City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: ACTION ITEMS
Lead Department: Public Works
Meeting Date: March 18, 2024
Report #:2402-2648
TITLE
SECOND READING: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Chapter 8.04 (Street, Trees, Shrubs, and Plants) and Chapter 8.10 (Tree Preservation and Management Regulations) (FIRST READING: January 16, 2024 PASSED 5-2, Lythcott-Haims, Tanaka no)
BACKGROUND
The ordinance has been amended to reflect part B of the Council’s motion. Specifically, a provision was added to Section 8.10.070 to require requests to prune trees in excess of the limits in Section 8.10.020(i) to be submitted to the urban forester fourteen days before pruning the tree with a statement explaining why pruning beyond the limits is warranted.
During passage of the tree ordinance updates in January, staff confirmed during the Council questions that based on CAO analysis of PAMC Chapter 18.09, the updated Title 8 and applicable state law, the tree ordinance would not apply to stand alone Table 1 ADU’s. Staff did not recommend adding specific language to that effect at that time.
At the second reading of the tree ordinance updates, several council members expressed concern that the updated tree ordinance did not explicitly state that PAMC 18.09 Table 1 ADUs were exempt. To address this concern, the following proposed language has been added as 8.10.050 (b)(4):
The tree is proposed for removal to accommodate an ADU constructed pursuant to Section 18.09.030, or because removal is necessary to allow an ADU constructed pursuant to Section 18.09.040 to achieve the minimum standards set forth in state law.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending Chapter 8.04 (Street, Trees, Shrubs, and Plants) and Chapter 8.10 (Tree Preservation and Management Regulations).
APPROVED BY:
Brad Eggleston, Director Public Works/City Engineer