san fernando

San Fernando Residents Angered by Removal of Palm Trees

Some San Fernando residents are in an uproar over six palm trees that the city says were mistakenly cut down over the weekend.

The city had approved a beautification project for the center median along Brand Boulevard. The plan was to plant trees that were drought resistant. One of the ideas was to cut down the queen palm trees, and another was to keep them and plant new drought-resistant trees alongside them. The city says somehow the wrong plan got to the contractor and they wound up cutting the palm trees. [[268688312, C]]

San Fernando has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the city's efforts to plant and foster trees.

Some upset residents protested over the weekend and put tombstones where the trees used to be. They're calling for the ouster of the city officials responsible for the mix-up.

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The San Fernando Valley Sun
San Fernando residents protest after six palm trees on Brand Boulevard were cut down on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2015.

Mayor Joel Fajardo says it was simply a mistake.

"It's something we're going to address and correct to make sure that doesn't happen again," Fajardo said.

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City manager Brian Saeki estimated the palm trees were at least 30 years old and about a dozen more of the queen palm trees remained standing.

"It was very unfortunate that this happened but I don't believe that we lost any of our historic value or our historic nature with the removal of these trees," he said.

The city plans to replace those six palm trees, plus add another 10 coast live oaks and eight olive trees, which was part of the plan, Saeki said.

Residents plan to protest at the City Council meeting Monday night.

[DO NOT USE u002du002d- NATL-LA GALLERY UPDATED 12/30] 2015 Southern California Images in the News

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