{"id":2565,"date":"2012-10-16T08:30:27","date_gmt":"2012-10-16T08:30:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=2565"},"modified":"2012-10-16T19:10:19","modified_gmt":"2012-10-16T19:10:19","slug":"cut-spending-save-the-trees-at-temescal-creek-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=2565","title":{"rendered":"Cut Spending, Save the Trees at Temescal Creek Park"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>Below is an open letter to the City Council from Emeryville resident Eric Gascoyne. The Council is expected to vote on the tree cutting and other Temescal Creek redesign plans at its regular meeting Tuesday (tonight). The meeting starts at 7:15 pm.
\n<\/em><\/div>\n

\n<\/em><\/div>\n
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council Members,<\/div>\n
I am writing to you in regards of your important upcoming decision you will be making for the removal of 3 very large Eucalyptus trees at Temescal Creek Park .\u00a0 The following are a few points that I would like you to consider when you make you decide to remove or let these trees remain at our park:<\/div>\n
These Eucalyptus Trees<\/strong><\/div>\n
a.)\u00a0 Are the longtime homes to mating Red Tailed Hawks.\u00a0 These birds are beautiful and awe inspiring.\u00a0 There are no guarantees if they are removed that they will make Emeryville their home in the future.<\/div>\n
b.)\u00a0 The trees themselves are magnificent.\u00a0 They are some of the tallest trees in Emeryville.\u00a0 In my opinion, the City has done a great job in maintaining these trees and the pruning of them looks good.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think the number you have been given of $25,000.00 of a one time pruning is accurate.\u00a0 At the most, the City should spend $2,000.00\u00a0 a year to safely maintain all the Eucalyptus trees in the park.<\/div>\n
c.)\u00a0 How much does the City intend to spend <\/var>removing these trees?<\/div>\n
d.)\u00a0 Theses trees are also a winter supply of pollen and nectar for honey bees as they bloom in December.\u00a0 These bees are very beneficial to our lives in so many ways.\u00a0 There are also countless numbers of other birds that use these trees to survive.<\/div>\n
The <\/strong>Toddler<\/strong> <\/strong>Park<\/strong> and Playground<\/strong><\/div>\n
a.)\u00a0 Should be moved to the East of the center concrete circle.\u00a0 The concrete center should also remain as a gathering area central to the park as it is already utilized by many.<\/div>\n
b.)\u00a0 Any of the usable play equipment from the old park should be reused at the new play area.<\/div>\n
The Dog Run\/ Off Leash Area<\/strong><\/div>\n
a.)\u00a0 Should be directly under the Eucalyptus Grove and span the entire length of the pathway to the West.<\/div>\n
b.)\u00a0 A simple 3-4 foot fence to enclose the area would be sufficient.<\/div>\n
c.)\u00a0 Eucalyptus trees are a natural Flea and Tick repellant making an ideal species for a dog run.\u00a0 Any pruning debris can be mulched for the dog run.\u00a0 Dog runs like this do not require much maintenance.<\/div>\n
The Architect<\/strong><\/div>\n
a.)\u00a0 I attended the park meeting last year with the architect and a few people from the City.\u00a0 There was no mention of any cost of this project.\u00a0 $65,000.00 for the architect and $650,000.00 for the construction.\u00a0 Personally, I\u2019m shocked<\/span> at this level of waste in our government.\u00a0 This is not designing a new park, this is a remodel, that does not even require a permit or design review<\/span>.\u00a0 The entire project could have been undertaken by our Public Works Director easily.<\/div>\n
b.)\u00a0 Any change that you consider to this project should not cost the City another $12,800.00 as the architect plans to charge us.\u00a0 Make the architect be under budget as there are plenty of Emeryville Architects that will gladly take their place at a much more reasonable compensation.<\/div>\n
I hope that you will consider some of my ideas.\u00a0 I believe the City would save a lot of money by expanding the dog run and relocating the playground to a more suitable area and most of all, in our progress and attempts to better our lives, do not destroy our old trees and wildlife habitat that Emeryville citizens are already deprived of.<\/div>\n
Eric Gascoyne<\/div>\n
(To comment on this story, or to view the comments of others, click on the headline to go to the story page, then scroll to the bottom.)<\/em><\/div>\n