1	Willow Glen Neighborhood Assoc (WGNA) Community Meeting on Illegal Tree Removal Hugh Graham, WGNA Land Use Cmte Ed Rast, WGNA President Larry Ames, WGNA Board at Willow Glen Baptist Church January 21, 2007
2	Expectations Civil Discussion of Situation and Events Citywide Polices and Practices Recommendations for Improvements Implementation
3	Officials & Others in Attendance Rhonda Berry, Our City Forest Nora Campos, SJ Councilmember Dist. 5 Rabia Chaudhry, Chief of Staff, Councilmember David Cortese Rob Davis, Chief, SJ Police Dept. Megan Doyle, Chief of Staff, Council Dist. 6 Rich Doyle, City Attorney Peter Furman, Chief of Staff, Mayor Reed Jamie Matthews, Code Enforcement Admin Ralph Mize, SJ City Arborist Kevin O’Connor, Deputy Dir., Dept. of Transportation Pierluigi Oliverio, candidate for SJ Council Dist. 6 Steve Tedesco, candidate for SJ Council Dist. 6
4	All-too-often, Trees are Removed without Permits
5	TR05-178 (12/19/05)
6	Police Need to Enforce “Stop Work” Orders
7	Development and Preservation can Coexist
8	More Examples
9	Observations Not “anti-development” -- just need to follow established procedures Probably need similar policy to protect Historic Buildings Not all trees or structures are worth saving Planning process has been established to balance preservation and development
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11	Recommendations Require valid Removal Permit, Business License, and Calif. Contractors License to be on-site for inspection Police can order stop-work if above not available Protect trees during construction (e.g., w/ fences) City should cancel all permits for violators and issue a stop-work order City should suspend or cancel licenses of violators and file a complaint to the Calif. License Board Increase the fines for violations Require violator to replace in-kind at the same location: don’t let developers benefit from their misdeeds
12	Community Comments, p. 1 Feb 6: City Discussion – kick-off, 1:30 at City Council Chambers: David Cortese, lead Rhonda Berry, Our City Forest: OCF Forum: Chuck Reed attended SJ signed on to United Nations accord Global warming: Trees absorb CO₂ Nancy Garrison, retired UC Extension: balance w/ property rights rules on pruning? street trees: should follow Nationwide pruning standard
13	Page 2 Ralph Mize, city arborist: pruning is a dangerous occupation: make sure company is licensed and insured; has certified arborists on staff Permits are needed for pruning sidewalk trees; permits are free. Citizens can make a “citizens arrest”, but be careful – they are armed w/ chainsaws. John Engell (Campus Community Assoc.): Current ordinance not strong enough, inconsistent Should arrest people illegally cutting trees – it is a misdemeanor Arborist’s office is in Dept of Transportation – that’s a joke! Other trees on private dept is under Dept. of Planning. Environmental Services; Parks & Rec & Com. Services City Gov’t is not set up for environmental issues.
14	Page 3 Doug Anderson, arborist: Education is important. Mtg 6/21 at Stanford. Kathryn Mathewson: trees lost on Lincoln HS. Major Eucalyptus trees replaced w/ 4 little cedars. No one was informed in advance about removal Price of trees: $30,000 to $60,000 for cost of tree like the sycamores that were lost. $9,000 fee is negligible. Alrie Middlebrook: Sustainable gardens, in harmony w/ environment. SJ doesn’t realize the local demand for value for environment. Community is empowered; SJ could be leader in sustainable community. “Green” schoolyards in SF; why not in SJ. Reorganize City Gov’t. need urban center for Sustainable Living
15	Page 4 Curt Gowan: City committed to having Saturday code enforcement; why did it stop? How about on-call on comp-time; don’t have to pay for too much staff. post URL on how to find contractor’s license on www.wgna.net website if contractor is not licensed: SJ run license check, can stop their actions. need to list URL for pruning standards on www.wgna.net Rebecca Schoenenberger: 3rd and 4th generations living next to those sycamore trees. City Police have no excuse for not stopping cutting City should be reorganized: Arborist is in Dept. Transportation?! Should apply to all neighborhoods, not just well-organized WG. Do Heritage Tree survey. Volunteers can explore their nghbrhds. SJ should be a model city. Need trees to survive. Police are here to protect and serve.
16	Page 5 Allen Bradley: City has as constituents also have developers and lobbyist. Tree supporters need to have weight w/ city, too – do we need our own lobbyist? Should we have gone for a court injunction? Annette Boyer: if City cancels the license of illegal contractor, it may affect unrelated contracts on other projects. What’s a misdemeanor? Compare w/ Infraction & Felony Police: Infraction (e.g., stop sign); Misdemeanor (might just be cited and released); Felony (armed robbery, etc.). Tree remover: might be cited for failure to obey an officer. Civil process may be better than Criminal process: can get sizeable fines rather than just cite-and-release.
17	Page 6 Info on permit status: www.SJPermits.org Jean Dresden: Inventory of urban forest: we in WGNA could do it ourselves Look at Heritage Tree process: have to nominated by property owner or w/ his/her permission. What if tree on private property and owner doesn’t want it. WGNA could make suggestions for Heritage tree nomination. Also inventory Parks: now can’t get Heritage tree recognition for those on Public Property Give design incentive to preserve trees: half-price on permits, extra sq.ft., something. Sandra Steege tried unsuccessfully tried to block removal of 77” circum. tree. were told there would be public hearing; haven’t heard from them what could a neighbor do to the tree on her property near fence: soil compaction, trimming, other damage to overhanging branches?
18	Page 7 Monica Johnston what happens to the people involved in the Camino Ricardo/Willow trees? Rick: City attorney office: citation issued; non-compliance Have to send a powerful message so it won’t be done again. Possible criminal actions, plus civil actions to get additional fines. tree cutter and property owner have been cited. Why wasn’t there an arrest? Warren Hanson (in Rosegarden) across the street: Historical home, vacant, bought by contractor. w/ 23 beautiful trees to be removed so house can be moved to make room for 2 new large dwellings. [ community comments recorded at meeting by L. Ames ]
19	Thank you for Attending Join the Willow Glen Neighborhood Assoc! Information and membership forms available on-line at www.wgna.net To join WGNA’s eList, send an email to admin@wgna.net with “join eList” or “digest eList” in the subject line. Email Corrections/comments on minutes to LAmes@aol.com. [1st draft, 1/21/07, 9 PM]