Council to Consider Planting Oak Grove
The City Council is set tonight to consider a proposal to plant a small forest of oaks in the heart of the city.
The grove would occupy 14 acres east of Highway 23 and just south of La Jolla Drive. The plan would make good on the city’s name by importing 1,000 new oaks--mostly saplings--and planting them in the narrow, vertical stretch of land.
The city would plant 100 oaks annually, in random groupings, to simulate a natural oak woodland.
“This will prevent any question of future development or use of this property other than for oaks,” said Councilman Mike Markey, who proposes designating the site a permanent oak forest and setting aside $6,000 a year for up to 10 years to provide irrigation.
“We are guaranteeing our residents and community a replenishment of our sacred oaks for the future,” Markey said.
The project already has a head start--100 oaks were dedicated as part of the city’s 1998 Arbor Day Celebration. The trees were donated by the Mortimer Tree Service, which has offered to give the city an additional 100 trees this year.
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