Palo Alto will have a greener, slightly shadier California Avenue before the end of this winter -- the City Council Monday night unanimously approved a staff proposal to start planting dozens of new trees in December.

The council reached its decision after months of sometimes emotional meetings between city staff, consultants, arborists and residents around the bustling California Avenue business district.

Area residents and merchants joined the process in mid-September after staff hastily approved the chainsawing of 63 holly oaks in California Avenue, enraging the neighborhood and residents citywide and prompting immediate apologies from city officials.

On Monday night, the council again acknowledged the city's error in clearcutting the trees. The council also characterized the newly approved plan as the perfect compromise reached through an inclusive, transparent process.

"It's nice to have speed, but even better to have quality," Councilman Larry Klein said. "I think in this case we had both."

The new plan includes 47 deciduous trees and 28 evergreen trees interspersed throughout the three-block stretch of California Avenue between El Camino Real and the Caltrain Station. The native valley oaks will serve as "gateways" to the business district, while Shumard oaks, Freeman maples, southern live oaks and silver lindens will be scattered along sidewalks and intersections.

Public Works Director Glenn Roberts called the new proposal a "positive result" that emerged out of "very negative circumstances." Roberts was one of several city officials to apologize to the public last month for what has widely been acknowledged as an inexcusable debacle.

The new plan, he said, is an "excellent compromise" between many members of the public and the city's needs and requirements. Staff had originally proposed planting red maples to replace the holly oaks, but that plan was dropped after members of the public and consulting arborists identified other tree species as better suited for an urban environment.

Nearly 20 residents addressed the council on the topic Monday night, with most urging the council to approve the plan without further delay. Some said they were traumatized and shocked when they saw the trees removed.

Todd Burke, who lives on California Avenue, said the neighborhood can't afford to wait a few more months or another year for a more comprehensive beautification plan, as some members of the Planning and Transportation Commission had suggested when they reviewed the plan last month.

"I don't think we can have enough canopy on the street," Burke told the council. "We have zero now, what we'll get in the near future is going to be better.

"Hopefully, you'll pass the vote this evening and hopefully we'll get the trees planted soon."

But others, including Terry Shuchat, urged the council to take its time and consider other trees that may be more appropriate for a busy street. Shuchat, who owns Keeble and Shuchat Photography on California Avenue, asked city officials to consult other arborists before approving the final plans.

"I don't think the city should rush into it," Shuchat said. "It seems like more work could be done in selecting trees that have proved to be successful in street scenes."

The tree-replanting project is the first of two phases in the city's plan to beautify California Avenue. In the coming weeks, staff plans to consult the public on the second phase, which includes new bike racks, newspaper racks and benches.

The second phase also includes reconfiguration of lanes to make the street more bicycle friendly.

Staff plans to come back to the council with its plans for the next phase of improvements in the spring. Work on that portion of the plan is scheduled to begin next summer.

The council acknowledged that the tree-replacement project got off to a rough start in September, but Monday night council members characterized the project's conclusion as a great success.

"Good process, good design, let's just get it built," Councilman John Barton said.