Controversy continues in wake of the felling of eucalyptus tree

By Leigh Ann Maze

One of two controversial 100-year-old eucalyptus trees at Saratoga School was felled on May 3, but the two-year-long controversy surrounding it remains.

According to a Cooperation of Agreement the Saratoga Union School District made with the city of Saratoga on June 4, 1999, the SUSD was to forward a copy of the arborist's report to the city before any trees were cut. The SUSD was to then schedule a public hearing on the matter at a regular SUSD board meeting. The hearing was to be scheduled at least three weeks in advance to allow the city time to review the arborist's report.

The district's arborist gave a report on the health of the trees to the SUSD on April 28, 2000. Board members informed the construction manager of their decision on April 29, and the trees were felled May 3. All obligations to the city were overlooked.

SUSD superintendent Mary Gardner sent a letter of apology to interim city manager William Norton on May 12, after he informed the SUSD of its oversights. "I am very embarrassed that this obligation was overlooked," Gardner's letter read. "It was an unfortunate oversight by my office for which I assume complete responsibility."

The city council and the SUSD plan to schedule a joint meeting soon to discuss the breach of agreement. "Rather than litigation, I think the city would prefer to settle this amicably through negotiation and discussion at a public meeting," Norton said. "A little dialogue might be helpful."

Deliberation over the fate of the trees began in the summer of 1998, when the architect's preliminary plans for the expansion of Saratoga School called for the removal of both large eucalyptus trees for safety reasons. The fate of the trees sparked nine months of debate between SUSD board members, community members and parents.

The city became involved in May 1999, when it threatened legal action against the SUSD for not entering into a binding agreement over its renovation plans for Saratoga School. The city wanted a guarantee that the two large eucalyptus at the school would not be harmed during construction. The SUSD and the city avoided litigation by signing the Cooperation of Agreement on June 4.

On April 27, 1999, the SUSD also made an agreement with a group of local residents who supported keeping both large eucalyptuses. The SUSD agreed to keep the trees until May 2000, at which time an arborist would recommend the removal of the less healthy of the two. The arborist would also determine the health of four eucalyptus trees near the classrooms.

The SUSD hired certified arborist Deborah Ellis in June 1998, to monitor the health of the Saratoga School eucalyptus trees. She has been checking the trees at least twice weekly since July 1999.

In her final report, dated April 28, 2000, Ellis determined that the larger of the two trees had been in consistently better condition since before construction began. "In my opinion these two trees have been well protected so far, and construction damage to them has been minimal," Ellis wrote.

At the end of her report, Ellis wrote, "...one more personal pitch...I would prefer to save the two big [eucalyptus] and remove the remaining four row [eucalyptus]. I know that you have other issues to consider besides trees, however, and I will cooperate with whatever you decide to do."

The SUSD decided to cut one of the large eucalyptus and keep the other, as was agreed upon with citizens in June 1998. Two smaller eucalyptus trees in a stand of four near the classrooms were also cut at Ellis' recommendation because they were diseased.

The decision to cut one large tree and keep one large tree, Gardner said, was a compromise between the two main interests; those who wanted to make additional safe play space for the children, and those who wanted to keep as many trees as possible.

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