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Arroyo Seco Habitat Restoration Passes After Tree Discussion as Part of Consent Calendar

Published on Monday, November 23, 2020 | 5:50 pm
 

[Correction: This article originally stated that the pine trees would be removed. This is not correct. In fact, the pine trees will remain with no plan for removal. We apologize for this error. The article has been corrected. — The Editor]

On Monday the Pasadena City Council voted to spend $8,545,147 in contracts and purchases as part of the Consent Calendar. 

The items included a $484,998 contract with G Team Landscape for Lower Arroyo Seco habitat restoration. 

The project will complete the restoration of the habitat in the area surrounding the La Loma Bridge, now the John Van de Kamp Bridge, which was not included in the 2017 La Loma Bridge Rehabilitation Project.

However on Monday, the topic turned into a discussion on removing invasive Canary Pine trees and concerns on keeping Eucalyptus trees.

In September, the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee agreed to remove 61 non-native trees and keep 11 pine trees that were slated for removal in the project’s original project plan.

The project will see the planting of 11 Southern California Black Walnut trees, 14 Coast Live Oak trees, 17 Western Sycamore trees, and approximately 2,000 understory shrubs and herbaceous plants.

The item was pulled after Councilmembers Steve Madison and Andy Wilson enquired about Eucalyptus  and Canary Island Pine Trees.
“Eucalyptus trees are a concern to me because we have had a number of instances where they have fallen,” Madison said. 

Several local residents called for the removal of the trees as part of the project.

“Please include the removal of the large Red Gum Eucalyptus in the plan for the Arroyo Seco,” said Noel Rhodes. “As someone who walks the Arroyo every morning with my family. I want to support any effort to protect this precious natural area and the native plants and animals that are able to survive here. These eucalyptus trees have a very negative impact on the local native plants and animals. We need to protect the native habitats we have left.”

The work will include:
Removal of non-native trees/plants and dead trees; 

  • Manual removal of herbaceous non-native plants (weeds); 
  • Importation and placement of numerous natural boulders/rocks to create natural barriers for habitat protection and to provide habitat values for wildlife; 
  • Placement of coarse woody debris (i.e., prepared logs and branches from removed trees) to provide natural seating, natural barriers along trails, and assemblages within the planting areas to provide beneficial wildlife cover;
  • De-compaction of soils (especially staging areas associated with the bridge rehabilitation project) to prepare for native plant establishment;
  • Installation of environmentally suitable erosion control measures (as needed); 
  • Installation of a new irrigation system to assist in the establishment of new native trees and plants; 
  • Installation of native planting materials including Southern California black walnut trees, coast live oak trees, western sycamore trees, and approximately 2,000 understory shrubs and herbaceous plants; 
  • Installation of natural mulch around the newly planted areas;
  • A 90-day post-installation maintenance period for the irrigation system and planting materials; 
  • And a one-year contractor guarantee on newly planted sycamore trees. 

Work will begin by January and the job will be completed in March, as stipulated by the project’s Proposition A grant funding deadline. The initial 90-day maintenance period will continue under this contract through June.

The consent calendar is a multi-item portion  of the City Council agenda which can be passed in its entirety with a sweep motion.

Councilmembers have the option of pulling certain items from the consent calendar for further discussion and possible action.

In total the council will vote on $8,545,147 in contracts and purchases.

Other items passed on Monday’s consent calendar included: 

  • A  $305,578 contract to enter into a purchase order with Matt Chlor Inc., to furnish and deliver chlorine equipment parts, service and repairs for the Water and Power Department.
  • A five-year $275,000 contract with Rite-Way Axle and Suspension Inc. for heavy-duty truck spring suspension and alignment service. 
  • A $150,000, five-year contract with Navarro Towing for towing of city-owned heavy-duty vehicles. 
  • A $418,136 contract with E.E. Electric Inc. for a Clifton Alley circuit conversion project. 
  • A $3,274,110 contract with Osmose Utilities Services Inc. to provide labor and services for wood pole inspection, repair and treatment.
  • The City Council voted to appropriate $50,000 from the Pasadena Community Foundation to the Planning and Community Development’s Operating Budget to provide additional funding for the Pasadena Arts and Culture Relief Grant Program after it was briefly pulled.  
  • A $3,587,325 contract with Veraterm Inc. to furnish and deliver police dispatch and management systems.

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