In the Rinconada Court cul-de-sac in Los Altos stands a coastal live oak. For two centuries, it has kept watch over the neighborhood as generations came and went. In August, however, the Los Altos City Council voted to remove it due to safety concerns.

Los Altos City Council acted on a recommendation for immediate removal based on a professional level 3 aerial inspection, said Los Altos city manager Gabriel Engeland. According to Engeland, the arborists found a “probable likelihood of failure under normal weather conditions within a one-year timeframe” with potentially severe consequences.

“We recognize that the tree is important to the neighborhood and understand why residents feel strongly about preserving it,” Engeland said. “However, that significance cannot override the City’s responsibility to address the safety risk identified by its arborists.”

Engeland states that, though there are no alternative solutions to removing the tree that would resolve the issue, the City plans to replace it with a 72-inch box coast live oak. He says this is the best replacement in terms of size and maturity that the location could feasibly have.

However, many Los Altos residents have raised concerns and voiced their disapproval regarding the removal of the tree. Both a petition on Change.org and the website saveoakie.org, created by Atossa Leffert, oppose the Council’s decision. The petition currently has 290 verified signatures and 164 shares.

“For two centuries, this coastal live oak has been the silent witness to Los Altos’ evolving history,” the description of the website writes. “We are dedicated to ensuring its survival against the city’s scheduled removal, preserving this ancient canopy for generations to come.”

The petition also argues that the testing the City Council has done is insufficient for their conclusion. Previous assessments of the tree have recommended Resistograph drilling and sonic tomography, a system that uses sound waves in order to gauge the health of the wood. According to the petition, these tests were never performed, and the decision is solely based on the aerial inspection.

“Together, let us choose conservation over destruction, fostering a legacy of respect for our natural environment,” the petition says. “Join us in this effort to save our beloved Rinconada Court live oak … help keep our tree alive for tomorrow!”