HomeMy WebLinkAboutDead Tree MandateCity Council Agenda Item #12
Review of Local Cities’ Requirements For Dead Tree
Removal.
October 7, 2015
Background -concerns
•Continuing drought of over four years
•Trees dying by the hundreds due to the drought
•Increased fuel load
•Increased fire risk
•Large part of Saratoga in a Very High Fire Hazard Wild
land Urban Interface.
Map of
Saratoga’s
Wildland
Urban
Interface with
Fire Hazard
Ratings
Background –Actions taken
May 6, 2015:
•Council directed staff to recommend an expedited
process for the removal of dead trees.
July 1, 2015:
•An amendment to the Tree Regulations for an expedited
tree removal process was proposed and adopted -went
into effect October 2, 2015.
•Council directed staff to research the requirements for
the removal of dead trees in neighboring cities.
Research on Mandated removal of Dead Trees
16 Cities Surveyed –3 mandate removal
•Campbell
•Cupertino
•Hillsborough
•Los Altos
•Los Altos Hills
•Los Gatos
•Menlo Park
•Monte Sereno
•Mountain View
•Novato
•Portola Valley
•San Carlos
•San Jose
•Santa Clara
•Sunnyvale
•Woodside
Findings –3 Cities With Mandated Removal
•A definition in the city code stating that dead trees are a
nuisance and possible risk to public safety, and an
outline of the authority of the City to require the
removal of dead/nuisance trees.
•Menlo Park deems all dead trees a nuisance.
•Cupertino and Mountain View require the consultation
of an arborist to determine public safety risk.
•Each city identifies the responsibility of the Property
Owner to abate the removal of dead tree nuisances.
General Process in Dead Tree Mandated Cities
•Complaint is Received
•Staff person inspects tree and makes a determination if
tree is dead and poses a risk to safety.
•Letter is sent to property owner notifying them of
situation and what must be done.
•Owners are given a certain period to comply (typically
ranging from 10-30 days).
Saratoga Code Requirements for Dead Trees
•A tree removal permit is required to remove a
protected tree even if it is dead.
•No definition of a dead tree being a nuisance or public
safety risk.
•If a definition were added to the Tree Regulations
stating that a dead tree was a nuisance, City would be
able to enforce removal using Code Enforcement.