ATTACHMENT “A”
Resolution – Adopting Palm Tree Trimming Policy
55575.18130\45062501.1
RESOLUTION NO. _____
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A PALM TREE TRIMMING POLICY,
AND SUPERSEDING ALL PREVIOUS PALM TREE TRIMMING
PROCEDURES AND POLICIES AND FINDING THE POLICY EXEMPT
FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT PURSUANT
TO STATE CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15304 (MINOR ALTERATIONS
TO LAND)
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs is world renowned for its distinctive palm lined streets, and parkways, and these palms create the unique character that make Palm Springs a destination city; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs is home to one of the largest compositions of heritage quality California Fan Palms in their natural state; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs desires to maintain that signature element, and therefore had established a policy for the uniform trimming of California Fan Palms located within the public right of way; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs current policy restricts removal of California Fan Palms dry fronds and skinning of trunks, but allows the removal of fruit pods and fronds to be sheared to provide 12’ minimum clearance and fronds at the skirt bottom to be sheared to maintain a clean look; and
WHEREAS, the City of Palm Springs has evaluated the risk presented by preserving California Fan Palms in their natural state when faced with storm events, such as high winds, and the possibility of fronds becoming displaced from a California Fan Palm and landing on the area beneath, and has determined that the dry fronds should be removed when the subject trees are located in pedestrian-intense locations such as public rights of ways; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to establish a tree trimming policy that promotes public safety for trimming of California Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera) and Mexican Fan Palms (Washingtonia robusta) within the public right of way.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference.
SECTION 2. All California Fan Palms (Washingtonia filifera) and Mexican Fan Palms (Washingtonia robusta) located within the public right of way, shall have the fruit pods removed.
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Resolution No. _____
SECTION 3. California Fan Palms (Washingtonia filiferas) and all Mexican Fan Palms (Washingtonia robusta) located within the public right of way, City parks, and City owned (or possessed) property, except for designated historic sites, shall have their dry fronds removed and their trunks shall be skinned. To the extent feasible, such removal should be performed outside of nesting season for any migratory bird species.
SECTION 4. Any previous resolutions and/or minute orders adopting or amending a palm tree trimming policy are hereby superseded.
SECTION 5. This Policy is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15304, Minor Alterations to Land (“Class 4”). The Class 4 exemption allows minor public alterations in the condition of land, which do not involve removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees. Here, the Policy permits minor alterations to specific palm trees, limited to fruit pod removal, trunk skinning, and/or shearing, in certain public areas for the safety of the City’s residents. The Policy does not permit tree removal of any sort. Further, the Policy is not subject to any exception to the Class 4 exemption, as set forth in State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2.
ADOPTED THIS 8th DAY OF JULY, 2026.
SCOTT STILES
CITY MANAGER
ATTEST:
BRENDA PREE
CITY CLERK
55575.18130\45062501.1
Resolution No. _____
CERTIFICATION
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE ) ss.
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS )
I, Brenda Pree, City Clerk of the City of Palm Springs, hereby certify that Resolution No. ____ is a full, true and correct copy, and was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Palm Springs on July , 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Palm Springs, California, this day of July, 2026.
BRENDA PREE
CITY CLERK