Dear Editor:

I am a homeowner on Macneil Street with several mature trees in front of my house. Recently I was shocked to learn that our Public Works Department was soliciting bids to remove the beautiful, healthy 100-year-old trees on my street.

According to Section 98-35 of the San Fernando Municipal Code, Public Works must consult with the Tree Commission and sometimes the City Council before trees may be removed. The commission is required to obtain a certified arborist report regarding the health of the subject  trees, then provide notification of any planned removal to the affected residents. When I learned  that Public Works was getting a bid to remove the trees on my street, I immediately requested all arborist reports for our city issued during the last year via the California Public Records Act. I was surprised to find out there are no arborist reports for the last year. Not a single one. I personally know of 6 trees in our city that were cut within the last 2 months.

Although the Tree Commission is supposed to report to Public Works, I also learned that it  was “absorbed” into Public Works in 2016. There is no longer a Tree Commission so basically

Public Works is also the Tree Commission. It appears that Public Works has not been subject to any accountability for their reckless cutting of healthy trees for years. Obviously, we should not question the cutting of trees that have fallen or are a danger to the public, but every effort must be taken to preserve the healthy, mature trees in the city.

Recently, The Sun/el Sol reported a citizen’s claim that 50% of the trees planted by the TreePeople organization, over the last two years, were either dead or gone. In another article, theTreePeople Director disputes that claim saying the actual survival rate was roughly 90%. Also, in a third article, it was reported that the city was filling tree wells with cement rather than planting another tree.

The city needs to do an in-depth evaluation of the health of its existing trees, including the ones planted within the last two years, to determine their actual survival rate. The TreePeople will soon be bidding on another contract. Why should we continue to contract with them if their trees are not surviving?

In addition, Public Works stated in a recent City Council meeting that there are 200 stumps that need grinding, why isn’t that work being done?

How about the City take a pause from removing any more trees and review its own municipal code? Maybe if they planted trees in the tree wells, they wouldn’t have to fill them with cement in order to avoid a tripping hazard.

Mature trees offer shade to our homes, sidewalks and to a diverse array of animals and insects. They also absorb more carbon dioxide than smaller trees and reduce the demand on cooling costs. They help us enjoy the outdoors and removing them would have a negative effect on the environment and wildlife.

I think we can do better. Please get involved.

Kelly Duggan

San Fernando, CA