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Council approves biannual maintenance on high‑risk eucalyptus trees; staff to return with update in two years
Summary
The City Council unanimously approved a focused program (option 4) to trim and inspect 267 high‑risk eucalyptus trees in residential right‑of‑way on a two‑year cycle, with staff directed to report back in two years about expanding the program and funding for removals.
Public Works Director Chris Arcey and Park Supervisor Yale Jeffrey presented an inventory of the city's street and park trees and four options for eucalyptus maintenance. Staff reported 16,778 trees in the city's inventory and 1,047 eucalyptus trees in the right of way; the staff and contractor recommended starting with 267 eucalyptus trees concentrated on Alta Vista Drive, Eucalyptus Avenue, Bellevue Drive and Ocean View Drive for trimming and inspection every two years (option 4).
Deputy Mayor Melendez moved to adopt option 4, Council Member O'Donnell seconded, and the council approved the motion unanimously. Council directed staff to return in two years with results and to evaluate expanding maintenance to the larger set of eucalyptus trees. The motion also leaves removal decisions to a separate budgeting and review process if inspections identify trees that staff or the contractor recommend for removal.
Yale Jeffrey described cost estimates the contractor provided: trimming and inspection of all 1,047 right‑of‑way eucalyptus trees annually was estimated at about $324,000; a biannual inspection of the full 1,047 was estimated at $162,000; trimming and inspecting the 267 highest‑priority trees annually was estimated at $115,000; and the recommended option — trimming and inspecting those 267 trees every two years — was estimated at $58,000 (biannual expense). Jeffrey told the council the city contracts tree trimming work to West Coast Arborist and that the environmental commission supported the recommended approach.
Public commenter Joe Hood urged a fuller risk analysis and suggested replacement with native species; staff and council said removal is more expensive and would be budgeted separately, but that the proactive maintenance program was designed to identify hazardous trees for potential future removal funding. Council members said the program creates a proactive, neighborhood‑focused safety step and asked staff to keep pursuing grant opportunities for removal projects.
The council vote was recorded as unanimous. The approved direction: implement option 4 (trim/inspect 267 high‑priority eucalyptus trees every two years), continue routine maintenance for the broader tree inventory, and return to council in two years with evaluation and recommendation on expansion or removals.
