Cupertino working on tree ordinance

The city of Cupertino is talking trees again and could wrap up 2014 or begin 2015 with new rules for protecting certain trees. The city council held a nearly two-hour study session July 8 to consider more updates to the city's protected trees ordinance.

Since 2012, council has been working routinely on tinkering with how the city and residents interact with public and protected trees. The city is planning to amend the protected tree ordinance, which could include streamlining the process for removing protected trees, updating the list of specimen trees, simplifying the tree replacement process and adding new mitigation measures for tree removals.

The city is working on a draft update to the ordinance that could create a two-tiered system for how residents remove trees above and below a certain measured diameter. The city is proposing that protected trees 12 inches in diameter be exempt from the tree removal permit process.

The city's consultant arborist recommends that a mature specimen tree be defined as having a diameter between 10 and 12 inches. Currently, protected trees that measure 10 inches or greater in diameter require permits.

The city's specimen tree list currently includes California Buckeye, Big Leaf Maple, Deodar Cedar, Blue Atlas Cedar, and Western Sycamore. The Bay Laurel, or California Bay, is on the list but is considered for removal. The Douglas Fir was initially considered as a replacement to the list, but the London Planeare could be added instead, according to the July 8 staff report.

The city has seen renewed interest in trees over the past year. In March 2013, the council amended the city's tree ordinance to clarify references to public street trees and to modify penalties from a misdemeanor to an infraction for cutting a public tree. The council also directed city staff to review the specimen tree list and to include only native trees and remove non-native trees from the list.

City staff will now work with project consultants to complete the proposed ordinance and any necessary environmental review. City manager David Brandt told the city council members that there is the possibility the issue could be presented to the new council by the end of the calender year at the earliest.

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Cupertino working on tree ordinance