Petaluma council advances broad tree preservation ordinance, sets fee and hardship review

Petaluma City staff presented a comprehensive update to the city's tree protection rules and the City Council moved on March 16 to introduce the ordinance and direct staff to finalize related fees and hardship guidance.

Heather Hines, special projects manager, said the proposed update would widen regulatory coverage from a short list of protected species to "all trees greater than 6 inches in trunk diameter," create a single tree removal permit process covering private and public trees and clarify replacement requirements and enforcement. "One of the key things that these modifications do is they create a broader applicability of the city's tree preservation regulations to all trees greater than 6 inches in trunk diameter," Hines said.

Nut graf: The ordinance aims to preserve and expand Petaluma's canopy by prioritizing on‑site preservation during project design, setting consistent replacement rules (the draft referenced one 15‑gallon replacement per 12 inches of removed trunk diameter), and creating a streamlined permit and enforcement path that relies on a consulting arborist for technical reviews. Fees were not finalized at the hearing; council asked staff to return with a fee schedule that includes hardship exemptions and options to reduce fees for simple desk reviews or small, low‑impact removals.

Councilmembers asked detailed implementation questions about: the 6‑inch threshold (why not 12 inches); how the city would enforce work performed by private landscapers; how the consulting arborist and private certified arborist reports would be handled; and whether replacement requirements could be satisfied by planting 15‑gallon trees or by paying an in‑lieu fee for city planting programs. Ben Anderson, the city's consulting arborist, told council that focusing on smaller (15‑gallon) replacements increases the number of trees put on the ground and improves long‑term canopy yields.

Public comment was strongly supportive. Wendy Jacobs of Relief Petaluma and others praised the ordinance as an essential tool to meet climate goals and boost canopy. Several councilmembers urged staff and community partners to ensure fee design does not create a financial barrier for low‑income homeowners and asked staff to return with clear hardship criteria and a fee schedule.

Action taken: Councilmember Shribbs moved — and the council unanimously approved — introduction of the zoning text amendment and municipal code changes (first reading) with staff's suggested clarifications and direction to return with a fee proposal that includes hardship guidance.

Representative quote: "This tree preservation ordinance doesn't prohibit all tree removals ever. It is prioritizing preservation and making sure we're looking at trees as a community resource," Heather Hines said.

Next steps: Staff will draft and bring back the fee schedule (including hardship criteria), finalize application materials and implementation procedures, and return for second reading and adoption of the ordinance.