To further increase public awareness and understanding of the California Avenue street tree replanting plan (released by the city on Tuesday) prior to its presentation by city staff to, and action by, the Palo Alto City Council on Monday evening, members of our ad-hoc citizens's group will host an information table at the Farmers' Market tomorrow (Sunday, November 15), in the free-speech area between Paul's European Cobblery and the Bank of the West near Ash Street.

We have asked two important points of contact if they could attend: Dave Muffly, expert, independent arborist who was invited into the city's process and Kate Rooney, Department of Public Works project manager for the tree replanting. We are anticipating one or both to be on hand for at least part of the morning. So if you want to learn more, get your questions answered, and provide input in an unstructured setting to key shapers of the plan, this is another opportunity.

Enlarged, mounted color copies of the tree replanting plan will be displayed for examination and as focal points for discussion.

Information packets will also be available. Each packet will include:

(1) An 11" x 17" color glossy of the plan

[online at Web Link ]

(2) The tree replanting design concept

[online at Web Link ]

(3) Background from arborist Dave Muffly on each tree in the palette

(4) Distilled information from the staff report to Monday evening's City Council meeting

[online links to the report and attachments are available via Item 16 on Monday's agenda at Web Link

We are asking for $1 per packet to help defray the cost of the printing.

Hope you will plan to stop by and chat. Look for large mounted, color copies of the plan in the alleyway between the cobblery and the bank, tomorrow, Sunday, November 15, 9 am to 1 pm, California Avenue Farmers' Market.

Fred Balin

fbalin@gmail

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The ad-hoc citizens' group is an informal collection of engaged area residents and business owners who objected to the plans for immediate replanting of evergreen Holly Oaks with a monoculture of deciduous Red Maples without public input; pushed for direct access to independent, outside, expert arborists; and seek a tree-replanting process marked by maximum public engagement and transparency.