Whittier council advances urban forest plan, extends suspension of Parkway Tree Manual through 2028

The Whittier City Council on March 10 approved a contract and a budget amendment to create a citywide Urban Forest Management Plan and voted to extend, by ordinance first reading, the temporary suspension of the city’s Parkway Tree Manual through Jan. 1, 2028.

City staff said the work — which includes a companion environmental impact report (EIR) being prepared by Michael Baker Inc. — is intended to address public safety, liability and fiduciary concerns raised by the city’s insurer. “This document would govern the entire city of Whittier,” a staff member told the council, describing the plan as a policy‑level replacement for the older manual.

The action included a supplemental appropriation (Resolution 2026‑613) to fund professional services for updating municipal code chapter 12.4 and preparing the urban forest plan. Council members moved and seconded the funding measure and the contract recommendation; the council approved the budget action and the contract authority to proceed with the EIR and plan development.

Supporters on the council said the update is a long‑range investment in the city’s canopy and public safety. “We need a vision and plan that goes way beyond what people are thinking about,” the mayor said, urging long‑term planting of fire‑resistant native oaks and other species. Staff told the council a scoping meeting for the EIR is expected in late April or early May and that the public outreach program will include multiple meetings and comment periods.

Public comment at the meeting was strongly divided. Speakers representing local preservation groups and petition drives pressed the council to halt consultant spending and to keep existing protections in place; one speaker noted “more than 8,162 signatures” on a petition to save Uptown trees. The Whittier Conservancy and activists said recent removals and the suspension have reduced local protections and called for more in‑house arboriculture expertise rather than outside consultants.

Council and staff repeatedly said tree removals since the suspension have been limited and based on arborist analysis and that no trees were removed in the promenade boundary area during the suspension. Staff also described multiple internal reviews — by parks staff, the city arborist, risk management and public‑works staff — before a removal occurs.

The council conducted a first reading of Ordinance No. 3,176 to extend the temporary suspension; the roll call showed a majority in favor and one dissenting vote. Staff said the extension allows time to certify an EIR and adopt an urban forest management plan while preparing for possible legal challenges. The ordinance is exempted from CEQA as presented at the first reading.

Next steps include public scoping for the EIR, outreach sessions and a future council hearing to adopt the final plan and related municipal code changes. Staff estimated the full EIR and public process could take roughly a year, not including time needed to resolve pending litigation.