Publication Date: Wednesday Oct 15, 1997

PALO VERDE: City pruning upsets Thomas Drive resident

In 1958, the year Bill and Marilyn Hawley bought their Thomas Drive home, they planted an eight-inch redwood tree, knowing that they'd probably stay in that house most of their lives.

Today, the tree has grown to more than 100 feet tall. But earlier this month, the Hawleys learned that their cherished tree needed to be pruned so that it would clear utility lines, as required by the Public Utilities Commission.

In late September, the city posted door tags to notify the Hawleys and other residents affected by the city's utility line-clearing program.

But Hawley was concerned after seeing what he considered to be improper pruning of redwoods lining De Anza Park on Louis Road. So, he called an arborist to ask him to inspect his tree before it was trimmed. The arborist promised to do so, Hawley said.

But a week or so later, Hawley was in his upstairs office and happened to look out his window. He saw tree trimmers climbing his tree, pruning the branches along the side next to the power lines. Hawley managed to convince the trimmers, who work for a city subcontractor, to stop their work.

Hawley notified the city, who sent a utilities inspector to look at the tree, he said.

"They told us they were going to do the work, but they didn't tell us how badly they were going to do it," he said. "What gets my wife and I going is that we have always been proud of the city's tree program."

Assistant City Arborist Steve Scott, who spoke with Hawley, could not be reached for comment for this story. But, City Planning Arborist Dave Dockter said that while it sounded like the city failed to follow through with Hawley's request for an arborist to visit, there are different pruning standards for power lines.

"It sounds like the city made a commitment to inform the customer ... and didn't follow through. (But) with utility lines, it's a Catch-22. It's a no-win situation for trees. The lines must be clear. (Tree trimmers) know they have to do a job that's not considered quality in the ornamental tree industry.

"It may have been an excessive bite," he acknowledged, but "if it's to keep the power lines clear, then they'll do it. It's the wrong tree in the wrong place. It's not good for the tree long term. (People should) start young, and plant the right tree in the right place."

The PUC mandates that trees be trimmed 10 feet from power lines. He said trimmers, once they are in a tree, can make a judgment call and make that distance smaller if they can cut the tree so it clears the lines. "The final judgment call is up to the tree professional who was there."

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