City works to settle tree disputes
By Eliav Appelbaum eliav@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers WHAT TO DO?- A sycamore tree on Katherine Street is the subject of a disagreement between a resident and the city's public works department.

Sharon Edwards has lived in the same house in the 5500 block of Katherine Street for 23 years.

The last four have given her a headache.

Edwards has pleaded with the city to remove the mature sycamore in front of her residence because its roots have damaged the sidewalk and constricted the flow of water into her home.

Last Wednesday, the city's citizen-led tree advisory board sided with Edwards, recommending to public works that the tree be removed. But Edwards thinks that cutting down the 40- to 50-foot-tall sycamore planted in the 1960s isn't enough. She thinks the roots should be removed as well.

"I'm happy the tree is coming down. I think they should dig it out and take it out of the ground. If they dig, they can see it's a root problem," the single mother said. "I'm still back to square one."

Although Simi Valley residents are free to ask for the removal of a tree, the process isn't simple.

After a request is made, the city sends an arborist to examine the tree in question. The arborist evaluates whether the tree is a safety hazard or if it's causing damage to the sidewalk that can be repaired without removing the tree.

Designated a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation in 2001, the city pledges to do everything it can to protect all healthy trees, said Ron Fuchiwaki, assistant director of public works.

"It's our goal to save the trees unless it's absolutely necessary to remove them," he said.

Depending on the size, it costs from $1,000 to $2,000 to remove a tree if the city is forced to use an outside contractor.

Fuchiwaki said the city sometimes receives two or three requests a month to remove trees and then can go for months without receiving any requests.

Not far from Edwards' home, in the 5400 block of Katherine Street, a sycamore in front of Jeri Cyr's home is also causing problems. The tree advisory board recommended the damaged curb, gutter and sidewalk be repaired or replaced.

That sycamore must pass what's called a "rope test," a simulation to determine the stability of the tree in inclement weather. If the tree fails the test, it would be removed; otherwise, it stays, Fuchiwaki said.

"I have made several attempts over the past 10 years to have this tree removed by the city, to no avail," Cyr wrote the department of public works in October.

Edwards claims her plumbing problems will continue until the roots gradually die. However, there is a Citywide Sewer Lateral Policy that addresses her issues.

According to a memorandum released last week from public works to the tree advisory board, "The policy indicates that the sewer line from the home to the mainline in the street is owned and maintained by the homeowner. If the homeowner believes that roots from a city tree may have caused damage to a properly maintained and sealed sewer line, then the homeowner has the opportunity to coordinate with city staff to review the damage."

Edwards contends the city should help her with her escalating plumbing bills.

"If they know they're wrong," she said, "they should correct it. . . . I'm unhappy they're not taking it all the way down."

Jerry Clark, the city's landscape architect, did not work for the city when the 60 sycamores were planted on Katherine Street. Large trees would never be planted so close to residential areas today, he said.