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Home My Public Portal About2018-10-23 Jt PW and RO Comms -- Tree Regs Watertown Town Council Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown, MA 02472 Phone: 617-972-6470 ELECTED OFFICIALS: Joint Committee on Public Works and Rules & Ordinances Mark S.Sideris, Meeting: October 15, 2018 Council President Report: October 23, 2018 Vincent J.Piccirilli,Jr., Vice President& The Committee convened at 6:15 pm on Monday, October 15, 2018 in the Philip Pane District C Councilor Lower Hearing Room. Present were Public Works members Vincent Piccirilli, chair; Caroline Bays, Anthony Palomba,vice chair; Kenneth Woodland, secretary; and Rules and Ordinances Councilor At Large members Anthony Donato, chair; Kenneth Woodland,vice chair; Lisa Feltner, secretary. Additionally present were Town Council President Mark Sideris, Councilors Susan Falkoff Councilorr Att Large ge Michael i, and Caroline Bays and Forestry Supervisor/Tree Warden Chris Hayward. ar Anthony J.Donato, A list of attendees are on the Sign-In sheet, see Attachment A. Councilor At Large Anthony Palomba, The purpose of the meeting was to continue discussion regarding regulations to strengthen Councilor At Large the protection of trees. This meeting is a follow up from the Committee's discussion on April 30, 2018 where it was decided to collect more data on the topic with the assistance of District A Councilor Angeline B. is, Trees for Watertown and the Teens for Trees Initiative. Lisa J.Feltner, David Meshoulam of Trees for Watertown began the meeting by presenting the findings of District B Councilor the Teens for Trees canopy coverage study, conducted throughout the summer months. The Kenneth M.woodland, teens mapped the 12 precincts of Watertown and,using a phone app and satellite imagery, District D Councilor measured various aspects of the Town's tree inventory and related issues such a permeability,hardscape and surface temperature. Next,the results of the street tree inventory performed over the summer were presented. The presentation highlighted where trees currently exist,where trees could be planted, and noted that the process of individually mapping each tree is about 75%complete. A copy of the presentation is Attachment B. The raw data inventoried is also available online at tfwteensfortrees.or2 . Next,Libby Shaw of Trees for Watertown presented the benefits of trees for individuals and in an urban setting; see Attachment C. The Committee noted that ideally the data presented at the meeting could be integrated into the Town's existing database and that moving forward data collection of this sort would occur on a regular basis and include any additional planting or removals of trees. The consensus of the Committee was to make the proliferation of healthy,public shade trees a priority for the Town, in accordance with the four goals laid out at the April 30th meeting. 4 A motion was made by Councilor Woodland, seconded by Councilor Donato: For the Town Council to ask the Administration to develop an operational and budget priority for improving Watertown's public shade trees and increasing the Town's overall tree canopy by: (1) Developing a robust data collection process for public shade trees in Watertown, and(2)Analyzing the data to determine an action plan and to seek collaboration and partnership opportunities with community groups such as Trees for Watertown; and report back to the Public Works Committee for further discussion. Page 1 of 2 Joint Committee on Public Works and Rules & Ordinances Report: October 23, 2018 The motion was voted unanimously 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:05 pm. Report prepared by Kenneth Woodland Attachment A: Sign-In Sheet Attachment B: David Meshoulam- Teens for Trees -Presentation Attachment C: Libby Shaw-Trees for Watertown-Benefits of Trees Presentation Page 2 of 2 � z�[f8c[IIIleIl[ ^^ C) —~.. a6vz, Co vu Yl,e L) ' Attachment B Report on Watertowm'� Urban Forest, FaLL 2oi-8 Data collected by teens in Teens for Trees, a program of Trees for Watertown, and volunteers from Trees for Watertown and Elders' Cl i mate Action \�1REES FOR WATERTO�y 'i% I Teens for Trees\ �� Joint Committee Summary, April 2o18 1. Watertown residents want to live on pretty tree-lined streets, and the Town Council should make this both an operational and a budget priority. 2. Watertown should develop a data-driven plan to determine what neighborhoods and specific streets are underserved by public shade trees, identify specific locations in those areas to plant new trees, and develop budget policies based on this data. 3. As part of street & sidewalk construction projects, Watertown should identify locations for new street trees early in the process so that adequate planting beds can be designed into the project, and also institute policies so that existing street trees are both properly cared for and have their planting beds improved during such projects. 4. For planting new public shade trees in locations where no construction projects are planned, policies should be developed to insure such trees thrive in the long-term, by providing appropriate sized planting beds, by providing automobile barriers in locations where there are no curbs, and by planning the planting locations so that they will not be disturbed by future construction projects. y� �, • U7 I �x What Teens Learned • Different types of street trees • How to maintain trees o Pruning o Watering o Planting • How to measure trees (CBH & DBH) • Benefits of healthy urban forests • Benefits of programs like OpenTreeMap Benefits of our Urban Forest • Temperature regulation o Windbreak in winter o Shade in summer o Evaporative cooling o Lowering heating and cooling costs • Greenhouse gases: trees absorb CO2 • Reduce flooding due to extreme rain events • Provide rest and relaxation for residents • Support local wildlife such as the birds and the bees • Increase property value • Bring people out and build community Urban Heat Map of Watertown Two Analyses How to measure tree coverage? Throughout Watertown Public shade trees (private and public) Approach: Analysis of satellite imagery Approach: Complete street tree inventor using iTree Canopy (walking around town measuring trees) Results of Canopy Analysis Tree Canopy (left) / Permeability (right) ` -- e 1 Tree Cover by Precinct Permeability by Precinct O 12 8% _13%-18.9% z N % _17%-23% 21.3%-27.3% iV 23.1%-2 % N A 0 5r 1,000 2,000 Meters A _ 8.8 0 500 1,000 2,000 Meters � � � 26.9%-36.2% Results of Canopy Analysis Tree Canopy (left) / Impermeability (right) r Tree Cover by Precinct Impermeability by Pmclnct _13%-16.9% O 28% 17%-23% 28.1%-28.2% N N N 28.3%-31.7% _ A _23.1%-28.8% A 0 500 1,000 ' ' 2,000 Meters 0 500 1,000 2,000 Me[ers 31.8%-38.1% � � � 26.9%-36.2% I Results of Canopy Analysis Tree Canopy (left) / Buildings (right) jet 17 Tree Cover by Precinct Building Coverage by Precinct 012.9% 13.5%-ls sr _16.3%-22.2% _17%-23% N 22.3%-25.0% A _23.1%-26.6% A 0 500 000 2,000 Mete s 0 500 1,000 2,000 Ma-- 25.5% 6%-2 � � � 26.9%-36.2% N Overall Town Results Coverage Type in Watertown, MA 2018 (iTree Canopy results) Water Permeable 2 3% 23.9% Building 19.8% Tree Impermeable 26.0% 27.9% Results of Tree Inventory As of October 15, we have inventoried 3,423 trees! WARRENUALE Fresh Pond Golf Course ' � 4 f � � •;�. �t'y�� IeyC�ntr3rClub � + Warr �i � Or� • • �� en • '� T { � . Mt Auburn Cemetery ds t d i � �•� + � Gcnc +e Place • _ r� i � �A r y• RY �rr • + • '� y��f lip- :'■" E � iL0,/e �airyfa . +�• + �• + • TE RTOWN Cro ti• R u s sds$ • > •.rC ge �lea9anr$r�" �� y ••Target� � rreenvus carton s � `s he Are�nal �gt�o �� n Charles Q�QhefsY P The Home pePot filers ' N O N A N T B M s Vows Bridal Outlet 9 PeFor lli d c °�' rles rover Jump Or qp�� SY k°'''anfurnAd CYO Eco— Benefits Eco Benefits 0 Total annual benefits $1M,127 saved These trees save the town and TREE BENEFITS its residents over $188.000 per - 0 Energy conserved years 2.736,718 kwhlyear saved$152,862 0 5tormwater filtered 4,267,901 gal/year saved 53,414 Trees save money by: Air quality improved Reducing energy use 5,416lbslyear saved$27,290 Filtering water Improving the air we breathe 0 Carbon dioxide removed 1,365,153 Ibslyear saved$4,559 Removing CO2 from the air 0 Carbon dioxide stared to date 5,383,566 Ibs saved$17,981 Chances for Trees Watertown has lots of space to plant street trees Other issues notwithstanding, over 1 ,000 empty sites available W A R R E N D A L E t{ Fresh Pond Golf Course a * •�8elmv �tw l� A ve •� • • ,+ ? y ley C;rntrY.Gk4« • }. , •` ti�r +1• Mt Auburn Cemetery Genur y }•d• '�'• r . -F%VRI;� IA f1 'i W TERToWIN co Sr . F;■ �] �. N a p,gag8nt$r• job • •� rTarget �Cdeenou a* �w' raansi� q The Name Depot Vows Bridal Outlet Q for the Blind NONANTUM - w i' Jump On "�� MarIPS River �6� �ariqu�f7d �s fi `Trgss�a� ��1ts Turr+pke(Toff road) �¢ $ Cralr�S 'o BUT our work is not done! We still have 1 ,070 sites to inventory s; WE sr' � Gor a� t pm w 31 1CHE y f �4 Health of Public Trees Distribution of tree health in Watertown Good: 2674 trees 3.3% • Fair: 356 trees Poor: 104 trees • Dead but standing: 23 trees (0.8%) • Stump: 3 trees (0.09%) 84.6% Distribution by age (as measured by size) Size ❑istribution of Trees in Watertown, MA vs. Ideal Urban Distribution 50.00% ■ Watertown Distribution ■ Ideal distribution A0.00� 30.00% 20.00% 10.0c% IN% d Young:0"-S" Established: Maturing: Mature:24'+ 9'-17' 1 B'-24 More Info tfwteensfortrees.org Map: opentreemap.org/watertownma d avid Ptfwteensfortrees.orR Distribution by species Species Distribution, Watertown MA 25.00% 21.44% a� a� 15.00% 13.2C% 1, 32°� 10% "rule" 10.00 9.44% No more than 10%of single species in an urban stock b.4d% 5.45 5.03% 5.00% 2.72%2.57% 1.98% 1.95% 1.68% 1.53% 1.25% 0.87%0.84% 0.30% 0.21% 6 0.00% Qta4 C� a ago 9~� Q�2 �a� P� 189 a�a a�\ 169 C'�` `� a Tree Species Attachment C F ,I y.�r�rr,�ra.rpgd wprpyesacmf2p17/tAkmy�Ot82;yg 1. Watertown residents want to five on pretty tree-I;�r�.t.,1�LrL�,and the Town Councii should make this both an ❑perationaI and a budget priority. a treesforwatertown.org °s Presentation prepared October 10, 2018 by Libby Shaw, President, Trees for Watertown, for the Joint Public Works/Rules & Ordinances Subcommittee of the Watertown Town Council This presentation strives to make two points — to emphasize the mental and physical health benefits of a healthy urban forest, and to underscore the important role of urban trees in countering damaging effects of hotter and wetter weather ahead for Watertown. Forestry research has been done over the last few decades to quantify in dollar amounts the impact of the ecological services that urban street tree canopy provides: environmental cooling, air cleaning, storm water absorption, traffic calming, carbon sequestration and more. This monetizing is driven by the fact that urban street canopy is in troubling decline everywhere. Less straightforward to quantify monetarily, but also actively researched, are mental and physical health benefits of tree canopy near where we live and work. Image: Beautiful urban tree canopy in Madison, WI 1 All 41 The desire to live on pretty, tree-lined streets goes pretty deep. The beauty trees rewardus with serves a fundamental -• Our brains developed significantlygatherers. Research has shown that parts of our brain change •nnect with nature. We all love cities, or wouldn't be living here — but in lab-based studies, MRI scanning shows that when viewing urban scenes, blood flow to the amygdala — the "fight-or-flight" part of the brain — increases. This part of our brains views cities as potentially hostileenvironments. Source: • -• • • 1 • • •• •. • - • • • .�i � i ,ice. •``��• `j ,'�� •. M1* - 11� i In areas with more trees, people get out more, they know their neighborsmore, less nxiety ■ depression. AYE-• .�; y.. �-� `�'•IIFF"+ •rK fir, Natural scenes, �` �-" fir` `l� '7ts. ,.*.•ias* , ' :•� ti is ,ems j■4 L? � '��w'.:'•.��.x "!� •;,,�,�.�� s - L i� by •ntrast, light up the anterior • • the empathyinsula, where • altruism happen. Source: • -• • • 1 • • •• •. • - • • • Ashley Peace treeblog.co.uk yimproves how ■ - - a their health as feeling seven years younger. The sense of well-being is measurable and has a real impact on health as well as on community. • • '• the health benefits of trees in a variety of different contexts. Image: Ashley Peace treeblog.co.uk Beech leaves 4 If you have 10 more trees on a city block, it a improves how residents rated their health as al; much as having $10,000 more in income, or feeling seven years younger. Another study looked at mortality rates in areas which have lost millions of trees to emerald ash borer, and identified a corresponding increase in human mortality. •� .rN + ,Y� A i ti '1 t� In hospitals just a view of trees can improve outcomes. In prisons it can result in fewer conflicts. Conversely, the loss of tree canopy has been shown to correlate with increased mortality. Image: Ashley Peace treeblog.co.uk Beech leaves r ■ � t Less depression Less violence More community Improved sense of health and well-being Improved actual health, even from just a view of trees a, "We still know very little about the mechanisms linking trees and health," says Geoffrey Donovan, research forester with the US Forest Service. But there are theories. One is that nature is so mentally restorative that it gives our minds a rest from the forced, direct attention that modern life and urban environments increasingly call for. It relieves mental fatigue. It's really important to create and maintain this connection with trees, especially in children and teens. This is a reason why David Meshoulam's Teens for Trees program is so important for Watertown, as well as Judy Fallows' gardening program at schools, Arbor Day activities for elementary and middle school kids, Tree Walks like those TFW has led for Stephanie Venizelos' Watertown Walks! program and at Watertown Helps Out Day. Image: Ashley Peace treeblog.co.uk Beech leaves I t � r �r s` y �1� z ' 4* no,Eh.m.roArndao/ryLtidrr/�tirJ.�fo...,ahax,nJha-troods Trees are a vitally important component of urban climate adaptation strategy. t reesforwa te rtown.o rg Climate change is bringing dangerous increased heat and flooding to cities. Green infrastructure in the form of healthy urban trees helps manage and mitigate these risks to health and well-being. Image: northernwoodlands.org/articles/article/flower-show-in-the-woods What a sunny day feels like sjgnif—thy CIF ......... m Ca tirbge: tilt.i•' f..-.it Street in■i—le M1Rf 9A' 1 r Ir �r f,-,w', hapJA%ww.caftnd"y.coWO17111r25Ino-actiandespite-threat-oi-Gimale-chaVe-and�own.org is-Smrqunw This series of pictures from an EPA case study carried out in Cambridge show the dramatic tempering affect on urban air temperatures of the shade and transpiration provided by tree canopy. From 2017 Cambridge Day article by Susan Labandibar http://www.cambridgeday.com/2017/11/25/no-action-despite-threat-of- climate-change-and-cambridges-tree-canopy-is-shrinking/ 8 What a sunny day feels like Fawe a R St—t 'A%dh 1.0. e r..r j Oldl,y sr—ii N.-- r and-YR'4&WtWtQWB.O rg This series of pictures from an EPA case study carried out in Cambridge show the dramatic tempering affect on urban air temperatures of the shade and transpiration provided by tree canopy. From 2017 Cambridge Day article by Susan Labandibar http://www.cambridgeday.com/2017/11/25/n o-action-despite-th reat-of- climate-change-and-cambridges-tree-canopy-is-shrinking/ 9 What a sunny day feels like .:I�-�.-..,• ..Fawea St—t Mft �p/�• ' tslit ,r14 Aron Hill �1 L;: g www Wsr e 153tlrinkmg awn This series of pictures from an EPA case study carried out in Cambridge show the dramatic tempering affect on urban air temperatures of the shade and transpiration provided by tree canopy. From 2017 Cambridge Day article by Susan Labandibar http://www.cambridgeday.com/2017/11/25/no-action-despite-threat-of- climate-change-and-cambridges-tree-canopy-is-shrinking/ 10 t a Qeirem�.^s xres nnna•ess x—?NJd!mcad•c?.-- Tree shade can drop summer pavement temperatures by 25' F treesforwatertown.orgLL �s a wnmr Along with a blessed drop in air temperature under tree canopy, there's also s a huge drop in the temperature of hard surfaces. Under direct solar radiation, hardscape stores heat like an oven. Nighttime air temperatures are also significantly higher with no tree canopy -- those hot surfaces radiate heat stored during the day. Image: https://dekerivers.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/imgp0182.jpg "The Value of urban trees became clear to us when we documented a 4C N u[,, i increase 1n summer electricity usage in a Worcester nei0borhood after nearly all trees had to be removed due to the Asian Long-horned Beetle epidemic," -- DC Commissioner Jack Murray r s � Dr.moe O'Oc�NI 8r[nr+uih ror• a M �Tyi [•F treesforwatertown.org Ws r K,,t Two photos of a street in Worcester, before and after most of the trees were removed to control the spread of Asian Long-horned Beetle. A dramatic illustration of the impact of loss of tree canopy. 12 3. As part of street&sidewalk construction projects,Watertown should identify locations for new street trees early in the process so that adequate planting beds can be designed into the project,and also institute policies so that existing st, c 6L,c;Gs are both properly cared for and have their planting beds improved during such projects. r J E - dAs�e'kuerrYeama a J � treesforwatertown.org �s a w� Many streets in Watertown look about as barren as the street on the right. If good planting sites aren't planned for early in street renovation design, the opportunity is too often lost to provide trees with adequate growing conditions for long healthy lifetimes. But with careful planning of planting sites, even heavily paved neighborhoods show dramatic benefit from the addition of tree canopy. 13 w w r X q n "sr Source: The Trust for Public Land,https:llweb.tplgis.orgl treesforwatertown.or Ws g Watertown tree canopy c. 2011. Note the dramatic change in canopy cover at town borders along Belmont Street/Trapelo Road to the north and along the Mass Pike to the south. Note the green snake of the Charles River, and Mount Auburn Cemetery on the right. 14 i jP < r � t treesforwatertown.org Ws r w Kyt About 40 years ago I moved from Somerville to an apartment in East Watertown, where I still live today. My new neighborhood was a lot like this: narrow streets of two-family, 1920's, factory-worker housing with tiny front yards and a little space out back to garden. But — it had a beautiful canopy of mature maple trees reaching across the street from both sides. Formerly tree-shaded neighborhood in East Watertown r • r :4 treesforwatertown.org Ws r w.« Today that mature canopy is long gone. This a Google street view picture from 2007 of the once deep-canopied, once exceptionally beautiful tree that was in front of our house. Gone now, along with almost all of the other trees on the street. No one said, "we must do away with tree canopy on the streets of Watertown." It just happened, tree by tree. A tree down the street from me blew over in Tropical Storm Sandy because a homeowner had cut its roots on one side. Street trees have been cut down to make room for new driveways. NSTAR utility pruning in 2009 dealt a serious blow to the stability and health of trees all over town. Sidewalk repairs damage roots. Roots are starved of oxygen and water when cars park on them and when open soil nearby is paved over. 4. For planting new public shade trees in locations where no construction projects are planned, policies should be developed to insure such trees thrive in long-term, by providing appropriate sized planting beds, by providing automobile barriers in locations where there are no curbs, and by planning the planting locations so that they will not be disturbed by future construction projects. hffp/.kiw.toresfwa der[am•20C5:VS'sprng•�rd.a:,n y,ny•f•e nl treesforwatertown.org �s a nmr w To item 4 in the joint committee's statement could valuably be added: "...and by ensuring trees are properly planted." On-site municipal supervision is critical to achieving proper planting. Watertown's decision to hire a full-time Forestry Supervisor/Tree Warden should bring much better lifetime outcomes for Watertown public shade trees. http://www.forestwander.com/2009/05/spring-bird-singing-tree/ ] f ; t "r Trees will grow where they can. But if we want trees with large canopies and large root systems, which are the trees that deliver exponentially more ecosystem services, we need to make sure the trees can have long healthy lifetimes by making sure they're planned for well -- especially, by making sure they're planted well. 18 4.w�ti.w w Mw.we ay..drY. .wr.�w..rwq�ww�pY..lw G ltw.1 1..MFwM Mw ll..Y.w.M W._ M.�d•_(lry.f In.�Y 0.d ffa}.L�lww.t Gnar eCa.Wqi treesforwatertown.org °s Soil volume is very important. If we want large shade trees, we need to provide adequate soil volume to support a large shade tree. When tree roots seeking nutrients reach a barrier, they change direction of growth to avoid it. In a container, they circle. if they circle the trunk, eventually they will girdle (strangle) the tree. �Al. '�• Ill A +�, Ph..1"A'r LIU-S.maq L. 3i treesforwatertown.org Planting technique is very important. Girdling roots are a national epidemic, the result of a nation-wide change in growing and planting practices. When a tree is planted from a container without carefully spreading out the roots, and/or when a tree is planted too deep in the planting hole, trunk-girdling roots may lead to premature decline and death 8, 12, 20 years after planting. This is a terrible waste. We are lucky to have a full-time Tree Warden now, who can oversee tree planting to ensure public shade trees are getting a good start in Watertown. ,r The financial savings to a city that a big street tree provides are impressive, and they increase in value with every year of healthy growth. The City of Chicago values healthy mature trees at $40K - 80K per tree. Multiply all the ecosystem, social and health benefits of a tree by hundreds of trees and you can see how supporting a population of healthy big shade trees should be a major part of every municipality's infrastructure planning and annual budget. Image: Ashley Peace treeblog.co.uk Beech leaves 21 Thank you from Trees for Watertown! .. L MAW f - s, treesforwatertown.or Ws g Watertown Delta, 1935, 8 years after planting three young Norway maples. That trio of healthy trees thrived for many decades, a beautiful signature of Watertown. End of Presentation Presentation prepared October 10, 2018 by Libby Shaw, President, Trees for Watertown, for the Joint Public Works/Rules & Ordinances Subcommittee of the Watertown Town Council