TO: COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: MAY 7, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTING OF URBAN FOREST ACTIVITIES: JULY-DECEMBER 2024
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SUMMARY
The City’s Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual requires staff to bring forth a monthly report of newly planted and removed trees. This practice has been completed over the past several years to provide transparency to the City’s planting and removal practices. On a semi-annual basis, a report on urban forest maintenance activities will be presented. Included in this report are urban forest maintenance activities for the six-month period of July 1, 2024-December 31, 2024.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Community and Human Services Commission receive and file the report of urban forest maintenance activities from July 1, 2024-December 31, 2024.
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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 $1,900 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, diseased, 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 July 1, 2024-December 31, 2024.
As a reminder, this reporting period occurs prior to the Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual update. Revisions approved as part of the update will not be included in this report. Reporting per the updated Manual will begin with the next semi-annual report.
Urban Forest Activities - July 1, 2024-December 31, 2024
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 July 1, 2024-December 31, 2024, approximately 2,500 trees were trimmed.
Grid Trimming - Grid trimming occurs in November through June, when the weather is generally cooler. As of July 1, 2022, the City moved to a 5-year trimming cycle. In fiscal year 2024-25, Grid 3 was scheduled for trimming. Grid 3 is the middle portion of the City, between Base Line Road and Foothill Boulevard and from the eastern City boundary to the western City boundary. During this reporting period, 2,183 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 pedestrian, vehicle, or sight clearance; structural pruning; or rebalancing. During this reporting period, 315 trees were select trimmed.
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 the 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, no trees with nesting birds were identified.
*Reflects the 6-month period of July-Dec 2024
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 period of July 1, 2024-December 31, 2024, 91 trees were planted. The total cost to plant all 91 trees was $20,900, and all tree plantings were funded through the Landscape and Lighting District Fund. One 36”-box-sized tree was donated to the City and planted at Memorial Park as a replacement tree. The original tree died of unknown reasons outside of the WCA warranty period. The list of trees planted is included as Attachment A.
*Reflects the 6-month period of July - Dec 2024
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 has the authority to remove trees if they are dead, diseased, 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 the period of July 1, 2024-December 31, 2024, 108 trees were removed. All 108 trees were removed from the City’s parks or public rights-of-way. Of the 108 trees removed, 55 trees were removed by City staff at no cost. The remaining 53 trees were removed by WCA. The cost for WCA to remove these 53 trees was $39,639. The list of trees removed is included as Attachment B.
Below is a chart that shows reasons for removal during this reporting period:
The charts below show tree removals over time:
*Reflects the 6-month period of July-Dec 2024
Comparison Charts
Below is a graph that compares annual tree trimming activities by type:
*Reflects the 6-month period of July-Dec 2024
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.
*Reflects the 6-month period of July-Dec 2024
*Reflects the 6-month period of July-Dec 2024
TREE COMMITTEE REVIEW
On April 30, 2025, the Tree Committee recommended that the Community and Human Services Commission receive and file this report. An excerpt from the draft April 30, 2025 Tree Committee Special Meeting minutes is 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 paper copy, please contact the Community Services Department.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan Cari Dillman
Community Services Director Community Services Manager
Attachments:
A - Trees Planted by Address - July-December 2024
B - Trees Removed by Address - July-December 2024
C - Excerpt from the Draft 4-30-25 Tree Committee Special Meeting Minutes