The issue of Lake Merritt trees being cut down came up at the Adams Point Action Committee Meeting last night. I told folks I would post the links to the city’s response to the anonymous flyers that had been put up by a group that calls itself “Friends of the Lake.”Here it is: http://www.oaklandpw.com/AssetFactory.aspx?did=2740More information about tree removal plans is here: http://www.oaklandpw.com/Page739.aspxIf you missed the flyers here is a sample of their language:
“Like a thief in the night, without warning and under the cloak of secrecy the City began falling our beloved Lake Merritt trees during the Thanksgiving holiday. Regrettably, Mr. Peter arrogantly ignores the LAW (Tree Ordinance and Municipal Code). The law clearly requires that each tree to be cut be visibly posted (Red Tagged) and that the notice remain in place (or re-tagged) up to the actual time of cutting. Furthermore, Mr. Joel Peter, deceptively failed to inform the DD Citizen Oversight Committee when he met with them this Monday…”
Here is a sample of the city’s response:
Dear Residents,
In response to the recent removal of trees and the flyers posted recently, the city has received a number of complaints about the tree removals. Below we provide accurate information regarding the extensive public process that was undertaken prior to removing the trees.
Public Process Prior to Tree Removal
An extraordinarily thorough public process was followed during the two years prior to the tree removals, which took place Wednesday Nov. 21. Each tree was prominently posted with a bright red notice on the proposed removal on December 9, 2005 and again on January 6, 2006. The notices gave the public until January 23, 2006 to send in comments and protests. City staff considered those comments and worked with the City Arborist, independent arborists and with City Councilmembers to reduce the original number of trees to be removed.
Councilmembers Nadel and Kernighan sponsored four public tours of of the posted trees in the company of an arborist in December 2005 and January 2006, and two special town hall meetings, held on February 22 and 25, 2006. During these months, numerous articles about the tree removals were printed in the Oakland Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle.
“Like a thief in the night, without warning and under the cloak of secrecy the City began falling our beloved Lake Merritt trees during the Thanksgiving holiday. Regrettably, Mr. Peter arrogantly ignores the LAW (Tree Ordinance and Municipal Code). The law clearly requires that each tree to be cut be visibly posted (Red Tagged) and that the notice remain in place (or re-tagged) up to the actual time of cutting. Furthermore, Mr. Joel Peter, deceptively failed to inform the DD Citizen Oversight Committee when he met with them this Monday…”
Here is a sample of the city’s response:
Dear Residents,
In response to the recent removal of trees and the flyers posted recently, the city has received a number of complaints about the tree removals. Below we provide accurate information regarding the extensive public process that was undertaken prior to removing the trees.
Public Process Prior to Tree Removal
An extraordinarily thorough public process was followed during the two years prior to the tree removals, which took place Wednesday Nov. 21. Each tree was prominently posted with a bright red notice on the proposed removal on December 9, 2005 and again on January 6, 2006. The notices gave the public until January 23, 2006 to send in comments and protests. City staff considered those comments and worked with the City Arborist, independent arborists and with City Councilmembers to reduce the original number of trees to be removed.
Councilmembers Nadel and Kernighan sponsored four public tours of of the posted trees in the company of an arborist in December 2005 and January 2006, and two special town hall meetings, held on February 22 and 25, 2006. During these months, numerous articles about the tree removals were printed in the Oakland Tribune and San Francisco Chronicle.
(Photo by Brooke Anderson)
