LA PALMA : City Named for Palm Sets New Tree Policy

This city, named after a tree, has a new city policy on the care and replacement of street trees.

The policy was unanimously adopted by the City Council following extensive research by an advisory committee, but it did not take effect until this month. The committee sought to find ways to lessen root damage to streets and sidewalks.

The committee found that mature ficus trees have been causing significant street and sidewalk damage. Thus, the city policy now bans ficus trees as replacements or for any new plantings.

The policy also says:

* That dead or dying trees along public rights of way must be replaced with six preferred species: crape myrtle, Bradford or aristocrat pear, Brisbane box, camphor tree, liquidambar and non-fruit-bearing palm.

* Spacing of trees along public rights of way can be a maximum of 50 feet.

* Normal tree replacement size is 15 gallons.

* Street trees will not be ornamentally trimmed.

In its research, the committee tallied the existing species. The committee found that palm trees are outnumbered by other species along public rights of way.

The analysis found that pine trees, totaling 79, are the most prominent species along rights of way in the city. Other prominent species, in descending order, are 70 elms, 58 jacarandas and 30 ficus. The inventory found only 29 palm trees along rights of way in the city of The Palm.

“Personally, I’m putting my vote in for more palms,” said Mayor Wally D. Linn.