Resident urges commission to consider cultural impacts of proposed tree ordinance amendment

At the Sept. 18 meeting of the South Pasadena Cultural Heritage Commission, resident Angelo Gladding used three minutes of public comment to urge commissioners to consider the cultural and heritage value of trees in light of a pending city tree‑ordinance amendment.

Gladding told the commission that “trees hold heritage and culture as well,” and warned that a recently adopted amendment would “remove protections from nonnative trees.” He said the ordinance change includes “other weakenings” and that the second and final reading of the ordinance is scheduled for Oct. 1, and asked commissioners to review how native and nonnative trees are distributed in the city.

No further action was taken by the commission on this topic during the meeting; staff and commissioners did not schedule follow-up and no formal referral or study motion was made. The comment was recorded during the general public‑comment period.

Gladding’s remarks were the only public comment on general items at the meeting.