OJAI : Tree Protection Law Could Be Relaxed

Ojai officials are considering scaling back a proposed tree protection law to give homeowners a break, although local arborists are urging stronger rules for tree trimmers.

The Ojai City Council debated the wording of the draft law for more than an hour Tuesday before deciding it was too complex to enact in March, when an emergency law will expire.

The council asked city planners to research similar laws in other cities, to adopt a sliding scale for pruning fees and to relax the replacement ratio for removal of certain tree species.

Councilman Steve Olsen objected to relaxing the law too much. “Ojai has gained notoriety about how it values its trees,” he said. “Yet, in reality, this ordinance is not that strict.”

However, at the urging of three local arborists, the council agreed to consider a requirement that tree trimmers be certified by a national trade organization before they receive permits to prune oaks or sycamores.

Arborist Dolores Keith said proper pruning is critical for native species and that the certification process stresses education and safety measures.

“We’re not trying to be exclusive,” she said. “There’s just too much butchery going on in the valley. The trees are being slaughtered.”