Urban Forestry Committee Weighs Removal of Six Palm Trees in Lower Arroyo Seco

Pasadena’s Urban Forestry Advisory Committee is set to consider a request to remove six Mexican Fan Palm trees from the Lower Arroyo Seco at its regular meeting on Wednesday.

The Department of Public Works is recommending that the committee support the removal of the palms — one adjacent to 544 S. Arroyo Boulevard and five behind 685 Busch Garden Drive — citing fire-safety concerns raised by nearby residents. The committee, which serves in an advisory capacity, would forward any recommendation to the City Council, which retains final authority on the matter.

According to a memorandum from Dan Ayers, the Public Works administrator, the trees were likely established through natural propagation, and no planting records were found for them. Maintenance on the palms — specifically dead frond removal — has not been performed, and the trees have accumulated multiple years of dead fronds, commonly referred to as “skirts” or “beards.” The Department said these accumulations of dead vegetation increase flammability risk, a concern supported by the Pasadena Fire Department.

The palms are located within the natural area of the Lower Arroyo Seco, where routine tree maintenance and management are limited. Due to the size of the Arroyo Seco, maintenance represents a substantial responsibility for the city, and staff and equipment access is restricted to select areas. As a result, maintenance is typically performed only in and around recreational areas, trails and parking areas.

Because palm trees produce dead fronds annually and the ongoing maintenance constraints persist, the Department is seeking to remove the trees altogether rather than commit to recurring upkeep in an area that is difficult to access. A tree hazard evaluation conducted on the palm near 544 S. Arroyo Boulevard assigned a hazard rating of seven, noting the tree is located in an inaccessible area for maintenance. The five palms near 685 Busch Garden Drive also received a hazard rating of seven, with evaluators noting concerns about fire hazards related to the trees’ structure and condition.

The staff report states that Pasadena Municipal Code Chapter 8.52.076 requires that requests to remove public trees in fair or better condition be considered under the provisions of the Tree Protection Ordinance and the Public Tree Removal Criteria. The Department conducted an inspection and found the subject trees to be in fair or better condition.

The memorandum further notes that ensuring public safety and maintaining public facilities are consistent with the goals of the City Council. Additionally, Section 3.2.2 of the Lower Arroyo Master Plan supports efforts to mitigate fire hazards. However, because the palms are within a natural area, the city’s Master Street Tree Plan is not applicable to this proposed removal.

The Arroyo Seco is described in the staff report as a significant city asset that supports a natural, diverse ecosystem but also closely abuts many urban residences. Mitigating fire-prone vegetation in this setting is essential to ensuring public safety for nearby residents, the report states.

If the committee votes to recommend removal and the City Council ultimately approves the recommendation, the six trees would be taken down as part of the city’s ongoing effort to reduce fire risk in the Lower Arroyo Seco.

The Urban Forestry Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, in Room 220, 233 W. Mountain St., 2nd Floor, in Pasadena. For more information call (626) 744-3846 or visit https://www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/urban-forestry-advisory-committee/.