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Council advances Urban Forest Management Plan contract and approves first reading to extend Parkway Tree Manual suspension, 4-1
Summary
Council adopted a budget amendment and contract amendment for an Urban Forest Management Plan and conducted the first reading of Ordinance No. 3176 to extend a temporary suspension of the Parkway Tree Manual through Jan. 1, 2028; the ordinance first reading passed 4-1 with Council Member Pacheco dissenting.
The Whittier City Council on March 10 adopted Resolution No. 2026-13 to amend the FY 2025-26 budget for professional services and authorized the City Manager to execute Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. A26-004 with Michael Baker Inc. for up to $194,595 to prepare an Urban Forest Management Plan.
Separately, the council conducted the first reading of Ordinance No. 3176, extending the temporary suspension of the Parkway Tree Manual and Municipal Code Section 12.40.100(D) to address potential future health and safety hazards and making a finding the ordinance is exempt from CEQA through Jan. 1, 2028. City Manager Conal McNamara, City Attorney Keith Collins, Director Kyle Cason and Director Virginia Santana answered council questions about why the city seeks the extension, the request from the city’s insurance carrier to modify the Parkway Tree Manual, tree removal and replacement policies, alternative insurance options, the Environmental Impact Report and public outreach timeline, and tree sizes for Parnell Park and Greenleaf Promenade.
Council Member Fernando Dutra moved and Council Member Cathy Warner seconded the resolution and contract authorization for the Urban Forest Management Plan; the motion carried unanimously. The first reading of Ordinance No. 3176 was moved by Council Member Warner and seconded by Council Member Dutra and passed 4-1, with Council Member Mary Ann Pacheco dissenting.
City staff noted the Urban Forest Management Plan and any changes to the Parkway Tree Manual will involve further environmental and public outreach steps; in the record, staff indicated legal review of arborist reports and agreements will occur as part of the process. The record does not include the full EIR timeline or final outreach schedule.
