Public Presentations.
To: Santa Clara City Council Date: November 19, 2024
From: Craig Larsen
Topic: Trees, trash and tennis balis
Dear Mayor Gillmor and Councilmembers,
You may recall I spoke before the Council in June of 2022 to express my concern for the livelihood of our Modesto Ash trees. After working with the City Arborist, I appreciate the City's efforts to preserve our Modesto Ash trees. But nature is a deciding force all its own. Last February, a major storm toppled several Modesto Ash trees in our neighborhood including one of our two trees. In the city blocks on Wade Avenue between Barkley and Donovan, only one Modesto Ash remains, where before, almost each house had a tree. Our tree was removed in February and recently replaced with a purple ash tree. I would like to thank City Arborist Esteban Banuelos and team leader Felipe Rameriz for their care and professionalism in dealing with us and our trees. Here are our old tree and new tree photos.
Next, this is an FYI for the City as the creeks are the jurisdiction of the Santa Clara Valley Water District.
With the first major rain of the season about two weeks ago, we saw accumulated trash washed into the San Tomas/Aquino Creek. The photos show the collected trash washed into the creek from Monroe Avenue to almost Walsh Avenue. There are hundreds of pounds of trash and recyclables there.
One major source of trash is homeless encampments too close to the creek. A heavy rain raises the creek level several feet and washes away anything in its path. It is a shame as not only do the homeless lose their clothing, bicycles, food, toiletries, camping gear, shelter materials etc., these items also pollute the creek. We need more focus on keeping such trash from our creeks.
All pictured trash was removed, now awaiting the water district to collect.
One contributor to creek trash the City can help with is tennis balls from our Central Park tennis courts.
The tennis balls are accidentally hit into Saratoga Creek and accumulate during the dry season when the water level and flow are low. The first rain of the season flushes the tennis balls downstream where they decay, eventually leaching plastics into the creek. I have collected hundreds of tennis balls from the creek which were recycled. This past October 3, I recovered 95 tennis balls from the creek. The photo shows the tennis practice wall fencing which is only three feet high. It is easy for a mis-hit ball to sail over the low fence, across the path and down into the creek. Can netting or some permanent barrier be constructed to prevent tennis balls from entering the creek? Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Craig Larsen
2714 Barkley Ave.
(408) 244-0156
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