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Residents urge help for hazardous cypress trees and noise from school field at La Palma council meeting
Summary
Two long-time La Palma residents told the council about neighborhood problems: one cited tall cypress trees on private property that she fears could pose a wildfire risk, and another complained of persistent noise from a backstop and athletic lights behind her house. Staff said the city’s authority is limited in private-property disputes and will refer contacts to appropriate agencies.
Two La Palma residents used the public-comment period Thursday to press the council for help with neighborhood quality-of-life and safety issues.
Emma Dionis, a La Palma resident since 1979, said a neighbor’s 11 tall cypress trees drop daily debris, attract squirrels and have left her unable to enjoy fruit trees in her yard. Dionis said she fears those trees could ignite during Santa Ana winds and asked whether the city could inspect or have the fire department assess the trees. The city attorney and council members responded that vegetation disputes between private property owners are typically civil matters; the city can act only when vegetation affects the public right-of-way or violates local codes. The attorney advised Dionis that her strongest recourse would likely be through a civil demand letter and suggested residents cooperate to pursue remedies.
Joanne Studebaker, who has lived in La Palma since 1974, told the council her house backs up to Walker Field and that a backstop installed roughly 12 years ago has led to persistent noise from softball practices and lighting, sometimes five to seven days a week. Studebaker said she had contacted the school district without success and asked the city for help identifying the correct contact. City staff said the field is school district property and that the city would forward the speaker the appropriate contact information in Anaheim.
Council members thanked both speakers, said they sympathized with the concerns and directed staff to follow up by providing contact information and exploring possible code-enforcement triggers if public-right-of-way issues exist. Neither resident requested formal council action beyond staff follow-up.
