www.montereycountynow.com FEBRUARY 12-18, 2026 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY 13 It wasn’t until the Palisades Fire that Karen Strickland began looking at her own home through the lens of wildfire risk. She noticed characteristics similar to those that fueled the catastrophic 2020 fire in Chico—poorly maintained forests, limited roads out of the area, droughts that left trees less healthy— now visible in her own neighborhood. In 2023, she and her partner got to work. They started making their Monterey home in the Sierra Vista neighborhood more resilient, replacing gutters and reworking their front and back yards. They removed all the ice plants that covered their sloped surroundings and climbed the oak trees in their backyard. They’ve invested tens of thousands of dollars, hoping that their efforts will help them retain their fire insurance—a major issue for many of their neighbors—and ultimately, protect their house. The real challenge came when she looked beyond the first five feet of the house, examining their fence and neighbors’ yards and considered whether they could remove an oak tree growing through the fence. Last year, Cal Fire updated defensible space mandates, including recommendations to reduce tree and vegetation fuel loads, helping homeowners determine how many trees their properties can safely support. “We’re the Altadena fire waiting to happen. We’re sitting right in the red area on the Cal Fire maps,” Strickland says, referencing the fire hazard severity zone maps released in March 2025. “We’ve seen it happen in other communities, but we have a chance to change it. But you have to give the city the tools to allow people to do that.” Strickland is one of a number of residents who feel the city’s tree ordinances are too restrictive. At a Monterey Appeals Hearing Board meeting on Jan. 29, residents shared stories of struggling to take action on trees of concern. Vicky Williams recalled a pine tree that had been repeatedly deemed healthy despite her concerns, only to fall on her garage two years ago. “Most trees are older than our homes,” Williams said. “Many aging, leaning trees are now hazardous to human lives and homes.” The City of Monterey has a detailed tree ordinance that aims to preserve and protect the trees in public and private spaces. Residents must obtain a permit from the city forester to remove, relocate or do any significant pruning. Thys Norton, the city’s park operations manager, says there is reasonable wiggle room in the tree ordinance, noting few permits are denied. Over the past year, city officials held two town hall events and solicited community input through surveys to update the ordinance. He adds the city is awaiting more guidance from Cal Fire before bringing a draft to City Council. “There are several elements that could lead to a tree removal,” Norton says, “but in the upcoming ordinance change, we are trying to make it easier for folks to remove trees when necessary.” Forest for the Trees Citing safety concerns, Monterey residents advocate for flexibility in the city’s tree ordinance. By Katie Rodriguez Karen Strickland shows fire-resistance updates to her backyard. The Monterey Vista Neighborhood Association member is one of several advocating for more flexibility to remove trees. NEWS “We’re the Altadena fire waiting to happen. We’re sitting right in the red area.” DANIEL DREIFUSS 2026 Orbea Wild - In Stock OPEN TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY In Downtown Santa Cruz – 585 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz See website or phone for details • 831-621-2309 • www.currentebikes.com EVERY BIKE INCLUDES: • 2 YEARS FREE TUNE-UPS • PROFESSIONAL ASSEMBLY • ASSISTANCE WITH SIZING & ADJUSTMENTS • DISCOUNTS ON ACCESSORIES, RACKS, ETC. • COMPLETE POST SALE SERVICE MENTION THIS AD FOR AN ADDITIONAL $50 OFF ANY BIKE IN STOCK ELECTRIC BICYCLES new spring arrivals carmel plaza sport coats sweaters shirting outerwear carmel-by-the-sea 622 LIGHTHOUSE AVE. MONTEREY. @HULASTIKI • (831) 655-HULA (4852) the original
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