Newport takes on a tall order

June Casagrande

Some recommended changes to the city’s tree policy on Tuesday drew a

mixed response from community members trying to balance the beauty of

ocean views with the beauty of the trees themselves.

The City Council decided at its study session Tuesday to revisit

the issue at its next study session in order to give more residents a

chance to speak on the proposed changes.

“I’d like to see this come back to give more people an opportunity

to speak,” Councilman Gary Adams suggested, earning the support of

colleagues.

At issue is what council members should do with a series of

changes recommended to the city’s tree policy, known as the G-1

policy.

Local environmental group Stop Polluting Our Newport has joined

the Balboa Arbor Society in opposing the changes, even though the

review was initiated at the society’s request as part of a lawsuit

between the society and the city regarding the Main Street ficus tree

dispute last fall.

Some feared that the changes would give city staff too much power

to rule on questions of when to remove, trim and replace trees.

Others said that the current policy is a good one and therefore

should not be changed.

But some disagreed.

“In my opinion, the G-1 policy has not been working very well,”

local environmentalist Allan Beek said. “There’s nothing in here to

protect the general public when their views are being threatened.”

For some, however, the trees are the views.

“We’ve heard a lot from the view community tonight, but a lot of

people like me live in the flatland where the view is the trees,”

Councilman Don Webb said. “I think we need to look at ways we might

be a little more proactive in protecting problem trees in areas where

there aren’t any views. In those areas, we need to make an effort to

keep them.”

The policy changes were drafted by an ad hoc committee made up of

members of the Parks, Beaches and Recreation Commission, which had

input from city staff, and from public comments at five different

meetings. When council members revisit the issue, likely in two

weeks, they will be armed with a little more information that council

members requested. Among the new information they will review is a

list of all the legal claims made against the city for damage done by

city-owned trees over the last 10 years.

Council members are expected to decide at their next study session

whether to take any action on the proposed changes or to leave the

current policy in place.

* JUNE CASAGRANDE covers Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. She

may be reached at (949) 574-4232 or by e-mail at

june.casagrande@latimes.com.