https://ukiahca.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2387/files/attachment/17389

The Report was released today in anticipation of the City Council meeting next Wednesday, April 15. The key section seems to be Chapter 5: Tree Management. There seems to be an inconsistency in its reasoning. On page 36, it states "Before establishing a framework, an ISA-certified or Registered Consulting Arborist should conduct a tree inventory and assessment to evaluate the health and stability of existing trees and determine their tolerance to disturbance within critical root zones. The arborist report can help inform a preferred framework and succession plan for the existing trees." Then, on Page 39, it states that "Without an arborist’s study of the trees, the possibility of retaining the existing trees is unknown and is likely not feasible. . . . The risk of pruning the roots and potential risk to the trees’ life outweighs the potential benefit of retaining the existing trees. Therefore, the trees must be removed and replaced . . ."

The flaw is that they start by saying that an independent arborist must evaluate each tree to see if it can be saved, but then assert a sweeping conclusion that all of the existing trees must be removed. Our position is that as many trees as possible must be saved, and that evaluation of each tree should be required before any tree is removed. They only describe a small area where the roots are currently causing significant damage.

The Council must provide specific direction for individual tree evaluation. The argument that all of the trees must be removed to allow young trees enough sunlight appears to be self-serving speculation. During the public session, no one offered any data to support that conclusion, especially if some of the older trees are removed. Keeping some legacy trees while a new generation grows around them is Nature's way.

I will send another update to the 3,000 signers and a letter to the UDJ tomorrow. The more people who show up at the meeting on Wednesday, the better our chances of getting the Council - of the City of Trees - to give priority to saving as many trees as possible and requiring an individual tree assessment of each tree before its removal.