City Trees program says 2026 on track for 3,200+ plantings; fall sale shows strong demand

Sydney Schaff, City Trees manager in the Health Department, presented the City Trees program annual report and said the program marked its 20th anniversary since starting in 2006. She said the program focuses on private‑property plantings (the Park and Recreation Board manages public trees) and highlighted two main programs: a low‑cost residential tree sale and a full‑service planting program that prioritizes equity areas and reduces barriers for residents and nonprofits.

Schaff gave 2026 targets and early results: the program set a goal of 2,915 trees (including sales, replacements, and a 400‑tree mini‑forest component) and is "on track to plant just over 3,200 trees this year." She said the spring city tree sale sold just over 1,100 trees and the fall sale (opened Aug. 1, 2026) began with 800 trees available and sold 437 in the first four days. Full‑service plantings included roughly 150 by the city team and about 250 by contractor TreeTrust; staff reported an additional wait list of about 600 requests.

Schaff detailed program design choices: containerized trees (4–8 feet tall) are offered at $30 for residents (a substantial discount from nursery prices), species selection prioritizes canopy diversity and climate adaptation (about 90% native offered), and a Miyawaki-style "mini forest" pilot is scheduled for planting in November. She also summarized outreach including tree-ambassador stipends, workshops and educational events.

The committee asked follow-up questions about species selection, survival rates and connections to other city services; Schaff said selection emphasizes diversity and climate resilience and noted the 1–5 year period after planting is critical to establishment. Chair Chavez asked staff to provide further budget and engagement details for the pending private‑property tree preservation ordinance work. The clerk was asked to receive and file the report.