Staff Report.Tree protection
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Community Development 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: 04/19/2022 ITEM NO: 13
DATE: April 12, 2022
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Robert Schultz, Town Attorney
SUBJECT: Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 29 of the
Los Gatos Town Code Regulating Tree Protection
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept public comment then move for the introduction and first reading of an Ordinance
(Attachment 1), by title only, amending Chapter 29 of the Los Gatos Town Code regulating Tree
Protection.
BACKGROUND:
On June 2, 2015, the Town Council adopted Ordinance 2240, the Tree Protection Ordinance.
The intent of the Tree Protection Ordinance is to regulate the removal of trees within the Town
to retain as many trees as possible consistent with the purpose of the Ordinance and the
reasonable use of private property. The provisions of the Ordinance require that anyone
seeking to remove or prune a Protected Tree, as defined in the Ordinance, must obtain a
permit. The Ordinance outlines review criteria to be applied to applications for Tree Removal.
The Ordinance also includes a penalty section for violations of the Tree Protection Ordinance.
DISCUSSION:
The Tree Protection Ordinance has been in place for over six years and has played a role in
maintaining the wooded environment of the Town. Based on staff’s experience in
implementing the tree ordinance and processing tree removal permit applications, staff
proposes minor revisions to the ordinance to provide clarity within the chapter related
primarily to fines and penalties.
On March 23, 2022, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on the draft revisions to the
Tree Protection Ordiance and made additional modfications after hearing public comment and
PAGE 2 OF 2 SUBJECT: Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Chapter 29 of the Los Gatos Town Code Regulating Tree Protection. DATE: April 12, 2022
DISCUSSION (continued):
dilberating on the draft Ordiance. The proposed modifications by the Planning Commsision
have been incorporated into the proposed code revisions as redlined in Attachment 1.
CONCLUSION:
It is recommended that the Town Council move for the introduction and first reading of an
Ordinance (Attachment 1), by title only, amending Chapter 29 of the Los Gatos Town Code
regulating Tree Protection.
COORDINATION:
This report was coordinated with the Town Manager’s Office.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There will be no fiscal impact to the Town at this time.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Draft Ordinance
2. Public comments received before 11am on April 14