Chronicles
From the MyRSF.net archives of the Email Chronicles
RSFA April Board Preview: Get Out The Chainsaws!
Author: Phil Trubey
Date: March 30, 2026
Hello, Phil Trubey here, sending an occasional email about RSF.
"Dangerous" Trees
The Golf Course is asking Board permission to cut down Eucalyptus trees.
These trees (see above) on the golf/tennis court parking lot planted on a severe slope have already shed big branches onto cars during and after storms. I know at least one employee who had $20K of damage to their car when a big branch fell and caved in their car roof. Not only are the branches dangerous, but thin Eucalyptus like this planted on highly sloped hillsides have small root balls which can cause them to fall over in a storm. I actually had two Eucalyptus trees on my previous property located on similar slopes that fell onto my house roof, and these ones are primed to fall onto the new restaurant roof.
Um, excuse me, someone's whispering something to me.
Oh, ah, "never mind".
THESE are the trees the golf course wants to cut down. They are, um, on level ground, have very well-established root structures, look incredibly robust and have never posed any problems.
BUT the Golf Club paid an arborist to give an opinion that these trees "present a moderate risk of failure".
When? In 50 years when they die?
The golf course has wanted to cut down these trees for a while now. Last year's Art Jury wasn't about to roll over on giving them permission, this year's Art Jury is, well, different.
The thing that pisses me off the most is the gaslighting. Don't lie to me. In the Board package there is a one page unsigned "REQUEST FOR RECONSIDERATION: EUCALYPTUS TREE REMOVAL" which was obviously written by the golf club (note to staff, don't put in unsigned documents, make it explicit where they came from). In it they talk at length about safety. In my opinion, that's BS. If you want to remove the trees, tell me why and don't hide behind a milquetoast "moderate risk of failure" paid for finding. It's like everyone in positions of power in the Association thinks we're total imbeciles.
Consent Agenda Item
In every Board meeting, there's a perfunctory 7-0 vote to approve all consent agenda items. These are usually non-controversial things like routine code-compliant commercial sign approvals and minutes.
But this week's Board meeting consent agenda has something that caught my eye: Approve Two Golf Course Maintenance Yard Shade Structures.
Here's the detailed staff report about it.
A previous Art Jury had denied a similar structure, while this year's approved it (with landscape screening conditions). This is a Board ratification of the Art Jury findings needed because this is a commercial project.
While it is true that the golf course maintenance yard isn't a highly visible area, it is also true that the proposed structure and sail isn't going to win any design awards.
I just think the Board should be given an opportunity to opine on this, or not, their choice. But to hide it in a consent agenda item, not letting Board members comment on it, seems a bit much to me.
These Trees Really Are Dangerous
While I started this email with a humorous jab, I was serious about how this stand of trees in the golf/tennis parking lot is suspect. Here's a series of pictures showing eroded root balls of some of the trees on the parking lot hillside.
The RSF Post, under new Editor Kelli Hillard, had a short article that piqued my interest. Apparently during the recent special Zoom Board meeting to appoint Bruce Jordan as the interim Art Juror for the remainder of the year, several residents took the time to show up so that they could give member input.
Board President Gamboa denied requests to do so at the meeting.
Davis-Stirling Act Civil Code §4925(b): "The board shall permit any member to speak at any meeting of the association or the board, except for meetings of the board held in executive session."
How many California law violations has this Board committed or flirted with this year? I'm losing track.
Get some qualified help, Board, you need it.
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