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LTC 007-2021 Palm and Tree Impacts in City Projects (Revised)DocuSign Envelope ID: EF 3F3173-8C4C-474E-A471-84DAE 3B CF 9C4 MIAMI BEACH OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER NO. LTC # 007-2021 LETTER TO COMMISSION TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission FROM: Raul J. Aguila, Interim City Manager DATE: January 8, 2021 Œ DocuSigned by: .-l J. At- 28306240F928450. SUBJECT: PALM & TREE IMPACTS IN CITY PROJECTS The purpose of this L TC is to provide an overview of the City's existing policies related to tree preservation and, in particular an update on the impacts to palm and canopy trees in existing City projects. Trees are a vital part of the City's infrastructure, providing numerous environmental, economic, and social benefits. Trees improve air quality, save energy by reducing electricity usage, ameliorate high urban temperatures, reduce stormwater run-off, increase property values, improve productivity, reduce stress and crime, and beautify residential and commercial neighborhoods. In addition, trees decrease urban noise, encourage tourism and economic growth, preserve community character and identity, provide habitat for wildlife, and shade pedestrian walkways. According to the 2019 Community Satisfaction Survey, less than half of residents (49.4%) reported being satisfied with the City's tree canopy coverage in their neighborhood. To increase community satisfaction, the City is expanding the tree canopy through reforestation efforts, a tree preservation program and land development regulations. In 2018, the community approved $439 million General Obligation Bonds that included $5 million to plant over 5,000 trees throughout the City. By the end of January 2021, 873 trees will be planted as part of the G.O. Bond reforestation project. To establish and ensure the City has a healthy and well-managed urban forest, the City has the following regulations and guiding documents related to trees: 1. Chapter 46, Division 2- Tree Preservation and Protection 2. Chapter 126 - Landscape Requirements 3. Urban Forestry Master Plan Chapter 46, Division 2- Tree Preservation and Protection The City's Urban Forestry Division administers the tree preservation program which, pursuant to Chapter 46, Division 2 of the City Code, establishes the City's tree permitting program for the removal or relocation of any palm or tree on public or private property. This section requires mitigation for any palm or tree removed during redevelopment. Mitigation for palm and tree canopy loss is required in the form of replacement canopy trees. A minimum of 50% of all replacement trees shall be native to South Florida. Palms can be added into projects; however, they do not count for mitigation due to the low environmental benefits they provide. When the total number of trees required as replacement trees cannot be reasonably planted on the property or a suitable alternate location cannot be identified, then applicants can contribute to the City's Tree Preservation Trust Fund as an alternative. DocuSign Envelope ID: EF3F3173-8C4C-474E-A471-84DAE3BCF9CA4 Chapter 126- Landscape Requirements The Land Development Regulations are included in Chapter 126. The intent of these regulations is to establish minimum landscape standards that enhance, improve and maintain the quality of the City's landscape. This includes preventing the destruction of the City's existing tree canopy and promote its expansion and diversification. This chapter provides minimum street tree requirements: • Street tree plantings shall be provided along all roadways at a maximum average spacing of 20 feet on center • Minimum tree height: 12 to 14 ft • Minimum palm height: 15 ft of clear or grey wood • Street tree diversification to prevent a monoculture and to circumvent significant tree loss to disease to a specific tree species the code diversification a project tree palette • Palms may be planted in addition to the required number of street trees, however palms shall not count towards the minimum number of required trees Urban Forestry Master Plan The Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP) was adopted by the City Commission on October 14, 2020. The UFMP evaluates the existing tree canopy and provides best management practices for growing a healthy urban forest. The UFMP includes a design toolkit that outlines an appropriate planting palette, design criteria considerations, and three case studies related to sea level rise adaptation. The planting palette includes native and Florida-friendly palm and tree species that are appropriate for our location and climate. The UFMP provides an assessment of existing resources and sets the goal to increase canopy coverage from 17% to 22% over the next 20 years in order to maximize the environmental and community benefits of the city's urban forest. In order to achieve this target, the UFMP recommends reducing and replacing the overall number of palms within public property with shade canopy so that the current 57% palm canopy coverage is reduced to 25% by 2050. Public tree population diversity is measured using the 10-20-30 street tree diversity rule, where public tree populations are comprised of no more than: • 30% of any family (e.g. Fagaceae - Beech family (Oak belongs to this family) • 20% of any genus (e.g. Quercus - Oak) • 10% of any species (e.g. Quercus virginiana - Live Oak) While palms are an iconic part of Miami Beach's landscape, they have moved from being an accent plant to a major component to the City's urban forest. Arecaceae, the family of landscape palms, makes up over 55% of the public tree population, far exceeding the 30% guidelines. The large number of palms not only impacts the diversity of species in the City's public tree population, making it vulnerable to diseases and pests; but it also effects the quantity and type of benefits the urban forest can provide. Table 1 demonstrates a comparison between a maturing live oak tree and a maturing cabbage/sabal palm, where the live oak provides nearly seven times the annual benefits compared to the palm. DocuSign En velop e ID: EF3F 3173-8C4C-474E-A471-84DAE 3B CF9CA Shade Tree Palm Benefits Live Oak, Quercus virginiana Sabal Palm, Sabal palmetto Diameter (DBH) 16" 16" Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Sequestered (Absorbed) 510 punds/year 2.71 pounds/year Rainfall Intercepted 725 gallons/year 81 gallons/year Ozone removed from air 20 ounces/year 1.70 ounces/year Carbon Dioxide stored 3,214 pounds over lifetime 26 pounds over lifetime Enevery Savings (A/C) 60kWh 26kWh Energy Savings Value $10.00 $4.60 Annual Value of Benefits $31.00 $6.48 Based on an analysis utilizing the USDA Forest Service's i-Tree MyTree benefits tool (www.itreetools.org) - v.2.4.16 Table 1: Comparison of the environmental benefits comparison between live oak and sabal palm Existing City Capital Projects All City Capital Projects are required to adhere to the City's Code. Currently, there are 22 projects that have or will impact palms and canopy trees. Table 2 provides a summary of the number of palms and canopy trees slated for removal, relocation, and to be planted. For these 22 projects, the City is losing 491 palms and 1,060 trees. However, with these projects the City is gaining almost double the palms and trees lost: 891 palms and 2,549 trees. Attachment A provides a detailed breakdown for each of the 22 projects. These numbers are based on current plans; however, revisions may need to be made to palm and tree disposition and mitigation plans based on unforeseen conditions or project revisions. New Ca nopy Trees New Palm Trees Canopy Tree Relocation Palm Tree Relocations Canopy Tree Removals Palm Tree Removals 2,549 891 ■91 441 491 1,060 Number of Trees Table 2: Summary of number of palm and canopy trees slated for removal, relocation, and to be planted During the planning and design phase, a tree assessment by a certified arborist is conducted to determine the health and condition of existing trees and to identify trees that can feasibly be relocated taking into consideration health, relocation success rate for the species, and cost. This information is used to develop a management and disposition plan. This disposition plan identifies palms and trees that will be preserved and protected, those that will be relocated, and those that will be removed during construction. Palms and trees are removed when there are conflicts with the proposed design or because they have identified as being in poor health. When palms or trees must be removed, mitigation is required in the form of canopy trees. While in the construction phase, trees that were slated to remain or relocated may need to be removed due to construction considerations. When these incidents occur, the Urban / DocuSign Envelope ID: EF3F3 173-8C4C-474E-A471-84DAE 3BCF 9C4 Forester works closely with the owner City department and construction team to help reduce palm and tree impacts, and ensure that proper mitigation is included due to these revisions. The Urban Forestry Division works closely with the project managers and design team during the planning, design and construction phases to assure that proposed work adheres to the regulations of Chapter 46, Division 2 and Chapter 126 and utilizes the UFMP as a guiding document to best management practices for preserving existing palm and tree resources, while building a sustainable urban canopy for future generations. Trees are an important component of capital projects and are an opportunity to shift toward a more resilient and environmentally beneficial tree canopy for the future. A healthier urban forest in addition to complementing these community investment projects. • A summary of 22 capital projects shows that while a total of 1,511 palm and canopy trees will need to be removed, 3,440 palm and canopy trees will be planted, a 127% increase in palm and canopy trees collectively. • For canopy trees specifically, while 491 will need to be removed, 2,549 will be planted, a 419% increase in canopy trees. • For palm trees specifically, 1,060 palm trees will need be removed, the 891 new palm trees will be planted, only an 18% decrease in palms. 2,000,000 1,800,000 1,600,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 1, 000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 G a llo n s o f Rain fa ll In te rce p te d A n n u a lly 1,848,025 gallons Pounds of CO2 Sequestered Annually CNew Ca no hees tuw Palm s New Canopy Trees 72,171 gallons - Nlew Palms Table 3 & 4: Rainfall Intercepted Annually and Pounds of CO2 Sequestered Annually are calculated using iTree algorithms developed by the U.S. Forest Service. If you have any questions, please reach out to Elizabeth Wheaton, Environment & Sustainability Director at elizabethwheaton@miamibeachfl.gov. Attachment: Citywide Project Status January 2021 RJA/ATH/ESW/OJL CITYWIDE PROJECTS TREE STATUS January 2021 P roje ct Na m e Owner Deparm ent 1 Proj~ct Status NOBE OCEANSIDE PARK BEACHWLK NORTH BEACH OCEANSIDE PARK RENOVATION PAR 3/ BAYSHORE PARK WEST AVENUE PHASE II NORTH & SOUTH BRITTANY BAY PARK MAURICE GIBB PARK MIDDLE BEACH RECREATIONAL CORRIDOR PH 3 CONVENTION CENTER - CARL FISHER SURFACE LOT AT BISCAYNE BEACH COLLINS PARK PARKING GARAGE SUNSET ISLANDS 1 & 2 GUARDHOUSE RUE VENDOME PUBLIC PLAZA PRIDE PARK PALM & HIBISCUS ISLANDS ENHANCEMENTS PALM & HIBISCUS LANDSCAPING - CIP LAKE PANCOAST REFORESTATION 41st STREET CORRIDOR MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS OCEAN BEACH PARK INDIAN BEACH PARK PLAYGROUND ALLISON PARK PLAYGROUND FAIRWAY PARK RENOVATION INDIAN CREEK LANDSCAPING PROJECT CIP CIP CIP CIP CIP CIP CIP CIP CIP CIP CIP CIP CIP CIP CIP Environment & Sustainability General Obligation Bond Parks & Recreation Parks & Recreation Parks & Recreation Parks & Recreation Public Works- Greenspace Management Design Oesign Design Design Design Design Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Construction Completed Construction Completed Construction Planning Design Design Design Construction Design NU M B ER Of REM O V A LS -- --r , Palm Tree Removals Canopy Tree Removals 183 82 14 10 15 165 54 167 35 31 20 40 23 10 10 10 356 70 141 10 76 NU M B ER OF REL O CATI O NS ] NUM BER OF NEW TREES Palm Tree I Canopy Tree Relocations Relocation 21 37 19 16 12 25 New Palm Trees New Canopy Trees 15 110 13 24 131 34 58 17 433 29 15 171 57 289 911 38 31 156 14 53 46 o 6 28 30 59 17 318 178 140 145 114 125 o TBD TBD TOTAL 1,060 I 491 «i] 91 891 I 2,549 -- - - ~ NO TES 108 canopy trees and 48 mangroves 8 additional trees may be added for North Liberty Ave New tree planting is included in a separate project- Palm & Hibiscus Landscaping Thatch palms to be relocated to Marjory Stoneman Douglas Park 58 Royal Palms and 18 Ornamental Palms are slated to be removed to accommodate proposed conceptual design. All removed royal palms are proposed for relocation pending the result of a valid tree survey