Archived News Release from 2006

For Immediate Release

Community Task Force on Tree Policies to Present Recommendations to City Council

Redwood City, CA - November 21 , 2006 - The Redwood City Community Task Force on Tree Policies will present its report and recommendations to the City Council on Monday, December 4, 2006, at the Council meeting starting at 7 pm at City Hall.

The Task Force’s entire report and the related staff report will be available as of Friday morning, December 1st at City Hall or online, or can be requested at that time by calling 780-7234.

The Council will review the report and recommendations, provide opportunity for questions and answers and public comment, and consider accepting the report and recommendations. If accepted by Council, staff will be directed to develop a schedule for implementation of the Task Force’s recommendations, for later Council approval. Interested members of the community are invited to attend the meeting and hear the report by the Task Force, ask questions, and provide comment on the overall report and specific recommendations.

The people of Redwood City value their urban forest as an integral part of the community’s quality of life, providing shade and beautiful streets and complementing homes and property values, while helping to make neighborhoods unique. At the same time there is a recognition that the City’s codes, policies, and practices with regard to tree preservation can sometimes be at odds with sidewalk maintenance and repair, and with the perspectives of some homeowners and residents. The City’s tree ordinances have not been updated in several years, so in early 2006 the Council approved formation of the Community Task Force on Tree Policies. This Task Force, consisting solely of community members and aided by a professional facilitator, was charged with reviewing and making recommendations to the City Council on a variety of issues related to how the City and the community maintain and live with the urban forest.

Some highlights of the Task Force recommendations include:

• A Vision Statement for Council adoption, as a foundation for how the City addresses the urban forest
• Establishment of a Tree Advisory Committee to support staff, conduct research, and possibly act as an appeals board
• A program of Community Education on Tree Issues
• Increased species choices for homeowners and replacement of “banned” tree list with “recommended” species list
• Protection of landscape planting strips as a community asset

Visit Redwood City’s award-winning website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, City government, and local business. Take a look at the variety of City webcams at redwoodcity.org/webcam, and subscribe to Redwood City’s email newsletter by emailing e-news@redwoodcity.org.

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Visit Redwood City’s award-winning website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, and City government. View a variety of City webcams at www.redwoodcity.org/webcam, and s ubscribe to Redwood City's email newsletter by sending an email to e-news@redwoodcity.org

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Contact:
Jill Ekas
Planning Manager
(650) 780–7298