Eucalyptus tree protection voted down

Conversations among city officials about the safety of 44 eucalyptus trees lining a 1.3-mile stretch of San Carlos Avenue between Sycamore Street and Dartmouth Avenue were prompted by a January incident in which a eucalyptus tree fell near Arundel Elementary School at 200 Arundel Road. Since then, four eucalyptus trees were removed on San Carlos Avenue between Alameda de las Pulgas and Cordilleras Avenue in July after they were deemed to be dangerous with several others pegged as potential hazards.

Though Councilman Ron Collins acknowledged the many years he has enjoyed the trees, the two incidents of failing eucalyptus that he’s witnessed in the past 11 years has made him think that the potential danger may outweigh preservation efforts.

“Our primary responsibility is public safety and I think the time has come that we have to face it,” he said, according to a video of the meeting.

But residents asserting the trees’ historical significance urged city officials to consider other approaches, such as increased maintenance, to preserve them for future generations. Resident Nancy Oliver expressed concern about the disappearance of historic landmarks in San Carlos in recent years and acknowledged the trees’ role in preserving a window into the city’s past. Because some of the trees are believed to have been planted in the late 1800s by Timothy Guy Phelps, one of San Carlos’ first landowners who was also a state politician, Oliver said they are deserving of more maintenance than the city has provided over the years.

“I want to caution San Carlos to be careful that our cultural resources do not fully disappear and that we are simply left with pictures in a museum [and] that we don’t have any more of the real thing,” she said.

Jacqueline Knapp said she cannot afford the $3,000 it costs to trim the four eucalyptus trees on her property, which borders San Carlos Avenue. She urged the city to take matters into its own hands instead of relying on homeowners who may not be able to afford or know what maintenance is necessary to keep them from becoming safety hazards.

“These eucalyptus trees are not indigenous to this area and should never have been planted here in the first place,” she said. “They become more dangerous as they mature and even more so if they have not been properly maintained over the years.”

Though Councilman Mark Olbert ultimately voted in favor of removing the protection, he said he wished there was a way to preserve some of the trees. After confirming with Kevin Kielty, a San Mateo-based arborist who studied the trees, that doing intensive assessments of the trees’ conditions could cost the city thousands of dollars, Olbert acknowledged these types of studies may not be realistic. But he said making sure trees were planted to replace those removed would be critical as the city takes a look at what’s next for the corridor.

“It’s really important that we make a public commitment to replace every tree that we take down to the extent we possibly can,” he said.

Olbert also cautioned the city against using public money for removals where possible, and suggested officials look at designing a program that takes property owners’ financial situations into consideration when calculating their share of the cost, much like the city does with sewer and garbage rates.

Mayor Bob Grassilli asked for more specific information as to the condition of the trees so the council could make a decision on whether all the trees need to be removed or to do selective removal when they review next steps, which City Manager Jeff Maltbie said could happen in January.

“I’d really like to dive down and understand what [condition] they are,” he said.

Public Works Director Jay Walter said any plans to remove trees would be done in conjunction with street improvements, such as new sidewalks and intersection updates, recommended for increasing pedestrian safety on San Carlos Avenue. He said property owners would also be consulted as plans for the corridor unfold.

In other business, the council discussed strategies for increasing the number of child care facilities in the city.

The council also put off a decision to “adopt” a city affected by fall hurricanes. Meant to channel the efforts of residents looking to support communities in need, the process to identify a community for the city to support was delayed as councilmembers weighed recent events, such as the wildfires in Northern California, that have transpired since the idea was first discussed in September. The council pegged early 2018 as a time to revisit the discussion while city staff contribute available emergency services to affected communities as they are needed.

anna@smdailyjournal.com

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