Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees Witho

There's quite a bit of commentary about this online. Here is one of many:

Related Webpage - Attorney Comments

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how'd the contractor get off scot-free?

how does the city "arborist" (who may never held a saw in her short life) figure that a malpruned tree is a total loss?

go figure.
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

I'm surprized a tree service code is actually being enforced.


They enforce em' all day long around here, which is one of the primary reasons we still have something in the way of an urban canopy. Without codes for the retention of indigenous trees, all we'd have is a bunch of foreclosed McMansions with a crape myrtle here and there.

Trees serve myriad purposes in urban settings, and a vital and healthy urban forest can save cities huge sums of money, which would otherwise be spent on energy, stormwater runoff and other public works, as well as simply providing an aesthetically pleasing backdrop in which to live.

The municipal tree code "lines" really aren't so difficult to color inside of, and they serve a valid purpose for the greater good. I've lived in Florida for 50 years, and watched unbridled development turn a natural paradise into a huge strip mall. Just because it hasn't happened in your neck of the woods yet, don't think that it can't or won't.

http://www.tampagov.net/dept_parks_and_recreation/files/TampaUEA2006-7_FinalReport.pdf shows a study commissioned by the City of Tampa, which illustrates the vital role played by city trees. Of particular note is the fact that the healthiest trees in the urban landscape tend to be trees under public management. Large trees on public property do have significant value, and their unpermitted damage and destruction should be compensated. If you damaged a city building or vehicle, you'd be expected to pay damages, so why not for a damaged or destroyed tree?
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

Interesting article Guy, thanks for posting the link! I'd much rather work on keeping healthy trees healthy, but remediation work never fails to be challenging and interesting.
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

[ QUOTE ]
remediation work never fails to be challenging and interesting.

[/ QUOTE ]Yes and there are waaaay too many opportunities to do restoration pruning.
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Glad you liked it--I hope I get the car dealer to get us back for a followup.
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

[ QUOTE ]
I'm surprized a tree service code is actually being enforced.


They enforce em' all day long around here

[/ QUOTE ]

Sure they do,

But you still got them hacks lion tailing Quercus don't you?
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

True enough jim, we have to often ask "how'd they get that broccoli to grow up big and tall like a tree?" Hacks are still getting away with being hacks, but more and more hack jobs are being picked up and handed back to the homeowner to remediate or pay fines to the Tree Fund. Grand trees at least, are on enforcements radar in some of the municipalities, and mangroves are monitored with diligence.
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

Mangroves protected back in the 70's; when i lived in a park in key west i cut some dead branches for a cooking fire and the owner went nuts; had the fear of god in his eyes.
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Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

I live very close to glendale. About 10-15 minutes away.

I wonder I could swing by and check it out. I have a gentle understanding of the LA native tree protection ordinance. I'd like to see what 340,000 thousand worth of damage looks like.

Anyone figure out where they live?

love
nick
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

They live in the 500 block of Whiting Woods Road. That's from an article in the Glendale News Press on Nov 28 2007.
Bam. There you go.
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

I have the info. When I get back to LA I'm gonna try to meet up with them.

I'll let y'all know how it goes.

love
nick
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

Lots o'hatin' on the municipality.....

The highest fine I ever imposed was $32,100. for 8 bradford pears that were topped by a condo association.
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

[ QUOTE ]
The highest fine I ever imposed was $32,100. for 8 bradford pears that were topped by a condo association.

[/ QUOTE ]
$4,000+ per bradford? Those musta been some mighty fine specimens, or maybe it's just the cost of living in The Bean.
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

If you think about it, $347,000 may be a very small percentage (5-15%?) of the total property value. I've heard many an arborist state that as much as 5-30% of the property's value can be from the trees.

I don't know what was done to the trees (yet) but imagine trying to restore all those trees to previous state. Could it really be done for $350K? Doubt it.

Also keep in mind that LA has SEVERE air quality, energy waste (from heating/cooling), and water/flood management problems. Many city officials understand that trees are the best way to mitigate all concerns. They know that this goes beyond just, "it's my tree, I can do what I want." There are near 10,000,000 people that live here and they keep on coming. If there is a way for this city to be sustainable- both ecologically and financially- people are going to have to learn to protect our trees. This isn't hippy-talk, it's city planning and self-presevation talk.

Stepping down from the soap box now.

All this being said- something about this situation isn't right. I'm hoping I can get more involved.

love
nick
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

Hey Nick, if you get out there take some pics. I know it's been two years, but I'd like to see if one can still see signs of bad pruning, or if they look alright (3 days for 13 trees?).

I'm down in the OC and I remember when this happened. I wasn't able to get over there and look, but a couple of radio guys were going off on the city about it. Glendale has had other "issues" and this was just adding to the list.

Look forward to what you find out.
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

I wouldn't put a private party's address or phone information into a chat forum without their authorization, but I can tell you how to view a photo of the place from the street online.

Go to www.ixquick.com , my favorite search engine. You can use the phone search function to put in the last name of the property owners (it's listed on all of the articles attached to this thread) and type in Glendale Ca for the state. It'll give you their street address and phone number.

From there you can go to www.google.com and select maps. Type in the address, and after the street map pops up, check on the left hand side menu. There's a drop down menu from which you can select "street view" and you'll get a panoramic street view that you can look at. I use this whenever I can before going to a consultation just to sneak a quick peek before I jump in the truck to drive to the appointment.

In different municipalities, the property appraisers webpage will often have aerial photographs that can be viewed online as well.
 
Re: Homeowners Fined $347,000 For Trimming Trees W

More of governmental right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing.

This began with the fire dept, a government service imposing an order to adhere to fire code ordinance. So, if the fire dept. is going to order the pruning of trees should they not also be required to have complete knowledge of the tree ordinance as it applies here? Within that letter, clearly stated not offhanded in the fine print, there should be a referral to the permit process. Maybe a sentence or two directing them to the appropriate person (contact name, number, email) and dept. to apply for the pruning permit.

The arborist didn't know about the code? It's been in place and enforced for 20 yrs!

This sounds like another damn good lawsuit for the owners against the tree co. and the fire dept.

As for the amount of the fine, it's punitive not just cost. To often fines are so small that they become the cost of doing business. When the amount is such that it makes developers, builders and other businesses stop and think, it's doing it's job.

Like it or not the ordinance exists and because it's enforced will be on the minds of those it's designed to deter.
 
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