|
Earlier this summer, the City received a
tree health assessment performed as part of the Monarch Butterfly Habitat
Management Plan. As a result of this
study, the City learned that a significant number of trees in the Ellwood Mesa
are dead or dying. Many of the dead and dying eucalyptus trees in the forest
were severely impacted by the drought which increased their vulnerability to
pests. In an abundance of caution, and at the advice of the City’s insurer,
some trails on the Ellwood Mesa are temporarily closed due to the potential for
falling trees.
City staff informed the City Council at the July 18th
meeting and then held the first public meeting on July 26th to present
the information to the community about the tree health and the next steps.
Since that time, there has been a tremendous amount of work
done throughout City Hall and with our consultants, Althouse and Meade. Our project team, collaboratively lead by
Planning and Public Works, has moved thoughtfully and expediently through the
process of reviewing additional information on tree health and impacts to the
butterfly habitat, evaluating tree removal options, meeting with multiple
outside agencies on best practices and preparing to bring back an item to
Council for them to choose which is their preferred approach.
During the evening session of the September 5th City
Council meeting, the report on the Emergency Conditions on the Ellwood Mesa
will be presented and your thoughts and comments are encouraged. This report includes information on the
project objectives: to protect public health and safety, maximize the potential
for prompt restoration of the grove and restore public access to the trails
system. The report also identifies project
options, proposed methods for removing dead and hazardous trees, environmental
protections during the project implementation, and permitting and environmental
review.
Due to the complexity and volume of information surrounding
this project, the staff report has been released early. It is our hope that this timeframe will allow
our residents ample time read and understand the information prior to the
Council meeting. The staff report can be
found here. Staff is not
asking the City Council to make a determination at this meeting, but to receive
the staff report, ask questions, and listen to public comment.
A second meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on September 7th
for a special Council workshop on Ellwood Mesa.
At this meeting, staff will be available to answer questions, additional
public input will be heard, and the Council will be asked to decide and direct
staff on how to proceed with the project.
The project page on our website can be found here: http://www.cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/ellwood-mesa-habitat-project
(English) and http://www.cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/parks-open-space/ellwood-mesa-habitat-project-spanish-2487
(Spanish). Sign up for email/text alerts
regarding projects on the Ellwood Mesa here http://tinyurl.com/ellwoodmesasubscribe.
If you have questions or comments in advance of the meeting,
please send them to ellwoodmesa@cityofgoleta.org
so staff can address them.
| 
