The city of Chula Vista has declared a state of emergency to help the city obtain federal funding to recover from last month’s storms, announced the Chula Vista City Council Friday.
A series of wet, blustery storms in January damaged 699 city trees in Chula Vista, the second largest city in San Diego County. That does not include trees that were toppled on private property, said an official from the council. Just in Rohr Park, there were 76 trees knocked down by the storm.
All city parks temporarily closed during cleanup efforts as part of a round-the-clock operation. On Friday all the parks were open, except for a few places in Rohr Park.
Caution tape marks the space around downed trees in some areas.
City officials say some of the fallen trees have not yet been cleaned up because the equipment cannot be used until the area is completely dry, to avoid permanently damaging the park’s grass. Heavy equipment is needed to cut up and mulch the trees and cannot drive on wet grass without smashing it.
The public was reminded they are not allowed to cut up or remove trees located on any city property including Rohr Park, said city officials. The mulch from downed trees will be used at various city properties.
A free compost event will take place at the Otay Landfill Saturday, Mar. 25, for Chula Vista residents only, said city officials. Residents are required to bring their own buckets, containers, shovels and tarps to the event.
The compost event is scheduled from 8 a.m. to noon at the 1700 block of Maxwell Road.
This declaration follows a similar declaration for the city of San Diego from the city’s Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer on Feb. 3 and California Gov. Jerry Brown Jr. also issued two emergency proclamations for San Diego County on Jan. 23 following the series of rain storms
