OAK LAWS BEING STUDIED CITY OFFICIALS SEEK FEEDBACK.Byline: Susan Abram Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - City officials are encouraging residents to provide suggestions and feedback for revising the oak tree ordinance, one of the oldest laws in the books since Santa Clarita was incorporated. The ordinance is being studied for its effectiveness. Mayor Bob Kellar presented the idea in February during a City Council meeting, saying he had heard several ``horror stories'' from homeowners who could not afford to care for or trim the trees legally. The ordinance requires property owners to obtain permits and pay hefty sums to remove or even prune prune, popular name for a dried plum. Fruits of the many varieties of Prunus domestica, which are firm-fleshed and dry easily without removal of the stone, are gathered after falling from the tree, dipped in lye solution to prevent fermentation, dried in the the trees. A public forum will be held at 6:30 p.m. June 23 at the Placerita Nature Center at 19152 Placerita Canyon Road. ``This is a very important issue in the community, and it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to make sure the ordinance is as current and efficient as possible,'' Kellar said recently in a statement. The City Council passed the ordinance in 1989, one of its first actions after the city was incorporated. A year later, it approved the Oak Tree Preservation and Protection Guidelines, which established the rules for implementing the ordinance. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the ordinance, ``no person shall cut, prune, remove, relocate, endanger, damage or encroach encroach v. to build a structure which is in whole or in part across the property line of another's real property. This may occur due to incorrect surveys, guesses or miscalculations by builders and/or owners when erecting a building. into the protected zone of any oak tree on any public or private property within the city except in accordance with the conditions of a valid oak tree permit issued by the city.'' City officials are looking into streamlining the process by examining the distinction between individual residents and developers, reevaluating the current fee structure, considering the development of an oak tree reforestation Reforestation The reestablishment of forest cover either naturally or artificially. Given enough time, natural regeneration will usually occur in areas where temperatures and rainfall are adequate and when grazing and wildfires are not too frequent. program and tree tracking system, updating any language in the ordinance, and developing public education. City officials have acknowledged that any discussion about oaks can cause controversy in a community in which the logo features the beloved giants. But they also have said a review of the ordinance should not be construed as bowing down to special interests. ``We're not doing this to appease ap·pease tr.v. ap·peased, ap·peas·ing, ap·peas·es 1. To bring peace, quiet, or calm to; soothe. 2. To satisfy or relieve: appease one's thirst. 3. anyone,'' David Peterson David Robert Peterson, PC (born December 28, 1943 in Toronto, Ontario) was the twentieth Premier of the Province of Ontario, Canada, from June 26, 1985 to October 1, 1990. He was the first Liberal premier of Ontario in 42 years. , the city's management analyst for field services, has said. ``We're doing this essentially because we need to do whatever we can to make sure people understand the oak tree ordinance. We have to make sure the steps we take and the messages we send allow them to take proper procedures.'' About 10 percent of all properties in Santa Clarita have oaks on them. When a tree reaches 2 inches in diameter, it falls under terms of the ordinance. Susan Abram, (661) 257-5257 susan.abram(at)dailynews.com |
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