Canopy reports surge in plantings; city staff proposes ongoing Canopy funding and $200,000 for tree planting in FY 2026–27

Canopy, Mountain View’s nonprofit urban-forest partner, told the Parks, Recreation and Urban Forestry Board on June 10 that it planted more than 200 trees during the most recent planting season and mobilized roughly 320 unique volunteers, including a new youth urban-forest stewards program.

Aubrey Kadir, Canopy’s community forestry manager, described an expanded program that moved the organization from a 49-tree target to more than 200 trees planted in parks, school sites and residential plantings this season. Canopy staff said the push combined city site selection and logistical support with volunteer recruitment and post-planting stewardship, and that the community-forestry model improved survival rates compared with contractor-only plantings.

Senior management analyst Lindsay Wong presented the Community Services Department’s recommended operating budget adjustments for fiscal year 2026–27. For urban forestry, Wong said the staff recommendation includes converting the Canopy contract from one-time to ongoing funding at $125,000 per year and adding $200,000 for tree planting in the coming fiscal year. Wong also described non-discretionary increases (higher ActiveNet registration transaction fees and landscape-contract rate increases) and a proposal for a dedicated park maintenance worker III to oversee Stevens Creek and Permanente Creek trails.

Commissioners asked about species mix, how planting locations and species are approved and the relationship between Canopy’s choices and the city’s draft biodiversity plan. Canopy staff said they generally coordinate species and locations with city staff and use a mix of native and adaptable species prioritized for canopy coverage; the most common species planted this season included oaks, a mix of Mediterranean-tolerant trees and selected street-tree species appropriate for planting sites.

Russell Hansen and Canopy staff also briefed the board on a separate urban-forest health issue: staff have deployed traps and begun testing for a wood-boring pest that has affected other Bay Area cities. Early lab results are inconclusive and a confirmatory test is pending; staff warned that if a pest is confirmed some tree mortality and targeted removals may be necessary, and said monitoring and treatment plans are being developed.

Next steps: city council is scheduled to adopt the FY 2026–27 budget on June 23; if the council approves staff recommendations the Canopy contract will be funded on an ongoing basis and the $200,000 planting allocation will be available for projects in the new fiscal year beginning July 1.