AGENDA REPORT
City Council
MEETING
DATE:
8/12/2026
PREPARED
BY:
Deputy Mayor, Jim O’Hara
DEPARTMENT: CITY COUNCIL
INITIATED ITEM
SUBJECT:
Council initiated item from Councilmember Luke Shaffer and Deputy Mayor Jim O’Hara regarding additional tree coverage along the ECP and I-5 Boundary.
INTRODUCTION OF CONCEPT OR IDEA:
Planting trees along the I-5 corridor and the eastern boundary of Encinitas Community Park would simultaneously advance the city’s tree-canopy goals and improve public health. A dense vegetative buffer can help filter freeway pollutants, reduce ultrafine particle concentrations, and lessen noise, creating a safer environment for park users. At the same time, adding approximately 100 trees strengthens climate resilience, expands shade, and enhances habitat and visual character. This dual benefit supports the city’s environmental objectives while offering meaningful, immediate protection for residents and families who use the park, illustrating how green infrastructure can serve both ecological and community-wellbeing priorities.
DIRECTION TO STAFF OR RECOMMENDED ACTION:
This item seeks Council direction to initiate staff work on evaluating feasibility, identifying partners or funding opportunities, and returning with a detailed proposal for the execution of a concept that would increase noise and pollution scrubbing barrier using trees along the ECP/I-5 boundary.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:
“The action being considered by the City Council is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a “project” under Section 15378(b)(5) of CEQA Guidelines.
The action involves an organizational or administrative activity of government that will not result in the direct or indirect physical change in the environment.” GENERAL PLAN/CITY COUNCIL FOCUS AREAS:
The item is relevant to the General Plan under the Resource Management Element (RME) and aligns with the City’s Strategic Plan Item IV (Leadership & Stewardship of Our Environment, Shoreline and Open Space.
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 1 of 13
FISCAL CONSIDERATIONS:
No Fiscal Impact
BACKGROUND:
The Encinitas City Council is committed to enhancing local environmental quality, community wellness, and long-term urban resilience. As part of this commitment, this Council-Initiated Item proposes the development of a formal process and implementation plan to plant as large as is feasible number of trees along the eastern boundary of Encinitas Community Park, adjacent to the I-5 Highway.
This effort aims to improve air quality, reduce freeway noise, expand the city’s urban canopy, and strengthen the natural buffer between the park and the interstate corridor. Establishing a clear plan—including site assessment, species selection, community engagement, and long-term maintenance—will ensure the project supports both environmental goals and the needs of park users and nearby residents.
ANALYSIS:
Encinitas Community Park experiences consistently strong attendance across its major amenities, reflecting its role as a vibrant community destination. Weekly usage data shows more than 1,500 visitors at the skate park and over 1,000 dog owners using the Maggie Houlihan Memorial Dog Park, demonstrating sustained daily engagement from hundreds of residents.
Athletic fields also contribute significantly to overall activity, with seven youth leagues collectively using the fields for more than 5,000 hours each year. When combined, these figures suggest that annual visitation easily surpasses 150,000 entries from skate park and dog park users alone, not including field participants, casual walkers, families, and social media-driven visitors who frequently explore the park’s trails, playgrounds, and open spaces. Overall, the available data underscores that Encinitas Community Park remains one of the city’s most actively used recreational assets.
Highways emit significantly higher concentrations of air pollutants—such as ultrafine particles (UFPs), black carbon, nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and brake/tire dust—compared to less trafficked roads.
These emissions disperse into adjacent areas—typically within 150 to 600 feet—often affecting nearby parks, trails, and residential homes. Homes close to highways see outdoor pollutants infiltrate indoors via HVAC systems or small building cracks, elevating indoor exposure.
Health studies link this exposure to a range of adverse effects:
• Respiratory: Increased asthma incidence and bronchitis; impaired lung development in children.
• Cardiovascular: Greater risk of heart disease, strokes, and reduced lung function. • Other outcomes: Low birth weight, preterm births, and higher mortality rates.
Park users and nearby residents, particularly children, seniors, and individuals with pre-existing conditions, are thus vulnerable to these highway-induced health risks. Vegetative buffers (like tree plantings) and sound walls can help mitigate pollution exposure effectively. 2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 2 of 13
Planting trees expands Encinitas’ canopy while reducing highway pollution will create a healthier, safer environment for park users and address the goal of increasing the city’s tree canopy.
ATTACHMENT(S):
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 3 of 13
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 4 of 13
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 5 of 13
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 6 of 13
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 7 of 13
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 8 of 13
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 9 of 13
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 10 of 13
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 11 of 13
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 12 of 13
2026-08-12 Item #12A Page 13 of 13