Poll on Oak Branch Designs Bears Fruit

Few things stir passions in this suburban stronghold like the mighty oak.

Such was the case in the city’s second experiment with direct-dial democracy, in which residents got to choose which oak branch design they preferred to spruce up the much-criticized copper curtain sculpture adorning the freeway side of the Civic Arts Plaza.

From April 28 to May 13, more than 1,300 calls were registered for the three oak branch options--twice as many calls as were generated when the topic was how big a science center-commercial development to put next to the Civic Arts Plaza. An additional 250 calls came in on a fourth comment line, with residents opining about the expenditure of public funds and their desire for a less-abstract tree to adorn the curtain.

Even taking out repeat calls, a clear winner emerged, according to a report prepared by Stacy Minasian, a staff member in the city manager’s office.

The majority of residents who dialed in preferences hankered for Design No. 1, a gnarled structure whose base is to the north and whose branches arc gracefully to the south. Design No. 3, a different tree that looks like the reverse of No. 1, was a distant second. Coming in last was Design No. 2, which had a spray of branches plunked in the middle of the curtain.

On the fourth line, the opinion most often registered (with 82 calls) was that a full, lollipop oak tree--rather than an abstract branching framework--was the way to go. Another 39 callers said it would be best not to spend any more public money on the copper curtain.

Adding the branching framework to the copper curtain would cost about $100,000. But before the City Council agrees to spend the money, the results of the dial-in poll will first be forwarded to the arts commission for a recommendation.