Twelve employees from the Valero Benicia Refinery participated in a Tree Care Day organized by the Benicia Tree Foundation on October 9, 2025. Twenty-five Coast live oak trees growing along East Second Street south of the Valero administration buildings were pruned.
“Our partnership with the Valero employees began in 2016,” said Steven Goetz, Benicia Tree Foundation board member. “We track our volunteer hours and Valero employees have so far contributed 578 hours to plant and maintain trees in Benicia.”
“The Benicia Tree Foundation is very grateful for how Valero employees have supported our mission. The company has also funded supplies like pruners and hand saws that we use for our events,” said Goetz.
“I enjoy working with the Valero employees because of their positive attitude,” said Alison Fleck who also is a Foundation board member.
Coast live oak trees are a natural occurrence on the land surrounding the refinery. Fleck explained that the objective of the pruning was to make sure the branches from the trees along East Second Street don’t encroach on the adjacent traffic lanes.