Pacific Grove authorizes staff to begin forest management work at George Washington Park, citing fire risk and rare pines

The Pacific Grove City Council authorized staff to begin time‑sensitive field work under the draft George Washington Park Forest Management Plan while staff concurrently incorporates the Biological and Natural Resource Commission’s (BNRC) recommended edits and returns a revised draft for adoption. Staff framed the plan as a conservation and safety effort for the park’s 20‑acre urban forest, which contains the city's largest contiguous stand of Monterey Pine — a species with very limited native range.

The plan prioritizes ecological integrity, public safety and long‑term sustainability and relies on a tight seasonal window for most tree work to avoid protected‑species impacts: the primary work window is Sept. 1–Oct. 1 (to avoid monarch overwintering and bird nesting seasons), with a secondary spring window for invasive grass mowing. The draft calls for fuel reduction, dead‑tree removal, canopy lifting, invasive species control, habitat restoration and pre‑work biological surveys. "The forest management plan we're discussing tonight is for George Washington Park, a 20 acre urban forest in the heart of Pacific Grove, home to the largest contiguous stand of Monterey Pine in the city," staff said during the presentation.

Council members stressed the need to balance public access, walkability, and neighborhood safety near Zone 4 homes; they also raised poison oak control, the use and safety of wood chips, and the enforceability of bicycle restrictions in the park code. Council voted unanimously (7–0) to authorize staff to commence the September work while updating the draft and returning a red‑lined revision for final adoption. Council asked staff to provide periodic updates, consider red‑lined versions to show BNRC recommendations, and bring separate analyses back for parking and bicycle enforcement measures if needed.