Central Park Condos trees at risk

Central Park condominium owners have voted to remove all trees from their property, in an effort to combat bird poop.

Downtown church expansion

Urban Tulsa reported this week on the loss of some older trees in downtown Tulsa. First Presbyterian Church is expanding and has agreed to plant more trees in their place.

Auckland, New Zealand?

This blog was created for a 2007 campaign in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We're getting lots of hits for a 2009 campaign in Auckland, NZ. You can go to that campaign by clicking here.

City Attorney: Committee must obey 'sunshine laws' if exercising oversight authority

Before Wednesday's meeting, the City Attorney for Council Affairs advised Chairman Carter that he must comply with the Open Meetings Act if his committee chooses to perform the functions laid out in the Mayor's Executive Order.

His response? He is asking the Mayor to re-write her order, using language that will allow the Committee to circumvent operate without triggering the law.

In the meantime, the Park Department is following the Executive Order as written. Once again, Mike Perkins presented the committee his tree maintenance plans, and once again the committee chose not to look at them.

So the Park Department, following the Mayor's order, is unable to do any routine tree maintenance. Not good.

Agenda for Wednesday's meeting

The Committee has provided us with a copy of their agenda for tomorrow. Verbatim: 1. Discussion regarding future role and structure of Tree Advisory Committee including: membership; guidelines, bylaws, and/or rules for committee; and affiliation with any other entities. 2. Update regarding recruitment of foresters, arborists, wildlife experts, and/or garden center staff and discussion regarding process for approving requests from City of Tulsa Parks Department for tree trimming and/or removal pursuant to Executive Order. 3. Review requests for tree trimming/removal from Parks Department and authorize work if appropriate, pursuant to Executive Order. 4. Discussion of implementation and progress of Strategic Plan adopted by the Tulsa City Council, including potential funding for the Strategic Plan. 5. Next meeting. 6. Adjourn.

Correction

The Tuesday blog entry initially mentioned a 'leaked' 5-year plan. The reference was removed when I realized it was the same document openly presented months earlier to the larger Council.

Although the reference was online for only 2 hours, text of the entire blog was captured during that time, and distributed via email. We regret the error.

Meeting summary

Concerning the Executive Order, the Tree Advisory Committee is not sure what they are supposed to do, if they are qualified to do it, which ones of them should do it, and if they have to do it in public. They decided to look into it and meet again next month. If the Committee provides us with minutes, we'll be happy to post them.

Mike Perkins presented the Park Department's tree maintenance plans - a two-inch-thick sheaf with full color pictures, which we will post if we can find a scanner with a document feeder.

The plans were not discussed, examined, approved or rejected, because discussion shifted back to valid questions about the Committee's role.

Chairman Carter said he intended to refer the Open Meetings Act compliance issue to the City Attorney.

The next meeting will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 6.

Tree Advisory Committee meeting Wednesday

The Tree Advisory Committee will meet at 1:15 pm Wednesday at City Hall, in Room 201, where they will discuss this five-year plan - but we're not invited. I am therefore going anyway.

When contacted, our 'citizen representative' (appointed by the Mayor) Cherie Cook denied the meeting was happening...then admitted it was happening, but refused to say when and where it was...and then she asked us not to attend. We declined. When alerted to the state law, Chairman Cason Carter said he believed it did not apply to his committee, but that he would have the City Attorney check. Another committee member said that the issue of open meetings would be discussed...at the committee meeting.

No discussion is needed. The Open Meeting Act is explicit: All meetings of "all committees or subcommittees of any public body" must be "preceded by advance notice" and "open to the public." There is no gray area. Willful violations are a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine and imprisonment.

Mayor's Executive Order 07-119 places the "maintenance, trimming, and removal of trees under the authority of the Tree Advisory Committee", which was formed in 2006 by then-City Councilor Susan Neal.

Two weeks ago, we said 'we did it.' It looks like there's still work to do.

We did it.

We saved the trees. From now on, whenever the Park Department wants to remove a tree in any Tulsa park, they'll need approval from the Tree Advisory Committee (or the Mayor herself, in an emergency.)

In coming weeks, the Committee may ask for help in taking care of the immediate needs of Woodward Park. The trees do need trimming. As soon as we know details, we'll post them here.

In the long term, there are still questions about who will trim and who will pay for it. But we'll leave that up to the powers that be.

In the meantime, the signs and ribbons can come down. We won.

It's official: Trees stay. Forester goes?

Last week, Park Board chairman Walt Helmerich, Park Board member Joe Schulte, and the Park Department's Urban Forester #2 Dave Zuconni re-examined the condemned trees, and decided that only one out of fifty should be removed. Head Urban Forester Mike Perkins is 'out of the office' for two weeks.

The Mayor today issued a press release. By executive order, the Park Department must submit all future plans for Woodward Park tree maintenance to an oversight committee. Park Department head Mary Ann Summerfield is 'on vacation' this week.

There are still questions to be answered. In the press release, the Mayor says that tree maintenance, for now, will come from "teaming with private partners." Why private? Why is the Park Department unable to do routine trimming?

Document gallery now online

Now you can see for yourself the independent Certified Arborist's report, Mike Perkins' early attempt to intimidate us, hundreds of petition signatures from the coffee shops, pictures of the trees in question, this in Urban Tulsa Weekly, and more. Just click on the words in red.

The Facebook group (of expatriate Tulsans, away at college) has passed 900 members, the online petition is over 600, and can someone please count the number of signatures on paper?

Four more trees found

Four more trees have been found with orange "death dots" near the shelter in the center of the park. If anybody else finds a dotted tree without a ribbon, please let us know.

Story reported on KOTV-6 and CW12/19

Thank you to Anchor Jennifer Loren, the news photographer, The News on 6 at 9:00 p.m. on CW12/19 and The News on 6 at 10:00 p.m. on KOTV for covering this important issue.

What might we lose?

The arborist's report reveals that virtually all the trees marked for removal are 20-25 years old. If we don't let them grow up to take the place of the mature trees, like this one at about 100 years old, then there will be fewer scenes like this for future generations.

Photos show the trees are not old or dying

In addition to the certified arborist's report, we now have photos of all the trees marked for removal, so you can judge for yourself whether they are aging, diseased or dying. In most of the pictures, these 20-25 year old trees are flanked by mature 100-year-old trees and new transplanted ones. Remember, every new tree marks a spot where an "aging" 20-year-old tree was removed.

In contrast, here are two trees in Heller Park next to the recreation center which ARE an immediate threat. The dangling 2ft log swings in the wind, so we would recommend not letting your kids sit under it. Mr. Perkins, if you're so eager to swing that ax, we suggest you first finish the job here.

Student group surpasses 500 members

Kate Wallace, an OSU student who grew up one block from the park, is raising awareness through the Facebook social network. Through her efforts, over 500 people have joined Students for STOP THE CHOP and left comments in support. Most members of the group are, like Kate, recent Tulsa high school graduates away at college. (Site requires registration.)

Yard signs and bumper stickers

About 140 yard signs are now up, each with the permission of the homeowner. Thanks to donations, we'll soon have more. If you would like one, email us and we'll bring one over.

Having a bumper sticker on your car is just as important, and we have a few left. Don't worry about peeling them off later - these are 100% removable, like a big vinyl Post-It note.

Arborist report contradicts Park Department

The Tulsa World reports that an independent expert has examined the trees, and in sharp contrast to the Park Department's position, the Certified Arborist concludes that all the 'aging, damaged and diseased' trees marked for destruction are only 20 to 40 years old, pose no immediate threat, and need only 1-2 hours of routine maintenance to return them to health.

Woodward Park resources online

Working with Jane Halliwell, Debbie Sommers put together a site with a lot of good resources, including Woodward Park history. The site was the first to call attention to the issue, and has been rallying the community since April 4. Thanks Deb!

What Mike Perkins does when his chainsaw is idle

The Tulsa World reports today that Mike Perkins, Interim Urban Forester for the City of Tulsa, has been removing red ribbons from trees that activists were using to call attention to the tree-cutting. He also admits to presenting one activist (me) with a written threat of arrest for interfering with city authority. The intimidation attempt backfires, and the City Attorney reminds Perkins of the First Amendment.

Elsewhere in the article, Perkins completely contradicts his earlier statement that proper tree trimming would require resources that he didn't have. Now he says, "If the tree is trimmable, it will be done." Unfortunately, the decision about whether a tree is "trimmable" remains Mike Perkins' alone.

Tulsa World gets more supportive

The Tulsa World's editorial page writers are now more supportive of preserving the Woodward Park trees. Unfortunately, they still take the Parks Department's claim at face value, that proper tree maintenance will cost "extra money".

It shouldn't. Tulsa spends over $2 per capita on trees. Based in part on this high level of funding, the National Arbor Day Foundation has honored us with the 'Tree City USA' designation for 13 years. There is already enough money allocated by the City for routine tree maintenance. If it's not being spent on tree trimming, the Parks Department has some explaining to do.

Mayor suspends tree cutting, but...

In response to growing public outrage, Mayor Taylor has halted all tree cutting in Woodward Park, and has instructed the Parks Department to re-evaluate the Woodward Park trees. She instructs the Department to only remove those that present "an immediate public hazard" or have a tree disease that might spread.

This sounds good, until you remember that Perkins has been saying all along that these trees pose an immediate hazard.

Sympathy and a 'salute' from the World

After uncritically accepting the Parks Department's assertions that the trees were old and dying, the editorial staff of the World writes a condescending editorial, where Halliwell is 'saluted' for having 'her heart in the right place.' The possibility that her head is in the right place is not considered.

Photos of the trees in question

Photographer Josh Hall has taken pictures of many of the trees scheduled for destruction. The trees do not appear to be old or dying. It might be time to get a second opinion.

Tulsans alerted to tree cutting

Today the Tulsa World ran its first story about the tree cutting in Woodward Park. Jane Halliwell, who has lived across from the park for decades, was astonished to see so many trees being removed, and called it to their attention.

Unfortunately, she told the reporter that she ran outside barefoot, so the story was about a well-intentioned but ill-informed barefoot tree-hugger. To make matters worse, the Parks Department's position was presented uncritically. Mike Perkins, the interim Urban Forester, told the reporter that the Parks Department had "no choice" but to remove the "aging, damaged and diseased" trees, that the trees presented an immediate danger and "somebody could be hurt", that there was a "staff shortage" of trimmers, and that "more resources were needed" if we wanted to trim them.

Wait a minute. Except for normal growth, the budget hasn't changed, the cost of tree trimming hasn't changed, and the trees haven't changed. The only thing that has changed is the man in charge of deciding whether to cut or trim - the Urban Forester. That man is now Mike Perkins, who was only hired as head forester on an interim basis.