Attachment 3 - Public CommentFrom:Colleen Eastman
To:Maria Ristow; Mary Badame; Matthew Hudes; Rob Moore; Rob Rennie; Town Manager; Arn Andrews; RobMoulden; Clerk
Cc:Dean Rossi
Subject:Town of Los Gatos - Eucalyptus Trees
Date:Friday, February 17, 2023 3:08:43 PM
Attachments:image001.png23.02.17 DCR to Town of Los Gatos.pdf23.02.07 Geddes Arborist Repolrt.pdf
[EXTERNAL SENDER]
Dear Gentlepersons:
Attached please find correspondence from attorney Dean Rossi
concerning the above-referenced subject matter.
Very truly yours,
Colleen EastmanLegal Assistant
colleen@rdlaw.net
San Jose l Danville
MAIN 408.495.3900 |
1570 The Alameda, Suite 316, San Jose, CA 95126
NOTICE: Please direct all mail to the Danville office at 208 W. El Pintado Road, Danville, CA 94526.
This message may contain information that is attorney-client privileged, attorney work product, or
otherwise confidential. If you are not an intended recipient, use and disclosure of this message are
prohibited. If you received this transmission in error, please notify the sender by reply e-mail and
delete the message and any attachments.
ATTACHMENT 3
Town of Los Gatos February 17, 2023
Page 2
On January 11, the day after the catastrophic failure of the trees, Mr. Geddes inspected all of the eucalyptus trees, both fallen and standing. He inspected them again at the end of January before the destruction of the two stumps. Mr. Geddes’s report speaks for itself. The trees present a “present threat to life, limb and property and infrastructure” and need to be removed.
He found evidence of white root rot and was surprised by how little root mass remained to
support the fallen trees. He considers it “highly likely” that the 18 remaining trees have suffered similar root zone compromise. The Town’s strategy of occasional pruning could not and cannot “prevent advance of root pathogens and decay.”
In addition, the Residents have consulted with the Santa Clara County Fire Department,
Fire Prevention Division. The Fire Prevention Division manages the brush abatement and defensible space program and sends reminders to homeowners each January to clear vegetation, and levies financial charges against homeowners for violations and non-compliance. The Fire Department is aware of the Town’s eucalyptus trees on Overlook Road, and says that they have
no way to protect the Residents if these trees ignite. Again, these trees are flammable and explode in fireballs. The Fire Department would have no other choice but to retreat. Indeed, the Santa Clara County Firesafe Council highlights such fireballs as the primary reason to recently remove eucalyptus trees in Redwood Estates: “Eucalyptus trees are notorious for being extremely flammable and spreading firebrands. When the oils in the trees heat up, the plant
releases flammable gas, which ignites into a fireball. This accelerates the eucalyptus fire hazards
in a region and discourages firefighting efforts.” See https://sccfiresafe.org/projects/redwood-estates-hazardous-tree-removal/. Essentially, individual, as well as Town and community, wildfire preparedness efforts are
meaningless in the Glen Ridge neighborhood as long as these trees are standing. The Town has previously been advised to remove eucalyptus trees. For example, in 2020 the Town commissioned a wildfire preparedness report and recommendations from SWCA Environmental Consultants. The report is entitled, Town of Los Gatos Roadway Vegetation
Management Plan. On page 4, the recommended treatments include “Removing all non-fire-resistant vegetation located within 10 feet of roadways [including] combustible vegetation such as eucalyptus trees… .” Overlook Road is highlighted in this report as an area to be addressed. See https://www.losgatosca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/25236/Los-Gatos-Roadside-Vegetation-Management-Plan.
Despite this report, despite the Town’s stated focus on wildfire preparedness, and despite the recent scare from the lightning complex fires of August 2020, to date, the Town has not taken the recommended actions regarding these trees – removal, pruning, nothing. Their existence contradicts all wildfire preparedness efforts in the Glen Ridge neighborhood. It appears the
Town is maintaining a known hazardous and dangerous condition on its property that endangers Town residents.
Town of Los Gatos February 17, 2023
Page 3
It is our understanding the issue of these eucalyptus trees is on the agenda for the Town
council meeting on March 21, 2023 and that Town staff is preparing recommendations. Again, we urge these trees to be removed without delay. We ask the for the immediate removal of these 18 eucalyptus trees without delay.
Very truly yours,
DEAN C. ROSSI
DCR/ceje Enc.
cc: Client