The Daily Briefing

CITY TREE POLICY GETS SENT TO COMMITTEE

Theo DouglasWed. January 06
 

As LBReport.com and the Press-Telegram both report this morning, Long Beach City Council hasn’t changed the city’s tree removal policy just yet. Or:

“A new policy to allow the city to remove trees whose roots are damaging public or private property, even if the trees aren’t diseased, won’t be put into effect quite yet,” Paul Eakins writes in the P-T.

“Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske had asked the council to have the city attorney’s office play a role in evaluating on a case-by-case basis any potential legal liabilities that the city might face from sidewalks and private sewer lines that are damaged by city tree roots.

“However, after a short debate about whether Long Beach’s tree removal policy needs to be changed, Councilman Patrick O’Donnell suggested, and Schipske agreed, that the matter should be sent to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for more discussion.”

The vote to do so, LBReport.com’s Bill Pearl reports, was “8-0 to refer to committee a study of [Long Beach's] tree policy and possible changes, including possible input (not decisional power) by City Attorney.”

So there it is: not quite time to have that ficus tree done away with yet.

(Side note: if it’s a ficus, isn’t that justifiable homicide—especially if its roots have already found your sewer system?)

(Side side note: hard to believe that some streets in the Ranchos—the tract of Cliff May-designed houses northeast of Spring Street and Studebaker Road—once were planted, by design, entirely with ficus trees. What was Cliff May thinking?)

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  • Laurence B. Goodhue
    Among the first trees which must go--and be replaced is on the
    North side of Livingston,between Propsect and Ximeno.It is an
    invitation to Larry Parket et al.

    There is a near 90 angle as several jagged sections render the
    side walk ADA impassable.This situation has tolled for more than
    a decade.My understanding is that it is a City Tree.There should be no need to convene the Council of Trent to address this hazzard and ADA violation.
  • DWR
    In my neighborhood, the above-ground, exposed surface roots of the ficus and magnolia trees have been "cut-down" to ground-level and the sidewalks "smoothed-out" and repaired without any wholesale ripping out of the entire tree; thus preserving the beneficial shading advantage of those arboreal species.

    If it isn't already being practiced in all other neighboods, why can't that approach be replicated in other districts?
  • Laurence B. Goodhue
    Because circa 75% of the tree appears to shade but the parking and one
    westbound traffic lane on Livingston ;it is doubtful shade is an issue.It might be however the homeowner on the abutting triangle shaped lot enjoys
    looking out at the canopy---as perhaps do residents in the homes on the
    the south side of Livingstone enjoy the view of such.

    All I know is the situation has tolled since circa 1995.For a number of years a good friend was unable to scoot down to the Shore from the
    western end of Bluff Park----without zig zagging in and out of heavy traffic on the streets--and going nearly a mile out of way in total.
  • DWR
    I'll have to check for myself what you describe.
  • Dave in Alamitos Beach
    I can think of nothing better and easier for a city to propose than putting in more street trees. That being said, clearly not all street trees are alike. Ficus trees are downright evil in an urban setting, and palm trees do nothing (well not much) to provide shade or oxygen.

    I'm hoping that the city council is at least proposing that for every "bad tree" that is taken out, they will plant a shady, drought-tolerant, friendly rooted species?

    Heck, this is one city committee I'd be willing to be on. Where are the Long Beach Tree People? or Friends of the Urban Forest?
  • Gschipske
    Sad to hear people thought it was silly to discuss the on going serious problem the city is facing having to pay to replace sidewalks, driveways, streets and sewers that are being damaged by trees and their root systems. The city does not replant trees since the old days of having a tree farm. The resident can pay $150 to get a tree through the city and the tree has to be on an approved list of trees that don't cause the problems the current ones do. As I said last night -- if we are really serious about being a Tree City -- then we would budget money for frequent tree trimming and to purchase trees for areas that have none. I have begged for 3 years to get money for new trees...
    For those of you who do think the topic is silly...ask the city manager and city attorney how much we pay to fix those sidewalks, streets and sewers and how often we get sued for trip and fall...
  • The tree issue isn't silly, Gerrie. I have spent $3,600 in tree root related plumbing repairs over the last couple years. And probably can expect similar bills in the future. I also am worried about a very old palm tree that looks about ready to fall on my house in the next big storm. I'd really love to see that thing removed, but it's not on my property. It is a tree planted by someone long gone, and now its considered a city tree.
    In the past when I've tried to get the city to do anything about the parkway tree I was told, that the tree "doesn't have a permit" so the city won't touch it!

    I also think there should be some way to plan the plantings so you don't have the entire street full of trees mature and die off at the same time. This way there will always be nice trees and more on the way on any given street.
  • Dave in Alamitos Beach
    I definitely agree with you on this issue, and Brian Ulaszewski (on a competing website) listed increased tree planting as the number one priority for Long Beach.

    What DID happen to the tree farm? Can't we get the LBCC horticulture department to operate one of these? El Dorado Nature Center? Community Farms? Girl Scouts? I'm pretty serious actually.

    When our street put in street trees, a few neighbors got together and donated the funds for it, plus we got a grant from the city (I think). As for tree trimming, watering, staking, etc.? Well that's what yours truly gets to do every weekend.
  • Gschipske: How much would you recommend we budget each year for the tree-related uses that you mention? How much, if any, do we budget now? If what you recommend is more than what we currently budget, where in our existing budget do you recommend the additional funds be taken from? Thanks!
  • Dwight K Snider
    It is official. Now that the Holiday Season is over the Silly Season is here. The Silly Season is that time of the year before an election when our city officials and people seeking election start to say and do Silly things. After watching last nights city council meeting it appears we are off and running with a good start. Happy Silly Days!
  • Mike Ruehle
    Actually, I think it started 2-weeks ago when Councilman Val Lerch shook my hand for the 3rd time in the past 2 months. This comes after he avoided shaking my hand for the previous 3-years.

    We will know the season is truly goofy if my representative Councilman DeLong ever shakes my hand.
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