Special item on the meeting agenda of the Board of Appeals to discuss some of the errors in judgment by BUF in the process of removal of the trees a couple weeks back:
5pm, Wednesday July 29th (we are item 8 though so it may be after 6pm)
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86118859379
Zoom meeting ID: 888-475-4499
Access by Telephone: 888-475-4499 (Toll Free)
Agenda here https://sfgov.org/…/meeti…/board-appeals-july-29-2020-agenda
https://sfgov.org/bdappeal/meetings
Discussing comments rose in this meeting: https://sfgov.org/…/Board%20of%20Appeals%20Meeting%20Minute
Items to highlight:
- Tree removals occurring by BUF before a replacement plan that had had community involvement (including the appellants) was approved. BUF have said this was requested by HVNA but was in direct contravention to the mandate set down by the board of appeals in their judgment of the appeal.
- Unsanctioned major pruning of 3 non-ficus trees that were not to be pruned, with what look to be visible nests in that should have been left alone for that reason (video attached). BUF later said that this was a mistake that shouldn’t have happened and they thought on later investigation they were squirrel nests (which I’m not sure I believe) but regardless, it’s still nesting season till the end of August and any nests should have meant that tree was left well alone.
San Francisco forms part of the important bird migration route called The Great Pacific Flyway. It’s an essential stopping point for all sorts of rare and threatened species. We should also consider all life precious, our local urban birds matter too.
It’s important we show up so that the new tree removal work scheduled to be started on the 27th July (this Monday) is done with environmental thoughtfulness and care.
As a reference point, the people who did the last tree work were all employed by the city, the people doing the work this week are contractors with even less oversight.
Questions to ask:
- What oversight and accountability will there be on site in the upcoming work?
- What level of ecological training do the contractors have?
- How can we avoid mistakes like these happening in the future?