Natives

• Coast live oak

• Western sycamore

• Toyon

• Blue elderberry

• Arroyo willow

• Laurel sumac

• Horseweed

• Deerweed

• Lamb's quarters

• Broadleaf cattail

Invasives

• Castor plant

• Tree of heaven

• Creeping cucumber

• Prickly lettuce

• Black nightshade

• Radish

• Cheeseweed

• Chinese spinach

• Umbrella sedge

• Watercress

• Ash

• Carob

Animals

• Turtle

• Fish

• Bats

• Birds:

• Grasshopper

• NO mosquitos

First post from my note client.

Commissioners,

Our current tree ordinance isn't as broken as it's being presented. The primary problems are poor interpretation and lack of enforcement. From conversations with staff the poor interpretations are deliberate. The commission's past rubber stamping of staff's poor interpretations have led to new precedents being set that obviate correctness and make a mockery of our system of urban forestry.

There are errors in the tables. To name a few:

• San Marino requires TRAQ assessment for hazardous removals

• Claremont absolutely requires removal permits: www.claremontca.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/community-services/documents/trees/tree-policies-and-guidelines/claremont_tree-policies-and-guidelines-manual_2025_final.pdf

I have seen this document before. I cannot find the original to compare but I don't believe much if anything has changed from a year(s) old version of this document. Did staff wait until the Thursday before the meeting to release an inaccurate document they were in possession of the entire time?

Issues to Consider (Incomplete)

• TRAQ assessment from an arborist other than our city arborist – San Marino and many others require a TRAQ assessment for hazardous removals

• our city arborist is employed by the same contractor that we have a near million dollar a year contract with. there is a conflict of interest. she is incentivized to prioritize the goals of a corrupted tree authority over the long term health and success of our city's tree canopy. our city arborist does not produce reports. our city arborist is not available for communication with the public.

• replacement plans need to be complete and should include landscaping in the immediate vicinity

  • lower replacement numbers, require on-site

• replanting

  • required on site until a property canopy coverage quota is met

  • actually check at 2 years; requirement remains in perpetuity until nullified (e.g. poor choice of placement)

• promote natives; wind and fire safe, drought tolerant – irrigated infrequently and deeply, no non-native landscaping under the dripline

• removal of non-natives should be expedited but must come with replacement – replacing an allelopathic non-native with a native can be challenging if in the same spot

• no permit required for extremely invasive – tree of heaven; brazilian pepper

• hills-specific; topology; erosion control; preserve "natural state" as states in building code

• development issues; plans need to show protection zones and they need to be inspected/enforced

• define "dying" – see "senescence"

• understand the difference between shrubs and trees, shrubs grown as trees, multi-trunk, "standard form"; enables native plantings in tight areas

• lower or completely remove fees

Require Complete Applications

Every single one of the applications that you've seen has been missing requirements:

34.12 Tree removal and replacement plans.

Tree removal and replacement plans shall contain the following information:

(a) A drawing of the property which shows the location and species of all existing protected trees;
(b) A site plan showing the proposed development, including all existing and proposed structures, including the topography of the site, in accordance with SPMC 34.9(b);
(c) The tree species and trunk caliper of all trees to be removed;
(d) The reason for removal. Any trees proposed for removal due to poor health or condition shall have the condition of the tree documented in a written report prepared and signed by a certified arborist;
(e) A second drawing of the property after the proposed tree removal which shows remaining trees and all proposed replacement trees. The replacement tree sizes and species must be clearly identified; and
(f) A certified arborist review of the tree plan, if required by the director. The certified arborist shall be contracted and managed by the city and all fees incurred shall be the responsibility of the property owner. (Ord. No. 2328, § 1 (part), 2019.)

Pasadena

• clear photos (with varied angles)

• complete site layout (with full tree canopies)

www.printfriendly.com/document/pasadena-private-tree-removal-request-checklist/editor

Street Trees

Map current city streets' tree designations. Formalize the methodology to facilitate species selection.

www.claremontca.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/community-services/documents/trees/designated-street-tree-lis.pdf

• private property street tree planting

  • when parkway is beneath power lines

  • monterey hills with narrow streets and no parkway

• watering/maintenance program

Clarification

What does this mean? (from agenda p. 48)

staff recommends removing subjective criteria allowing staff to apply violations consistently

focusing ordinance on protected trees allowing staff to enforce municipal code without subjective interpretation

Please do not rubber stamp this and let it move on to the next commission.

Thank you,
Angelo Gladding

Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ)

November 2022, June 2023, September 2023

March 2025

Fire Hazard Severity Zone Viewer

experience.arcgis.com/experience/6a9cb66bb1824cd98756812af41292a0

This viewer allows you to zoom in to see individual addresses.

Changes

Cross-thatched red was preexisting. Solid red/orange/yellow represents expanded scope as of March 2025.

Full South Pasadena Interface

Monterey Hills, South Pasadena

Cities Surrounding South Pasadena

Hahamongna Watershed, Santa Monica Mountains, Verdugo Mountains & San Gabriel Mountain Foothills

Rain ended things early but the weediest area has been restored.

8:20~9:40 (80 min) * 3 volunteers / 60 = 4 volunteer hours

Before

Weeds consumed bare soil in Southeastern facing triangle. Some had already gone to seed.

After

Most weeds removed, poppies left to drop their seeds and 1/2 yard of mulch applied to bare soil.

1-2-25, 9:30 PM, 900 block of Fair Oaks (Rite Aid). Suspect enters store and takes loss, then exits store without paying for loss. LOSS: Vitamins. SUSPECT DESCRIPTION: Female, White, 30 years, wearing a black jacket, red leggings.

Los Angeles evacuees that know me please ask for help.