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Home My WebLink About34-Public Services - - - . c o o :) November 21, 1985 REef. '" - , Ci ty Clerk ,-~ ,,,'. 22 ~ a '')0 Ci ty of San Bernardino, CalifohT'ia' , I, -' '- According to a memorandum from Manuel P. ~oreno, Director of Public Services, dated October 28, 1985, Cal-Trans and the Mayor's Traffic Safety Committee have requested the removal of the first tree "located at the southeast corner of 34th and ";;;,, Street. fir. Moreno wri tes that he found the tree to create a sight problem for west bound traffic stopping on 34th Street. He did not &ive the reason why Cal-Trans requested the removal but the assumption would be that their request is for the same reason. It would be appropriate to see Cal-rrans request in writing so that the reason for removal could be documented. The tree in question, a pepper tree, is not the first tree but the fourth (4th) tree from the corner. The first three are young crepe myrtle. The pepper tree is approximately sixty feet (60 ft) from the corner. It is located south at the end of the red curbing of the bus stop so that it is a considerable distance from the intersection. A car stopping at the first line of the crosswalk on 34th Street has clear vision south on "~,, Street across the lawns of the houses. In fact, a tree ,planted "further east on the owner's property line" as Mr. Moreno recommends, would constitute a sight block. The tree does not block the view of the north bound traffic on 1Ic.;1I Street. What does block the view is the bus when it has stopped at that corner. ,ihat does block the view are cars parked on the east curb on "E" Street south of the red curb of the bus stop. It would seem to be a good idea to extend the red no parking zone farther south on "E" to give cars entering that intersection a lon~~ clear view of north-bound traffic. If trees constitute a visual hazard there, why were three (3) trees recently planted between the pepper tree and the corner of 34th and "E"? The Public Services Street Section had to plant them and at that time, not consider them a visual hazard. These three trees are youn& crepe myrtle and are considerably smp,ller than the mature pepper tree. Pepper tree branches can hang low but the:i cr,;n be tri';ilned ,~,nd the sucker !,:rowth kept cut. '.rhe present O\i'ner of the property and the prospective new owner both agree to volunteer to help clip and ?rune regu13rly th~ low hanginG branches and suckers. 'the :nemornndurn from ;<r. Loreno recommentfis that the pepper tree in question be replac~d by "a compntiblell tree to be located llfurther east on the o\vner's pro ~,er ty line to avoi d Ci'e& ting a fu ture traffic hazard". It is difficul t to see ho\.! "moving eQ.st" would be possible. That direction would be nearer the sidewalk in the curb strip grass. That strip of grass between the curb and the sidewalk is approximately six and one-half feet (Gi~ ft.) l1uch closer to the sidewalk, east, would probably damaee the sidewalk. It is difficult to see how cutting down one tree and planting another is going to improve the visual sighting. There will still be four trees to look through. At present c:3~ --- - - - - c o 2. c :> the sight line from the stopping point at the cross walk on 34th Street is south of the pepper tree. Putting in another tree at a new location "east" or even south is only Eoing to make the view down "E" Street even \o[orse. There may be no replanting any',;ay because the Notifice, tion of 'l'ree ,lemoval contains this paragraph: "'['here is presently a moratorium on replanting trees in the City of San Bernardino. It is with the understanding the tree(s) will be removed by City forces but not replaced". At another location - "G" Street, 600 block, trees were removed in spite of protest and after a promise to replace them. They were never replaceg. This pepper tree threatened with removal is a very beautiful, healthy tree. It is quite sturdy and mature. It has a large trunk but it doesn't endanger either the curb or the sidewalk, and is not likely to grow any bigger around. Indeed it is mature and stately, providing a buffer and shield from the traffic and noise of "],;,, Street. It is 'Ionderfully compatible with the sixty-year-old cement and stone house it stands before. The house and tree are of matching spirit; indeed, both are a part of the cultural heritage of San Bernardino. It serves also, as shade and shelter for the bus stop. One can grow quite fond of sharing existence with such a living entity as this tree, a pepper tree which is so much a symbol of sunny California. Even though this tree is not diseased, there is a poem that well expresses the trauma caused by the removal of a tree, an act that turned out to be a mistake. 'l'he poem is called "Learning By Doing". Learning By Doing "constructive technological destructiveness" --Marcuse, Eros and Civilization They're taking down a tree at the front door, The power saw is snarling at some nerves. Whininc at otllcrs. 110w and then it grunts, And SRwdu5t falls like snow or a drift of seeds. ;{otte_. they tell us, at the fork, and one Big wind would brins it down. So what they do They do, as usual, to do us ~ood. ',nlatever cannot carry its own !:leight lIas got to go, and so on; you expect To hear them tBlkini next about survival And the values of a free society. On these occasions there is generally some Mean-spirited moral point, and everyone Privately wonders if his neighbors plan To saw him up before he falls on them. - - . . c 0 " ~.:"., 7- ...) :;. '-' Maybe a hundred years in sun and shower Dism"ntled in a morning and let down Out of itself a finger at a time And then an arm, and so on down to the trunk, Until there's nothing left to hold on to Or snub the splintery holding rope arou'ld, And where those big green divagations were So loftily with shadows interleaved The absent-minded blue rains in on us. ~ow that they've got it sectioned on the ground It looks as though somebody made a plain Error in diagnosis, for the wood Is sweet and sound throughout. You couldn't know, Of course, until you took it down. That's what ~xperts are for, and these experts stand around The giant pieces of tree as though expecting An instruction booklet from the factory Before they try to put it back together. Anyhow, there it isn't, on the ground. Next come the tractor and the crow bar crew To extirpate what's left and fill the grave. Maybe tomorrow grass seed will be sown. There's some mean-spirited moral point in that As well: You learn to bury your mistakes, Though for a while at dusk the darkening air Will be with many shadows interleaved, And pierced with the bewilderment of birds. --Howard Nemerov Both the present owner and the prospective owner of the house at 3393 ~. "3" Street respectfully request that there be a moratorium on the removal of this particular tree - fourth from the southeast corner of 34th and "1':" streets .e are all learning, much to our dismay, that environmental decisions made in the past can come home to haunt us. )6~5t. W~ ?PJ--'<'N57 Helen S. Wallick ~~~ John Coble 79J-/~9r prospective owner 171>> _ OIO-~" II S8vL November 21, 1985 . c o r"'" '-...) :> NOTIFIC^TION OF TREE REMOVAL The Public Services/Street Section has received a request to remove tree(s) on public right-of-way located at 3393 North "E" Street , You are hereby notified the tree(s) will be removed for the following rcason: Diseased X Constitutes a traffic hazard Threatens damage to sidewalk, curbs or gutters Does not conform with adopted specifications Interferes with street widening Located in a business district Obstructs moving of houses " Blocks proposed driveways or entrances to priyate property . Interferes with or damages sewer or water lines . Other /There is presently a moratorium on replanting trees in the City of San Ber- ( nardino, It is with the understanding the tree(s) will be'removed by City forces but not replanted. ' You are further not ifi ed the remoya 1 wi 11 take place (30 days) (60 days) from date this notice was mailed, If you wish to protest this action, you may do so'by filing a protest, in writing, with the City Clerk. Protest must be filed no later than Friday, November 22, 1985, 4:30 P.M, I certify I am the owner of the a boye property: OWI4ER'S RESPONSE Approve ~ Disapprove Jt~ V 0n~&f..-i:. NAME n 339'5 7Lt>tt::h" C " fr~ ("'\' ' ADDRESS V~ a..J2r-H4-}d...no (f>~ q'01.'/PJ CITY , City of San Bernardino Public Services/Street Section 300 North "D" Street, Room 421 San Bernardino, California 92418 Telephone: (714) 383-5045 Date Mailed: November 15, 1985 L - - - - CITY OF SAN BEJ(5JARDIN~- MEMORANDLJ1 To Jack Strlckler" Councilman, Seventh Ward From Manuel P. Moreno, Jr., Director of Public Services Date October 28, 1985 S'Jbject Tree Removal, SEC 34th Street and "E" Street ,:. Jproved Date The Director of Public Services has reviewed the request from Cal-Trans and the Mayor's Traffic Safety Committee for the removal of the first tree lo- cated at the southeast corner of 34th Street and "E" Street. I authorized removal to proceed because it was found to create a sight problem for west- bound traffic stopping on 34th Street. Per Chapter 2.64, Res. 344, 2-20-84, Ord. 325, 12-5-83, Ord. 3016 (Part), 1969, and'ord. 1655,4-1941, the property owner has the right to file an appeal with the City Clerk, persuant to the provisions above, to be heard by the Mayor and Common Council. ' . I am also recommending that when the tree is removed, if the property owner approves, we purchase a compatible tree to be replaced further east on the owner's property line to avoid creating a future traffic hazard. Staff will be contacting the property owner as soon as possible to attempt to solve this situation to everyone's satisfaction. ~z~~~~~~! Director of Public Services cc: John Matzer, Jr., City Administrator Roger Hardgrave, Director of Public Works/City Engineer c,ry Oil rHE::;M;GVlE