TO: COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
TREE PLANTINGS AND REMOVALS FOR APRIL, MAY, AND JUNE 2025
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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 April, May, and June 2025. There were seventy-seven trees planted and thirty-six trees removed in the combined months of April, May, and June 2025.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Community and Human Services Commission receive and file the tree plantings and removals report for April, May, and June 2025.
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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
Seventy-seven trees were planted during the months of April, May, and June 2025. All seventy-seven trees were planted by the City’s contractor, West Coast Arborists, Inc. (WCA). Seventy-three trees were 15-gallon-size trees with a planting cost of $220 each, for a total cost of $16,060. Four trees were 24”-box-size trees with a planting cost of $420 each, for a total cost of $1,680. Two of the 24”-box-size trees were paid for by residents through the City’s Residential Pay Program, one 24”-box-size tree was donated to the Oak Park Cemetery, and the City elected to plant one 24”-box-size tree due to the planting location.
Thirty-six trees were removed during the months of April, May, and June 2025. Seventeen were removed by staff at no cost to the City, and nineteen 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 nineteen trees was $16,315.
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
Seventy-seven trees were planted during the months of April, May, and June 2025. Seventy-three trees were 15-gallon-size trees with a planting cost of $220 each. Four trees were 24”-box-size trees with a planting cost of $420 each. The total cost of planting all seventy-seven trees during the months of April, May, and June 2025 was $17,740. Two 24”-box-size trees were paid for by residents through the City’s Residential Pay Program, one 24”-box-size tree was donated to the Oak Park Cemetery, and the City chose to plant one 24”-box-size tree due to its location and high pedestrian activity. 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, in a state of advanced decline, 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.
Thirty-six trees were removed from the City’s parks and rights-of-way during the months of April, May, and June 2025. Seventeen trees were removed by City staff, and nineteen trees were removed by WCA. These removals include trees that were deemed by the City Arborist dead, in a state of advanced decline, or hazardous. This also includes trees that were damaged as a result of the January 2025 windstorm. A listing of trees removed by address is included as Attachment B. Sample photos of some of the trees removed during the months of April, May, and June 2025 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 Service Director Community Services Manager
Attachments:
A – Trees Planted by Address – April, May, and June 2025
B – Trees Removed by Address – April, May, and June 2025
C – Photos of Removed Trees – April, May, and June 2025