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Carmel forester outlines tree-removal, stump-grinding and replanting plan; commissioners urge outreach
Summary
City forester Justin reported catch-up work removing hazardous trees and grinding stumps, described contractor activity and staffing constraints, and discussed plans for a draft Carmel Forest Master Plan, public meetings and a replanting program tied to stump sites.
Justin, the city forester, presented the March 2025 Forester's Report outlining contractor work, a three-year catch-up plan and constraints on planting and maintenance.
The report said contractors (West Coast Arborist, Topes and Community Tree Service) removed dead and dangerous trees, completed emergency responses, and ground stumps downtown; Community Tree Service completed a task order to grind 60 stumps in the downtown business district. Staff reported 31 permits taken in and 24 processed in the reporting period, and that planting had lagged because of limited watering and maintenance capacity.
Justin and commissioners discussed numbers and timing: staff and contractors have increased removals and stump work but the city remains behind on deferred maintenance and planned replanting. Justin said the city aims to remove roughly 300 stumps this fiscal year while recognizing planting and long-term maintenance must follow removal to restore canopy. He said contractors and Friends of Carmel Forest will be used to help with planting and watering, and that the city will seek to place "the right tree in the right place" and to coordinate watering contracts for newly planted trees.
Commissioners raised staffing and scheduling concerns, noting that much tree work has clustered in the final quarter of the fiscal year. They asked for clearer public communications (for instance, a Friday letter or social media notice) to explain why trees are being removed and to summarize the catch-up plan. Justin said he will schedule a public informational meeting to present the draft Carmel Forest Master Plan and that the draft will be presented for CEQA analysis following that meeting.
Commissioners also discussed the relative ecological value of many small oaks on a parcel versus fewer larger oaks and whether more active arboricultural management could produce larger, healthier specimen trees over time. The commission asked staff and the master plan steering committee to return with priorities and a scorecard for commission actions at an upcoming meeting.
The report included operational details: PG&E removals have increased, the city has limited stump-grinding equipment and uses contractors for large-scale stump work and backfilling, and the city tracks newly planted trees in TreeKeeper so they can be maintained. Staff noted the need to coordinate volunteer and nonprofit groups for post-planting watering and monitoring to improve survival rates.
Commissioners asked staff to include a Forest and Beach priorities item on the next agenda and to prepare public-facing communications explaining the near-term increase in removals and the replanting plan.
