City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: June 16, 2026
From: Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works-City Engineer Department: Public Works
Submitted by: Dulce Gonzalez, Management Analyst
Subject
Application for 2026 Tree City USA Designation
Recommendation
Authorize the Mayor to sign and the Public Works Department to submit a 2026 Tree City USA Application to the Arbor Day Foundation.
Background
The City is currently pursuing its seventh consecutive year of recognition as a Tree City USA, a prestigious national designation administered by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. To qualify as a Tree City USA for 2026, the City must meet four core standards:
1. Establish a Tree Board or Department – Completed: Public Works Department is responsible
2. Adopt a Tree Ordinance – Completed: Ordinance No. 1263
3. Maintain a Community Forestry Program with a minimum annual budget of $2 per capita – Completed: Vernon’s per capita investment far exceeds the requirement
4. Proclaim and Observe Arbor Day – Completed: City Council Proclamation Observing April 22, 2026 as Arbor Day in the City of Vernon
Having met the four core standards, the City is fully eligible to submit a 2026 Tree City USA application once the cycle opens in September. By maintaining this designation for a seventh consecutive year, Vernon secures environmental benefits such as improved air quality and stormwater management, and reinforces its identity as a forward-thinking, resilient community that prioritizes the health and aesthetic vitality of its urban landscape.
The City has a long-standing and strong commitment to urban forestry. Adopted in 2019, Ordinance No. 1263, commonly known as the "Tree Ordinance," designates the Director of Public Works as responsible for the management and care of all City-owned trees. Moreover, the City’s tree program focuses on the continued expansion and maintenance of Vernon’s urban forest, which promotes energy conservation, improves air quality, and creates more attractive, shaded, and livable spaces.
The City is dedicated to maintaining and expanding its urban forest, as trees play a crucial role in fostering healthier, safer, and more connected communities. Trees help clean the air, manage stormwater by absorbing rainfall and filtering pollutants, and provide shade. Achieving recognition as a Tree City USA for the seventh consecutive year would demonstrate the City’s commitment to effective urban forestry and foster a sense of pride within the community.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
None.