[CANUFNET] Hazard Tree Removal Signage

[Spahl, Randall]

Public trees that are believed to be an imminent hazard are not posted -
there is no public consultation.  The site is protected by warning tape
or sometimes staff members and the hazard is alleviated as soon as
possible.  Sometimes this means removing most of the canopy and leaving
the remainder for completion later during regular work hours.
 
Public trees that should be removed soon for prudence, whether economic
or safety, are posted with removal notices.  The public is given at
least one week, usually several, to witness the notice and make a
response.  If the tree is in a place where the public thinks of it as
private property, for instance in a yard between the public sidewalk and
the house, direct contact is made with the residents of the house.  In
most cases there is no opposition and the removal proceeds.  This is
economical in that the declining tree is dealt with once and not several
times, and potential service calls or damage claims are averted.  In the
cases where there is strong and unbending opposition to the removal, the
case can still be made for the need to remove the deadwood or other
obvious hazards in the canopy.  This gives the members of the public a
sense of achievement in that the tree is kept, and the custodian of the
tree has done due diligence.  A year or two later the now - reduced tree
can be posted again, usually this time without any opposition.  This
costs more but gives better public service than getting into a power
struggle over the removal of a tree that doesn't actually pose an
imminent hazard.
 
The removal notice should not identify the tree as a hazard, only as an
item on which the steward of the tree intends to take action, and there
should be the expectation of negotiating with the public in some cases.
 
Randall Spahl
Certified Arborist - ISA


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________________________________

From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net
[mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of Fisher, Brian
Sent: 2008 June 27 1:19 PM
To: Dan Marzocco
Cc: Canadian Urban Forest Network
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] Hazard Tree Removal Signage


I don't think you create liability by posting signs, provided you
proceed with the work in a timely manner.
You might want to ask yourself why you want to post signs.
Surely you advise those who are most effected (e.g. adjacent home
owner). Why would you post a sign?
Is the removal optional ? Can the opinions (which you will solicit by
posting a sign) of the general citizenship
influence your decision ? If so, why is the removal happening ? 
If there are several trees in an area and therefore they will create an
impact in the community, I suggest you door-hangar
for 2 or 3 blocks but the focus of that message should be: "These trees
MUST be removed for public safety.
NEW trees will be REPLANTED within the next 6 (?) months."
While I support providing public information, I suggest it is counter
productive to :
1. seek approval if you are not prepared to accept "No".
2. allow the "generally uninformed" public to set your policy.
You are charged with the responsibility to 1. protect the city from
liability and the public from harm.
                                                       and 2. to protect
and maintain the trees that are under your care.
It would seem to me that it would be important to let the public know
that the decisions made to either retain or remove 
trees will be made by the City (with independent & expert advice if
necessary) but not influenced by factors other than 
tree health, public safety, or municipal liability.
Very frequently the public opinion  around removal retention is driven
by:
1.Wanting ( cooling) or not wanting (can't get my garden to grow)
shade.    
2. Keeping people from seeing in (screens) Keeping me from seeing out
(views).
Tough decisions to make if you allow these influences. 
Regards,
 

Brian Fisher B.A.

Certified Arborist - R.P. Bio.

 


________________________________

From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net
[mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of Dan Marzocco
Sent: 2008, June 26 1:58 PM
To: canufnet at list.web.net
Cc: David Speed; Gord Smith; Iggy Kadar
Subject: [CANUFNET] Hazard Tree Removal Signage


Good Afternoon All - Do any of you have any comments around posting
Hazard Trees with removal notices for a period of time as a way of
communicating the removals to the Public? One issue may be liabilities
if the tree falls during the posting period. How do you communicate
removals to the Public? Hope to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Thanks...Dan
 

Dan Marzocco 
Supervisor of Arboriculture 
Parks Division 
1 Centennial Square 
Victoria BC V8W 1P6 
Tel (250) 361-0603 
Fax (250) 361-0615 

 
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