Hurricane prep means steep tree fee for city

It will cost more than $2 million to replace, prune and brace the 402 trees damaged by Hurricane Wilma, and Naples city officials are grappling with how to foot the bill.

Now it turns out there may be 5,120 trees city officials weren't aware of — trees planted by residents on rights of way that belong to the city. That means Naples, designated a Tree City USA municipality, has 28,120 trees to maintain.

On Monday, Joe Boscaglia, the city's parks superintendent, outlined the options at a Naples City Council workshop. Pollarding, the pruning of tree canopies, will cost about $540,000 for 529 to 600 banyan (ficus) trees, while about 50 trees need to be braced at a cost of $700 each, and 127 need to be removed, which will amount to $88,900.

The total cost? About $2.62 million, unless pollarding isn't fully done.

Boscaglia, an arborist, said it was a misconception that pollarding helps trees during hurricanes and noted that Naples lost many aggressively pruned trees.

"The pollarding of banyans will not be regarded as protective immunity," he said of trimming about 6 or 7 feet from the canopies.

Despite Boscaglia's research, some council members pointed to anecdotal evidence that suggested pruned trees survived better. Councilwoman Penny Taylor said two well-trimmed trees in her yard survived, while a neighbor's unpruned tree fell on a home.

"People love their trees," Taylor said, urging Naples to spend the $540,000. "This is a Tree City USA. I don't think that's a lot of money to maintain our trees the way they should be maintained. ... I think the people will want it."

Councilman Gary Price, who lives on Leeward Lane next to Crayton Road, added: "The trees that were aggressively pruned on my street are still standing."

Still, the cost was a concern. Councilmen William MacIlvaine and John Sorey suggested pollarding the banyan trees incrementally to reduce the price, with Sorey recommending three or four years, while Councilman Bill Willkomm thought they should be done over one or two years.

Boscaglia acknowledged pollarding might give the trees a better chance during a hurricane, but when pressed by Sorey, who asked whether $540,000 was worth it, Boscaglia wouldn't recommend it.

"I would remove every banyan tree in the city before I pruned them," Boscaglia said, recommending replacing banyans with live oaks due to their good root system, smaller canopies, and ability to weather storms.

City officials are considering various funding options, from raising the millage rate by a cent, from 1.14 to 1.15, which will provide $130,000 in additional funding per penny increase, to putting it out to bond, or securing a bank loan. A voter referendum or grants also could be considered, but Boscaglia said that unlike funding after Hurricane Charley in 2004, grant money was scant for Wilma due to the severe damage Hurricane Katrina caused.

Ann Marie Ricardi, the city's finance director, recommended a bank loan due to current low rates — about 3.8 or 3.9 percent — for short-term loans.

City gadfly Henry Kennedy urged city officials to preserve the trees, saying Naples' most beautiful banyan was cut down to install a lake, which made him furious. "When you look at what this city actually spends, it's not a lot," Kennedy said of the $540,000, urging no more tree removal. "Naples ain't going to be so pretty."

Boscaglia also pointed out that nurseries don't have the trees city officials are leaning toward because nurseries also were hit by hurricanes so trees with larger canopies aren't available. Community Services Director David Lykins said the neighborhood tours have been completed and various areas throughout the city have voted on replacement trees.

Officials also were concerned about the lack of awareness over city tree guidelines. Various landscaping firms within the city have been warned that Naples city guidelines prohibit hat-racking, a pruning method that causes leafless trees that resemble hat racks. Some trees trimmed by outside firms were destroyed during the storm. And one homeowner whose landscaping firm damaged a tree through hat-racking was warned, Boscaglia said, adding: "There will be punitive measures in the future."

Homeowners also will be cautioned not to plant trees in city rights of way, the land abutting residents' properties that the city maintains. Residents planting trees has led to a mixture. Boscaglia explained: "Our goal has been to keep the city streetscapes consistent."

City officials will discuss tree funding options and the city budget further at Wednesday's 9 a.m. council meeting.