Title:
Title
Sacramento Convention Center Renovation and Expansion Project and the Community Center Theatre Renovation Project (M17100100) - Tree Removal
End
FileID
File ID: 2018-01582
Location
Location: 1400 J Street and 1301 L Street, District 4
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Pass a Motion approving: 1) the removal of twenty-nine trees located around the Sacramento Convention Center Renovation and Expansion (SCC) project to be replaced with forty-seven trees; and 2) the removal of sixty-seven trees located around the Community Center Theater Renovation (CCT) project to be replaced with thirty-three trees (M17100100).
Contact: Ofelia Avalos, Senior Engineer/Project Manager, (916) 808-5054; Fran Halbakken, Assistant City Manager/Project Executive, (916) 808-7194; Office of the City Manager
Body
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Memo from Urban Forestry
3-SCC Planting Plan
4-CCT Planting Plan
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: Plans and specifications for the SCC project require the removal of twenty-nine trees. Plans and specifications for the CCT project require the removal of sixty-seven trees. City Council approval is needed pursuant to City Code section 12.56.040. The contractor for the SCC project, AECOM Hunt Construction, will be responsible for removal of all the trees for both projects. AECOM Hunt Construction will replant the trees as part of the SCC project and Kitchell Inc. will replant trees for the CCT project.
Policy Considerations: The improvements to the SCC support the following goals and policies of the City’s General Plan:
• ERC 4.1.3 City-Owned Resources. The City shall enhance the quality of existing City-owned arts and cultural resources and facilities through reinvestment, communications and marketing.
• ERC 4.1.5 The city shall support renovation and expansion of SCC facilities and adjacent supportive infrastructure, including hotels, to attract top tier national and international events.
The recommendations in this report are in accordance with the General Plan, and City Code Chapter 12.56. A written notice of the proposal to remove City trees as part of a public project was posted in proximity to the trees at least 15 days prior to the City Council meeting.
Economic Impacts: Not applicable.
Environmental Considerations: On June 19, 2018, City Council approved Resolution No. 2018-0252 certifying the Environmental Impact Report and Mitigation Monitoring Plan for the SCC Renovation and Expansion Project. The project will require removal of City trees consistent with the City’s Tree Ordinance, City Code Chapter 12.56. On April 27, 2010, the City Council found the Community Center Theater Renovation project to be exempt from CEQA, citing CEQA Guidelines Section 15302 (Resolution 2010-208).
Sustainability: The SCC project will be designed utilizing energy efficient standards and will reduce the carbon footprint contribution, therefore helping meet the City of Sacramento’s sustainability goal. The City is pursuing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification with the U.S. Green Building Council for the SCC Renovation and Expansion Project in accordance with City policy LU 8.1.5 LEED Standard for City-Owned Buildings, which requires LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver or equivalent standard. The CCT project will be designed in accordance with City policy LU 8.1.5 and will meet the LEED Silver equivalent standards.
Landscaping and tree planting plans have been developed for both the SCC and CCT projects as part of the overall project design. Upon completion of the project, 47 new trees are proposed to be planted around the SCC and 33 trees around the CCT.
Commission/Committee Action: None
Rationale for Recommendation: Existing trees are required to be removed due to underground utility replacement, expanded footprint of the new building and failing health of certain trees.
Pursuant to section 12.56.040, written justification was provided to the City’s arborist, as designee for the Director of Public Works, who reviewed the justification and recommends approval of the removal of twenty-nine trees from the SCC project site and sixty-seven trees from the CCT construction project site, and the Planting Plans which propose replanting of 47 trees for the SCC and 33 trees for the CCT.
Financial Considerations: Sufficient funding is available in the Convention Center Complex Renovation Project Fund (M17100100). The tree removal is included in the Guaranteed Maximum Price construction contract for the SCC project that was approved by council on November 13, 2018.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): The construction contractor for the SCC, AECOM-Hunt Construction Inc. is an LBE firm.