Council defers tree planting project
Large scale planting project will be deferred for one year
At Tuesday night’s Paso Robles City Council meeting, the council unanimously voted to defer a large-scale tree planting project that would be installed near the city’s the water tanks in Landscape and Lighting District Zone 10, in the area bordered by Rolling Hills Road, Golden Hill Road and Williams Plaza. The topic will be brought back before the council in one year, when they can re-consider the project pending the future drought conditions.
The existing trees and plant material on the hillside suffered significantly over the past three drought years from a minimally-designed irrigation system requiring numerous repairs, winter freeze and early extreme heat. The city proposed a plan to replant 50 trees around the tanks along with a tree bubbler irrigation system. The trees range in size from 15 gallon to 36” box and include both evergreen and deciduous varieties suitable for the area.
On October 21, 2014, the council authorized $20,215 from general fund reserves to cover the cost of fire hazard abatement and hillside irrigation and directed staff to proceed with plans to replant screening trees around the water tanks. Approximately $11,200 of that fund is estimated to be spent when the irrigation portion of the fire abatement is complete, leaving $9,015 for the purchase of the trees and for installation costs.
At the bid opening on April 16, 2015, one bid was received from Martinelli Landscape Construction, Inc. in the amount of $53,128.95. At Tuesday’s meeting, Public Works Director Dick McKinley presented a report that gave the option to the council to allocate $46,770 from the general fund for the project.
The council unanimously deferred the issue for one year. Next year, pending drought conditions then, the council will reconsider moving forward with the project.
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