Commission asks arborist input before deciding a permanent fence for Depot Plaza redwoods

The public works superintendent reported staff installed a temporary fence around redwood trees in Depot Plaza after resident concerns about children removing bark. The superintendent said staff subsequently received further reports that children were entering the fenced area and staff added temporary signage explaining why bark should be preserved.

Officials presented two options: install 100 feet of permanent fencing with a gate to allow access for irrigation and power lines, or use landscaping and education signage to deter entry. Commissioners generally favored planting or other low‑impact measures as a first step and asked staff to secure an arborist assessment to quantify risks to the trees before pursuing permanent fencing.

Online commenter Sarah Manville opposed permanent fencing on aesthetic and community‑use grounds, urging removal of the temporary fence and suggesting funds would be better spent on removing invasive ivy in Boyle Park. "The proposed fencing is totally unnecessary and ugly to boot," Manville wrote in the online comment submitted to the commission.

Staff agreed to obtain a professional arborist report and bring findings back to the commission; commissioners indicated they were reluctant to adopt permanent barriers without an expert assessment and preferred exploring plantings and signage first.