TO: COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: NOVEMBER 5, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORTING OF URBAN FOREST ACTIVITIES: JANUARY-JUNE 2025
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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 requirement provides transparency to the City’s planting and removal practices. On a semi-annual basis, staff presents a report of urban forest maintenance activities over a six-month period. Included in this report are urban forest maintenance activities for the period of January 1, 2025-June 30, 2025.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends 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 $1,450 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 for 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, 2025-June 30, 2025.
As a reminder, this reporting period occurs prior to the City Council’s approval of 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 - January 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025
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, 2025-June 30, 2025, approximately 3,900 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 five-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, 3,623 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. Also included in the select trimming count are trees that required pruning following the January 2025 windstorm. During this reporting period, 307 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 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.
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 2025, 115 trees were planted. The planting of 111 trees was funded through the Landscape and Lighting District Fund, and four 24”-box-sized trees were paid for by residents through the City’s Residential Pay Program. The total cost to plant all 115 trees was $17,740. 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 has the authority to remove trees if they are dead, diseased, or hazardous. Additional 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 2025, 160 trees were removed. All 160 trees were removed from the City’s parks or public rights-of-way. Of the 160 trees removed, City staff removed 49 trees at no cost. WCA removed the remaining 111 trees. The list of trees removed is included as Attachment B.
The cost for WCA to remove these 111 trees was $115,715. Generally, the cost for WCA to remove a tree is $49 per inch of diameter at breast height. Due to the January 2025 windstorm, some of the removals in January and February were removed as part of the City’s emergency response efforts. WCA charges and emergency response rate ranging from $100-$140 per 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).
COMMITTEE REVIEW
On October 15, 2025, the Tree Committee recommended that the Community and Human Services Commission receive and file this report. An excerpt from the draft meeting minutes is included as Attachment C.
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 - January-June 2025
B - Trees Removed by Address - January-June 2025
C - Excerpt from the Draft 10-15-25 Tree Committee Meeting Minutes