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TR-2022-037 Arborist Peer Review N^OCA* It�pment Detpartmept Wes Coast Ar orists Inc.—City of Cupertino—Peer Review- Vallco Project Tr•cP I fn�n I,ng!/UsV'i&t OnSrr A4perrtll�iLQ ities Who Care About Trees 8.4.22 Kelley Gilleran CUPERTINO APPROVED Case # TR-2022-037 Auun u—ORIST REPORT Application Number(s) Approval Body: Director/ StafF CUPERTINO, CA Approval Date A,J10322 Signature Brianne Harkousha City of 6UPONA r& ATTN:Brianne Harkousha 10300 Torre Ave. Cupertino, CA 95014 Phone: (408) 777-7907 Email: brianneh@cupertino.org Re: Peer Review of Arborist Report for Redwood Removals at the Vallco Project SCOPE OF WORK The purpose of this report is to provide a peer review of an arborist report submitted to the City of Cupertino by Walter Levison, a consulting arborist with WLCA,evaluating the current condition of seven Coastal Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) trees. I performed a ground-level visual inspection of the subject trees and reviewed the supplied arborist report. OBSERVATIONS I visited the site on Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022, and m findin s are as follows: J. EE I y' - F • I ,�,L The red box in the above image depicts the general locations of the subject trees. 1 lPage t � - s � g � a k f a r _- i + y. R' it a' � V i 1. a e� i eir WWI � 1 1 ¢yt.l1• �, � 1 T: _ g 4 _ �� '✓.may�" _ •• • i • ' - fie d •�ti.r° } ,di, �''�fhv F .A i F3 d jam,":E xr � 7 `4 4 � � a i ,F,,, c� �{ ,a'• _ b—. .. a a!r. •'.rf � ,�fl c, �. � •� � 1 1 1 1 N^0CA* xPment Detpartmept n Wes Coast Ar orists Inc.—Cityo Cupertino—Peer Review- Vallco Project Tr,P I mn�n I,ng!/UsV<i&1 OnSr A4perrtll�iyQities Who Care About Trees 8.4.22 Kelley Gilleran CUPERTINQ APPROVED Case # t Approval Body' fry Approval Date Signature :.a` Al �r 31•`i v+t �.� r- �Yak _ �. - �� , ��y � � � 1 1 S t � 7 E•�A-f r" �I 1' t �'t"� i Sa Tree#834 has a dead top and is crowded by adjacent trees. 4 1 P a g e N^0cA* xPment Detpartmept n Wes Coast Ar orists Inc.—Cityo Cupertino—Peer Review- Vallco Project Tr,P I mn'n I,ng!/UsV<I,S1kOnSr A4perrtll�iyQities Who Care About Trees 8.4.22 Kelley Gilleran CUPERTINQ APPROVED Case # ber(s) Approval Bod fF Approva I Date Signature �ha y; d r t k� rar �ytr. t� .�� - 'I i`' ,� �,yam �• '� I r T 9. y "Pr• rt� • .� 1gw !.'r4Rj7+'�111 s F"F'M h� � e iL,.� l ol �r Tree# 804 has a dead top and is 85% dead. 5 1 P a g e N^0CA* xPment Detpartmept n Wes Coast Ar orists Inc.—Cityo Cupertino—Peer Review- Vallco Project Tr,P I fn�n I,ng!/U sV<i&1 OnSr 'A4perrtll�iyQities Who Care About Trees 8.4.22 Kelley Gilleran CUPERTINQ APPROVED Case # -0- pplic umber(' � r � Approval Body: Direct t' P Approva I Date 10/18/ Signature Brianne Hark Case M z d .r. Tree#669 has a dead top and is 60%dead. -- r r - -. The tree is leaning and strapped to an adjacent power pole. 2 small cavities in the stem. 6 1 P a g e N^0cA* xPment Detpartmept n Wes Coast Ar orists Inc.—Cityo Cupertino—Peer Review- Vallco Project Tr,P I mn�n I,ng!/UsV<i&1 OnSr A4perrtll,,riyQities Who Care About Trees 8.4.22 Kelley Gilleran CUPERTINQ APPROVED Case # � •F �� •r�'' f Approval Bod Approva I Date Signature YZ All 41 I L _ I t Y 1 h l �y x G alA i M, w f Trees#634 and 635 both have dead tops and are about 75% dead. 7 1 P a g e N^0CA* xPment Detpartmept Wes Coast Ar orists Inc.—City of Cupertino—Peer Review- Vallco Project Tr•cP I fn�n I,ng!/UsV'i&t OnSrr A4perrtll�iyQities Who Care About Trees 8.4.22 Kelley Gilleran CUPERTINQ APPROVED Case # COS ,940N I w9Rq§ktls'd WTMOtity of Cupertino the following three questions about the report w ten to Levison. My responses are below in red text. Approval Body: �VOA7� ecjQr��ta f venfy if removal is recommended and assess the trees proposed to be Approval DateFe they dead hould be removed? Is removal justified, please Signature Brianne ait"hy or why not. .pqwfasfessional opinion, all the trees in question (tree #s 854, 840, 834, 804, 669, 635, and 634) should be removed and replaced. They are not 100% dead but vary from 60-80% dead with several dead branches and tops (see photos). Many adjacent trees are in better condition than the subject trees, so preserving these stressed trees with structural defects does not appear feasible in the future. 2. Please verify how the trees may be saved or if the trees died based on lack of proper care. Explain what type of care would've saved these trees. The trees appear to have been drought stressed in the past, which may have led to their decline. Proper irrigation during the hot, dry months is essential for coast redwood as a species. The dead tops and branches have left the trees in poor structural condition. The crowding by adjacent trees means it is unlikely that saving/salvaging the remainder of the canopy will result in a well-structured tree that will not have problems with branch failures in the future. 3. Please verify if there is a replacement plan and if its acceptable/supported per your expertise of tree replacements, to ensure that the tree being removed is adequately replaced. No replacement plan was supplied to me to review. 4. Please verify if the replacement plan includes trees planted at grade level and that the trees being replaced are located near or at similar locations as the ones removed. No replacement plan was supplied to me to review. 5. Please verify that the timing for replacements would be sufficient and would ensure a healthy tree will be grown. Please recommend specific timing for replacements. No replacement plan was supplied to me to review. In my professional opinion, the report submitted to the City of Cupertino by Walter Levison with WLCA was accurate. Thank you for the opportunity to assist you in your arboricultural needs. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at (916) 417-1979. Respectfully, Kelley Gilleran ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #688 ISA Board Certified Master Arborist #WE7061-BM 8IPage N^0CA* xPment Detpartmept Wes Coast Ar orists Inc.—City of Cupertino—Peer Review- Vallco Project Tr•cP I fn�n I,ng!/UsV'i&t OnSrr A4perrtll�iLQ ities Who Care About Trees 8.4.22 Kelley Gilleran CUPERTINO APPROVED Case # TR-2022-037ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITING CONDITIONS Application Number(s) Approval Body/:•�9hfto obtain all information from reliable sources.All data has been verified msof� bpi le;however,the Consultant can neither guarantee nor be responsible for the Approval Dateaee„r , rmation:rnvir�ed h�ntherc Signature Bria ne 1-140ush I HU%-,V be required to give ae anager testimony or to attend court by reason of this report unless subsesquent contractual arrangements are made,including payment of an additional fee for such services as described in the fee schedule and contract of engagement. 3.Loss or alteration of any part of this report invalidates the entire report. 4.Possession of this report or a copy thereof does not imply right of publication or use for any purpose by any other than the person to whom it is addressed,without the prior written consent of the Consultant. 5.This report and any values expressed herein represent the opinion of the Consultant,and the Consultant's fee is in no way contingent upon the reporting of a stipulated result,a specified value,the occurrence of a subsequent event,nor upon any finding to be reported. 6.Unless expressed otherwise: 1)information contained in this report covers only those items that were examined and reflects the condition of those items at the time of inspection;and 2)the inspection is limited to visual examination of accessible items without dissection,excavation,or coring.There is no warranty or guarantee,expressed or implied,that problems or deficiencies of the tree(s)or property in question may not arise in the future. 7.Arborists are tree specialists who use their education,knowledge,training,and experience to examine trees,recommend measures to enhance the beauty and health of trees,and attempt to reduce the risk of living near trees.It is highly recommended that you follow the arborist recommendations;however,you may choose to accept or disregard the recommendations and/or seek additional advice. 8. Arborists cannot detect every condition that could possibly lead to the structural failure of a tree. Trees are living organisms that fail in ways we do not fully understand.Conditions are often hidden within trees and below ground.Arborists cannot guarantee that a tree will be healthy or safe under all circumstances,or for a specific period of time.Likewise,remedial treatments performed cannot be guaranteed. 9.Any recommendations and/or performed treatments(including,but not limited to,pruning or removal)of trees may involve considerations beyond the scope of the arborist's services,such as property boundaries,property ownership,site lines,disputes between neighbors,and any other related issues.Arborists cannot take such considerations into account unless complete and accurate information is disclosed to the arborist.An arborist can then be expected to consider and reasonably rely on the completeness and accuracy of the information provided. 10.Trees can be managed,but they cannot be controlled.To live near trees is to accept some degree of risk.Trees carry risk.The only way to eliminate all risks associated with trees is to eliminate all trees. 9 Page