SHADE TREE COMMITTEE

The Jersey City Shade Tree Committee was established in 2019 to further the proliferation and preservation of shade trees in the City of Jersey City and to insure the many benefits trees provide to current and future inhabitants of the City.

The Shade Tree Committee is comprised of seven (7) voting members who are appointed by the Mayor to serve four-year terms. Additionally, at least two non-voting City staff members serve on the Committee. Read the Jersey City Shade Tree Committee enabling legislation (City Ordinance 19-082) here.

Meetings

Third Monday of each month, 6:30PM  (except for holidays) and are open to the public.
Council Caucus Room, Ground floor, City Hall, 280 Grove Street.

What We Do

  • Assist in the annual review of the Jersey City Forestry Standards and recommended tree species list
  • Annually determine the payment in lieu of tree replacement pursuant to Chapter 321
  • Review and assist with the quadrennial update of the Community Forestry Management Plan
  • Work with the Division of Planning and the Division of Parks and Forestry as well as any other relevant departments or organizations to ensure tree planting and tree protection as part of development and redevelopment projects
  • Issue an annual report to the Jersey City Municipal Council, the Mayor, and the public with a summary of tree-related activities within the City of Jersey City
  • Issue a recommendation to the Department of Parks and Forestry regarding large-scale planting and/or removal of shade trees located in any public right of way (street or sidewalk), plaza, or park
  • Review municipal activities for the planting, care, or removal of shade trees located in any public right of way (street or sidewalk), plaza, or park


To submit questions or comments to the Shade Tree Committee please email Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey [email protected].

Shade Tree Committee Members

Voting Committee Members:

  • Councilmember Mira Prinz-Arey – Chair
  • Theodore G. Tasoulas - Vice-Chair
  • Jason Biegel
  • David Hurtle
  • Matthew Trump
  • Marc Wesson
  • Reni Stoll
  • Adam Cohen - designee for Mira Prinz-Arey

Non-Voting City Representatives:

  • Michael Diciancia – Jersey City Forester, Division of Parks & Forestry
  • Cameron Black – Sr. Planner, Division of City Planning
  • John McKinney - Law Department
Meeting Dates and Minutes
2021
January 25, 2021 - Agenda, Minutes
February 22, 2021 - Agenda, Minutes
March 15, 2021 - Agenda, Minutes
April 19, 2021 - Agenda, Minutes
May 24, 2021 - Agenda, Minutes
June 21, 2021 - Agenda, Minutes
July 19, 2021 - Agenda
August 16, 2021 - Meeting cancelled
September 20, 2021 -  Meeting cancelled
October 18, 2021
November 15, 2021
December 20, 2021

2020
January 13, 2020 - Agenda, Minutes
February 10, 2020 - Agenda, Minutes
July 20, 2020 - Agenda, Minutes
August 17, 2020 - Agenda, Minutes
September 21, 2020 - Agenda, Minutes
October 19, 2020 - Agenda, Minutes
November 16, 2020 - Agenda, Minutes
December 21, 2020 - Agenda, Minutes

2019
November 6, 2019 - Agenda, Minutes
December 9, 2019 - Agenda, Minutes
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Trees in Jersey City

Trees are important to our quality of life within the City. They provide cooling shade, cleaner air, stormwater management and more beautiful streetscapes. However, trees in the urban landscape face a variety of environmental and physical stresses including pedestrian and vehicular traffic, soil compaction, air and soil pollution, and drought. Some of the key factors to maximizing long-term tree survival are proper siting and proper maintenance.

All trees planted in the public right-of-way or within parks are under the jurisdiction of the City of Jersey City. A valid tree work permit must be obtained in order to plant, prune, remove, or otherwise disturb a City tree. 

The Forestry Division is responsible for the maintenance and care of all City trees in parks and streets.  

Find a map of all trees planted in 2019 and 2020 HERE.

Planting Trees

Are you interested in planting a tree in the sidewalk near your home or business? You may either request a tree from the Division on Parks and Forestry during their biennial tree planting or plant your own tree by requesting a permit from the Division of Parks and Forestry.

To request a tree through the biennial tree planting, please fill out the Residential Tree Planting Application.

New developments are required to provide street trees along the sidewalk adjacent to the property and must follow the planting standards found in the Jersey City Forestry Standards.

All plantings must be done in accordance with the City’s current Forestry Standards.

Reporting Tree Problems

Eventually, every City tree will reach the end of its lifespan and need to be removed. If you notice that there is a problem with a City tree such as a large dead limb or the tree is in severe decline, report it to the Resident Response Center at  (201) 547-4900 or via SeeClickFix. 

For tree issues related to power lines or tree trimming around power lines, please call PSE&G’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734) for assistance.

Removal of City trees by anyone other than the Division of Parks and Forestry or a company contracted by the City requires a permit from the Division of Parks and Forestry. Removal of City trees without a permit is illegal.

Removal of trees on private property is NOT the responsibility of the City. If the problem tree is on your own property, please call a private tree company. If the problem tree is on someone else’s property, please refer the issue to Housing Code Enforcement by calling (201) 547-3824.

Please report any tree vandalism to the Resident Response Center at  (201) 547-4900 or via SeeClickFix. 

phone(201) 547-4900
phone(201) 547-4900
Spotted Lanternfly Advisory

SPOTTED LANTERNFLY ADVISORY
Spotted Lantern Fly

Jersey City residents have recently reported multiple confirmed sightings of the Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma deliculata) or SLF. The SLF is an invasive insect native to Asia that was introduced into Pennsylvania and is spreading into New Jersey. SLF feeds and lays eggs on crops, fruit trees, and hardwood trees, and eventually colonizes and kills those affected plants and trees. It is imperative that Jersey City stays vigilant in reporting and removing the SLF from our community before it destroys our urban forest.  If you see the Spotted Lanternfly, take a photograph and report it immediately to The NJ Department of Agriculture at 1-833-223-2840 (BADBUG0) and the Jersey City RRC at 201-547-4900.

If you see egg masses, scrape them off, double bag them and throw them away. You can also place the eggs into alcohol, bleach or hand sanitizer.
 Lanternfly egg masses
The fall and winter season will kill off the lanternflies that are alive now, but the egg nests will hatch in Spring and start all over. This makes fall/winter our best time to beat the problem. Scrape off and report any egg nests you see and don't forget to check your backyard and trees around your home.

What else? Kill it! Squash it, smash it...just get rid of it. 

These bugs will lay egg masses with 30-50 eggs each this season. They are called bad bugs for a reason, don't let them take over Jersey City next.

Click here for more information on the Spotted Lanternfly.

 

Emerald Ash Borer in Jersey City

The Emerald Ash Borer is here in Jersey City. The Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis), or EAB, is a non-native insect pest that infests and kills all species of ash trees in North America. Trees will only live an average of 3-4 years after infestation and 99% of all untreated ash trees will die.  

The Division of Parks and Forestry is currently working on an identification and  treatment plan to protect as many Ash trees as possible in the City of Jersey City.

This presentation from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture provides an excellent overview of the impact of EAB in New Jersey and how it can be treated and managed.

Click here for the NJ Department of Agriculture webpage on the Emerald Ash Borer.
IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS
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