08 Staff Report.Tree Program Report w attachment
PREPARED BY: Jim Harbin
Streets and Parks Superintendent
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, Finance Director, and Parks and
Public Works Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 02/06/2024 ITEM NO: 7
DATE: February 1, 2024
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Receive Report and Provide Input on Town of Los Gatos Street Tree Program
RECOMMENDATION:
Receive a report and provide input on the Town of Los Gatos Street Tree Program.
BACKGROUND:
The Town has a street tree program for the planting, maintenance, and removal of trees that
are in or may overhang public streets, sidewalks, and other public places and parkways in Town.
The goals of the program are to:
• Keep trees structurally pruned to promote vigor and enhance the safety of the tree;
• Maintain fire fuel clearances on Town lands from adjacent properties and structures;
• Keep vertical clearances for garbage trucks, emergency vehicles, and other commerce;
and
• Maintain a robust tree canopy to promote urban biodiversity.
The Town’s street tree inventory totals over 14,000 trees which doesn’t include all the rural
roads such as sections of Kennedy and Shannon Roads. Chapter 26 of the Town Code governs
the program including enforcement, a Master Street Tree List (Attachment 1), and establishes
the Parks Commission as the adjudicatory body for street trees.
Los Gatos has been certified as a Tree City USA community since 1980. The Tree City USA
Program (the Program) is run by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National
Association of State Foresters and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest
PAGE 2 OF 5 SUBJECT: Receive Report on Town of Los Gatos Street Tree Program DATE: February 1, 2024
BACKGROUND (continued):
Service. The Program is part of “an international effort to recognize cities and towns that are
committed to ensuring the urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably
managed and duly celebrated.” To be recognized in this program the Town must demonstrate
annually that it meets the five core standards of:
1) Establishing Responsibility: The Town must have a written statement that defines which
staff and/or Board is responsible for the care of trees;
2) Setting Rules: The Town must have an official policy or law that governs management of
trees or forests. The policy or law should describe how the work must be performed,
when the policy or law applies, and penalties for non-compliance.
3) Knowing What We Have: The Town must have and maintain an updated inventory or
assessment of local tree resources so effective long-term planting, care, and removal of
trees can be established.
4) Allocate Resources: The Town must dedicate budget to the routine implementation of
the tree management plan.
5) Celebrate Achievements: The Town must hold an annual celebration of trees to raise
awareness of the program among residents and to acknowledge staff members that
carry out the tree program.
DISCUSSION:
Parks and Public Works (PPW) implements the Street Tree Program with one Town Arborist and
one tree service contractor to carry out the duties of the program. The Town Arborist also
manages the Tree Permit process for trees located on private property. The budget for the tree
program totals approximately $390,000 per year, with $200,000 assigned to contractual
services, $20,000 for trees and supplies, and $170,000 for the fully burdened staff salary.
Contracted Services
Tasks such as regular block pruning, tree trimming, and tree removals are carried out by the
tree service company. Emergency work is responded to by Town crews and/or contractor
crews depending on the severity and ability to respond. The Town Arborist manages the tree
service contractor’s daily workload, provides arborist reports and tree related
recommendations, and implements the tree permitting process for private trees townwide.
PAGE 3 OF 5 SUBJECT: Receive Report on Town of Los Gatos Street Tree Program DATE: February 1, 2024
DISCUSSION (continued):
Table 1 represents actual expenses for contracted tree services.
Table 1. Expenses for Contracted Tree Services
Fiscal Year Actuals ($)
18/19 244,878
19/20 240,063
20/21 240,401
21/22 216,408
22/23 262,456
The Town arborist directs the contractor to implement block pruning whenever practical. Block
pruning is the most efficient and preferred process to maintain the extensive and diverse tree
inventory block by block, though this must be balanced with public requests and safety
concerns. As a result of various community needs and requests, a regular block pruning
schedule is a challenge to maintain. Frequencies of pruning differ between the many species
ranging from three-year cycles for Camphor and Melaleuca trees downtown to seven-year
cycles for Bradford Pear and Chinese Pistachio trees. Currently, staff is tracking pruning cycles
overall at around 14 years to prune all the Town’s street trees. Scheduling block pruning is an
ongoing challenge due to the competing demands required to manage the town-wide tree
canopy.
Storm Response, Emergency Work, and Safety
Storm response and other emergency work are triaged by Town crews and managers
depending on the severity of the incidents. Town crews assess the damage, clear the streets
and walkways if possible, and the contractor is called for the larger tree damage and removals.
Winter 2023 storms following the multi-year drought caused over 80 trees to fall and numerous
cracked and broken limb damage responses. While Town crews perform this first response, it is
often necessary to have the contractor complete removal and disposal of downed trees due to
the size of the tree and other workload demands of Town crews.
Trees that damage streets, gutters, water valves or trip hazards, or other safety concerns are
declared to be a public nuisance. Any Sweet Gum (Liquid Amber) tree is assumed to be a public
nuisance and at the direction of the Town Arborist may be removed by the property owner at
the owner’s expense and the Town will grind the stump and provide a new street tree from the
Master Tree List.
PAGE 4 OF 5 SUBJECT: Receive Report on Town of Los Gatos Street Tree Program DATE: February 1, 2024
DISCUSSION (continued):
At present, staff does not proactively seek the removal and replacement of street trees unless
there is a mitigating reason. For example, the removal of eucalyptus trees on Overlook Road
was recently completed because of community concern and Council direction. Prior to removal
of these trees, residents were notified via mailing, and the trees were posted. Staff responded
to resident questions that arose because of these notices. If the residents had requested an
appeal of the decision to remove these trees, that appeal would have been heard by the Parks
and Sustainability Commission.
Removal of Private Trees
In addition to managing emergency response and block pruning, the Town Arborist manages
the permitting of removal of trees on private property. Private tree removal permits processed
by the Town Arborist vary each year with an average over the previous five years of 194 permits
per year. Removal permits were issued for 214 private trees in 2023. Each permit requires field
review and observation of the tree and a written determination by the Town Arborist. If visual
observation by the Town Arborist is not adequate to determine if the tree requires removal, the
arborist will direct residents to secure a report from a licensed arborist.
Any interested person can appeal a decision to cut down or trim a private tree to the Planning
Commission. Determinations of the Planning Commission are appealable to the Town Council.
The Town Arborist is responsible for providing testimony during the appeals process.
Program Challenges
Challenges with the street tree program are the unpredictability of emergency work and
managing funding and expectations across the Town. The management of trees is the most
frequent issue or concern cited in calls and emails to PPW. In 2023, Parks and Public Works
processed 397 work orders related to tree services and requests in addition to the 214 permits
processed for private removals. PPW attempts to balance these demands while maintaining a
regular block pruning schedule, but this can be challenging given community concerns
regarding dead or diseased trees and the potential safety concerns these can present.
As noted above, in winter of 2023, the Town lost a number of significant trees due to storm
damage. While staff work to replace trees, the loss of mature trees is an ongoing
environmental and quality of life concern within the Town. Some community partners have
proposed projects to support replacement of lost trees, but these projects are still in the
planning stages. For example, afternoon Rotary is considering a re-oaking project at Live Oak
Manor Park to celebrate their Centennial. These will be brought forward to Town Council for
consideration as plans progress.
PAGE 5 OF 5 SUBJECT: Receive Report on Town of Los Gatos Street Tree Program DATE: February 1, 2024
DISCUSSION (continued):
Information regarding the tree program was presented to the Parks and Sustainability
Commission at its December 2023 meeting. The Commission provided feedback including a
recommendation that staff modernize the Master Tree List with consideration for species that
are native to Los Gatos, and species that support natural habitats. Specific reference was made
to the level of detail and guidance that is presented by the City of San Francisco street trees.
Staff is interested in Town Council’s direction on this recommendation.
CONCLUSION:
A successful Town of Los Gatos Street Tree Program is a critical component to maintaining the
quality of life of Town residents. The program staff and contractors balance a large number of
competing demands and priorities to the best of their ability given available resources. The
intent of this memorandum is to raise awareness to Town Council and the community about
this program.
COORDINATION:
This memorandum was coordinated with the Town Attorney, Community Development
Department, Finance Department and Town Manager’s office. This item was heard by the
Parks and Sustainability Commission at its December 2023 meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This is an informational item, and no financial actions are proposed.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1.Master Tree List
Master Tree List
(For Use in Town Right-of-Way, Parks, and other Public Areas)
Names (Common and Scientific)Notes
Aristocrat Pear
(Pyrus Calleryana 'Aristocrat')
Australian Willow
(Giejere Parviflora)
Big Leaf Maple
(Acer Macrophyllum)
Black Tupelo
(Nyssa Sylvatica)Consider as a replacement for Liquid Amber
Bradford Pear
(Pyrus Calleryana 'Bradford')
Cajeput Tree
(Melaleuca Leucadendra)
California Bay
(Umbellularia Californica)
California Buckeye
(Aesculus Californica)
California Sycamore
(Platanus Racemosa)
Camphor
(Cinnamomum Camphora)Replacement Only
Canary Island Pine
(Pinus Canariensis)Not suitable as street tree
Carolina Cherry
(Prunus Caroliniana)Susceptible to blight
Chinese Pistachio
(Pistacia Chinensis)Select neighborhoods only
Coast Live Oak
(Quercus Agrifolia)
Coast Redwood
(Sequoia Sempirvirens)Replacement Only
Crape Myrtle
(Lagerstroemia Indicia, L. x Fauriei)
Dawn Redwood
(Metasequoia Glyptostroboides)Not suitable as street tree
Adopted June 15 2009 1
ATTACHMENT 1
Master Tree List
(For Use in Town Right-of-Way, Parks, and other Public Areas)
Names (Common and Scientific)Notes
European Hackberry
(Celtis Australis)
Flaxleaf Paperbark
(Melaleuca Linariifolia)Select neighborhoods only
Flowering Pear
(Pyrus Kawakama)
Goldenrain
(Koelereuateria Paniculata)
Holly Oak
(Quercus Ilex)
Jacaranda
(Jacaranda Mimosifolia)
London Plane
(Platanus Acerifolia)
Select neighborhoods only. Prohibited landscape
plant on SCVWD creeks
Madrone
(Arbutus Menziesii)
Maidenhair
(Gingko Biloba)Male only, including selected forms
Marina Madrone
(Arbutus x 'Marina')
Purple Leaf Plum
(Prunus Blireana)
Red Maple
(Acer Rubrum)
Sawleaf Zelkova
(Zelcova Serrata)
Southern Magnolia
(Magnolia Grandiflora)Including selected forms, Replacement Only
Valley Oak
(Quercus Lobata)
Western Redbud
(Cercis Occidentialis)
White Alder
(Alnus rhombifolia)
White Birch
(Betula Alba)Parks Only
Adopted June 15 2009 2