SUNNYVALE, Calif. – The City of Sunnyvale has set two community meetings to gather input about the City’s trees. With increased concerns about the environment, trees are no longer considered mere ornamental objects, but, instead, are a vital part of the urban landscape.
The two public meetings will provide the basis for a revew and possible revision of the City’s Municipal Code sections that deal with street trees. Sunnyvale has more than 37,000 street trees under its care, and the City Council has prioritized the study issue to examine City policy in areas of the sustainability of large tree species, an update of the official street tree list and a review of the City’s tree replacement policy.
Both meetings will be held at the Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E. Remington Drive, beginning at 7 p.m. The first meeting will be Thursday, June 28, and the second meeting will be Thursday, July 19. City staff will conduct the meeting, and a City arborist is scheduled to attend.
Additional items to be discussed at the meetings include: a review of the street tree program budget, the present the state of the art in urban forestry – what benefits and liabilities do trees bring, and examples of current urban forestry management plans and policies. In addition, the meetings will seek community input on street tree services, and there will be an exploration of a separate City tree management plan that would give City staff policy direction regarding street trees.