City Council

14. APPROVAL OF THE MASTER STREET TREE PLAN AMENDMENTS (Public Works Dept.) Recommendation: It is recommended that the City Council: (1) Find that the proposed amendments to the Master Street Tree Plan are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15304 (Class 4) pertaining to Minor Alterations to Land such as new gardening or landscaping, Section 15301(Class 1) pertaining to Existing Facilities, and Section 15308 (Class 8) pertaining to actions for Protection of the Environment; and (2) Approve the amendments to the Master Street Tree Plan: a. Replace the designated tree species of Italian Cypress tree to Noble Laurel tree for Fairfield Circle; and b. Approve a General Amendment to allow the use of an Alternative Tree Species List under certain conditions in the interest of public safety and promotion of a diverse and resilient urban forest. Recommendation of the Municipal Services Committee: On October 28, 2025, the Municipal Services Committee (MSC) voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve the amendment to the Master Street Tree Plan (MSTP) that would replace Italian Cypress tree with Noble Laurel tree on Fairfield Circle, and approve the MSTP General Amendment with the following comments and questions: · Provide greater emphasis on shade production and canopy equity within Guiding Principles section of the General Amendment document. · Clarify that the General Amendment document is a first step and limited in scope to tree species selection, but a broader effort, such as an Urban Forestry Master Plan is underway and will demonstrate the City’s commitment to long-term urban forest management. · Assess whether the Design Commission’s recommendations can be incorporated into the General Amendment document. · Assess what resources are needed for long-term urban forest management. · Review street tree recommendations from the City’s Updated Specific Plans and reconcile with implementation plan of the General Amendment document. · Tree planting should be prioritized in areas with less canopy coverage. · Amend fire-prone tree species throughout the City, not only within areas designated by CAL FIRE as fire hazard zones. Recommendation of the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee: On May 14, 2025, the Urban Forestry Advisory Committee (UFAC) voted unanimously to support staff’s recommendation to replace Italian Cypress tree with Noble Laurel tree along Fairfield Circle. On September 10, 2025, UFAC voted unanimously in support of the version of the Master Street Tree Plan Draft General Amendment as provided by staff. Recommendation of the Design Commission: On September 23, 2025, the Design Commission voted 3 in favor and 3 opposed to support staff’s recommendation to replace Italian Cypress tree with Noble Laurel tree along Fairfield Circle. The motion did not pass. On September 23, 2025, the Design Commission voted unanimously to recommend City Council consider the following related to the Master Street Tree Plan Draft General Amendment: · Review additional studies to expand the consideration of additional species for inclusion in the Alternative Tree Species List along with appropriate reasoning to go along with it. · Approve a general amendment to prohibit planting fire-prone tree species in high-risk fire zone areas of the City, along with an appropriate buffer zone. · Analyze smaller localized geographic areas of Pasadena to refine the Alternative Tree Species List in order to guide tree planting in specific areas of the City.