Loading...
Res. No. 236-00-11128RESOLUTION NO. 236-00-11128 A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA, RELATING TO STREET TREES, PETITIONING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO DIRECT THE MIAMI -DADE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS & TRAFFIC TO ADOPT AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIENTIOUS STREET TREE PLANTING PROGRAM BASED UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS SET FORTH HEREIN. WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission of the City of South Miami believes that it is the role of government to act as agents for the greater public good, and; WHEREAS, one such public good is the preservation and enhancement of native ecological communities within Miami -Dade County, and; WHEREAS, in furtherance of this public good, the upcoming planting of street trees by the County in public rights -of -way should be consistent with the aforementioned goal of ecological enhancement, particularly with respect to species selection, tree groupings, and species location within the County; and; WHEREAS, the City further urges the County to emphasize native species listed as "threatened" or "endangered" by contract - growing such species with local nurseries, thereby creating an economy for these at -risk native plants, and; WHEREAS, furtherance of the goals of the Cool Communities organization, the use of canopy shade trees should be promoted over the use of palm trees in order to help mitigate "heat sinks" that increase ambient temperatures within urban areas. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The City of South Miami hereby petitions the Board of County Commissioners to direct the Miami -Dade County Public Works & Traffic Department to adopt the tree planting recommendations attached hereto as Attachment A. Section 2. The City of South Miami further petitions the Board of County Commissioners to direct the Miami -Dade County Public Works & Traffic Department to contract -grow native species listed as "threatened" or "endangered" in order to create an economy for these at -risk endemic species. /continued ... RESOLUTION NO. 236-00-11128 Page 2 of 2 Section 3. The Street Tree Recommendations attached hereto as Exhibit A are hereby adopted into this resolution. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2155 day of N o v e m h e @000. ATTEST: CITY CLERK Y n APPROVED: 7zz�gxalaov / MAYOR CITY OF SOUTH MIAMI INTER - OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and Commission FROM: Charles D. Scurr REQUEST DATE: November 21, 2000 ID SUBJECT: Agenda Item # Commission Meeting, November 21, 2000 A RESOLUTION PETITIONING THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DIRECTING THE MIAMI -DADE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS & TRAFFIC DEPARTMENT TO ADOPT AN ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIENTIOUS STREET TREE PLANTING. The attached resolution petitions the Board of County Commissioners to direct the Miami -Dade County Public Works & Traffic Department (DCPW &T) to adopt an environmentally conscientious street tree planting program, in accordance with the recommendations attached hereto. BACKGROUND The Miami -Dade County Public Works & Traffic Department has a budget of $800,000.00 for fiscal year 2000/2001 for new planting projects, and a $200,000.00 budget for the replacement of dead trees / palms in county -owned rights-of-way. Local governments, including the County, have not always used the most appropriate street trees in their thoroughfares, and as a result, they have missed opportunities to maximize the potential benefits to the public. For example, the section of SW 62 "d Avenue which runs through our City is lined with palm trees; these palms provide insignificant shade to pedestrians, attract graffiti, and do very little to improve the appearance of the right -of -way itself. Also, we have seen the problems associated with using inappropriate exotics in rights -of -way, such as the fragile Silver Trumpet (Yellow Tabebuia) which are notorious for falling over in even the slightest storm. Accordingly, the attached resolution would petition the County to adopt a proper and environmentally conscientious tree planting program in order to maximize the benefits to the public good. /continued ... Mayor and City Commission Street Tree Petition November 21, 2000 Page 2 of 2 ANALYSIS The goals of this initiative are necessarily modest, but still significant. Knowing that ultimately the Miami -Dade County Street Tree Program will be implemented by engineers and others who may not have specific botanical training, the more complex the recommendations become, the less likely they will be implemented. Therefore, factoring in concerns such as soil classification, rainfall maps, groundwater table elevations, and historical distribution studies (let alone site - specific characteristics) would, no doubt, relegate this initiative to a forgotten bookshelf. Simplicity is the key to acceptance. Accordingly, the goals of this proposal are two -fold. First, the need for appropriate shade trees is paramount to helping cool ambient temperatures throughout the County. The non -shade producing palms favored by the County in the past for street trees are not helpful in this regard. You should also note that the recommendation for street shade trees is also strongly supported by the Cool Communities organization. Second, in accord with environmental preservation goals, any large -scale initiative adopted by the County should be ecologically consistent (as much as possible within the simplicity objective) with the endemic biotic communities of South Florida. As agents for the public good, the City as well as the County should strive to preserve endemic species and biotic communities of South Florida by utilizing native trees in groupings that make ecological sense. Moreover, in furtherance of this environmental objective, the use of "threatened" and "endangered" species must be emphasized. Inasmuch, many of these "at risk" species may have to be contract grown using local nurseries if these species are not commercially available. Purchasing decisions drive economies. The County's $1 million dollar planting program could make a significant move toward a native tree market within the County. RECOMMENDATIONS Attached as Exhibit A are the specific recommendations for the County's Planting Program. Approval of this resolution is recommended. Attachments Exhibit A Recommended Tree Plantings The goal is to plant native shade trees in groupings that make ecological sense. Accordingly, outlined below are three groups of trees from South Florida's principal botanical niches. Each tree is listed with their natural ecological associates, and each groups includes simplified regional distribution information to assist with group selection. Not every species needs to be selected from each group for any given plan. Rather, should a variety of trees be desired, the selection of trees should be from the same group to achieve the goal of "ecological consistency ". Tree Grouping No. 1: Coastal Hammock Ideal for eastern parts of the county (east of US 1) Street Shade Trees Willow Bustic Blolly White Mangrove Green Buttonwood Soapberry Scientific Name Sideraxylon salicifolium Guapira discolor Lagumulana racemosa Conocarpus erector Sapindus saponaria For Underneath Powerlines Silver Buttonwood Conocarpus erectus Boxwood Scbaefferia frutescens Bitterbush Picramnia pentandra Rhacoma Crossopetalum rbacoma Notes Medium -sized flowering tree Medium -sized ornamental Large tree Large tree Medium -sized flowering tree Small tree to 20' Small tree, Endangered -FL Small ornamental, Endangered -FL Small tree, Endangered -FL Tree Grouping No. 2: Tropical Hammock Ideal for the central parts of the county (between US 1 and Turnpike) Street Shade Trees Satinleaf Live Oak Mahogany Paradise Tree Torchwood Lancewood Pigeon Plum Scientific Name Cbrysophyllum oliforrne Quercus virginiana Swietenia mabagoni Simaroubaglauca Amyris elemifera Nectandra coriacea Coccoloba diversifola Notes Medium -sized ornamental Large tree Large tree Large tree with broad canopy Large tree with fragrant flowers Medium -sized tree Large tree Continued ... Exhibit A Recommended Tree Plantings (Page 2 of 2) Tree Grouping No. 2: Tropical Hammock (continued) Ideal for the central parts of the county (e.g., between US I and Turnpike) For Underneath Strongbark Simpson Stopper Spicewood Tetrazygia Redberry Stopper Red Stopper Powerlines Bourreria ovata (B. succulenta ) Myrcianthes fragrans Calyptranthes pallens TetraUgia bicolor Eugenia confusa Eugenia rhombea Small tree to 20', Endangered -FL 20' ornamental, Threatened -FL Small 20' tree, Threatened -FL Small tree to 15', Threatened -FL Small tree to 20', Endangered -FL Small tree to 15', Endangered -FL Tree Grouping No. 3: Everglades Hammock Ideal for western parts of the county, or within residential drainage swales (note: these trees are adaptable, and don't have to be planted in wet areas) Street Shade Trees Sugaxberry Celtis laevigata Sweetbay Magnolia Magnolia virginiana Red Bay Persea borbonia Dahoon Holly Ilex cassine Bald- Cypress Taxodiam distichum For Underneath Powerlines Myrsine Myrsine guianensis Wax Myrtle Mynca cerifera Marlberry Ardisia escallonioides Cocoplum Chrysobalanus icaco Large tree Medium -sized tree Medium -sized tree Medium -sized Ornamental Large tree Small tree to 20' Small tree to 20' Ornamental to 20' Small tree to 20' Author: David K. Goodin, City of South Miami Stormwater Utility Manager References Haehle, Robert G., and Brookwell, J. Native Florida Plants. Houston, Texas: Gulf Publishing Company, 1999. Wunderlin, R. P. and B. F. Hansen. 2000. Atlas of Florida l'umzdar Planes ( http: / /www.plantatlas.usf.edu /).[S. NM. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), Florida Center for Community Design and Research] Institute for Systematic Botany, university of South Florida, Tampa.