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Resident criticizes hospital tree removals; city says removals were hospital’s choice to mitigate fire risk
Summary
A resident called the area near the hospital a "warzone" after trees were removed; city staff said records show repeated hazard mitigation requests and that the hospital, as private property owner, chose to remove trees to address fire risks following a large 2025 brush fire.
During citizen comments on March 3, resident Kathleen Craynor asked the council to consider the effect of recent tree removal on wildlife, shade, noise buffering and lighting for nearby homes, calling the area "a warzone" and saying residents were not consulted.
Mayor Mark C. Allen moved to Administrative Reports so staff could address the concern. City Manager Tom Hanson and Council Member Cheryl Parkinson reported that the city’s code-enforcement officer had worked with the hospital for two years to address underbrush, fire hazards and nuisance-vegetation issues, and that the city never mandated a clear-cut or issued fines related to the matter. Hanson said hospital managers chose to remove trees on their private property and that the city’s records document hazard-mitigation communications but not an order to remove trees.
Hanson cited a July 2025 brush fire on the south end of the hospital property that prompted increased concern about fire risk; staff said the removal effort focused on undergrowth and hazard mitigation rather than wholesale tree removal. Council members asked staff to follow up on resident concerns about flooding and to coordinate messaging with the hospital to avoid placing the hospital in a negative public position when possible.
The council discussed next steps for clearer community communications; no enforcement action or policy change was taken at the meeting.
