Protest halts removal of trees in Coronado

After spending a day in a tree on E Avenue in Coronado, resident Dan'l Steward came down after city officials said they would stay the cutting of the trees until further discussion with residents.

CORONADO Two men protesting the removal of trees on a residential street in Coronado were back on the ground Tuesday after spending the night in the branches, and work to fell the eucalyptus has halted until the matter can be discussed at the next City Council meeting.

Neighbors rallied Tuesday at the foot of the tree where Danl Steward, a Coronado resident for 16 years, had perched since early Monday to call attention to how the city decided to remove four sugar gum eucalyptus trees on E Avenue. Steward was joined by Ryan Gillespie, who hung a hammock in another tree Monday night. The city said the trees are a hazard and have to come down.

The protest drew Mayor Casey Tanaka to the tree Monday evening, where he and Steward agreed on involving the community in future decisions about tree removal. Before descending the tree Tuesday morning, Steward told those gathered that the protest succeeded.

We lost two trees yesterday, and the city was scheduled to come back and cut this tree and the remaining tree, he said. Today, they have canceled that activity.

Steward acknowledged that the two trees still targeted by the city may yet come down because of safety concerns, but was pleased the community will have a voice going forward.

We take issue with the fact we were not involved, he said. We dont understand what the process was and, more importantly, what the options were or were not.

Residents were unaware the trees were being targeted for removal until the city delivered notifications to their homes earlier this month. Neighbors were upset that the decision to fell the trees was made by the city behind closed doors.

The City Council discussed the trees in closed sessions June 17 and Aug. 19. City Manager Blair King said the matter fell under the category of anticipated litigation after the city received a complaint from a resident in May. The states open meeting law allows for litigation to be discussed privately.

Agendas from those two meetings list one potential case of anticipated litigation, and minutes note only that the mayor reported out from closed session that direction was given to city staff members.

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Protest halts removal of trees in Coronado