LTC 249-2011Condition of Select Biscayne Point Trees C IVF
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I\AIAIV\IBEA OCT - 06
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 249 -2011 LETTER TO COMMISSION
J
TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the C y Commission
FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
DATE: October 3, 2011
SUBJECT: Condition of Select Biscayne Point Trees
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to provide you information concerning the health and
viability of additional trees that were damaged by the past winter's inclement conditions.
During the extended cold spell of January 2010, a number of Mimusops trees on Biscayne Point
suffered severe cold damage, including defoliation. Since incurring the damage, these trees were
monitored for recovery by the Greenspace Management Division, and trimming or removals were
delayed in order to give the trees as much time as necessary to recover and produce new shoots.
Unfortunately, a number of the trees did not recover adequately. During a recent inspection it was
noted that, to varying degrees, most of the damaged trees produced new sprouts, but the sprouts
tended to be concentrated on or near the trunks; the main branches were mostly dead, the branch
structure typical of this species had been lost, and it was very unlikely that the new sprouts would
ever restore the trees' strong branch structure. It was the opinion of the Greenspace Management
Division that 28 of the cold- damaged trees had been effectively destroyed and should be considered
non - viable. These trees, which were marked with white X's, were scheduled for removal and
replacement with new trees.
The removal of the non - viable trees began the second week of August, and has been completed.
The CIP Department will soon begin work on the Biscayne Point project, and tree planting is being
coordinated with work on this project. Therefore, the planting of replacement trees will be delayed in
order to coincide with CIP's landscape work schedule.
On August 3, 2011, Ms. Lucero Levy, President of the Biscayne Point Homeowners Association sent
an email to the residents of Biscayne Point advising them of the trees condition and the proposed
actions to address them going forward.
Thank you and please advise if you have questions related to this matter.
JMG /HMF /KS /CL
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