Commission forwards multiple removal and pruning requests to city maintenance; recommends sanitation pruning for Central Avenue sycamore
Summary
The Shade Tree Commission reviewed resident complaints and staff reports about several street and yard trees, recommending selective removals and pruning and forwarding items to the citys work-order system for action.
Commissioners reviewed several resident requests and staff reports for tree maintenance and removal across the city and recommended pruning or removal as appropriate, with follow-up to be entered as city work orders.
Key items discussed: - 32 Loreen Ave (sweet gum): A resident complained about burrs, shading and obstruction; commission staff found the tree healthy but large and recommended a maintenance pruning rather than removal. - Lincoln Ponds row of pines: Staff observed a dead pine and others showing stress; the commission recommended removal of clearly dead trees and forwarding the issue to the citys work-order process. - 179 1/2 North Lancaster and 5 Sunnyside: Both reported as dead trees on the east side; commissioners authorized city crews to remove them and asked to be notified if replacements are planned. - Central Avenue sycamore: A large sycamore dropped a branch onto a residents car. Commission staff said the tree is very large and likely susceptible to anthracnose (a common sycamore fungal disease) and recommended a sanitation pruning to remove diseased and damaged branches rather than full removal. Commissioners said sanitation pruning would be less costly and could reduce future risk.
Commissioners noted operational issues in routing maintenance work and asked the city to clarify who receives removal and pruning requests and how work orders are assigned. Commissioner Gene (Shade Tree Commission) said he called a resident and did not receive a return call and that these cases should be tracked in a single system rather than filtered through multiple administrators.
Outcome: Commissioners agreed to forward the described maintenance and removal recommendations to city staff for work-order scheduling and to ask planning/administration staff for status updates on prior removal requests.
