ORANGE : Report Lists Trees, Planting Proposal

A report released last week values the 23,144 trees on city property at $43 million and outlines a proposal to plant more than 550 trees each year for five years.

A comprehensive tree inventory, compiled by Golden Coast Environmental Services of Irvine, identifies 8,373 potential planting sites and 209 species of trees on city property.

The report states that 93% of the city’s trees are in good or fair condition, but also identifies nearly 6,000 trees that interfere with utilities or pose other problems.

City Parks Manager Jess Garcia said his department plans to plant nearly 3,000 trees between 1992 and 1996. The city would like to plant three times that figure, he said, but many property owners don’t want the extra greenery nearby.

“People don’t like to pick up behind a tree,” Garcia said. “Sometimes they disagree with the type (of tree) the city designates, like they want a shade tree instead of a palm tree. Sometimes they don’t want the liability of someone possibly slipping on fallen leaves.”

Trees to be planted will include crepe myrtle, ornamental pear, American sweet gum, magnolia, jacaranda, Australian willow and palm.

Garcia said he hopes to encourage more property owners to accept the curbside trees through the program. He said that the city will now pay for any sidewalk damage caused by wayward tree roots.

The planting proposal was initially scheduled to begin next year, but when city departments were asked to reduce their budgets, the program was postponed until 1992. The five-year plan is expected to cost the city about $75,000, Garcia said.

The National Arbor Day Foundation this year named Orange a “Tree City USA” for the fourth consecutive year. To receive the honor, a city must have an ordinance protecting its trees, spend at least $2 per capita on tree preservation and maintenance and observe Arbor Day, among other requirements.