San Leandro council adopts Tree Master Plan, approves implementation steps

San Leandro City Council unanimously adopted a Tree Master Plan after a presentation Wednesday that laid out a two-year tree inventory, urban heat analysis, species guidance and a phased implementation program.

The plan "sets the vision and goals for how the City cares for the urban forest," Jennifer Aleta, Parks and Landscape Manager, told the council. Aleta said the plan follows a two-year planning, tree inventory and public engagement process and will move into an implementation phase that includes public education, ordinance review and a focus on proactive maintenance rather than reactive work.

The Nut Graf: The plan presents a citywide inventory of roughly 18,000 street and park trees, identifies more than 4,000 public planting sites, and ranks planting priorities by canopy coverage, heat severity and socio‑economic indicators. Councilmembers and community speakers emphasized the need to fund the plan’s early implementation steps—especially clearing a backlog of maintenance—and to protect mature trees in neighborhoods with low canopy and high heat exposure.

Planet Geo consultant Alex Hancock, who led the inventory work, said the project recorded more than 22,000 points across the city, including nearly 18,000 trees and over 4,000 potential planting sites. Hancock noted the inventory met the 10‑20‑30 species‑diversity guideline (no one species more than 10% of total) but identified opportunities to diversify beyond common species such as crepe myrtle and London plane tree.

The plan includes a 5‑year management program intended to shift San Leandro from a reactive maintenance posture toward a proactive, cyclical maintenance and planting program. Aleta and Hancock presented maps showing where canopy is lowest and heat severity is highest; they recommended concentrating tree plantings and community outreach in those neighborhoods.

Councilmembers asked for more detail about budget implications and enforcement. Aleta said the city had used a Cal Fire grant earlier (noting the city received a $1,000,000 Cal Fire grant that has been expended) and had preliminary notice of a $224,000 planning grant focused on extreme heat and regional coordination. She said planting contract costs can vary widely (roughly $150–$350 per tree in contractor bids) and that the plan’s near‑term priority is funding two years of contract services to clear the backlog and move to a proactive program.

Several public commenters urged stronger protections for private‑property trees and a permit requirement for private removals. City staff said the current ordinance protects city street trees (trees in planting strips or within a three‑foot easement adjacent to sidewalks) and that removing a city tree without approval can be fined; private trees are not currently covered by a permit requirement. Staff said reviewing ordinance enforcement and how to detect unauthorized removals is part of the implementation work.

Councilmember Reynaldo Aguilar moved to adopt a resolution to approve and implement the Tree Master Plan; Councilmember Yvette Viveiros Walton seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The plan directs staff to return with specific implementation steps, public‑education materials and ordinance recommendations; councilmembers signaled they expect a subsequent budget request to fund the early, backlogged maintenance work and directed staff to explore long‑term funding options and partnerships for planting and stewardship.

Ending: Staff said they will begin community outreach this year, pursue identified grants, and return with an implementation schedule and budget requests tied to the plan’s priorities.