HomeMy WebLinkAbout6/28/2021 Public Comment, Powers
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Will Powers <
To:Advisory Bodies
Subject:TC Communication
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To Tree Committee for June 28, 2021 Meeting:
For public comment at the beginning of the meeting: Please read aloud so my comments are not filed and ignored, since
I have absolutely NO confidence that I will not be locked out of the meeting yet again.
I have “attended” numerous Zoom meetings with organizations and courts and had no problem; my only “lock out” is by
this committee.
First, applicants continue not to put the signs and ribbons in their yards; then, when the sign is up, it is often scribbled
almost incoherently, sometimes with one sign stapled in front of another, with no listing of the type of tree they’re
trying to remove. There’s no excuse: people often claim that “someone took down the sign” or “someone removed the
ribbons”, which is highly unlikely. It’s the applicant’s responsibility to keep the sign and the ribbons in place and citizens
trying to visit the trees should not have to do detective work.
The rule should be: no sign or ribbons, then the application is not heard at the meeting. Keep rewarding violations of
the rules and you will continue to get violations of the rules.
Further, this city continues not to protect its trees: from the slaughter at the Dalidio property to the unconscionable
removal of the tree in front of 1531 Monterey, this committee and this city continue to show that development and
people’s convenience are far more important than life-saving trees. The Monterey site was changed from a beautiful
look to a wilderness. We’re no longer a tree city and we should stop calling ourselves one.
Public comment on individual items: please read aloud, rather than filing and ignoring:
Item #2, 355 No. Chorro: This is a beautiful tree that provides shade, habitat, and oxygen; there is minimal hardscape
damage, which can be mitigated easily. This removal request is for convenience, not hardship. VOTE NO.
Item #3, 1822 Chorro: Okay to removal of the palms, as long as the owner agrees to encourage 5 of their neighbors to
remove THEIR palms.
Re the Juniper: There is no excuse to remove this tree, which provides shade, oxygen and habitat. This is a convenience
request, not a hardship; minimal hardscape damage can be easily mitigated. VOTE NO.
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Item #4, 115 Del Note Way: These are two magnificent, healthy redwoods, which provide shade, habitat, and oxygen.
Removal request is for convenience, not hardship. VOTE NO.
Item #5, 47 Pismo: It’s the owner’s responsibility to trim the tree away from the wires and someone dangerously
climbing a tree to trim it is not a reason for removal. Another convenience request, not hardship. VOTE NO.
Item #6, 1333 Vega Way: There was no sign or ribbon on this one; this is a healthy pine with minimal hardscape
damage. It’s the owner’s responsibility to take care of the pine needles so this is a convenience request, not a hardship.
This tree has been terribly maintained. VOTE NO.
Item #7, 1251 Chaparral Circle: There was no sign on this one and only tiny ribbons on the trees. These are palm trees,
which ought to be criminal, and they should be removed, providing the HOA removes all other palm trees on the
property and encourages neighbors to do likewise. VOTE YES.
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