DPW tells supervisors tree-relinquishment, apprenticeship asks unmet in submitted budget

The Department of Public Works on April 17 told the Board of Supervisors’ Budget and Finance Committee that constrained resources have forced the city to shift responsibility for many street trees to property owners and that the department lacks funds to complete the repairs and pruning required before a tree can be transferred.

“Within the city's right of way, there's about 105,000 street trees,” DPW Director Mr. Newrude said, noting the department currently maintains roughly 40,000 and inspects potential relinquishments before transferring trees to property owners or other agencies. He said DPW has inspected about 11,000 trees and roughly 2,000 were ready to be relinquished, while approximately 23,000 trees in the right-of-way are not owned by the department.

Supervisor Scott Wiener pressed the department on the policy and its consequences, saying budget decisions over many years have “made a conscious decision, in City Hall not to fund street tree maintenance and instead to turn over responsibility to property owners.” He and others warned that the transfer approach burdens homeowners — including seniors and disabled residents — who may lack the resources or capacity to maintain trees and adjoining sidewalks.

DPW asked for a targeted maintenance request to address the most readily transferrable cases: pruning for an estimated 3,000 trees at roughly $500–$800 per tree to render them “whole” and eligible for transfer, Director Newrude said. The department also noted longer maintenance cycles — once a 7-year cycle now closer to 10–11 years — and that wind events and staffing constraints have increased emergency tree work.

On workforce development, the department described an apprenticeship enhancement request of about $1.7 million to fund 12 new apprentices and training for 52 apprentices in trades including laborers, gardeners and cement masons. Director Newrude said stimulus funds had supported many pre-apprenticeship positions, but the current request would cover classroom training and other apprenticeship costs that the department lacks in its base budget.

Supervisors urged a strategic, citywide approach rather than piecemeal add‑backs during budget negotiations. Supervisor Marr asked whether the apprenticeship program is citywide; Newrude said it is, and that selection from pre-apprentices is based on attendance, performance and readiness. Supervisors also sought data on DPW’s responsibilities for non-street public spaces and how many staff would be needed to close service gaps.

There were no speakers during public comment, and the committee moved to continue the DPW item to the call of the chair.