Received after Agenda Printed
September 24, 2024
Item No. 16
From:
Webb. Dave (Public Works)
To:
Brown, Leilani
Subject:
FW: September 24, 2024 Council Meeting
Eucalyptus/Palm Trees
Date:
September 20, 2024 2:41:41 PM
Attachments:
image001.pnna
FYI 9/24/24 Meeting Item 16
Agenda Item 16, Appeal of PB&R Decision to Remove
David Webb
Director of Public Works
Public Works Department
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Office: 949-644-3311
From: Paul Watkins
Sent: September 20, 2024 2:13 PM
To: Dept - City Council
Cc: Hartson, Melissa ; Ronnie Watkins
; Chase Rief ; Webb, Dave (Public Works)
; Sandefur, Tom ;
[email protected]; [email protected]; Pekar, Kevin ; nancy gardner ; [email protected]
Subject: September 24, 2024 Council Meeting: Agenda Item 16, Appeal of PB&R Decision to Remove Eucalyptus/Palm Trees
[EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button above.
Dear Honorable Mayor O'Neill and Honorable Councilmembers:
Please uphold the decision of the PB&R Commission to remove the diseased and possibly hazardous Special City Landmark Blue Gum Eucalyptus and Canary Island Date Palm trees located at the Balboa Branch Library.
Assistant City Engineer Sandefur has done a fine job in the Staff Report of recounting past Board of Library Trustees and PB&R meetings addressing these diseased, possibly hazardous, and severely compromised trees. While no one wishes to remove healthy appropriately placed trees, unfortunately the useful lives of these beautiful specimens are nearing an end.
Received after Agenda Printed
September 24, 2024
Item No. 16
Mr. Sandefur has persuasively responded/countered in detail each point raised by Attorney Pitet on behalf of the Appellant (Friends of Library Park). Mr. Sandefur has also outlined a thoughtful removal plan keeping the Blue Heron population well in mind. The neighbors and others have been generously afforded repeated opportunities to express their views; while sympathetic to those views, Board of Library Trustees, PB&R, and City leadership have reached a different measured conclusion on removing the trees due to untreatable, quickly progressing decay as verified by recent sonic tomographic evidence.
In addition to the foregoing, we urge the Council to approve at the September 24, 2024 meeting the Coastal Development Permit and Zoning Exemption (PA2024-0140) to allow the demolition of the existing Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1 and the construction of the new Balboa Branch Library with the attached new 2-story Fire Station No. 1.
Thank you for considering our point of view.
Sincerely,
Paul K. Watkins,
Former Chair, Board of Library Trustees
Paul K. Watkins, APC
6408 West Ocean Front
Newport Beach, CA 92663-1929 and
485 East 17th Street, Suite 600
Costa Mesa, CA 92627-4705
Of Counsel: Self & Bhomre
Cell: (714) 403-6408
E-Mail: [email protected]
Received after Agenda Printed
CiT lteft'M jejapl&4
100 Civic Center Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
949 644-3311 1 949 644-3308 FAX
newportbeachca.gov/publicworks
September 11, 2024
SENT VIA U.S. MAIL AND EMAIL
Christopher L. Pitet
Adkisson Pitet LLP
100 Bayview Circle, Suite 210
Newport Beach, CA 92660
Email: [email protected]
Re: Notice of City Council Hearing on Appeal of Decision to Remove Tree Dear Mr. Pitet:
This letter is to provide you with notice that your appeal dated June 14, 2024, of the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission decision to remove the Blue Gum Eucalyptus Tree at the Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station will be held at the September 24, 2024, City Council Meeting. The Regular Council Meeting will start at 4:30 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers located at 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660.
The Agenda Report will be available on the City's website on September 20, 2024:
www.newportbeachca.gov . For more information, please call the Public Works Department, Municipal Operations Division at 949-644-3055.
Sincerely,
Michael Sledd
Deputy Public Works Director, Municipal Operations Division Cc: City Attorney Aaron Harp
City Clerk Leilani Brown
File
Received after Agenda Printed
September 24, 2024
Item No. 16
From: Biddle, Jennifer
To: City Clerk"s Office
Subject: FW: Support for Tree Removal and Coastal Development Permit at Balboa Branch Library Date: September 23, 2024 10:04:44 AM
From: Chase Rief
Sent: September 23, 2024 9:45 AM
To: Dept - City Council
Cc: Hartson, Melissa
Subject: Support for Tree Removal and Coastal Development Permit at Balboa Branch Library [EXTERNAL EMAIL] DO NOT CLICK links or attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Report phish using the Phish Alert Button above.
Dear Honorable Mayor O'Neill and council members,
I respectfully urge you to uphold the decision of the Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission to remove the diseased Blue Gum Eucalyptus tree at the Balboa Branch Library location.
The Board of Library Trustees reviewed this issue after public comment and determined that tree removal was in the best interest of the community. The Parks, Beaches, and Recreation Commission conducted a deep dive into the specific condition of these trees, with input from experts, and concluded that their advanced decay posed a significant safety risk.
While it is unfortunate to remove these trees, their rapid deterioration means preserving them is no longer feasible. Extensive community input has been considered, but the need to protect public safety and move forward is clear. In addition, we will be gaining a state-of-the-art fire station to serve the people of the Balboa Peninsula and a new library that will continue to serve generations to come.
Additionally, I urge the Council to approve the Coastal Development Permit and Zoning Exemption at the September 24, 2024, meeting to allow for the construction of the new Balboa Branch Library and Fire Station No. 1.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Chase Rief
Chairman, Newport Beach Board of Library Trustees
,�y%�2e�a �0✓Gd�w�2�tu��.��v
/V)o Ralevli
P V e
ell , Z�IL-