Two Sacramento Parks and Recreation Commission members urged the City Council on Tuesday to consider asking property owners to pay for the maintenance costs of city parks. The City Council decided it would weigh the issue next week because Councilman Darrell Fong wanted more information on the idea. Council members still heard the appeals of the Parks and Recreation Commission members at the meeting. Commissioner Cynthia Cooke said that if the public pays an assessment, general fund money for public safety and fire protection could be freed up. “We want to help you get parks operations and maintenance off the general fund,” Cooke said. Setting an assessment would involve several steps.

Tonight the City of Sacramento Urban Forest Services Committee met to receive and comment on proposed changes to the tree appeals process. The proposed changes would move appealed tree removal hearings from the Parks and Recreation Commission to the Planning Commission. The meeting was civil but contentious. Representatives from Winn Park Neighborhood Association and Newton Booth Neighborhood Association attended to present letters from their boards opposed to the ordinance change. Committee members expressed mixed views of the change. This was a "receive and comment" meeting so there were no official votes on actions. But an unofficial vote on whether to recommend the proposed ordinance

I received this letter representing Newton Booth Neighborhood Association's opposition to the proposed change of the tree appeals process. The process of change is being rapidly pushed along. I have a feeling there would be more opposition if there were more time, more review, or more media coverage. Normally, I would not post this kind of letter directly. I want neighborhood associations to speak for themselves using our tools. But because time is short and there is a meeting Monday, December 8th 5:30 pm I feel I have to post this letter. More information is here, here, and here. Newton Booth Neighborhoods Association P.O. Box 161466 Sacramento, CA 95816-1466 www.newtonbooth.org Decem

Sacramento is the City of Trees.  Earlier this year, the City's Urban Forest Services Division was transferred from the Department of Parks & Recreation to the Transportation Department.  Responsibility for trees in parks and on private property remain under the jurisdiction of Parks & Recreation.  Responsibility for 'street trees' was transferred because the thought was since Transportation oversees streets (parking; sidewalks, etc.) the Department should also have jurisdiction over 'street trees'.   Appeals of granting or denying permits to cutdown heritage trees still remain with the Parks & Recreation Commission. With the reorganization of Urban Forest Services to the Transportation