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1 Purpose This management plan establishes guidelines and procedures needed to provide for the care and protection of trees in order to promote the health, safety, welfare, and quality of life for all city residents, business owners and visitors. The City of Santa Ana acknowledges that trees provide environmental, aesthetic, social and economic benefits. Specifically, trees increase property values, provide aesthetic value, shade and cooling, reduce energy costs, decrease wind velocities, erosion control, conserve energy, reduce storm water runoff, act as filters for airborne pollutants, reduce noise, provide privacy, provide wildlife habitat and food, sequester carbon, and release oxygen. This management plan allows the City of Santa Ana to implement best management practices as reflected by professional tree care industry standards for the planting, maintenance, removal, protection, pruning, and preservation of street trees in the right of way on city owned or city controlled property , as well as to enforce the provisions of the city code. By assuring the preservation and protection of the municipal urban forest through regulations and standards of care, our natural resources will continue to enhance the landscape, streets, and parks, while helping to improve Santa Ana. This management plan is coherent with City goals outlined in the City’s Conservation and Environmental Justice Elements within the General Plan, and the goals outlined in the Climate Action Plan. Following this management plan will ensure that the urban forest is being utilized to meet citywide goals. The City realizes that sustaining the urban canopy, creating visually aesthetic landscaping, and maintaining and encouraging a diversity of trees, both in terms of age and species, will increase the value of our urban forest; making it an even greater asset to the City of Santa Ana. The development of this Urban Forest Management was made possible through a partner- ship with the California Urban Forests Council and the Western Chapter International Soci- ety of Arboriculture, utilizing funding from Proposition 68, administered through CAL FIRE’s Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program. This Plan reflects the recommendations being made to municipalities by the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (JPIA) to reduce public agency exposure to liability and maximize the benefits of trees. City Council 11 –4 10/19/2021