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Council approves continued downtown canopy trimming; staff urged to avoid over-pruning
Summary
Council voted (4–0, 1 abstain) to allow public-works staff to continue the downtown canopy-trimming program begun last fall, with guidance to avoid over-pruning that can harm tree form and health and to respect species-specific timing.
Public works staff recapped the downtown canopy-trimming approach used last fall — lifting canopies and pruning small branches to improve sidewalks and sign visibility — and told council some species should not be trimmed in summer because of disease risk. Several council members asked staff to be careful to avoid leaving trees with an unnatural "palm tree" appearance and to preserve aesthetics while improving sign visibility.
Following discussion, a motion was made directing public works to continue canopy trimming and maintenance of the tree canopy in the Central Business District; the vote was recorded as 4 in favor with 1 abstention. Staff said they will schedule trimming at the appropriate season for species sensitive to summer pruning and will coordinate with property owners on sign sightlines.
