The city of Pasadena is looking to outside help after neighbors rallied to protect what they say is a historic oak tree.
City officials said they received complaints that the tree was beginning to show signs of decay and disease. It also confirmed that the tree was diseased and recommended that it be felled due to severe root damage.
But public backlash prompted the city to hire a third-party arborist to conduct additional inspections.
The test is expected to take place later this week.
Several residents claimed the tree was 150 to 200 years old, but city arborists said it was about 60 years old.
The city plans to install a large fence around the tree after some people remove the caution tape around it.
“We need the public to take this seriously because safety is our number one priority,” City Administrator Lisa Derderian said. “It has very large limbs and may be in immediate danger of being damaged.”
Derderian said the city will replace the tree if it is deemed a total loss, adding that replacement will be determined as a community.
The oak tree is one of 60,000 trees throughout Pasadena.
Oak trees are one of several trees specially protected by the state of California. The city of Pasadena said it is aware of the law and is acting in the interest of public safety.
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