URBAN FOREST April 27, 2026 urban forest regulations.direction regarding the City’s the City Manager with Forest Master Plan and provide action to adopt the Urban Consideration and possible
MASTER PLAN
U Strategic Plan Goal #4UCF Grant –USDA LANPASTER MOREST FRBAN
VISION & GOALS Obtain Tree City USA designation•programplanting -Establish an annual tree•achieve 10% citywide canopy coverIdentify and address canopy gaps to •streets for efficient grid pruningImprove species continuity along •pruning schedules.Streamline maintenance and •Goals:outreach and education.Strengthen partnerships through •the community.and appointed officials, staff, and Provide clear guidance for elected •standards and resource allocationOptimize urban forest management •Increase canopy cover citywide•Vision:
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT/SURVEY overhead utilitiesTop Concerns: Damage from trees, improper pruning and conflict with •neighborhood aestheticsTop Benefits: improving the environment, providing shade, enhancing •25%Public trees are not well taken care of ~•93% Not enough Trees ~•96% Trees are valuable to our community ~•~600 Respondents (Majority live in Bellflower)•
BELLFLOWER’S URBAN FOREST A diversified tree portfolio reduces catastrophic loss from pests & diseases•–20–the 10passedBellflower •45 different families•76 different genera•128 distinct tree species •
TREE Stump Sites/Misc.VacantFilled Tree Inventory 1%28%71%151 Stump/Misc. Sites •3,243 Vacancies•8,226 Trees•11,620 Tree Sites•INVENTORY
TREE Poor/DeadFairGood Tree Condition Assessment 1%15%84%addressing trees in “fair” condition.City should remain proactive in Urban Forest is overall healthy, but ~1% Poor/Dead~15% Fair~84% Good ASSESSMENTCONDITION
AVAILABLE 54321 Planting Sites by District 19%11%20%17%33%621–District 5 367–District 4 636–District 3 541–District 2 1,078–District 1 PLANTING SITES
CANOPY Goal is 10%•6.61%–Citywide Canopy Cover •ASSESSMENT
ACHIEVING A 10% engagement/outreach/educationcommunity •Encourage Tree Planting/Care•sitesspaces (parks) and in identified tree Strategic tree planting in large open •long run.maintain/grow canopy cover over the Frontload trees ahead of time to •TreesAddress Aging/Decline of Mature •Plant 100 Trees Per Year•1:1 ratio•Remove & Replace Trees•CANOPY GOAL
URBAN FOREST Benefits of Trees in the Urban Forest•Community education 6.cycle pruning -of-Out 5.by Council Districts •Grid pruning schedule 4.3.Planting plan 2.Tree palette 1.Department of Public Works OPERATIONS
URBAN FOREST REGULATIONS intermediate and advanced regulations).Arbor Day Foundation provides varying frameworks for cities to use (basic, •City USA designation)-TreeBellflower currently does not have such regulations (Final requirement for •update its urban forest regulations.Following the adoption of an Urban Forest Master Plan, cities will adopt or •
URBAN FOREST REGULATIONS Always be in effect.3.and other public spaces.Provide clear guidance for planting, maintaining, and/or removing trees from streets, parks, 2.of a tree board, department, or both.Assign authority over and responsibility for the care of public trees through the establishment 1.Tree City USA Requirements:–Arbor Day Foundation •
Enforcement and removal.tree planting, staff to oversee may designate this ordinance.and enforcing administering responsible for is Public WorksThe Director of authority.designated of Public Works or from the Director written approval without prior a public tree replace, or prune remove, willNo person fenced area.allowed within the or vehicle parking is No material storage construction sites.around trees on must be installed Protective fencing companies.street tree removal by utility No mitigation is required for -invasive species.No mitigation is required for -designee.by the Director or his/her hazardous trees as determined removal of dead, diseased, or No mitigation is required for -Exemptionsof removal.must be planted within 90 days : Replacement trees Timelineanother site on public property.site or at -installed in its place, oninch caliper must be -least 2the approved tree palette of at replacement trees that are on each street tree removed, one : For Replacement RequirementUrban Forest Master Planfound in the City’s adopted according to the practices Trees must be planted Planting Practices.triangle of a street or within the visibility within 10 feet of utility lines No tree may be planted intersections.obstruct visibility at interfere with utilities or locations that do not Trees must be planted in Planting Location.designee. Public Works of his/her approved by the Director of Any tree planting must be pests and disease.species, and free from healthy, typical for their All trees planted must be Tree Quality and Sizetrees.prevent spread to other soon as practicable to removed or treated as to such causes, will be to be dead or dying due disease, or determined communicable pest or infested with a property found to be Any tree on public ResponsePest and Disease and public safety.to promote tree health of dead trees as needed watering, and removing trees, including pruning, maintenance of public for the routine The City is responsible General Maintenancecost of replacement.of equal size or pay the damaged tree with a tree unlawfully removed or required to replace each fines, violators may be : In addition to Restitutionseparate offense.violation continues is a offense.
Each day a constitutes a separate damaged in violation removed, replaced or assessed. Each tree $500 per violation shall be : A civil fine of up to Finespublic tree will be subject replaces or prunes a who removes, damages, Violationsthis ordinance.enforcing the provisions of is responsible for Works or his/her designee The Director of Public : Enforcement Authority CredentialsAuthority & Tree PreservationConstructionTree Protection During MitigationTree Planting StandardsTree Management
URBAN FOREST REGULATIONS.resourcesavailableandneedsevolvingonbasedtimeoveradjustcanCitytheframework,basicawithstartingBy.d.costandcomplexityincreasesignificantlywhichofallmechanisms,enforcementandcoo rdination,interagencytrees,heritageofdesignationprograms,managementpestratios,replacementhigh,requirementsmitigationthresholds,protectiontreereviews,permitincludingregulation,intensivemoreandoversigh tpropertyprivateintoexpandoptionsadvancedandIntermediate.decisionspolicyfutureforflexibilitypreservesIt.c.unsustainablebemaythatobligationsfiscalterm-longcreatingpreventsoptionbasicThe.costscomplianc eandtechnology,personnel,increasewouldenforcementandprograms,monitoringsystems,reportingpermits,removaltreearborists,certifiedassuchRequirements.expansionadministrativeandmandatesunfundedavoidsIt.b.r eversetodifficultareframeworkssuchsinceespeciallyconsequences,unintendedcreatecouldquicklytoothemimplementingandregulations,foresturbanlackscurrentlyBellflower.capacityCityexceedmaythatareasintoexten dingwithoutmaintainedproperlyandsafetreeskeeptopoliciesestablishesoptionbasicThe.aStaff’s recommendation is to keep it basic.
STAFF actions related to this item.Alternatively, discuss and take other 3.regulations; orregarding the City’s urban forest Provide the City Manager with direction 2.andUrban Forest Master Plan; the Adopt1.RECOMMENDATIONS