Third in a series
By Jerry Green
Re “Ficus Trees Crisis: City’s Favorite Response Is to Do a Study”
[Editor’s Note: As Carlson Park Coalition leader Jerry Green continues to critique City Hall’s alleged low-priority attention problem-causing ficus trees, we present the opening portion of Mr. Green’s address to the City Council at the Nov. 10 meeting.]
Here is the speech I gave during public comments at the last council meeting. I invite the other speakers of our (Carlson Park Coalition) group to also share their speeches with you as well. And I request that Liz and Steve provide you with a copy of the petition signed by 125 homeowners in our 4 block area as well as any updates since the council meeting.
“An article in the Los Angeles Times a few days ago concerned the city of Los Angeles’ costs for its tree trimming, which are skyrocketing from $72 per tree a few years ago to $124 per tree today.
“However, Charles Herbertson, your director of Public Works, told me that Culver City is paying $300 per tree, more than double the current cost of the city of Los Angeles. Our city’s costs are out of control. It is a scandal.
“If you replace these trees instead, your trimming costs fall to zero because the new trees won’t need trimming for more than a decade.
“These existing trees should be trimmed annually. Instead Culver City is delaying years and years between trimmings. That delay has costs, too.
“It is a scientific fact, published in journals of forestry, that trimming constrains root growth. And the converse is true: Lack of trimming promotes root growth. By waiting so long between trimming, the roots of these trees are growing further and faster, more aggressively, to feed their ever expanding tree canopy, causing destruction and damage to plumbing systems. Driveways are cracking. Sidewalks are buckling. Curbs need replacement, not once, but multiple times over the years.
“The original city sewer line under Motor Avenue had to be replaced several years ago due to the destructive roots. Now the city is paying a lot of money for an expensive truck and crew to blast high-pressure precious water into the new main line to clear the new roots. At a time of drought, we should be looking for ways to save water rather than to squander it on clearing overgrown roots.
“Homeowners’ plumbing bills are running into the thousands of dollars per year due to the destructive roots. Even if sewer lines are replaced, the aggressive roots from the existing trees will invade new sewer lines, causing further damage.
“Driveways are cracking and buckling due to these aggressive roots. The cost to repair and replace driveways runs into the thousands of dollars each. Then a few years later the driveways crack again because the roots come back.
“What are the city’s costs to repair damaged sidewalks and curbs? Certainly thousands and thousands of dollars when you consider salaries for crews, supervisors and equipment.
“If the trees are replaced, you will save that expense. Appropriate replacement trees don’t have aggressive, wide shallow root systems. They won’t cause any damage to anything, ever.
“What about potential tort claims against the city for trips-and-falls on damaged sidewalks and curbs? The city is at risk for thousands and thousands of dollars.
“Due to the lack of an annual trimming program, the spreading tree canopies block light from street lamps at night, increasing risks for higher crime rates. An aggressive attorney can pin the city for liability for a rape or assault for example, just like similar claims for incidents in parking lots of shopping centers that have inadequate lighting.
“It’s a false sense of economy to pay-as- you-go for trimming and repairing, immorally pawning off repair expenses to the homeowners from city tree-caused damage. Don’t be penny wise and dollar foolish. It is like taking off a band- aid. Do it quickly. Do it all at once to save both homeowners and the city a lot of money.
(To be continued)
Mr. Green may be contacted at jerrygreenmessage@gmail.com