The Los Alamitos City Council has tentatively approved a three-stage plan that they hope will eventually allow them to become part of Tree City USA to manage and grow its urban forest.
Since the previous meeting, city officials say the final plan has been developed and is on the agenda for Monday’s upcoming Council meeting. If approved, the city hopes to actively begin developing its urban forest along parkways and on publicly held land.
At the last meeting, Development Services Director Ron Noda told the Council at their most recent meeting that the city currently has about 2500 trees in the city, yet there would be multiple benefits to going through the process to join one of the nation’s oldest tree organizations.
Started in 1976, Tree City USA is one of the Arbor Day Foundation’s oldest programs. Our founders had a vision for a greener, healthier America, and this initiative works to inspire change on a nationwide level.
Noda said the first step is to adopt a tree policy, the second stage is the adoption of a tree dedication/memorial program, and the final stage would be the completion of the process to have the distinction of becoming recognized by Tree City USA.
The first step is a tree policy, said Noda.
“The tree policy, again, provides guidelines and procedures for tree cutting, tree trimming, and care of the trees that belong to the city, which includes trees for what we call the parkway,” said Noda.
Noda said tier two is a tree dedication and memorial that it puts it in black and white writing. “We don’t have anything formalized,” he said. The development services director said in the years he’s been with the city, there have been trees and benches being dedicated as memorials, but the city would need to formalize criteria as part of the Tree City USA program.
It is now something that we have in writing for our residents who again if they have lost a lost loved one, they could dedicate a tree to them.
“We’re just putting … in a policy or guide on that; if someone wants to dedicate a tree as a memorial,” said Noda, which would include a small plaque.
And again, we’re going to go through the steps of how to become a Tree City, USA.
While the city adopted trees in the parkway in the 1990s, he suggested the Council now look at officially becoming part of the program.
“There are several reasons why we want to have an urban forest,” said Noda. “Of course, there are environmental benefits, as you can see, which includes. air filtration, embracing natural resources, shade and temperature control, and of course, reduction of sound.
Under the program, Noda said one tree will be given to each property owner with street frontage. He said the tree will be from a list of approved trees and will come in a 15-gallon sized container. If property owners want a 24-gallon or larger size, they will have to pay for the difference in cost.
Lately, said Noda, “you can’t even imagine the price difference.”
In addition, the city will drop off door hangers that provide new tree owners with the proper procedures for caring for and growing a healthy tree. If people forget to water the trees, Noda suggested neglected trees could die within four to six weeks.
He also gave the specifications for tree trimming, a sometimes-sensitive issue for property owners, and said West Coast Arborist will serve as the city’s consultant and provide a tree arborist which is required by the Tree City USA program.
Noda gave a detailed description of how and when, and under what conditions trees will be removed, noting that just because roots are pushing up on a sidewalk does not qualify it for removal.
Technology exists to level the sidewalk, he said, which will be used unless the city and its arborist determine the tree must be removed.
With the pandemic, like other items, trees suitable for planting are difficult to find in the current environment so he said the city will continue to develop the administrative elements to expedite the development of policies sufficient to be accepted into the Tree City USA program.
And, he said, in the process further expand the city of Los Alamitos’ urban forest.
Irving Montenegro, Development Services Manager, said he has been working to fulfill the elements needed for Monday’s vote. He said all the items are not necessarily required to become approved for membership in Tree City USA, however, “it helps.”
He said the Council will have an opportunity to adopt a Tree Dedication Memorial Program and establish a parkway tree master plan, which includes a tree policy that includes a budget of at least $2 per tree.
If the proposal is approved by the council, the city manager will also have the authority appoint to a tree board to oversee the entire effort, said Montenegro.
