Albany commission approves draft street tree management plan and sends it to city council

The Albany Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Commission voted unanimously Thursday evening to recommend the draft Street Tree Management Plan to the City Council, subject to the commission’s comments.

The commission approved the recommendation after a presentation by Jeff Bond, Albany’s community development director, and the plan’s consultant, Ryan (surname not provided). Bond said the document compiles work begun with a 2020 street‑tree inventory and is intended as a guiding policy for expanded canopy, improved tree health and long‑term management. “This is a plan that we've been developing for a few years through the commission,” Bond said, adding the inventory database “is available publicly on our web page.”

The draft lays out the city’s objectives, recommended actions and implementation steps. Nut graf: the plan proposes a mix of near‑term operational changes (shifting from reactive to more proactive maintenance, revising removal criteria and clarifying arborist authority) and longer‑term investments (increased planting, funding for maintenance and changes to local code). The commission’s vote sends the draft to City Council for consideration and signals staff should begin refining final graphics, outreach materials and the ordinance and budget work needed for implementation.

Key facts and context

- Inventory and canopy: The plan draws on a 2020 street‑tree inventory and canopy analysis that estimated roughly 19% overall tree canopy…