Posted on: Thursday, November 18, 2004
BUREAUCRACY BUSTER
 |
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser Staff Writer
When the city didn't respond to requests to prune some kiawe trees in a small city park on the Wai'alae Iki hillside, resident Ralph Rosenberg paid a landscaper more than $2,000 to trim the trees. Now, the city parks director says the trees were "maliciously vandalized" and the city is considering petty misdemeanor charges against Rosenberg.
City Council member Charles Djou describes the Department of Parks and Recreation reaction to the tree-cutting as "strange" and baffling, and Rosenberg's neighbors have written a letter supporting his action.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser Rosenberg, who has lived in the neighborhood for 28 years, said he began writing letters to request tree trimming of the brushy kiawe trees in June or July after the trees blocked views for him and several neighbors. He checked with his councilman, and Djou followed up in August, asking city parks director Bill Balfour why the trees hadn't been pruned in eight years.
In a letter to Djou, Balfour wrote that the city does not prune trees to improve the view for residents but will clear out dead, dried branches or those that pose a hazard to the public.
"These trees grow within the undeveloped parklands and contribute to the aesthetic beauty of their natural environment at Laukahi Slopes," Balfour wrote.
So in July and again last week, Rosenberg went ahead with the trimming.
City spokeswoman Carol Costa said Balfour has turned down Rosenberg's subsequent request to formally adopt the park "as a result of him blatantly going ahead and cutting back trees."
"Cutting of trees needs to be done by the Division of Urban Forestry within Parks and Recreation," Costa said.
"However well-meaning he was, he went ahead without authorization," she said.
• Those who want to cut back landscaping in a city park must get permission first, city officials said. • If a tree is planted near your home but in the city setback, you need to request that the city trim the tree for you. • In Honolulu, call the city Department of Parks and Recreation's Division of Urban Forestry at 971-7151. • The city generally encourages citizens to work with park officials through an "Adopt-A-Park" program that creates partnerships with individuals, groups and businesses that help care for Honolulu's public parks and beaches. Those interested can call 692-5852. Source: City Department of Parks and Recreation "It is unfortunate that the selfish act of one individual has destroyed that which was once an attribute of the ambience of this serene park," Balfour wrote after Rosenberg's first tree trimming.
But Rosenberg and neighbor Charles Kern were among a dozen residents who signed a letter to Djou saying that all they want is regular trimming of the trees. "We ask you to please press for the trees' trimming so we can realize not only our view but a neat, tidy and safe park," they wrote.
Djou understands that Rosenberg didn't get city authorization before he hired the landscaper, but he still believes that the city should try to work with a citizen ready to spend his own money to help maintain a city park.
"He now is trying to go through the proper channels and still they're telling him 'No,'" Djou said. "It really doesn't make any sense."
Rosenberg said two police officers stopped him from trimming another tree on Nov. 8 and told him that he could be cited for a petty misdemeanor for cutting two trees valued at $900 each.
Kern said Rosenberg should get a citation of merit instead of being threatened with a fine. "I think he ought to be given a medal," Kern said.
With city government forced to cut back on services, Djou said, "I wish I had more people stepping in to take care of city parks."
Djou said he might understand the city's extreme reaction to the tree-trimming if Rosenberg had trimmed "an old banyan tree with historic value" or some other exceptional tree rather than a kiawe tree.
"The bureaucracy is just digging in its heels," Djou said.
• • •
If you have a question or a problem and need help getting to the right person, you can reach The Bureaucracy Buster one of three ways:
Write to:
The Bureaucracy Buster
E-mail: buster@honoluluadvertiser.com Phone: 535-2454 and leave a message. Be sure to give us your name and daytime telephone number in case we need more information.
Rosenberg lives across from Laukahi Slopes Park in the pricey hillside community. The park consists of 3.34 acres of green space between Laukahi Street and Ihiloa Way with a path, some grassy areas, and some landscaping put in by community volunteers over the years — cactus, desert rose and other hardy plants.
Charles Kern and Ralph Rosenberg, right, walked through Laukahi Slopes Park, a small park in their neighborhood that they help maintain. Rosenberg recently pruned two kiawe trees in the park, prompting city officials to describe the act as vandalism and threaten to cite him with petty misdemeanor charges.
The Wai'alae Iki Community Association had been been working with the city for years through an "Adopt-A-Park" partnership. As part of the program, neighbors have planted, mulched and cared for the little park. Rosenberg said he felt he could trim the trees because of that relationship.
Balfour said the trees that were cut by Rosenberg's landscaper were "severely hacked and destroyed" to the point where they could not be saved. Rosenberg said the trees were cut back significantly but that the city chopped them to the ground after the initial cutting.
What if you want to trim a tree?
The Honolulu Advertiser
605 Kapi'olani Blvd.
Honolulu, HI 96813
