Dear Mayor Rowse and City Council members:
Citizens Planning Association* has been a part of Santa Barbara’s planning processes since 1960. We have been credited – or criticized for standing up for what we consider good planning. What is good planning, we’ve often been asked? It’s the forethought that takes into consideration our city’s history, its present and the hoped-for sustainable future, especially considering our changing climate … where trees play an important mitigating role.
The bottom line of ‘good planning’ is the general (and specific) plans developed for and with the agreement of the community! An example is the City of Santa Barbara Urban Forest Management Plan, adopted by the City Council April 8, 2014. Still fresh in many minds and although a bit top-heavy, it does lead off with important generalizations and notes that, “the urban forest touches the lives of Santa Barbara residents and visitors every day and profoundly influences the city’s urban landscape. …”
“Top-heavy” because it leads with city Staff, followed by Technical Advisory Committee members, Community Development and Public Works and Fire Departments; City Administration and, last on the list, the City Boards and Commission, followed by “Members of the Public”.
No disrespect intended to anyone, but we would reverse the order: The urban forest is by and for the Santa Barbara public, some of whom are on the Commissions, which have jurisdiction, per the City Charter, over some of the forest: the ABR considers landscaping compatibility; and, especially, the HLC works on City Landmarked trees.
Most of the forest lives quietly, not noticed by the world at large, except sub-consciously, until there is a problem as there is now with our much-loved Anapamu Street Italian Stone Pines.
For several years, members of the public have cried out about the condition of the Doremus Stone Pines, named after a former Parks Chair. The Pearl Chase Society bought and donated the use of irrigators during the drought … removed, apparently, by someone’s.
In 1997, the Stone Pines of the 300-800 blocks of Anapamu Street were designated Historic Trees and Landmarked by the City Council. As such, they have been under the Charter purview of the HLC, which is to review all historic and jurisdiction specimen trees subject to removal.
At their most recent meeting, May 22, Chair Grumbine requested of staff there be an item on the next HLC agenda re the Stone Pines. There is none and Parks intends to start the cutting of the X-marked trees this week, with apparently heavy canopy pruning to many of the sibling remainders. Members of the public have attended many of the HLC meetings, speaking at public comment and were assured there would be an agenda item.
One word that we have not seen in the 68-paged management plan is “care”. Perhaps we missed it? Whether or not, what CPA suggests is that there be a work-study group, under, perhaps, the HLC and/or Parks, composed of individuals with a known caring and background in the needs of urban trees. Presently, there is no commission/committee designated for the urban forest. There is substantial State information available at CA Planning and Research, Urban Forestry and Forestry Health.**
Santa Barbara has an Urban Street Tree Advisory Committee, as part of the Parks & Rec. Department, reporting to the Parks & Rec. Commission. Its meetings are not televised and are held early in the morning for the staff’s convenience at the Parks & Rec. office. Urban street trees are just one part of the urban forest, an important part – as are the Stone Pines, of great public visibility and concern. That there is said to be Phytophera root rot present bodes not well for the remaining trees or any replacements.
Our recommendation for a work study group is based on the need to have Santa Barbarans be involved in all phases of our urban forest, including, especially, the care. Parks & Rec. has a huge amount of work on its plate and cannot be reasonably expected to do more than it is doing for the parks – and for recreation. Our beloved urban trees are adjuncts to parks and to recreation, important, of course and need their own respected work/study group. This essential aspect of our city needs its own oversight committee.
If anything good can come out of the tragedy of the pines, it would be to have dedicated people paying loving attention and being heard about the remaining pines as well as the needs of others in our city forest. The State has many resources ** of how to proceed. Our suggestion for committee/work study is a step in that direction.
Respectfully,
Marell Brooks, President of Citizens Planning Association