Another twist in the ficus debate
CITY HALL Like Dr. Seuss’ Lorax, the city’s new mayor, Herb Katz, is speaking up for the trees.
He’s still in favor of removing 54 ficus trees along Second and Fourth streets as part of an estimated $8.2 million streetscape improvement project, however, Katz wants to make sure that all the facts are straight and that the trees will be protected until a final decision has been made whether to designate them city landmarks.
Katz, who was named mayor earlier this week, placed on the Dec. 11 City Council agenda a request that city staff reassure him and his colleagues that local law prohibits the removal of the ficus trees during the landmark process, and that the protection applies during any appeal that may be taken.
The Landmarks Commission is expected to make its decision on whether or not to landmark the trees on Monday.
The move by Katz is seen as an encouraging development by the Santa Monica Treesavers, a group of environmental activists that former in a united effort to save the trees from being uprooted.
Katz said he could change his mind and his vote in favor of the removal if he learns that some of the trees are not in danger of becoming structurally deficient for several years. If that is the case, Katz said he would be in favor of keeping those trees in place until it is absolutely necessary to remove them.
“I just don’t want anyone rushing to judgment,” Katz said. “At the moment, my position is the same, but I want to hear all the facts again since I have been hearing different stories that I can’t tell if they are factual or not. If the trees are decayed, then they need to come down out of our concern for public safety. We don’t want them falling down on anybody.
“But if there is no danger for the next two to five years, I am not willing to cut down those trees yet,” Katz added.
Under Council rules, an issue that has already been acted on can return to the dais if a member who voted on the prevailing side requests it be brought back. The streetscape project, in its entirety, was approved 6-1 in August with Councilmember Kevin McKeown, an advocate for the trees, being the lone vote of opposition.
Katz said in the past that he would bring the matter back if he thought it was necessary.
The streetscape improvement project calls for the end of 23 structurally deficient ficus trees and the relocation of 31 healthy trees, according to city staff reports. The tree removal and transplantation constitutes only a small portion — about $600,000 — of the streetscape improvement project, which would enhance lighting, fix broken sidewalks and add curb bump-outs on Second and Fourth streets from Colorado Avenue to Wilshire Boulevard. Each of the empty ficus tree plots is to be replaced with two ginkgo biloba trees.
The project is being funded by eight different sources, including approximately $800,000 from city coffers and another $2.5 million from the Redevelopment Agency.
Some councilmembers have expressed concern that if the project is delayed any further it could jeopardize millions of dollars in funding and possibly cost the city thousands of dollars in contractors’ fees that have already been expended.
Work on the trees was supposed to begin on Oct. 8, however, a residents’ group called Santa Monica Treesavers was granted a temporary restraining order on Oct. 5 preventing City Hall from moving forward with the plan. The basis for filing the temporary restraining order was that the Treesavers felt that City Hall violated the California Environmental Quality Act and failed to submit an environmental impact report, a claim City Hall has disputed.
The Treesavers have since dropped their challenge, and instead have focused on the landmark process as a way to protect the trees. Any structure or tree being considered for landmark status is protected until the process has been completed.
Jerry Rubin, co-founder of the Treesavers, said he will ask the Landmarks Commission to grant him more time to compile research for his argument as to why the trees on Second and Fourth streets warrant landmark status. Rubin already asked for on extension in November, which was granted, and he is not sure that the commission will give him another.
“During the holidays, it is difficult to get the information that we need,” Rubin said. “This is also an unprecedented landmark request and it seems to me that we deserve another postponement. We deserve that time.”
If the commission chooses not to landmark the trees, the Treesavers will have 10 days to appeal to the council.
Rubin is hoping the request by Katz will give the council another opportunity to debate the tree removal and reverse their decision.
“We want so much for the City Council to understand this is a movement of love and respect for the trees and the environment,” Rubin said. “We should be given every opportunity to be heard.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 6, 2007. Read the original PDF.