Public commenters and commissioners press for stronger urban‑forestry safeguards as tree ordinance heads to council

Public comment and commissioner discussion at the Dec. 16 Natural Resources and Environmental Commission meeting focused on tree‑removal permits, replacement rates and the pending tree ordinance before the city council.

A virtual commenter directed commissioners to saveSouthPasadenaTrees.org/data and said, “If I'm reading this correctly, there wasn't a single on‑site replacement tree planted in 2023,” and said he will refine the data and follow up. Staff did not dispute that specific count during the meeting; the commenter said he would analyze the figures further.

A commissioner said the newly revised ordinance — which reclassifies trees as protected, nonnative, and a new restricted class — appears to give Public Works broad discretion to remove some trees and urged the commission to take a more holistic, biodiversity‑focused approach. The same commissioner asked that the urban‑forestry management plan be prioritized for 2026 funding rather than wait for the 2027 budget cycle.

The commission acknowledged the concern and agreed the item should be discussed further: one commissioner asked to add the tree‑ordinance review to the next January agenda so the commission can consider supplemental protections or an urban‑forestry management plan should council adopt the ordinance.

Provenance: public comment (Angelo Gladding), commissioner statements requesting an agenda item and urging a forestry management plan, staff acknowledgement that the tree ordinance is on the council agenda.