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Resident raises coordination concerns after large tree trimming on Cypress Point Drive
Summary
A resident told the commission that a recent fire-department-ordered vegetation removal on Cypress Point Drive resulted in cutting of live tree branches and urged better cross-department coordination, monitoring and work plans to protect the urban forest.
A Mountain View resident told the Parks and Recreation Commission on March 12 that a fire-department directive to remove a fire hazard on private property along Cypress Point Drive led to the removal of live tree branches and extensive disturbance to the urban forest.
Dan Shane described photographs he said he provided to the city showing "massive amounts of dead wood, fallen trees" and said the removal work lacked a work plan, monitoring or cross-department coordination. He told commissioners many branches from live trees were cut, including branches 20 to 25 feet in height, and that the city's response to his complaint had characterized the cut material as "bushes," which he said was inaccurate.
"I think in these situations, we need better coordination, between the departments. So we ensure that damage is not done to our urban forests," Shane said.
Shane recommended the city require work plans, time schedules and monitoring and to coordinate across departments when a fire hazard removal could affect urban-forest resources.
What happens next: The commission heard the public comment during oral communications; no formal action was taken. The resident asked for improved staff coordination on field operations involving trees and for staff to consider permitting, monitoring and interdepartmental review when hazardous-vegetation removals are ordered.
