TO: COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2024
Reviewed by:
City Manager: n/a
SUBJECT:
Title
TREE PLANTINGS AND REMOVALS FOR OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER 2023
Body
SUMMARY
The adopted Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual requires the Community Services Department to provide a monthly report on tree plantings and removals. This report includes information on City tree plantings and removals for the months of October and November 2023. There were one hundred fifteen trees planted and eighteen trees removed in the months of October and November 2023.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the Community and Human Services Commission receive and file the tree plantings and removals report for October and November 2023.
Body
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Refer the item back to staff for additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
One hundred fifteen trees were planted during the months of October and November 2023. All one hundred fifteen trees were planted by the City’s contractor, West Coast Arborists (WCA). Ninety-nine 15-gallon-size trees were planted at a cost of $220 each, for a total of $21,780. Fifteen 24”-box-size trees were planted at a cost of $420 each, for a total of $6,300. Fourteen of these 24” box trees were paid for by residents through the Residential Pay Program, and one was planted at Cahuilla Park as part of the Cahuilla Park Restroom Project. One 36”-box-size tree was planted at a cost of $1,100, which was paid for by a resident through the Residential Pay Program.
Eighteen trees were removed during the months of October and November 2023. Fourteen trees were removed by City staff at no cost to the City, and four trees were removed by WCA. The removal cost is based on the diameter at breast height of the tree, and the total cost for removing the four trees was $2,163.
ANALYSIS
The Community Services Department is responsible for the daily management of the City’s urban forest, including the planting and removal of City trees. The City-Council-adopted Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual establishes the standards governing the tree planting and removal process.
Plantings
One hundred fifteen trees were planted during the months of October and November 2023. All one hundred fifteen trees were planted by WCA within the City’s parks and rights-of-way. Ninety-nine trees were 15-gallon-size, fifteen were 24”-box-size, and one was 36’-box-size. One of the 24”-box trees was planted as part of the Cahuilla Park Restroom Project. A listing of trees planted by address is included as Attachment A.
Removals
It is the City's policy to protect and preserve healthy trees that provide valuable benefits to our environment and to the quality of life in Claremont. However, staff has the authority to remove City trees if a tree is considered dead, diseased, or hazardous. Additionally, per the Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual, staff has the authority to remove trees that are causing hardscape/infrastructure damage if the repairs cannot be made without severe root pruning that would jeopardize the health and stability of the tree. To be consistent with the Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual, the reason for removal listed in the report will be based upon the conditions listed in the manual.
Eighteen trees were removed during the months of October and November 2023. City staff removed fourteen trees from the City’s rights-of-way, and four trees were removed by WCA from the City’s parks and rights-of-way. These removals include trees that were deemed dead, diseased, or hazardous by the City Arborist, and a listing of trees removed by address is included as Attachment B. Samples of some of the trees removed during the months of October and November 2023 are included as Attachment C.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact the City Clerk’s Office.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan Cari Dillman
Community Services Director Community Services Manager
Attachments:
A - Trees Planted by Address - October and November 2023
B - Trees Removed by Address - October and November 2023
C - Photos of Removed Trees - October and November 2023