Pasadena Unified board adopts resolution asserting district jurisdiction to advance contaminated-soil cleanup despite community concerns about tree removals

The Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education voted to adopt Resolution 2896, a determination that the district may exercise authority under Government Code section 53094 to render certain Pasadena zoning and tree-protection ordinances inapplicable for specified school properties, allowing remediation work to proceed this summer.

The vote followed more than an hour of public comment in which neighbors, teachers and local volunteers urged the board to pursue alternatives that preserve mature trees. "The soil remediation should be the primary focus, not just taking the trees out," said Brian Fulcher, a South Oak Knoll resident and civil engineer, during the public-comment period. Community members repeatedly urged the district to pursue air excavation, hydroexcavation, bioremediation or other techniques that they said could avoid large-scale tree removal.

Why it mattered: District staff and trustees framed the resolution as a jurisdictional step, not an immediate decision to remove trees. Dr. Jarma Velasquez, a trustee, told colleagues the board's top priority is student safety and that the resolution "is not a vote on whether or not we value the trees." Staff said some portions of campuses have contamination levels that trigger more stringent school-site standards and limit options for leaving contaminated soil in place.

What staff said: District presenters said more than 1,000 soil samples across campuses identified roughly 8,000 cubic yards of impacted soil that must be addressed on 11 campuses. Staff cited two illustrative readings: arsenic at one San Rafael site measured as high as 256 parts per million (the state removal level cited in the meeting was 12) and a lead reading of 2,490 parts per million at a John Muir courtyard (the state removal level cited was 80). The district told the board it had awarded a remediation contract in June for about $6.6 million but now estimates total project costs at roughly $10.7 million; funding is expected to come from insurance reimbursements that may be limited to insurer estimates.

Alternatives and constraints: Staff said the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) allows alternative methods if they remove contamination to acceptable levels, but DTSC approval is required. The district described "air knifing" (air excavation) as a potential preservation method for some large, protected trees: staff estimated air knifing for 44 protected trees would cost about $2 million and said arborists and AQMD air monitoring would be used during work. Staff also outlined plans to replace removed trees with large box stock (reported as 36- to 48-inch box trees) rather than small saplings.

Public concerns: Residents said mature trees provide vital shade, air-quality benefits and community value that cannot be quickly replaced. Julia Ailey, a resident and Eaton Fire survivor, said the issue should not be framed as a choice between "protecting children and protecting trees," and raised equity concerns for disabled students who are more sensitive to heat and poor air quality.

Vote and outcome: The clerk called the roll for Resolution 2896; members recorded their votes and the chair declared "Motion passes." The transcript records individual roll-call prompts and responses; the meeting record shows the motion passed and staff proceeded to make a detailed presentation on remediation work.

What comes next: Staff said they are pursuing DTSC approval for alternatives where feasible, continuing daily monitoring during active remediation and developing a tree-replacement program and community updates. The meeting concluded with a staff presentation on progress to restore safe outdoor learning spaces and with the board adjourning.

Sources: Public comments and on-the-record staff presentations at the Pasadena Unified School District board meeting (transcript).