Rancho P.V

The City Council will hold a public hearing on a proposed tree-removal policy Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room at Rolling Hills High School. The proposal grew out of a controversy over a city plan to charge residents for repair of sidewalks damaged by shallow-rooted trees.

Under the old plan, trees were to be pruned by the city but not removed unless owners paid the bill. The new proposal calls for removal of all trees that are damaging city streets, curbs and gutters, with the city and owners each paying half the costs. Property owners would still have to pay for sidewalk repairs, but payment plans would be available.

Sidewalk repairs bills sent in June to residents in the large Grandview neighborhood created a storm of protest, with some homeowners saying that walks repaired five years ago were damaged again because the city had not permitted the trees to be removed.