet apart) and watered with drip irrigation. The planting zone around these plants shall be mulched in the same manner previously described. The drip irrigation for these plants should preferably be abandoned after a 2 to 3 year establishment perio d. d) General Tree Maintenance: Do no unnecessary pruning, ferti lization or other t ree work. Pre-cons truction p runing shou ld be limited to the absolute minimum required for construction c learance. A qualified tree service should be hired to provide such pruning. INTRODUCTION PURPOSE & USE O F REPORT Th is survey and report was required by the Town of Los Gatos as a part of the building permit process f or this project. The ouroose of the report is to identify and describe the existing protected trees on site --their size , condition and su itability for preservation. The audience for this report is the property owner, developer, projec t architects and contractors, and Town o f Los Gatos authorities concerned with tree preservation and tree removal. The goal of this report is to preserve the existing protected trees on site that are in acceptable condit ion , are good species for the area and will fit in well with the proposed new use of the site. I PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net. http://www .d e cah.com. I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19 , 2016. Page 8 of 27 De b ora h E llis , MS Con s u lting Arborist & Horticulturis t Service si nce .1984 PLANS REVIEWED Table 2 PLAN DATE SHEET REVIEWED SHOULD NOTES I REVIEW Existing Site Topographic Map 5/16 1 X including existing tree trunk locations Proposed Site Layout 6/2/16 A1.4 X Demolition Construction Staging X Grading/Drainage 5/16 1 X Erosion Control Underground Utility X Site & Building Sections 6/2/16 A4 .1-2 X Building Exterior Elevations 6/2/16 A3.1-3 X Roof 6/2/16 A2.3 X Shadow Study 6/2/16 A1 .1 X Construction Details that would affect trees (for e xample building foundations, pavement installation X including sub-grade preparation, underground utility installation) Landscape Planting X Irrigation Plan X Landsca_p_e & Irrigation Details X I PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.ne t . ht tp://www.de cah.com. I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave . July 19, 2016 . Page 9 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Con s ult i n g Arborlst & Horticulturist S ervice since 1984 METHODOLOGY I perfo rmed a brief e valuation of the subje c t trees from the g rou nd o n Jul y 11 , 2016 . Tre e c hara c te ristics such as f orm , weig ht dist ribut ion, foliage c olor and density, wounds and indic ators of d ecay were no ted. Surr o unding site conditions were als o o b se rv ed. Ev a lu ation proc edures w e re take n from : • American National Standard A-300 (Part 5)-2012 for Tree Care Operations-Tree. Shrub & Other Woody Plant Management-Standard Practices (Management of Trees. & Shrubs During Site Planning. Site Development and Constructio n ). • International Society of Arboriculture , Best Management Practices: • Managing Tree s during Construction. 2008 • Tree Inventories . 2013 Th e a b ove re fe re n ces serv e as ind ustry p rofessio na l standards f or tree e valuatio n and w ritten findings and recom mendat ions for trees on construction sites prior, during a nd after site develop ment. Each o f the trees w a s tagged in t he field (except #7 ) w ith metal numb er tags that correspond w ith the t ree numbers referenced in t his report and o n the Tree Map. I measured the trun k diame t e r of each tree w ith a d iame t e r ta p e at 4.5 feet a b ove the ground (DBH), whic h is als o the re quired tru nk diameter m e asurement he ight o f the Town o f Los Gat os . DBH is used c a lc u late tree prote c ti o n distanc es and othe r tree-re lated factors. Trunk diameter was ro unded t o t he nearest in c h. I e stimated t he tree's heigh t and c ano p y sp read. Tree C onditio n (stru c ture and vigor) was evaluate d and I a lso record e d additional n o t es fo r t rees w hen sig n ific ant. Tree species a nd con diti on consid ered in combinatio n with the c urrent o r (if a pplic able ) proposed use of the si t e yie lds the Tree Preservation Suitability rat ing. The m ore signifi c ant trees (or gro ups o f trees ) were p h o t ographed w ith a d ig ital c a mera. Some o f t hese phot os are includ ed in t his report, but all p ho t os are a v a ilable from me b y email if request ed. OBSERVATIONS SITE CONDITIONS A well m a intained two -story h o me occupies the site. La ndscape m a intena nce is of a high leve l. Site to p ography is mainly le ve l. Su n e xpos ure f o r the trees vari es from full to partly sha d e d , depend ing up on proximity t o exist ing buildings a nd t o other t rees . I PO Box 371 4 , S aratoga, CA 9 5070. 408-725-13 57. decah@pacbe ll.n et. http:/ /w~;d~~ah.com. ] Arbori s t Report #1 f or 213 Tait Av e. July 19 , 2016 . Pa ge 10 of 27 Debora h E llis, MS Consult ing Arborist & Ho rticu ltu rist Serv ice since 1984 APPENDIX EXPLANATION OF TREE TABLE DATA COLUMNS: 1) Tree Number (the field tag number of the existing tree). Each existing tree in the field is tagged (unless otherwise noted) with a 1.25 inch round aluminum number tag that corresponds to its tree number referenced in the arborist report, Tree Map, Tree Protection Specifications and any other project plans where existing trees must be shown and referenced. 2) Tree Name and Type: Species: The Genus and species of each tree. This is the unique scientific name of the plant, for example Quercus ogrifolio where Quercus is the Genus and ogrifolio is the species. The scientific names of plants can be changed from time to time, but those used in this repo rt are from the most cu rrent edition of the Sunset Western Gorden Book (2012) Sunset Publishing Corporatio n. The scientific name is presented at its first occurrence in the Tree Table , along with the regional common name. After that only the common name is used. 3) Trunk DBH . Tree trunk diameter in inches "at breast he ight" (measured at approxi mately 4 .5 feet above ground level). This is the for estry and arboricultural standard mea surement height that is also used in many tree-related calculations. It is also the trunk diameter measuremen t he ight required by the Town of Los Gatos . For multi-trunk trees, trunk diameter is measured for the la r gest trunk and estimated f or all smaller trunks. Tru nk d iameter is mea sured when pos sible, and estimated when it is not possible or safe to physically measu re. A number in parentheses (e .g. 3) after the trunk dia m eter(s) indicates that it was not possible to measure the trunk at 4.5 feet (due to tree architectu re) and so the diameter was measured at this alte rnate height (i n feet), which reflects a more realistic trunk diameter for the tree. 4) Size : tree size is listed as height x width in feet, estimated and approximate and intended for comparison purposes . 5) Condition Ratings : Trees are rated for their condition on a scale of zero to 100 w ith zero being a dead tree and 100 bei ng a perf ect tree (wh ich is rare -li ke a supermodel in human terms). A 60 is "average" (not great but not terrible either). There are two components to tree condition-vigor and structure, and each component is rated separately. Averaging the two components is not usef ul because a very low rating for either one could be a valid re as on to remove a tree from a site--even if the other component has a high rating. Numerically speaking for each separate component: 100 is equivalent to Excellent (an 'A' academic grade), 80 is Good (B), 60 is Fair (C), 40 is Poor (D), 20 is Unacceptable (F) and 0 is Dead. I PO Bo x 371 4 , Sarat oga, CA 9 5070. 4 0 8-725-13 5 7 . decah@pacbe ll.net. htt p:/ /www.decah.co m. I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19 , 2016 . Page 11 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist Service since 1984 • Relative to the scope of work for this report. tree Condition has been rated but not explained in detail and recommendations for the management of tree condition have not been included. The tree owner may contact Deborah Ellis for additional information on tree condition and specific recommendations for the general care of individual trees relative to their condition. • The Condition of the tree is considered relative to the tree species and present or future intended use of the site to provi de an opinion on the tree's Preservation Suitability Rating (i.e. "Is this tree worth keeping on this site, in this location, as explained in Table 3 below. This i s based upon the scenario that the tree is given enough above and below-ground space to survive and live a long life on the site. Ratings such as "Fair/Good" and "Fair/Poor" are intermediate in nature. The Pre se rvation Suitability rating is not always the same as the Condition Rating because (for example) some trees with poor condition or structure can be significantly improved with just a small amount of work-and it would be worthwhile to keep the tree if this were done. Table 3 P tion Suitabilitv Ratina E .f Such trees are rare but they have unusually good health and structure and provide Excellent multiple functional and aesthetic benefits to the environment and the users of the site. These are great trees w ith a minimum rating of "Good" for both vigor and structure. I Equivalent to academic grade 'A'. These trees may have some minor to moderate structural or condition flaws that can I be improved with treatment. They are not perfect but they are in relatively good Good condition and provide at least one significant functional or aesthetic benefit to the environment and the users of the site. These are better than average trees equivalent to academic grade · 8'. These trees have moderate or greater health and /or structural defects that it may or may not be possible to improve with treatment. These are "average" trees -not great but not so terrible that they absolutely should be removed. The majority of trees on Fair most sites tend to fall into this category. These trees will require more intensive management and monitoring , and may also have shorter life spans than trees in the "Good " category. Retention of trees with moderate suitability for preservation depends upon the degree of proposed site changes . Equ ivalent to academic grade ·c·. These trees have significant structural defects or poor health that cannot be re asonably improved with treatment. These trees can be expected to decline Poor regardl ess of management. The tree species th emselves may have characteristics that are undesirable in landscape settings or may be unsuitable for high use areas. I do not recommend retention of trees with low suitability for preservation in areas L____ ------ where people or proper-ty will be (>resent. Eguivalent to academic grade · D'. I PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net. http:/ /www.decah .com. I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19 ,2016. Page 12 of 27 Debo r a h Ellis , MS Cons ulti ng Ar bor ist & Ho rticu lturis t Se rvice sirr ce 1984 6) Value: Tree monetary appraisal is based upon: (1) Cost of Installation plus (2) its increa se in value over a container-size tree if a larger size tree being appraised . This value is then adjusted according to: (a) Species (according to regional published species ratings), (b) Condition of the tree, and (c) Location of the tree (an average of the sub-categories of Site, Contribution and Placement). The methodology and calculations f or the Trunk Formula Method are taken from two industry standard texts-The Guide for Plant Appra isal, 9th edition, 2000, edited by the Council of Tree & Landscape Appraisers and published by the International Society of Arboriculture, and the Species Classification and Group Assignment, 2004 , published by the We stern Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. The cross -sectional trunk diameter price presented in this text has been adj ust ed sl ightly dow nward to match the current actual average wholesale cost of a 24-inch box nursery tree in th is area . Note that the values produced fo r this repo rt are meant for reference only and may not reflect the true value of the tree that could be calculated by a thorough and more detailed analysis of eac h indiv idual tree. a) Caveats regarding tree values: The values in this report have not been subjected to a "reasonableness test" which compares the value of trees and landscaping to the total value of the property. The values in the report were ca lculated quickly and are i ntended to be approximate and for reference only. Research on tree and landscape values has shown that landscaping can contribute up to 20 % of the total property value . In some cases however, tree apprai sals have produced tree values that exceed the value of the entire property. Performing a reasonableness test screens fo r this error. For certain trees in this report I have decreased or increased tree values when I felt that the calculated value s were too high or too low. b) The Trunk Formula Method is used for trees that are too large for practical replace ment with a similar size nursery container -grown tree. This method applies to trees with trunk diameters that are larger than 8-inches, measured at 12 inches above the ground. For the purpose of this report, all trees with trunk diameters of 8 inches or greater measured at DBH (4 .5 feet above the ground) are appraised by this method . c) The Replacement Cost Method is used for smaller trees with trunk diameters up to 4-inches in diameter mea sured at 12 inches above the ground. This is generally equivalent to a 48-inch box-size tree. The replacement cost for such a tree shall be the average wholesa le cost of the tree multi plied by two to include transportation to the site, planting and other co st s. This price is then adjusted (usually downward) based upon the Condition ratings percentages for the appraised tree. For the purpose of this report, all trees with trunk diameters of 7 inch es or less m easured at DBH (4 .5 feet above the ground) are appraised by this method. The following co st basi s is used (ba sed upon the average of wholes ale tree prices from Bo ething Treeland Nursery, Portola Valley and Valley Crest Tree Nursery, Sunol, 2/29/2016): Trunk DBH <1 " to 1" 2-3" 4-5" 6-7" Replacement tree size Replacement Tree Wholesale Cost x 2 (for installation. etc. I 15 gallon $47.50 x 2 = $95 24" box $182.50 x 2 = $365 36 " box $475 x 2 = $950 48" box $950 x 2 = $1900 I PO Box 3714 . Sar atoga, CA 95070. 408-72 5-13 5 7 . de cah@ pacb e ll.ne t. http:/ /www .d e cah.co m. I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave . July 19 , 2016 . Page 13 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Co n sulting Arbori st & Horticulturist Service since 1984 d) Tree values for tree protection bonds: Prior to co mm enc in g work, the tree-regu lati ng authority ma y requ ire that the contractor furn ish a bond equa l to so me portion of the total appraised value of the trees on the site based upon the values prese nted in the Arborist Report. Bond money w i ll be returned to the contractor upon the completion of the project with deductions or additional f ines i mpose d based upon tree protection com plian ce and the final condition of the trees. Tree value s ar e often use d to establish a benchmark amount to fine th e contractor if non-compliance wi th t he Tree Protection Specifications or other neglig enc e causes a subject tree to be removed or unn ecessari ly damaged. Th e full value am ount should be charged to the co ntractor if a tree is damaged to the degr ee that it must be removed. A portion of th e va lu e of the tree plus any necessary remediation costs, as determined by the tree owner, sho uld be charged to the contractor if the tree is damaged but does not have to be removed. 7) Action (Disposition): a) Save : it shou ld be no problem save this tree utilizing stand ard t ree protection measures. b) Remove: this reco mmendation is based upon tree condition , preserva t ion suita bi lit y, ex pected impact of construction, poor species for the site or any combination of these factors. c) Debatable: there is a problem with potentially retaining this tree. Find out why i n t he Reason and Notes co l umns of the Complete Tr ee Table. Exa mples are: • Th e tree is shown to be saved (and may be a desirable tree to save ) but propose d construction is t oo close or is unce rtain an d may cause t oo much d am age to retain the tree. Design changes may b e r eco mmended to reduce damage to the tree so that it can be sav ed. • Further evaluation of the tree is necessa ry (e.g. the tree r equ i re s further, more detailed evaluatio n that is beyond t he scope of this tree survey and rep ort. Examples are advanced intern al dec ay detection and quantification with re sistance drilling or tomography, a "pull test" to assess tree st ability from the roots, or tiss ue sa mples se nt to a plant patho lo gy laboratory for disease diagnosis. • Co ndition : the tree is in "so-so" or lesse r condition and an argument could be made to either save or re move the tree as it stand s now. In some cases the owner will make the dec ision to save or remov e th e tree based upon the information provided in th is report as well as the owner's own preferences. • Species : the t r ee may be a poor sp ecies for the area or the intended use of the developed si t e. • Unce rtai n co nstruction impac t 8) Reason (for tree remova l or to explain why a tree is listed as "Debatabl e" or "Uncertain"). Multi ple reasons may be pr ovided, with the most significant reason listed first. Reasons ca n includ e but are not limited to: • Construction (excessive construction impact is unavoidab le an d it is not worthwhile to t ry and save the tree) • Condition (e .g. poor tree condition -either vigor, stru cture or both) • Landscaping (the tree is being r e moved beca use it does not fit in with or co nflicts with proposed new la ndsca ping) • Owner's Decision (for so m e reason the owner ha s decided to remove this t ree) • Species (the tree is a poor species for the use of the si t e) • Risk (th e tree prese nts moderate to excess ive ri sk to people o r property that can not be sufficiently mitiga t ed) I PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net . http://ww w.decah.com . I Arb ori s t Report #1 for 2 13 Tait Ave. July 19 ,2016 . Page 14 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist S eruice siuce 19 84 9} Notes: This may include any other information that would be helpful to the cl ien t and their architects and contractors within the scope of work for t his rep ort, suc h as a more d etailed explanation of tree condition or expected construction impact. 10) Tree Protection Distances: a) Root Protection : see below and on the next page for a detailed explanation . b) Canopy Protection : Additional space beyond root zone protection di stances may be necessary for canopy protection . c) I have increased a few of the calculated tree p r otection distances for certain individual t rees based upon my profess iona l j udgment and relative to site constraints. For example the minimum root protection distance I will list for any t ree is 5 fee t. TREE ROOT PROTE CT ION DISTANCES No one can estimate and predict with absolute certainty how far a soil disturbance such as an excavation must be from the edge of the trunk of an individual tree to effect tree stability or health at a low , modera te or severe degree--there are simply too many variable involved that we cannot see or a nticipate. 3xDBH however, is a reasonable "rule of thumb" minimum distance (in feet) any soil disturbance should be from t he edge of the trunk on one s ide of the trunk. This is supported by several separate research studies including (Smiley, Fraedrich, & Hendrickson 2002, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories). DBH is trunk "diameter a t breast height" (4.5 feet above the ground). This distance is often used during the design and planning phases of a construction project in order to e stimate root damage to a tree due to the proposed construction. It tends to correlate reasonably well with the zone of rapid taper, which is t he are a in whi c h the large buttress roots (main support roots close to the trunk) rapidly decrease in diameter with increasing distance from the trunk. For examp le, using the 3X DBH guide li ne an excavat ion should be no closer than 4.5 feet f rom the trunk of an 18-inch DBH t r ee. Fo r trees with multip le trunks, an adjusted DBH is often ca lcu lated using lOO'Yo of the largest trunk plus 50'Yo of the remaining smaller trunks. Such distances are guidelines only, and should be increased for t rees with heavy canopies, significant leans, decay, structural prob lems, etc. I will generall y not recommend a root protection distance of less than 5 feet for any tree, even very small trees. It is a lso important to understand that in actual field cond itions we often find that much less root damage occurs than was anticipated by the guidelines. 3xDBH may be more of an a id in preserving tree s tability and not necessar ily long-term t ree health. I PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net. http~/~~-ww.decah.com. I Arborist Report #1 for 2 13 Tait Ave . July 19 , 2016 . Page 15 of 27 Debor a h E llis, MS Consult ing Arborist & Horticulturist Service since 1984 6 to 18 X DBH is the minimum distance which is recommended in the ANSI (American National Standard) A300 (Part 5)-2012 Management of Trees & Shrubs During Site Planning , Site Development, & Construction , and also in the companion publication from the International Society of Arboriculture, Best Management Practices, Managing Trees During Construction, 2008. When the 6 to 18 x DBH distance cannot be met, "appropriate mitigation or determination that the work will not impact tree health and stability shall be performed", according to the ANSI Standard. ANSI A300 (Part 8)-2013 Root Management, states: "When roots are damaged within 6 times the trunk diameter (DBH) mitigation shall be recommended.n For practical purposes I use t he 6 x DBH distance as the minimal distance acceptable (in most circumstances) in order to maintain good tree health and structural stability. The 6 x DBH distance or greater should def initely be used when there are soil disturbances on more than one side of the trunk. OTPZ (Optimum Tree Protection Zone): OTPZ is the distance in feet from the trunk of the tree, all around the tree, that construction or other disturbance should not encroach within. This guideline comes from the text, Trees & Development, Matheny et al., International Society of Arboriculture, 1998. If the OTPZ is respected, then chances of the tree surviving construction disturbance are very good . This method takes into account tree age and the particular species tolerance to root disturbance. Although there are no scientifically based methods to determine the minimum distance for construction (for example, root severance) from trees to assure their survival and stability, there are some guidelines that are often used in the arboricultural industry. Due to the crowded, constrained nature of many building sites it is often not be possible to maintain the OPTZ distance recommended for many of the trees-- therefore I have also listed alternate distance 6X DBH. The 6xDBH guideline is more current than the OPTZ and has been incorporated into the current arboriculture industry Tree Protection BMP and also the ANSI Standard (see second paragraph). I PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net. http:/ /www.decah.com. I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19,2016. Page 16 of 2 7 LOS GATOS TREE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS LOS GATOS TOWN CODE Chapter 29-ZONING REGULATIONS Article I. -IN GENERAL Division 2. TREE PROTECTION Sec. 29.10.1005. Protection of trees during construction. (a) Protective tree fencing shall specify the following : Deborah Ellis, MS Consulting Arb o r ist & Ho rticulturist Se rvice si nce 1984 (1) Size and materials. Six (6) foot high chain link fencing, mounted on two-inch diameter galvanized iron posts , shall be driven into the ground to a depth of at least two (2) feet at no more than 1 0-foot spacing . For paving area that will not be demolished and when stipulated in a tree preservation plan , posts may be supported by a concrete base . (2) Area type to be fenced. Type 1: Enclosure with chain link fenci ng of either the entire dripline area or at the tree protection zone (TPZ), when specified by a certified or consulting arborist. Type II: Enclosure for street trees located in a planter strip : cha in link fence around the entire planter strip to the outer branches. Type Ill: Protection for a tree located in a small planter cutout only (such as downtown): orange plastic fencing shall be wrapped around the trunk from the ground to the first branch with 2-inch wooden boards bound securely on the outside. Caution shall be used to avoid damaging any bark or branches. (3) Duration of Type I, II, Ill fencing . Fencing shall be erected before demolition , grading or construction permits are issued and remain in place until the work is completed. Contractor shall first obtain the approval of the project arborist on record prior to removing a tree protection fence . (4) Warning sign. Each tree fence shall have prominently displayed an 8.5 x 11-inch sign stating : "Warning-Tree Protect ion Zone-this fence shall not be removed and is subject to penalty according to Town Code 29.10.1 025". (b) All persons . shall comply with the following precautions : (1) Prior to the commencement of construction, install the fence at the dripline , or tree protection zone (TPZ) when spec ified in an approved arborist report , around any tree and /or vegetation to be retained which could be affected by the construction and prohibit any storage of construction materials or other materials , equipment cleaning , or parking of vehicles within the TPZ. The dripline shall not be altered in any way so as to increase the encroachment of the construction . (2) Prohibit all construction activities within the TPZ, including but not limited to: excavation , grading , drainage and leveling within the dripline of the tree unless approved by the Director. (3) Prohibit disposal or depositing of oil, gasoline, chemicals or other harmful materials within the dripli ne of or in drainage channels , swales or areas that may lead to the dripline of a protected tree . (4) Prohibit the attachment of wires, signs or ropes to any protected tree . (5) Design utility services and irrigation lines to be located outside of the dripline when feasible . I PO Box 3 7 14 , Saratoga , CA 950 70 . 40 8-725-1357 . decah @p ac bell.ne t . htt p:/ /www .decah .co m. I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19, 2016 . Page 17 of 27 Deborah Ellis , MS Consult ing Arborist & Horticultu ri st S ervice since 1984 (6) Retain the services of a certified or consulting arborist who shall serve as the project arborist for periodic monitoring of the project site and the health of those trees to be preserved . The project arborist shall be present whenever activities occur which may pose a potential threat to the health of the trees to be preserved and shall document all site visits. (7) The Director and project arborist shall be notified of any damage that occurs to a protected tree during construction so that pro per treatment may be administered. (Ord . No. 2114, §§ I, II , 8-4-03) Sec. 29.10.1010. Pruning and maintenance. All pruning shall be in accordance with the current version of the International Society of Arboric ulture Best Management Practices-Tree Pruning and ANSI A300-Part 1 Tree, Shrub and Other Woody Plant Management-Standard Practices , (Pruning) and any special cond itions as determined by the Director. For developments, which require a tree preservation report, a certified or consulting arborist shall be in reasonable charge of all activities involving protected trees, including pruning, cabling and any other work if specified. (1) Any public utility installing or maintaining any overhead wires or underground pipes or conduits in the vicinity of a protected tree shall obtain permission from the Director before performing any work, including pruning , which may cause injury to a protected tree . (e.g . cable TV/fiber optic trenching, gas, water, sewer trench , etc.). (2) Pruning for clearance of utility lines and energized conductors shall be performed i n compl iance with the current version of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 (Part 1 )-Pruning , Section 5.9 Util ity Pruning . Us ing spikes or gaffs when pruning , except where no other alternative is available, is prohibited . (3) No person shall prune, trim, cut off, or perform any work, on a single occasion or cumulatively, over a three-year period , affecting twenty-five percent or more of the crown of any protected tree without first obtaining a permit pursuant to this division except for pollarding of fruitless mulberry trees (Morus alba) or other species approved by the Town Arborist. Appl ications for a pruning perm it shall include photographs indicating where pruning is proposed . (4) No person shall remove any Heritage tree or large protected tree branch or root through pruning or other method greater than four (4) inches in diameter (12.5" in circumference) without first obtaining a permit pursuant to this division . (Ord . No. 2114, §§I, II , 8-4-03) Sec. 29.10.1015. No limitation of authority. Nothing in this division limits or modifies the existing authority of the Town under Division 29 of T itle 29 (Zoning Regu lations). T itle 26 (Publ ic Trees) or the Hillside Development Standards and Guidelines to require trees and other plants to be identified , reta ined , protected, and/o r planted as ( PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell .net. http:/ /www.decah.com . I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19 , 2016. Page 18 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist Se rl!ice since 19 84 conditions of the approval of development. In the event of conflict between provisions of this d ivision and conditions of any permit or other approval granted pursuant to Chapter 29 or Chapter 26 of the Town Code or the Hillside Development Standards and Gu idel i nes . The more protective requirements shall prevail. (Ord . No. 2114, §§ I, II , 8-4-03) Sec. 29.10.1020. Responsibility for enforcement. All officers and employees of the Town shall report violations of this division to the Director of Community Development. Whenev er an Enforcement Officer as defined in Section 1.30 .015 of the Town Code determ ines that a violation of this code has occurred , the Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to issue an administrative citation pursuant to the provisions of Section 1.30.020 of the Town Code Whenever an Enforcement Officer charged with the enforcement of this Code determines that a violation of that provision has occurred , the Enforcement Officer shall have the authority to issue an administrative citation to any person responsible for the violation . (Ord . No. 2114 , §§I , II , 8-4-03) Sec. 29.10.1025. Enforcement-Remedies for violation . In addition to all other remedies set forth in this code or otherwise prov ided by law, the following remedies shall be available to the Town for violation of this division: (1) Tree removals in absence of or in anticipation of development. If a violation occurs in the absence of or prior to proposed development, then discretionary applications and /or building permit applications will not be accepted or processed by the Town until the v iolation has been remedied to the reasonable satisfaction of the Director. Mitigation measures as determined by the Director may be imposed as a cond it ion of any subsequent application approval or permit for development on the subject property. A mitigation plan shall include specifi c measures for the protection of any remaining trees on the property, and sha ll provide for the replacement of each hills ide tree that was removed illegally with a new tree(s) in the same location(s) as those illegally removed tree(s). The replacement ratio shall be at a greater ratio than that required in accordance with the standards set forth in Sec. 29 .10 .0985 of this division. If the court or the Director directs a replacement tree or trees to be planted as part of the remedy for the violation, the trees shall be permanently maintained in a good and healthy condition . The property owner shall execute a five-year written maintenance agreement with the Town . For those t rees on pub lic property, replacement is to be determined by the Director of Community Development or by the Director of Parks and Public Works. (2) Pending development applications. Incomplete applications will not be processed further until the viol ation has been remedied. If an application has been deemed complete , it may be denied by the D irector or forwarded to the Planning Comm iss ion with a recommendation for denial at the Director's discretion. Mitigation measures as determined by the director may be imposed as a cond ition of PO Box 3714, S aratoga , CA 9 5 0 70 . 408-725-1 357. decah@pa cbell .net. http:/ /www.decah.com. Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19 , 2016 . Pag e 19 of 2 7 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist Service since 1984 approval. A mitigation p lan shall include specific measures for the protection of any remaining trees on the property, and shall provide for the replacement of each hillside tree that was removed illegally with a new tree(s) in the same location(s) as those illegally removed tree(s). The replacement ratio shall be at a greater ratio than that required in accordance with the standard s set forth in Sec. 29 .10.0985 of this division . If the court or the Director directs a replacement tree or trees to be planted as part of the remedy for the violation , the trees shall be permanently maintained in a good and healthy condition . The property owner shall execute a five-year written maintenance agreement with the Town . For those trees on public property, replacement is to be determined by the Director of Community Development or by the Director of Parks and Public Works. (3) Projects under construction . a . If a violation occurs during construction. the Town may issue a stop work order suspending and prohibiting further activity on the property pursuant to the grading. demolition. and/or bu il ding permit(s) (including construction. inspection, and issuance of certificates of occupancy) until a mitigation plan has been filed with and approved by the Director, agreed to in writing by the property owner(s) or the applicant(s) or both , and either implemented or guaranteed by the posting of adequate security in the discretion of the Director. A mitigation plan shall include specific measures for the protection of any remaining trees on the property, and shall prov ide for the replacement of each hillside tree that was removed illegally with a new tree(s ) in the same location(s ) as those illegall y removed tree(s). The replacemen t ratio shall be at a greater ratio tha n that required in accordance with the standards set forth in Sec. 29.10 .0985 of this division . If the court or the Director directs a replacement tree or trees to be planted as part of the remedy for the violation , the trees shall be permanently maintained in a good and health y condition. The property owner shall execute a five-yea r written maintenance agreement with the T own. For those trees on public property, replacement is to be determined by the Director of Community Development or by the Director of Parks and Publi c Works. b. The violation of any provisions in this division during the conduct by any person of a tree removal, landscaping , construction or other business in the Town shall constitute grounds for revocation of any business license issued to such person . (4) Civil penalties . Notwithstanding section 29.20 .950 relating to criminal penalty, any person found to have violated section 29.10 .0965 shall be liable to pay the Town a civil penalty as prescribed in subsections a. through d . a . As part of a civil action brought by the Town , a court may assess against any person who commits, allows, or mainta ins a vio lation of any provision of this division a civi l penalty in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars per violation. b. Where the violation has resulted in removal of a protected tree. the civil penalty shall be in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars per tree unlawfully removed. or the replacement value of each such tree. whichever amount is higher. Such amount shall be payable to t he Town and deposited into the Tree Replacement Fund . Replacement value for the purposes of this section shall be determined utilizing the most recent edition of the Guide for Pl ant Appra isal, as prepa red by the Council of Tree and Landscape Appra isers and the Species and Group Classification Guide publish ed by the Western Chapter of the International Socie ty of Arboricultu re . c. If the court or the Director directs a replacement tree or trees to be p la nted as part of th e remedy f or the vio lation. the trees shall be permanently maintained in a good and healthy condition . The property owner shall execute a five-year written mai ntenance ag reement w ith the Town . d. The cost of enforcing this division, which shall include all costs, staff time , and attorneys ' fees. I PO Box 3714, Sarat oga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbe ll.net. http:/ /www .decah.com. I Arborist Report #1 f or 213 Tait Ave . July 19 , 2016 . Page 20 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulting Arborist & Horticulturist S ervice since 19 84 (5) Injunctive relief. A civil action may be commenced to abate, enjoin , or otherwise compel the cessation of such violation . (6) Costs . In any civil action brought pursuant to this division in which the Town prevails, the court sha ll award to the Town all costs of investigation and preparation for trial , the costs of trial , reasonable expenses including overhead and administrative costs incurred in prosecuting the action, and reasonable attorney fees. (Ord. No. 2114 , §§ I, II, 8-4-03) Sec. 29.10.1030. Fees. The fee , as adopted by Town Resolution , prescribed therefore in the municipal fee schedule shall accompany the removal or pruning perm it application submitted to the Town for review and evaluation pursuant to th is division . (Ord . No . 2114, §§ I, II, 8-4-03} Sec. 29.10.1035. Severability. If any provision of this division or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held to be invalid by a court of competent jurisd iction , such invalidity shall not affect any other provision of this division which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application , and to this end the provisions of this division are declared to be severable. (Ord. No . 2114, §§ I, II, 8-4-03) Sec. 29.10 .1040. Notices. All notices required under this division shall conform to noticing provisions of the appl icable Town Code . Sec. 29.10.1045. Appeals. Any interested person may appeal a decision of the director pursuant to this d iv is ion in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 29.20.260 of the Town Code. All appeals shall comply with the public noticing provisions of section 29.20.450 of the Town Code . (Ord . No. 2114, §§ I, II , 8-4-03) I PO Box 3 71 4, Sar atoga, CA 95070. 408-72 5 -13 57. decah@p a cbel l.ne t . http:/ /www.decah .co m. I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19 , 2016 . Page 2 1 of 27 TREE PHOTOS Black walnut #3 , front yard, viewed from the north . Coast live oak #4 , north s ide yard , viewed from the east. Deborah Ellis, MS Cons ulting Arborist & Horticu ltu ri st Coast live oak #5 , backyard , viewed from the southeast. Service since 1984 I PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net. http:/ /www .decah.com . I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19, 2016. Page 22 of 27 Japanese red pine #6, backyard , viewed from the west . Deborah Ellis, MS Cons ulti ng Arborist & Horticulturi st Coast live oaks #4, S and 7 and Japanese red pine #6, backyard, viewed from the northwest. Se rvice since 1984 I PO Box 371 4 , Saratoga, CA 9 5070. 408-725 -13 5 7 . de cah @pacbe ll.net. htt p://www.d eca h.co m. I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19 , 2016 . Page 23 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Consu lting Arborist & Horticulturist Service since 1984 ASSUMPTIONS & LIMITATIONS 1. Tree locations were provided by Westfall Engineers and are shown on t he Tree Map o n page 1 of this report. The t ree map is a reduced partial copy of the Grading & Drainage p lan tha t I was given. Tre e locations are assu m ed to be accurate but shou ld be verified in the fi e ld. 2. A Level 2 Bas ic Evaluation of the subject trees described in this report was performed on July 11 , 2016 for the purpose of this report. This is a brief visual evaluation o f the tree from the ground, without climbing in to the tree or performing detailed tes t s such as extensi ve digging, boring or removing sa m p les. Th e tree is viewed by walking all around it, unless this is not possible. Th is type of evaluation is an initial sc reening of the tree after which the evaluator may re commend that additional, more detailed examination(s) be performed if deemed necessary . An assessment of tree risk was not performed during the evaluation. 3. Trees with trunks behind fences on neighboring properties were not evaluated in detail. They were only viewed from the proje ct site. I did not enter t he neighboring property to inspect t hese trees up close. 4. Any information and descriptions provided to me for the purpose of my investigation in this case and the preparation of this report are assumed to be correct. Any t itles and ownerships t o any property are a ssumed to be good and marketable. I assume no responsibility fo r legal matters in character no r do I re nder any opinion as to the quality of any title. 5. The information contained in this report covers only those items that were examined and reflects the conditio n of t hose items at the tim e o f in spection . 6. Loss or removal of any part of this report invalidates the entire report. 7. Possession of this report, o r any copy thereof, does not Imply right of publication for use for any purpose by any person other t han to whom thi s re port is addressed without my wri tten consen t bef orehand. 8. This report and the ratings or values represented herein represent my opinion . My fee is in no way contingent upon the reporti ng of a specified valu e o r upon any finding o r recommendation reported. 9. This report has been prepared in conformity with generally acceptable appraisal/diagnostic /reporting methods and procedures a nd is consisten t with practices recommended by the International Society of Arboriculture and the American Society of Cons ulting Arborists. 10 . My evaluation of the trees that are the subject of this report is limited to visual examination of accessible items without d issection , excavation, probing or coring . Th ere is no warranty or guarant ee, expressed or implied, that p roblems o r defic iencies of the plants or propert y in question may not arise in the future . 11 . I take no responsibility for any defects in any tree 's structure . No tree desc ribed in this report has been climbed and examined from above the ground, and as such , structural defects that could only have been discovered have not been report ed, unless othe rwise st ated. Stru c tura l defects may a lso be hidden within a tree, in any portion o f a t ree. Likewise, root collar excavati ons and evaluations have not been performed unless o therwise stated. I PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 95070. 408 -725-1357. decah@pacbell.net. http://www.decah.com. I Arboris t Repor t #1 for 2 13 Tait Ave. July 19 , 2016. Page 24 of 27 Debora h Ellis, MS Consu lting Arb orist & Hortic ulturi st .Service sin ce 1984 12. The measures noted within this report are designed to assist in the protection and preservation of the trees mentioned herein , should some or all of those trees remain, and to help in their short and long term health and longevity. This is not however; a guarantee that any of these trees may not suddenly or eventually decline, fai l, o r die, for whatever rea son. Because a sign ificant portion of a tr ee's roots are usually far beyond its dripline, even trees that are well protected during construction often decline, fail or die. Because there may be hidden defects within the root system, trunk or branc hes of trees , it is possible that t rees w ith no obvious defects can be subject to failure without warning. The current state of arboricultural science does not guarantee the accurate detection and prediction of tree defec t s and the risk s a ssociate d with t rees. There will always be some level o f risk assoc iated w ith trees, particularly large trees. It is imposs ible t o guarantee the sa fety of any tree. Trees are unpredict able. ****************************** I certif y that the information contained in this report is correct to t he best o f my knowledge, and t hat this report was prepared in good faith . Thank you for the opport unity to provide serv ice again. Pl ease call m e if you have questions or if I can be of f urther assistance. ~UL Deborah Ellis , MS. Consult ing Arborist & Horticulturist Certified Professional Horticulturist #30022 ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #305 I.S .A. Board Certified Master Arborist WE -457B I.S.A . Tree Risk Assessment Qualified ENCLOSURES: • Town of Los Gatos General Tree Protection Directions (to be i ncluded in the final project plan set) • Los Gatos Tree Protection Sign template (to be placed on tree protection f encing) • Keeping Native Calif. O a ks Healthy. Hagen. June 1990 . California Department of Fores try & Fire Protection. Tree Notes #7. c--------POB~; 3714, Saratoga , CA 95070. 408-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net. http://www.decah.com. I Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19 , 2016. Page 25 of 27 Deborah E lli s, MS Consulting Arbori st & Horticulturist Service since 1984 REFERENCES : • American National Standard A300 (Part 51-2012 for Tree Care Operations -Tree. Shrub & Other Woody Plant Management- Standard Practices: o (Part 5) -2012 --Management of Tree s & Shrubs During Site Planning, Site Development, & Construction. o (Part 8)-2013. Root Management. o (Part 9)-2011. Tree Risk Assessment. Tree Structure Assessment. • Best Management Practices, International Society of Arboriculture: o Managing Trees during Construction. 2008 o Tree Inventories. 2013. • The Guide for Plant Appraisal, 9th edition, 2000, edited by the Council of Tree & Landscape Appraisers and published by t he International Society of Arboriculture. • Species Classification & Group Assignment. Western C ha p t er of the International Society of Arboriculture. 2004. GLOSSARY 1. Boundary Line Tree: a tree whose trunk (where the trunk is attached to the ground) straddles the property line between two or more properties. Such a tree is owned jointly by those properties on a percentage basis, depending upon the percentage of the trunk that is located on each property. Permission of co-owners is generally required for removal of the tree, and often pruning or other tree work or actions that affect the tree. 2. Dripline: the area under the total branch spread of the tree , all around the tree. Although tree roots may extend out 2 to 3 times the radius of the dripline, a great concentration of active roots is often in the soil directly beneath this area. The dripli ne is often used as an arbitrary "tree protection zone". 3. Project Arborist. The arborist who is appointed to be in charge of arborist services for the project. That arborist shall also be a qualified consulting arborist (either an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board-Certified Master Arborist or an American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) Registered Consulting Arborist) that has sufficient knowledge and experience to perform the specific work required . For most construction projects that work will include inspection and documentation of tree protection fencing and other tree protection procedures, and being available to assist with tree-related issues that come up during the project. 4. Qualified Consulting Arborist: must be either an Internationa l Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Board-Certified Master Arborist or an American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA) Registered Consulting Arborist that has s ufficient knowledge and experience to perform the specific work required . I PO Box 3714, Saratoga, CA 9507Q4oB-725-1357. decah@pacbell.net. http://www.decah.com. --~ Arborist Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19, 2016. Page 26 of 27 Deborah Ellis, MS Consulti ng Arborist & Horticulturist Service si nce 1984 5. Qualified Tree Service: A tree service with a supervising arborist who has the minimum certification level of ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) Certified Arborist for at least 5 years, in a supervisory position on the job site during execution of the tree work . The tree service shall have a State of California Contractor's license for Tree Service (C61-D49) and provide proof of Workman 's Compensation and General Liability Insurance. The person(s) performing the tree work must understand and adhere to the most c urrent of the following arboricultural industry tree care standards: • Best Management Practices. Tree Pruning. International Society of Arboriculture , PO Box 3129 , Champaign , IL 61826-3129. 217- 355-9411 • ANSI A300 Pruning Standards. Ibid. (Covers tree care methodology). • ANSI Z133.1 Safety Requ irements for Arboricultural Operations . Ibid . (Covers safety). 6. Root collar & root collar excavation and examination : The root collar Uunction between trunk and roots) is critical to whole -tree health and stability. A root collar excavation carefully uncovers this area (with hand digging tools, water or pressurized air). The area is then examined to assess its health and structural stability. Buttress roots may be traced outward from the trunk several feet. Decay assessment of the large roots close to the trunk (buttress roots) involves additional testing such as drilling to extract interior wood with a regular drill , or the use of a resistance-recording drill to check for changes in wood density within the root; as would be caused by decay or cavities. It is important to note that root decay often beg ins on the underside of roots, which is not detectable in a root collar excavation unless the entire c ircumference of the root is excavated and visible. Drill tests may detect such hidden decay. Note that it is not possible to uncover and evaluate the entire portion of the root system that is responsible for whole-tree stability. Decayed roots that are inaccessible (e.g . underneath the trunk) can be degraded to the extent that the whole tree may fail even though uncovered and examined roots in accessible locations appear to be sound . 7 . Root rot disease is caused by wet, poorly aerated soil conditions. Degradation of roots (root rot) and sometimes the lower trunk (crown rot) ensues on weakened, susceptible plant species not adapted to such a soil environment. Opportunistic plant root pathogens (such as watermold fungi) are often the secondary cause of the problem. Root rot is a particular problem among drought tolerant plants that are not adapted to frequent irrigation during our normally rain-free months , such as many of our California native plants. The problem is often worsened in fine-textured heavy clay soils that retain water more than do the coarser, fast-draining soils such as occur in the natural environment of many of our native plants. 8 . Summer Dry: Our native oak species are adapted to our "summer dry" climate . When the soil in their root system is kept moist during our normally dry months, these oaks are predisposed to attack by fungal root rot pathogens that are usually present in our soils. Therefore, it is important to keep irrigation as far from the tree trunk (preferably beyond the mature dripline) as possible. The best landscape treatment underneath native oaks is non-compacted soi l covered with a 3 to 4-inch depth of oak wood , leaf and twig litter (the tree's natural litter). Keep this mulch 6 to 12 inches away from the root collar Uunction of trunk and roots). An exception to the no summer water rule would be newly planted oaks (for the first 2 to 3 years after planting , until they are "established") and also during droughts that occur during the normal ra iny season . c-------POB~x 3 714, Saratoga , CA 95070 . 408-725-13 5 7 . decah@pac be ll.net. http://ww w.d ecah .com. I Arbor is t Report #1 for 213 Tait Ave. July 19 , 2016 . Page 27 of 27 This Page Intentionally Left Blank