After heated public comment, South Pasadena Council adopts new tree ordinance (Ordinance No. 2409)
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Summary
Following more than an hour of public testimony and extended council discussion, the South Pasadena City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2409 to replace Chapter 34 (Trees and Shrubs). Residents pressed for stronger notice, replacement guarantees and an urban forestry plan; Mayor Pro Tem Omari Ferguson cast the lone recorded no vote.
The South Pasadena City Council adopted a comprehensive rewrite of the city’s tree code, Ordinance No. 2409, at its Dec. 17 meeting after extensive public testimony and council discussion.
Public testimony ran the gamut: neighbors described repeated tree trimming and alleged preferential enforcement, preservation advocates warned the ordinance’s development‑related definitions were too broad, and many speakers urged an independent rotating arborist, stricter replacement requirements and an urban forestry management plan before wholesale changes. "The removal of trees for any reason without notice to residents within 100 yards strips residents of their voices," Evelyn Znimer said during public comment, calling for better public notice and accountability.
Supporters of the update argued the amended code balances canopy protection with the practical challenges many homeowners face, including insurance directives to remove hazardous trees. Matthew May, who said his family endured an onerous removal process, said the draft "strikes a reasonable balance" between protection of the canopy and relief for property owners.
Staff told the council they will recommend funding for an urban forestry management plan in the next fiscal year's budget and have already started retaining arborists not associated with the current maintenance contractor to reduce conflicts of interest. City Manager and staff noted posted notices will continue on public tree removals and staff can refine the color/visibility of postings.
The council then moved to adopt the ordinance. A motion to adopt Ordinance No. 2409 passed on a roll call vote with the record showing four yes votes and one no vote from Mayor Pro Tem Omari Ferguson. During final remarks, one council member committed to asking staff to return in six months for an assessment to review implementation and concerns raised by the public.
What the ordinance does and next steps - Ordinance No. 2409 replaces chapter 34 of the South Pasadena Municipal Code in its entirety (second reading and adoption taken Dec. 17, 2025). The ordinance includes provisions described in staff materials for arborist review, replacement/survival guarantees and limited on‑site planting exceptions for hazardous species. - Staff said they will budget for and begin work on an urban forestry management plan in the next fiscal year and will work to retain independent arborists for permit reviews. - Councilmembers said they expect staff to return within about six months to assess whether the ordinance’s implementation is producing the intended protections and to address the issues raised by residents.
The ordinance’s adoption follows a contentious public conversation in which multiple residents criticized the city’s past record on tree trimming and replacement, while others argued the code provided necessary clarity and protections for property owners facing insurance and safety pressures.
