That City Manager is requested to ensure adequate funding to fully repair the irrigation system in Danehy Park immediately

O-8 FIRST IN COUNCIL June 5, 2023 City of Cambridge COUNCILLOR NOLAN COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN COUNCILLOR CARLONE WHEREAS: Failure to timely repair Danehy Park’s irrigation system last summer (July 2022) caused about 14 trees to be cut down this May (2023), with more severely damaged and in danger of dying; and WHEREAS: The pump system near the Sherman St. entrance has not been completely repaired; and WHEREAS: The controller for the repaired pump system has now failed so that irrigation must be manually operated during the daytime which wastes staff time and also wastes water due to the inefficiency of daytime operation; and WHEREAS: There is a major leak in one of the underground irrigation mains near the Miyawaki Forest which prevents irrigation of some areas; and WHEREAS: The irrigation main was cut during construction work on New St preventing irrigation of that line of trees with one being removed and another likely terminally damaged by last year’s drought; and WHEREAS: Several sprinkler heads have failed which prevents irrigation of some areas; and WHEREAS: There is a major leak in an underground irrigation main under a concrete area in the new Louis D. Pasquale Universal Design Playground which prevents any irrigation at all for that facility; and WHEREAS: Irrigation systems have engineering complexities and underground failures are extremely difficult and time-consuming to diagnose by non-specialists without special equipment; and WHEREAS: More irreversible damage will be done to the tree canopy if the irrigation systems in Danehy Park and throughout our city are not properly maintained and in top working condition heading into to summer dry season; now therefore be it ORDERED: That City Manager be and hereby is requested to ensure adequate funding to fully repair the irrigation system in Danehy Park immediately and prior to the anticipated summer heat and drought; and be it further ORDERED: That City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back on this matter to the City Council by June 26, 2023.