LTC 350-2021 Pine Tree Drive Australian Pine Tree Scheduled Maintenance PruningMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO . LTC#
350-2021
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Honorable Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Commission
FROM : Alina T. Hudak, City Manager ~ ~-/\,<'
DA TE: August 23, 2021
SUBJECT: Pine Tree Drive Australian Pine Tree Scheduled Maintenance Pruning
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to inform you of the upcoming tree trimming of the
Australian Pine Trees along Pine Tree Drive from 28 Street to 44 Street. This pruning is
anticipated to begin the week of August 30, 2021 and continue through the mid -October.
Background
In June 2001, the Mayor and City Commission designated Pine Tree Drive as a Historic Roadway.
The designation recommended that the Australian Pine Trees be maintained to ensure the
preservation of the historic integrity of the trees and the historic roadway. Miami-Dade County has
Australian Pine Trees as a prohibited species, in which they can not be cultivated or planted.
While Pine Tree Drive is owned by Miami Dade County; due to the historic roadway designation,
the City is responsible for maintenance of the Australian Pines.
The existing Australian Pine Trees along the corridor are cyclically assessed by a certified arborist
to monitor the trees' health and develop an appropriate pruning plan to extend the life of these
trees. Native Tree Services will be conducting the maintenance pruning, which will include
reduction pruning to remove end weight from long, sprawling branches as prescribed by the
consulting arborist. The work will also include the removal of four Australian Pines, two south of
41 Street and two north of 41 Street that have been deemed by the consulting arborist to be an
imminent danger to public safety making removal necessary at this time.
Maintenance of Traffic
No tree pruning work will occur on official City holidays. The contractor will be responsible for
maintenance of traffic while the tree pruning is occurring. Occasional total road closures will take
place on a block-by-block basis during the project. Traffic will be rerouted around the area and
will be phased to maintain peak traffic flows during rush hour. The City will be conducting door to
door outreach for all impacted properties, including distribution of flyers summarizing the pruning
project along with applicable road closure information.
If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Elizabeth Wheaton
(ElizabethWheaton@miamibeachfl.gov), Environment & Sustainability Director or Omar Leon
(OmarLeon@miamibeachfl.gov ), Urban Forester.
ETC/~JL