In 2018 and 2019, City Staff worked with the El Cerrito Urban Forest Committee to improve the existing El Cerrito municipal code language around trees and shrubs in public places. The City drafted an updated and expanded ordinance that is intended to establish clear guidelines for the planting, maintenance, and removal of trees and shrubs in the public right-of-way, parks, and other public spaces and right-of-ways, including planting strips. This ordinance will serve to improve the health of El Cerrito’s Urban Forest and will meet a prerequisite standard for the City to receive the Tree City USA designation.

Public Tree and Shrub Ordinance 

• Approved Draft - July 16, 2019

Related Items

• Master Tree List for Public Places - December 2018 Draft 

Previous meetings

• June 11, 2018 - Urban Forest Committee Meeting
  City staff discussed the ordinance revision process and presented a draft of proposed revisions to the ordinance for first review, discussion, and comments.
  
• November 26, 2018 - Urban Forest Committee Meeting
  City staff presented ordinance revisions and the administrative draft for review, discussion, and comments.
• January 7, 2019 - Public Meeting #1 hosted by the Urban Forest Committee
  City Staff presented on the Public Draft of the Tree and Shrub Ordinance and related draft administrative documents related to the ordinance, discuss topics, and provide input.
• April 15, 2019 - Urban Forest Committee Meeting
  City staff presented an updated administrative draft for review, discussion, and comments.
• May 13, 2019 - Public Meeting #2 hosted by the Urban Forest Committee
• June 18, 2019 – Public Hearing Considering Ordinance Adoption

For more information, contact Will Provost, Management Analyst, at (510) 525-7622 or wprovost@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us.