If you have concerns with the city’s treatment of trees in our neighborhood, we’ve made it easy for you to reach out to the officials who are most directly involved. These trees don’t have a voice, but those of us who do can speak out and ask our leaders to take a better approach to the management of our city’s trees.

Time is of the essence. Trees are already coming down. Speak out today before it’s too late.

Talking Points

In your own words, write an email to Public Works staff, our Mayor, and our City Councilmember. You may wish to hit on the following points:

1. Explain why these trees are important to you.

2. The public should have an opportunity to review the arborist reports and have questions answered before any more trees are cut.

3. The city should take all measures possible to save these legacy trees, only cutting them down if there is no other option. Modifications to save trees could include design changes for the road, curb, or sidewalk; requiring less base; bowing out the curb or gutter; mitigating sidewalks that are lifting by evening out the edges using a grinder; and reducing curb height.

4. There should be no net loss of trees. If no other options are available to leave a tree standing, then before the tree is cut, the city should create a plan to promptly replant a tree in the same location, using appropriate parkway tree species.

Who to Contact

The Mayor, our City Council, and Public Works staff have direct authority over this tree removal. Please reach out to them, express your concerns, and kindly ask them to reconsider. They want to do the right thing, they just need to hear from you and as many of our friends and neighbors as possible.