DATE:
November 18, 2025
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Community Services Department
TITLE: Increase Appropriation of Tree
Mitigation Funds
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View Amending the Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget to Appropriate One Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars ( $180,000) in the Tree Mitigation Subfund (215001) for Tree Planting Expenses, to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 1 to the Council report). (Five votes required)
BACKGROUND
Google Tree Mitigation Agreement
On June 23, 2020, the Council took multiple actions to approve a development at 2001 Landings Drive (formerly 1860 -2159 Landings Drive), known as the Google Landings Office Development or Landings Project, including a Heritage Tree Removal Permit to remove 414 Heritage trees. The City issued a grading permit on May 31, 2022, and a building permit on August 19, 2022, to authorize the start of construction for the project.
Google started site preparation and grading in June 2022. In February 2024, Google informed the City that it would no longer proceed with construction of the Landings Project and intended to demolish the partially constructed improvements on the site. The discontinuation of construction of the Landings Project was an unforeseen event that left the project site disturbed following the removal of more than 800 trees, including Heritage trees.
On September 9, 2025 , the Council authorized the City Manager or designee to execute a tree mitigation agreement with Google LLC to allow the City to receive funding and other commitments, including:
• The entitlement of the City to take delivery of up to 678 trees of 24- inch box size or smaller from Google’s tree nursery to facilitate the planting of trees in locations beyond the Landings Project site, as well as a per tree payment from Google to the City for any trees of this total amount that are not received;
Increase Appropriation of Tree Mitigation Funds
November 18, 2025
• Payment to the City to offset costs associated with installation and initial care and maintenance of trees planted by the City through utilization of consultant arborist services;
• Payment to the City to retain a consulting arborist to survey and identify the locations and appropriate species for the 678 tree plantings across the City
Tree Mitigation Fund
The City created a Tree Mitigation Fund as an outcome of the Community Tree Master Plan (CTMP), adopted by City Council on September 15, 20 15. The CTMP included implementation measures to achieve objectives that would improve and enhance the City’s urban forest and canopy. These measures included the establishment of a Tree Mitigation Fund to fund tree planting, canopy enhancement, outreach and other urban forestry operations and programming.
The funding received from Google for tree plantings will be deposited into the Tree Mitigation Fund.
The Tree Mitigation Fund (Fund) is funded with Tree Replacement fees recovered when tree canopy cannot be replaced onsite for development projects, which are used to support tree planting and canopy enhancement on other sites within the community. From the Fund, $50,000 is appropriated annually in the Community Services Department’s operating budget for tree plantings throughout the City. As described below, an additional appropriation is required to allocate funding received from Google for the Landings project.
ANALYSIS
The funding from Google will be spent over multiple years. For Fiscal Year 2025 -26, staff recommends appropriation of $180,000. Of this amount, $30,000 will support the City’s use of a consulting arborist firm to survey and identify locations and appropriate species for the tree mitigation plantings at City-maintained areas such as parks, facilities , and roadways across the City. Staff will review the se locations and designate the appropriate species for planting . The remaining $150,000 will b e used to amend the City’s current agreement with the nonprofit Canopy. Canopy’s current scope of services includes planting events, educational programming, tree care trainings for City staff, and marketing outreach to cultivate community support for urban forestry initiatives. With the additional $150,000, Canopy will provide tree planting, watering, and establishment care for up to 300 trees. Canopy will also coordinate associated volunteer tree planting events to expand their educational programs within the City. The total amount of the agreement, inclusive of the proposed amendment with Canopy , remains within the authority delegated to the City Manager under Council Policy A-10, Authorization to Execute City Contracts and Agreements.
Increase Appropriation of Tree Mitigation Funds
November 18, 2025
FISCAL IMPACT
The current balance in the Tree Mitigation Fund is approximately $795,000. An annual appropriation of $50,000 is included in the operating budget. Staff recommends Council appropriate an additional $180,000 in the Tree Mitigation Fund for Fiscal Year 2025-26, resulting in a total appropriation of $230,000.
LEVINE ACT
California Government Code Section 84308 (also known as the Levine Act) prohibits city officials from participating in any proceeding involving a “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” if the official has received a campaign contribution exceeding $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant within the last 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to- play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
Please see below for information about whether the recommended action for this agenda item is subject to or exempt from the Levine Act.
EXEMPT FROM THE LEVINE ACT
☒ General policy and legislative actions
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not approve the proposed appropriation increase.
2. Provide other direction.
Increase Appropriation of Tree Mitigation Funds
November 18, 2025
PUBLIC NOTICING
Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Russell Hansen
Urban Forest Manager
Lindsay Wong
Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by:
Brenda Sylvia
Assistant Community Services Director
John Marchant
Community Services Director
Approved by:
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
Attachment: 1. Resolution – Amendment to Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget