Vallejo official: Poor communication at root of tree removal dispute

The removal of nearly 50 Vallejo trees in recent weeks has raised some eyebrows, and could, at worst land a homeowners association with a city bill for more than $44,000.

Joseph Ramos' mother lives near Sacramento and Redwood streets under a giant looming pine tree with one side of its branches shaved off. Ramos just wants to know if the home is safe during a disagreement with the city and if his mom will finally be rid of a tree-related spider infestation.

Earlier this month, all work removing what remained of 49 mostly Monterey Pine trees -- about 17 of them on city right of way -- came to a grinding halt. Five remained from work that began Dec. 21.

Two trees were left mid-removal, including the one in front of Ramos' mother's

Joseph Ramos looks up at a huge tree that is halfway through the process of being cut down by a home owners association on Sacramento Street in Vallejo. Ramos says his biggest problem is spiders that drop from the tree and enter his mother's house. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)

"It's half-way finished. If there's a storm or something, it's going to fall down on the roof," Ramos said.

The Hillcrest Park Homeowners Association's board of directors voted last year for the tree removal. Board members believed the trees pose both health and safety hazards for residents of their 316 condominium units. One tree branch had already broken off onto a resident's vehicle.

However, the homeowners association did not go through the proper procedure to remove the trees. It was required to apply for removal permits at $433 per tree, Vallejo Public Works Director David Kleinschmidt said.

"I think it's fair to characterize this as a misunderstanding," Kleinschmidt said Friday. "The first sentence in

Kleinschmidt added that this is not the first time the city has had a run-in with the homeowners association over trees. He said in May, the city put a stop to the removal of two trees (McCullough said three) until the organization obtained a removal permit. McCullough said that situation differed from the current tree removal effort, because the most recent batch of trees is diseased and in need of removal.

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Vallejo official: Poor communication at root of tree removal dispute