Palm Springs City Council adopted a new policy to remove dry fronds from city-owned palm trees to eliminate potential hazards to the community.
In a city council meeting on Wednesday evening, councilmembers voted to move forward with trimming dry fronds, otherwise known as skirts, from California fan palms located in pedestrian areas.
The new policy will require removing skirts only up to 12 feet from the ground in high-traffic commercial areas. It excludes exception palm trees located at historic designation sites, unique city landscape areas and portions of public parks. Additionally, the city manager and staff would have authority to designate tree trimming.
According to a staff report, city staffers compiled several potential dangers from skirts, including possible injuries to pedestrians or arborists, as a single skirt can weigh up to 20 pounds or up to 1,000 pounds collectively, and skirts provide nests to roof rats and cockroaches, both of which can pose serious health risks.
The tree trimming would take place over the next four years at a cost of $300,000.
However, numerous speakers and environmentalists commented during Wednesday’s meeting to oppose the policy.
“We are heartbroken by the decision made last night by city council to cut the skirts of all palm trees in downtown, which will result in a massive loss of vital habitat for bats, owls and other wildlife. We are also saddened that the iconic look and historic character of Palm Springs will be forever changed,” Jane Garrison, founder of Oswit Land Trust, told City News Service Thursday.
Oswit Land Trust is a Palm Springs-based nonprofit organization focused on protecting local wildlife and wildlife habitats, and believed city council should have adopted a “tree-by-tree approach,” in which staff evaluate trees when a risk or concern arises, instead of a “one-size-fits-all policy.”
“Every tree should be surveyed by an independent wildlife biologists with no financial ties to the tree-trimming contractor. Independent science — not financial interests — should guide decisions that affect wildlife,” Garrison added.