Radius Whisman Station Mountain View 94043 Homes: Tree Pruning and Irrigation for Safety and Value

Update: The HOA Board has now approved Tree Pruning and Irrigation System Repair for the community.

Protecting Our Families & Homes and Enhancing Our Radius Whisman Station Community: The Importance of Tree Care in Our Neighborhood

Our Radius Whisman Station neighborhood in Mountain View, California 94043 is a wonderful place to call home, thanks in part to the beautiful trees that line our streets, garage loop streets, and grace our common areas and yards. From the vibrant colors of the Maples to the stately presence of the Oaks, our trees enhance our property values, provide shade, and contribute to a sense of tranquility. However, these valuable assets require regular care to ensure they remain healthy and safe for everyone to enjoy. This document outlines the vital importance of timely tree pruning and irrigation maintenance for our community; encompassing homes along Circuit Way, Degree Lane, Domain Way, Infinity Way, Oberg Court, Orbit Way, Millennium Way and Pyramid Way. By working together, we can protect our families and homes, prevent accidents and fires, and ensure our neighborhood remains a beautiful and thriving place to live.

TL;DR: Our community's trees are beautiful and valuable, but they need regular care. Proper pruning and irrigation protect our families and homes, prevent accidents and fires, and save us money. Let's make sure our HOA is prioritizing this important maintenance.

The Benefits of a Well-Maintained Urban Forest

Well-maintained trees offer a wealth of benefits to our community:

• Enhanced Curb Appeal: Healthy, well-pruned trees enhance the aesthetic appeal of our neighborhood, making it a more desirable place to live.

• Increased Property Values: Studies have shown that mature, well-cared-for trees can significantly increase property values.

• Environmental Benefits: Trees improve air quality, reduce stormwater runoff, and provide habitat for wildlife (and not pests, rodents and termites if not maintained).

Why Regular Tree Pruning is Essential

1. Safety First:

Regular pruning helps prevent injuries and property damage from falling branches or even entire trees. We've unfortunately seen the very real danger posed by unmaintained trees, with a recent tree collapse in our community (fortunately no one was hurt when the tree fell on the walking path that exists between two rows of homes). It's crucial that our HOA addresses this risk proactively to protect residents and their property.

2. Protecting Our Homes' Structural Integrity:

In our neighborhood, where homes are built in close proximity and have micro-landscapes, uncontrolled tree root growth can pose a significant threat to foundations and plumbing systems. Tree roots, in their search for water and nutrients, can exert immense pressure as they grow. This pressure can crack concrete foundations, leading to costly repairs and potentially compromising the stability of the entire structure.

Furthermore, roots can infiltrate underground pipes, causing blockages, leaks, and even pipe bursts. This is particularly problematic for sewer lines and water supply pipes, where root intrusion can lead to sewage backups and potential contamination of the water supply. Regular pruning helps mitigate these risks by controlling the size and spread of the root system. By strategically removing branches, the tree's overall growth, including its roots, is managed. Pruning also allows for targeted irrigation, ensuring that trees receive adequate water without promoting excessive root growth in search of moisture.

Finally, pruning, in combination with a well-maintained irrigation system, ensures that the soil around foundations remains consistently moist. This helps prevent the soil from expanding and contracting excessively during dry and wet periods, which can also contribute to foundation damage. In conclusion, tree pruning is not just about aesthetics; it's a crucial preventative measure for safeguarding the structural integrity of our homes.

3. Keeping Pests and Termites at Bay:

Regular pruning reduces the risk of rodent and termite infestations. Unpruned trees can become susceptible to diseases, attracting pests that can then spread to other trees and potentially to our homes. For example, Elm trees are susceptible to Dutch elm disease (DED), Oak trees can be affected by oak wilt, Crape Myrtles are vulnerable to powdery mildew, and Arbutus trees can suffer from root rot. Proactive pruning helps keep our trees healthy and less attractive to pests. Trees in direct contact with homes provide a direct pathway for termites to infest structures. Pruning creates necessary separation and reduces this risk.

4. Fire Safety:

The recent devastating wildfires in California serve as a stark reminder of the importance of fire prevention. Even here in Mountain View, unpruned trees located close to buildings can significantly increase our risk. Dry, dead branches can easily ignite from a variety of sources such as discarded cigarettes, fireworks, tiny burning embers that can fly for miles or even lightning strikes, and the fire could spread to the trees and then to nearby structures. Our community has experienced a home fire in the past, and we must take steps to minimize future risks. Pruned trees, with adequate clearance from buildings (creating a defensible space), significantly reduce the risk of fire spreading.

The Importance of Proper Irrigation

1. Water Conservation:

A well-maintained irrigation system prevents water loss due to leaks and ensures efficient watering practices.

2. Fire Safety:

We can learn from the recent challenges faced in other parts of California, where water supply became a critical factor in battling fires. A well-maintained system helps ensure our community is better prepared. A community's irrigation system can help in fire fighting efforts in several ways:

• Water Source: Irrigation systems can provide a readily available water source for firefighters. This is especially valuable in the early stages of a fire before other resources arrive.
• Pre-Wetting: In advance of a fire or during a fire situation, irrigation systems can be used to pre-wet vegetation and structures, making them less likely to ignite. This can create a firebreak and slow the spread of the fire.
• Direct Fire Fighting: In some cases, irrigation systems can be used to directly fight fires, particularly smaller ones or those near the source of the irrigation.
• Protecting High-Value Assets: Irrigation systems can be strategically used to protect high-value assets such as homes.

3. Landscape Health:

Proper watering keeps our trees and plants healthy, reducing the risk of falling branches or weakened trees. Additionally:

• Healthy Trees are Less Flammable: Proper watering ensures trees are vigorous and less susceptible to diseases and pests. This means fewer dead or dying branches that can easily ignite.
• Reduced Stress: Well-irrigated trees are less stressed, making them more resistant to fire. Stressed trees can become drier and more flammable.

Our Trees

Our community is home to a variety of beautiful trees, including:

• Plum

• Pear

• Chinese Pistache

• Maple

• Redbud

• Elm

• Oak

• Crape Myrtle

• Arbutus

• Crataegus

• Magnolia

Homeowner Rights and HOA Responsibilities

In California, the Davis-Stirling Common Interest Development Act outlines the framework for homeowners' associations (HOAs). Under this Act, and specifically California Civil Code Section 4763, homeowners have the right to access association records, including 'enhanced association records' such as contracts and invoices related to services like tree pruning and irrigation maintenance. This transparency allows homeowners to stay informed about the HOA's financial actions and management, promoting accountability. The open meeting requirements (Civil Code 4900 series) mandate that board meeting agendas include a brief description of items to be discussed, including vendor proposals that are up for a vote. Furthermore, under the provisions governing access to association records (Civil Code 5200 series), members generally have the right to inspect vendor proposals, subject to certain limitations.

Examples of questions homeowners can ask include:

• Are there any pending proposals for tree pruning. If so, how long have they been pending?

• Are there any pending proposals for irrigation system maintenance and/or irrigation system repair? If so, how long have they been pending?

• A map that shows each tree in the community, the type of tree it is and when was the last time each tree was pruned.

• Please Google the questions:

           "Is regular tree pruning considered a common maintenance responsibility for HOAs?"
            "Are unpruned trees a fire risk?"
            "Can unpruned trees damage home foundations?"
            "Do unpruned trees increase the risk of pests and termites?"

The HOA Board's Duty of Care

In California, HOA board members have a fiduciary duty to their community. This includes a duty of care, which means they must act with the care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise under similar circumstances. The HOA Board has a responsibility to act in the best interests of the community and to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. This includes ensuring that trees are properly maintained to prevent injury or damage to people and property. Board members have a fiduciary duty to exercise reasonable care in managing the association's affairs, similar to the care an ordinarily prudent person would exercise in a similar situation. This duty of care is outlined within the Davis-Stirling Act and other relevant California Civil Codes, and California Premises Liability Law. The California Fire Code (CFC) and, in particular, Public Resources Code (PRC) 4291, place direct obligations on homeowners associations (HOAs) to maintain defensible space around structures, which includes maintaining adequate clearance between trees and buildings to prevent the spread of fire. It is essential to note that local jurisdictions (cities and counties) often have ordinances that are more stringent than PRC 4291, and HOAs must comply with the strictest applicable regulations.

Let's Work Together

As homeowners, we can play an active role in ensuring our community's trees are properly cared for. We can do this by:

1. Attending HOA Meetings: The General Board Meeting, held quarterly, is an excellent opportunity to voice your concerns and ask questions.

2. Contacting the HOA Board: You can reach all board members by sending an email to radiuswhismanstation [at] helsing [dot] com an requesting the email be forwarded to all board members.

3. Posting on the Community Facebook Group: Our community Facebook group is another great way to raise awareness, share information, and discuss tree care concerns with fellow residents. Engaging in respectful dialogue on this platform can help foster a sense of shared responsibility.

4. Reporting Concerns: If you notice any trees that appear to be unhealthy, damaged, or pose a potential hazard, please report them to the HOA immediately.

It is important to remember that raising concerns about community safety is a protected right. Homeowners are entitled to address issues that affect their community, including the need for timely maintenance to prevent foreseeable harm.

By working together, we can ensure that our neighborhood remains a safe, beautiful, and thriving place to live for years to come. Let's make tree care a top priority!