Oakland couple fined nearly $1M for illegal tree removal

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-09

[00:00:00]A big story we first told you about last night. A North Oakland couple has to pay nearly a million dollars in fines for allegedly cutting down dozens of trees on their property and on neighboring land. Well, since then, we've learned more about the potential environmental impacts. Crownfors Sarah Stinson spoke with the city arborist and she joins us from our newsroom tonight with more.

[00:00:22]Sarah, >> the city says they warned these property owners for more than a year, but they disregarded the permit process, cutting down more than three dozen trees.

[00:00:32]Oakland officials say this massive fine not only holds the couple accountable, but also sets precedent.

[00:00:39]>> This is the most egregious that we've seen.

[00:00:41]>> Stump after stump seen on an Oakland hillside. The city says a couple illegally cut 38 protected trees across their property and neighboring land.

[00:00:52]>> My colleague has been here for 30 plus years and he said he's never seen anything like this.

[00:00:56]>> Gordon Matasa, a certified master arborist and tree inspector with the city of Oakland says the city first received reports of illegal tree removal at the Claremont Avenue property back in 2021. The property is owned by Matthew Bernard and Lynn Warner. Matasa says tree inspectors tried to inform Bernard about the city's protected tree ordinance and tree removal permit system.

[00:01:19]>> 99% of the time if we go and talk to them, they're like, "Oh, I'm so sorry.

[00:01:24]Yes, please tell me. How can I make this right?" Uh Mr. Bernard was not of that nature, though. He uh decided to keep on going.

[00:01:32]>> The city says crews responded to five separate reports of illegal tree removal over the next year.

[00:01:38]>> Asked them to stop. Mr. Bernard said, "Ignore the city guy. Keep working."

[00:01:43]>> In total, 31 trees were cut on the couple's property, six on neighboring land, and one on city property. All with no permit, but the owners claim many of the trees were already dead or had fallen.

[00:01:55]>> And we have proof. We were able to go to the site and see the freshly cut stumps.

[00:01:59]>> And Matasa says the owners never completed the required process to determine the health of the trees. And after they were cut down, the couple applied to build a single family home on the property.

[00:02:10]>> A huge blow to the city.

[00:02:12]>> The property falls within council member Jenny Ramachandran's district. And Tuesday, city council voted to approve her motion to find the couple more than $915,000.

[00:02:23]To me, this is an issue about protecting our native species and the entire native ecosystems that these oak trees harbored that are now gone and destroyed forever.

[00:02:34]And it's also an issue about needing to comply with and respect local laws.

[00:02:40]>> Matasa says the removal has a huge environmental impact. invasive grasses have moved in and these invasive grasses are now going to create a greater wildfire risk because they they're going to dry out at the end of summer and become yeah potential for fires. There's a greater chance for landslides and erosion on this hillside and potentially the hillside could just fall into the street which then becomes our problem and taxpayer problem. Thing to do is to submit an application for a tree mobile permit. Uh we will work with you. We do not stop people from developing on their land. We help them do it in a way that will protect as many trees as possible.

[00:03:22]>> And council member Ramosandrin says it's unclear why it took four years to issue this fine. Now, they are going to be placing a lean on the properties uh on onto the property until this is fully paid. Now, we did reach out to the property owners, but we did not hear back in time for this report. I'm Sarah Stinson reporting in the newsroom. Back to you.