We first told you last month about Seattle City Light‘s plan to do extensive tree-trimming around West Seattle power lines this year, including the utility’s promise it would set a public meeting. The date for that meeting, and details on what neighborhoods SCL will focus on, just arrived in the form of this news release:

Seattle City Light invites customers who want to know more about the utility’s tree trimming work in the West Seattle area to come to an information meeting Tuesday, Jan. 29 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Hiawatha Community Center, 2700 California Ave. SW.

Starting in February, crews will be trimming trees throughout much of West Seattle.

The work generally includes Alki and North Admiral west of California Avenue in the north end of West Seattle and Genesee, Gatewood and Fairmount Park neighborhoods in the south end of West Seattle.

Many of the trees in this area have grown into the power lines, creating a safety concern. Trees in powerlines also increase the likelihood of power outages.

Utility officials will be on hand at the community meeting to describe the need for the trimming, how the work will be done and to answer questions.

When trees come into contact with power lines they pose several problems. The tree can short circuit the line, causing an outage. If the line is knocked down, it becomes a safety hazard. And in dry weather, contact with power lines can set the tree on fire.

To protect the public and provide reliable service, Seattle City Light works to maintain a 10-foot clearance around its power lines. When cutting is necessary, the utility notifies property owners with door-to-door visits. If no one is home, a note is hung on the door explaining the work that is to be done and a phone number to call with any questions.

If a tree has grown into power lines, the utility can either cut it back or remove the tree. All trimming is done under the guidance of an arborist to protect the health of the tree. If a tree is removed, the utility will grind the stump and provide a replacement tree.

In case you lose track of that meeting date, you’ll find it on our comprehensive West Seattle-wide events calendar here.