Bishop - Constituents air arboreal concerns with City Council

The discussion of trees, particularly their removal, has created quite a stir with locals. One woman chained herself to a tree in protest, and she and others also attended a public hearing on projects that include tree removal.
While only a few, yet outspoken tree proponents attended a public hearing at the Bishop City Council meeting Monday, they said they represented a “silent majority.” They said many in the community are afraid to speak out against tree removal for fear of repercussions toward their businesses or themselves.
However, these public comments, while welcome by the city, are coming at a very late phase in the projects. It was reiterated again and again by city staff that commenting on projects while they are still being drafted is the most effective way to have those comments applied to the plans. Staff also pointed out that no comments had been received on these projects prior to Monday’s meeting.

The old elm tree on the corner of Grove and Fowler streets in Bishop, coming down the day after Mary Baker chained herself 20 feet up the tree to protest its removal. The tree removal is part one of the city’s street improvement projects. Photo by Mike Bodine

The public comment period was for the Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration on the projects, a common action taken on public works undertakings. This declaration means that the proposed projects, as originally drafted, have been modified to make sure there is “no significant impact on the environment.”
The projects on the agenda for public hearings included the $1.5 million West Pine Street and $858,000 Sneden Street improvement projects.
Both projects are nearly identical, according to Public Works Director Dave Grah. The projects call for the removal and replacement of the street pavement, constructing curbs and gutters and continuous sidewalks with Americans with Disability Act (ADA) approved ramps at intersections, and making necessary improvements or maintenance to water and sewer systems. The projects will also relocate some of the overhead and underground utilities for ease in future maintenance.
A full environmental review was conducted on the projects including the measuring of potential impacts to biological, cultural and agricultural resources. Extensive tests were done to the soil for drainage, density and “in-place nuclear density.”
Grah added that there are seven trees slated for removal for the West Pine project and six for Sneden Street.
He also explained that while these projects are slated to be done during the summer months when kids are out of school, the Department of Fish and Game has requested that the trees be removed prior to March 1 or after Sept. 15 due to bird-breeding and bat-roosting. This means the trees may be removed well before construction actually starts.
Bishop resident Mary Baker, who chained herself to a tree last Tuesday in protest of cutting the trees down, came to the meeting with a loyal group of followers and fellow tree lovers. Baker lectured council members on trees and her perception of how the city is handling the delicate affair.
“This city is moving backward,” Baker said. “Most big cities are in favor of big trees.” She added that most cities are finding no trouble with the co-existence of large trees and city infrastructure, and in fact are encouraging it.
Bishop resident Shirley Fendon and Baker both told the council that the ill-designed city sewer system seems to be at fault, not the trees, and the wise decision would be to rebuild the sewer system and save the trees.
Baker also said the public is not being adequately notified of the projects. “With this many trees coming down, notices for public comment should be on the front page of the newspaper, not buried in the classified section.”
Fendon asked why there was a deadline on the public comment period and wanted to join Baker’s request on a moratorium of removing trees in Bishop until more people had a chance to comment.
Grah said that every project is advertised in the paper and homes and businesses specifically affected by the a project are notified my mail.
Baker also spoke of the inadequacies of the city’s approved “tree list.” The list contains the kinds of trees the city has deemed as not too invasive, and the city uses the list to select new trees to replace those removed. Baker thought the trees on that list were “puny” and would not live more than 25 years. Through this discussion, a “Tree Group” has been formed to better revise the list with trees that are agreeable to everyone.
Councilmember Bruce Dishion told Baker that some residents on Pine Street can’t wait to have the dirty and rotting trees removed from their property.
Baker said people need to be educated on proper tree maintenance.
The council, eventually, unanimously decided to adopt the Mitigated Negative Declaration for both projects.
Grah said Wednesday that following this adoption, Public Works will be applying to the state transportation boards for funding, which will take 4-6 months to be accepted, after which a more detailed design plan will be drafted.
This means that construction of the West Pine project should begin the summer of 2010 with the Sneden project set for the spring of 2011.
However, all these decisions are subject to change as the state has control of the money and can stall or cancel funding, seemingly at will.