The city of Kent is negotiating with three West Hill property owners about how to settle the illegal topping of nearly three dozen tall trees last fall on city property.

“We’re working with the three owners to resolve the matter,” said Tami Perdue, city chief prosecuting attorney, during a phone interview Monday. “We have a process we are going through.”

The city property is along a steep slope near Reith Road in the area of South 253rd Street and 42nd Avenue South.

Perdue declined to reveal the amount of damage because of the ongoing negotiations. The city is seeking reimbursement for the damage from the property owners.

“We can’t repair everything,” said Perdue, who is negotiating with the property owners. “We do want to get the slope stabilized and replanted.”

The city sent correction letters in January to the property owners as the first step in the code enforcement process. Each owner responded to the letter within the 30-day deadline.

Perdue said if the owners didn’t agree to voluntarily work with the city, they would receive a notice of violation that would go to the city hearing examiner.

Perdue said the case could still go to court if an agreement to settle cannot be reached between the city and the property owners.

“We are in pre-litigation negotiations,” Perdue said.

The 34 topped trees were primarily Douglas fir, but also included western red cedars, red alders, big-leaf maples and cottonwoods that were cut or damaged. The trees were an estimated 90 to 120 feet tall and are anywhere from 40 to 60 years old.

Property owners reportedly cut the trees in late October or early November in an effort to improve views of the Green River Valley and Mount Rainier. Witnesses spotted the topped trees and reported the incident to Kent Police. Property owners reportedly hired a tree-cutting service to perform the work.

The city owns the 6 acres for road right of way as well as part of an open-space corridor.