Planting trees along the Alameda Planting trees along the Alameda (May 19, 2004)

** County supervisors get the process started.

By Marion Softky
Almanac Staff Writer

Street trees could be planted late this year along the newly improved section of the Alameda de las Pulgas in West Menlo Park if property owners in the unincorporated area agree to pay assessments ranging from $6 to $34 per year.

The Board of Supervisors on May 11 authorized $17,000 to start the process of establishing an assessment district to pay for the planting and maintenance of London plane trees in the unincorporated commercial area. Cost of buying and planting the trees is estimated at $20,000.

The process involves preparing detailed plans, notifying property owners of their assessments, calling an election of property owners, and holding a public hearing to collect the votes.

Property owners in the unincorporated area between Camino al Lago and the intersection of the Alameda and Santa Cruz Avenue will receive ballots later this summer, informing them of their proposed assessment.

For the assessment to go forward, more than 50 percent of the ballots returned must support the district, according to Public Works Director Neil Cullen. Otherwise, it will die, and no trees will be planted.

Costs would be divided between commercial and residential areas, with commercial property owners paying 5 percent, and residential properties paying 95 percent of the cost, Mr. Cullen said. Assessments would be higher for the first five years while property owners pay the cost of buying and planting the trees, and repay the county for the advance. After that, the assessments would cover maintenance of the trees.

Mr. Cullen estimated that each commercial property owner would pay $34 per year for the first five years, and $21 per year after that. The bill for residential properties would be $9 a year, dropping to $6 per year after five years.

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