CMA 2016 #232 · Agenda item attachment · Aug 1 2016

July 27, 2016 To: Richard C. Rossi, City Manager From: Owen O’ Riordan, Commissioner, DPW Re: Awaiting Report 16 – 17 Watering trees and an “Adopt-a-Tree program The Department of Public Works recognizes the passions and concerns that many neighbors share around the health and well-being of our tree population, most particularly our street tree population. Over the past year the Public Planting Committee together with the Department of Public Works has spent a great amount of time and effort addressing some of the core issues associated with tree care in the community and has developed new tree planting specifications, that include; watering during the first two years after planting, so as to better address this key concern as we continue to plant in the coming years. In an effort to further improve tree care throughout the City, the Department of Public Works deploys an early morning truck crew to water our street trees during the summer months and such is supplemented by the employment of two water -by - bike interns who also place water in gator bags and additionally act as tree ambassadors in the neighborhoods to encourage neighbors and friends to look after the well-being of trees on their streets. Preliminary discussions have been had with the Public Planting Committee about how best to implement an Adopt a Tree program in the City and the City Arborist and support staff at DPW are happy to further explore such an initiative this fall and report back to City Council with findings Finally, the Department of Public Works, working in coordination with the Finance Department, will be sending an educational insert about tree care to all 15,000 of Cambridge’s residential water customers over the coming months. A copy of this insert is attached.