# Whittier Urban Forest Management Plan | District 3 Workshop | September 30, 2026


**Body:** City of Whittier
**Date:** September 29, 2026
**Jurisdiction:** SLED

**Tags:** Environment, Professional Services, Physical Infrastructure, Regulatory Compliance


The City of Whittier held a District 3 community workshop on September 30, 2026, on developing an Urban Forest Management Plan and its accompanying California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review. Michael Baker representatives described the effort as being at an early assessment and public-input stage; no plan or tree-removal program has been finalized. The city manager said City Council appropriated funding for the work earlier in 2026. The estimated total was approximately $790,000, including about $350,000 for the environmental impact report and funding for environmental legal support and communications outreach. The city also cited an approximately $2.2 million annual Parks, Recreation and Community Services budget that includes tree-related work. No contract award, procurement vote, or spending motion occurred at the workshop.

Discussion covered the roughly 22,000 city-owned trees, canopy gaps, species and age diversity, maintenance and public safety, wildfire considerations, and how future decisions could balance tree preservation with sidewalks and other infrastructure. Residents urged protection of valued trees, thoughtful replacement and planting practices, greater outreach, and attention to accessibility and neighborhood equity; the city said comments could be submitted throughout the process. The manager clarified that the plan is a long-term guiding document, not a specific planting or removal project. The CEQA process is expected to include a 30-day public review of the initial study/notice of preparation and a 45-day review of the environmental impact report, with further public and council consideration.

**Source:** City of Whittier