Canopy, city urban forestry present planting progress and draft Tree & Landscape Technical Manual; public seeks stronger native-species and biodiversity focus

Nonprofit Canopy and the City of Palo Alto’s urban forestry section briefed the Parks and Recreation Commission on Feb. 25 on community planting efforts and on a draft Tree & Landscape Technical Manual, which is intended to provide technical details and forms to implement the city’s tree ordinance.

Canopy Executive Director JP Renaud and Community Forestry Coordinator Evony Wang described community planting and volunteer programs. Wang said Canopy has completed two community plantings this season and had planted about 48 of the 120 trees scheduled for the fiscal year, with the goal to complete the remainder before May. Canopy emphasized volunteer training, school and youth engagement, a three-year young-tree care commitment for canopy-planted trees, and a tree hotline for resident questions.

Renaud and Wang said Canopy focuses planting in South Palo Alto where canopy cover is lower, and that community involvement is central to long-term tree stewardship. Commissioners asked Canopy about outreach to youth, partnerships with schools and opportunities for residents to request trees; Canopy staff outlined how residents request plantings and how the organization supports site selection and short-term care.

Urban Forester Peter Golinger presented city data and the draft Tree & Landscape Technical Manual (TLTM). He said the city maintains nearly 40,000 public trees, employs 17 staff in the urban forestry section (two vacancies at the time of the report) and prunes public trees on a roughly 5–7 year cycle in most areas. Golinger flagged a regional pest threat — the polyphagous shot hole borer — that has been detected in Santa Clara County and warned it could present a serious issue for urban trees.

Golinger said the TLTM update, long in process, aims to provide implementation details for the updated tree ordinance and incorporate newer policies including the state Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance and the city’s climate and sustainability policies. Key TLTM changes he highlighted include revised tree-replacement calculations to promote larger canopy species, automated online forms for arborist submittals, and updated plan-sheet templates. He said the draft was placed online for public comment, with an initial comment period through March 3 and plans to extend that deadline by up to two weeks to allow additional input.

Public commenters and commissioners urged a stronger emphasis on native species, habitat value and biodiversity. Dashiell Leeds (Sierra Club, Loma Prieta chapter) and other speakers said the TLTM should more explicitly analyze habitat value as part of tree selection criteria and include clearer recommendations on prioritizing native plants in specific locations. Multiple commenters also asked that the TLTM address the environmental and habitat effects of synthetic turf and petroleum-based underlays used in landscaping.

Peter Golinger said staff will incorporate feedback, add groundwater-rise and saltwater-intrusion considerations to site analysis, and explore additional flow charts and pest-management content. He also said staff plans outreach workshops after the manual is finalized and that digital and printed copies would be made available. The commission asked staff to schedule public education and to coordinate with Canopy and other partners on messages about species selection, watering, and tree stewardship.

No formal vote was taken on the TLTM at the meeting; staff will compile public comments and revise the draft before moving toward finalization.