almost never on the consent calendar,” said Art Harris, City Council meeting mainstay.
The remaining six City Councilmembers voted for the project, viewing it as a good compromise from the original proposal presented a few years ago, whereby all of the ficus trees were to be removed. Several councilmembers emphasized that most of the downtown trees within the project area — between Second and Fourth streets, and Wilshire Boulevard and Colorado Avenue — were going to remain, and of those that will be uprooted, more than half will be relocated, not terminated.
“It’s been a bumpy road, in a sense there has been a lot of disagreement, and I think that has led to a better decision than what was first proposed,” said Councilmember Ken Genser.
Along with the uprooting of the trees, the project also calls for beautifying the streetscape with improved lighting on the streets, as well as on the remaining ficus trees, and installing accessible curb cuts and curb extensions.
Kathleen Rawson, the director of the Bayside District Corporation, said she believes the project will have a huge impact on downtown Santa Monica, adding that she was looking forward to the sidewalk renovations and enhanced pedestrian lighting.
The Bayside board, which manages the downtown district along with City Hall, approved the conceptual plans for the project, Rawson said.
The businesses along Second and Fourth streets have not fared well in comparison to the success of the Third Street Promenade. Rawson feels the pedestrian-oriented element of the plan will help the vibe of the area.
Several residents on hand Tuesday asked the council to separate the project into two sections, approving the streetscape improvement portion and tabling the tree removal process to a later time, where it could be discussed during a public notice hearing.
Since the final designs were already reviewed and approved by Caltrans, the project would have to forgo any grant funding if modified in any way, according to city staff.
Harris criticized Council for placing such a volatile item in the consent calendar, saying it seems “devious” and “unnecessary.”
“I actually believe there is a case that can be made to remove the trees and I haven’t heard it tonight. That is a problem,” Harris said.
When it comes time for the trees to be carted away from the downtown area, the construction company could face a slight problem — protesters willingly chained to the trees.
At least one resident, meeting regular Jerry Rubin, has vowed to chain himself to the trees. Architect Dan Jansenson, whose office is located on Fourth Street, said he personally knows of several people who are planning a similar protest, something he believes would embarrass Santa Monica.
“No amount of electrically-operated parking structures or hydrogen-powered Priuses are going to make up for the photos of people who are chained to trees as the trees are getting cut down,” Jansenson said, adding such photographs will be plastered on every major news outlet in the country.
It could take up to 30 days to finalize the contract with the Griffith Company, during which time city staff and construction management will determine the timeline of the project, including when the trees will go. Construction could begin as early as September, according to Craig Perkins, the director of environment and public works management.
The trees are decaying both in the roots and canopy due to poor pruning practices and wear-and-tear over the years from passing buses and sidewalk repairs, said Walt Warriner, the community forester.
City Councilmember Bob Holbrook mentioned the safety risks associated with keeping aging and dying trees, referring to an incident in January 2001, when a car carrying a couple driving on Broadway was crushed by part of a fallen Eucalyptus tree. The couple later successfully sued the city.
But aside from the falling trees and limbs, there are also dozens of people who get injured by tripping over cracked sidewalks and tree wells caused by overgrown and mature trees, Holbrook added.
The life expectancy for the ficus trees ranges anywhere from 50 to 60 years. The trees were planted on Fourth Street in 1965 and a year later on Second Street.
Approximately 350 trees have been relocated within the city in the past 10 years and more than 95 percent of the moves have been successful, Warriner said.
The tree removal and relocation will consume approximately $600,000 of the project.
“What we’re doing here is progressive urban forest management by removing older trees, diseased trees, declining trees and replacing them with new trees,” Warriner said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 16, 2007. Read the original PDF.