TO: TREE COMMITTEE
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: OCTOBER 21, 2026
Reviewed by:
City Manager:
SUBJECT:
Title
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTING OF URBAN FOREST ACTIVITIES: JANUARY-JUNE 2026
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SUMMARY
The City’s Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual require staff to bring forth a monthly report of newly planted and removed trees. This requirement provides transparency to the City’s planting and removal practices. On a semi-annual basis, a report on urban forest maintenance activities is presented. Included in this report are urban forest maintenance activities for the six-month period of January 1, 2026-June 30, 2026.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Tree Committee recommend that the Community and Human Services Commission receive and file this report.
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ALTERNATIVE TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Refer the item back to staff for additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The staff cost to prepare this report is estimated at $1,350 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
Background
The City’s Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual describes the day-to-day management of the urban forest. The Manual describes the responsibilities of the City Council, Community and Human Services Commission, City staff, and the community. City staff is responsible for the removal of City trees that are dead, in a state of advanced decline, or hazardous; the replanting of removed trees; and all trimming activities. Additionally, staff has the authority to remove trees if hardscape/infrastructure repairs cannot be completed without severe root pruning that would jeopardize the health and stability of the tree. The tree may be removed only after all mitigation measures have been considered. Per the Manual, City staff is to provide a monthly report to the Community and Human Services Commission of trees planted and removed each month. The purpose of this requirement is to provide transparency and show equity between removals and plantings. This report will include the six-month period of January 1, 2026 - June 30, 2026.
Urban Forest Activities - January 1, 2026 to July 30, 2026
Trimming
Proper tree trimming is essential to a tree’s health and structural integrity, which in turn mitigate the risk of tree and/or limb failure. The City uses three types of trimming: grid, select, and young tree trimming. During the period of January 1, 2026 - June 30, 2026, approximately 2,680 trees were trimmed.
Grid Trimming - Grid trimming occurs November through June, when the weather is generally cooler. As of July 1, 2022, the City moved to a five-year trimming cycle. In Fiscal Year 2025 - 26, Grid 2 was scheduled for trimming. Grid 2 is the middle portion of the City, between Foothill Boulevard and First Street from the eastern City boundary to the western City boundary. During this reporting period, 2,527 trees were trimmed under the grid-trimming program.
Select Trimming - On occasion, trees require trimming outside of the regular grid-trimming schedule. This type of trimming is considered select trimming. Select trimming is used for pedestrians, vehicles, or sight clearance; structural pruning; or rebalancing. During this reporting period, 151 trees were trimmed under select trim.
Young Tree Care - All newly-planted trees receive a good structural pruning approximately one year after planting. Properly trained trees will develop into structurally sound trees well suited for the urban environment. Young tree care is included in the count for select trim.
Wildlife - Wildlife nesting season runs from February through November of each year. Due to the quantity of trees included in grid trimming, it is almost impossible to complete trimming by the end of February, when nesting season begins. The City’s tree maintenance contractor, West Coast Arborists, Inc. (WCA), takes nesting season very seriously. When WCA crews come across signs of nesting activity, that tree is skipped and scheduled for trimming when all nesting activity has subsided. During this reporting period, one tree with nesting birds was identified.
Plantings
The City’s typical planting season is November through April each year, depending on weather conditions. Plantings occur during this time to take advantage of the cooler, wetter weather. The City plants 15-gallon size trees, but larger trees may be purchased at the resident’s expense. Each tree planting includes staking, tying, watering for the first 90 days, and a watering bag at the end of the 90-day watering period.
During the months of January through June 2026, 126 trees were planted. The planting of 100 15-gallon size and one 24”-box size trees was funded through the Landscape and Lighting District Fund. Five 24”-box-sized and four 36”-box size trees were paid for by donations or residents through the City’s Residential Pay Program. This list includes the planting of 16 trees on Forbes Avenue paid for by Southern California Edison. The total cost to the City to plant all 126 trees was $28,920. The list of trees planted is included as Attachment A.
Removals
It is the City’s policy to protect and preserve healthy trees whenever possible; however, preservation of City trees is not always possible, and removal is necessary. Staff have the authority to remove trees if they are dead, in a state of advanced decline, or hazardous. Additionally, staff has the authority to remove trees if hardscape/infrastructure repairs cannot be completed without severe root pruning that would jeopardize the health and stability of the tree. The tree may be removed only after all mitigation measures have been considered. During January - June 2026, 43 trees were removed. All 43 trees were removed from the City’s parks or public rights-of-way. Of the 43 trees removed, 9 trees were removed by City staff at no cost. The remaining 34 trees were removed by WCA. The list of trees removed is included as Attachment B.
The cost for WCA to remove these 34 trees was $24,803. Generally, the cost for WCA to remove a tree is $49 per inch of diameter at breast height. Six trees were removed through WCA’s emergency response program due to the immediate need for removal. WCA charges an emergency response rate ranging from $100-$140 an hour but does not distinguish between tree removals and other maintenance activities.
Below is a chart that shows reasons for removal during this reporting period:
The charts below show tree removals over time:
Comparison Charts
Below is a graph that compares annual tree trimming activities by type:
The next two charts compare annual tree plantings and removals. Plantings will show greater numbers in past years due to availability of grant funds for tree planting. Grant funds for planting have now expired, so planting numbers were lower in recent years. Moving forward, the City has included funding for plantings in the Community Services Department budget.
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:
Trees Planted by Address - January-June 2026
Trees Removed by Address - January-June 2026