The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission unanimously adopted a recommended master tree list aimed at increasing tree survival under Sonomas changing climate and improving guidance for residential replacements.

Commissioner Mesaraca and contract arborist John Miseric led the ad hoc review that narrowed a larger inventory to roughly 32 species chosen for drought tolerance, pest resistance, maintenance profile and habitat value. The list was informed by the UC Master Gardener recommendations and refined for Sonomas conditions.

Commissioners stressed that the list is advisory: homeowners are not required to use it but staff and commissioners expect the list to be the citys preferred guidance for replacement plantings and to be used by staff when advising residents. The commission also asked staff to add a preamble explaining that climate resilience considerations informed the list and to publish a planting and maintenance guide alongside the list on the city website.

The motion to adopt the recommended list passed unanimously; commissioners praised the time contributors invested in winnowing the larger inventory to a usable 8.5-by-11 format and asked for a web page that includes additional species notes (messiness, fruit drop, suitability as street trees).