Agenda - City of Santa Monica

Task Force selected the Queensland Kauri (Agathis robusta)
as their recommendation to Council for the Esplanade tree.
This evergreen tree provides strong framing design features:
it is a t all columnar tree with small leaves that provide
dappled shade; the branches grow close to the trunk,
meeting the need to maintain the view shed to the Pier Sign
and not obscure retail signage; the tree is especially
adaptable to tight sidewalk conditions next to building faces;
is fast growing and is appropriate to the coastal climate of
Santa Monica. Two alternative evergreen trees discussed at
length with the subcommittee are the Canary Island Pine
(Pinus canariensis) and the Spotted Gum (Corymbia
maculate). B oth alternative trees have impressive stature,
and have narrow canopies so as not to impede views to the
sign, and both species provide dappled shade and visibility
through the canopy and are appropriate to the climate and
proposed tree well conditions. The Canary Island Pine is a
large pyramidal evergreen tree that is planted throughout the
Southern California. The Spotted Gum is a t all evergreen
tree that has a round habit and distinctive bark and leaf
coloration. Based on recommendations from the City’s Urban Forester the existing
street trees will be r elocated if their health permits and replaced by the new
Esplanade trees.
Funding: The street trees are character-defining elements of the Esplanade and
integral to the symmetrical cross section of the street, and therefore are part of the
recommended core project. The tree sizes have been value engineered from 48” or
60” box size at time of planting to 36”, however, the Agathis robusta is a fast
growing tree and is anticipated to thrive in the proposed north side tree wells and
south side parkway proposed for Colorado Avenue.
G. Public Art: The selection of artist Deborah Aschheim was approved by the Public Art
Committee of the Arts Commission at their June 18, 2012 meeting. Ms. Aschheim,
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