TO: COMMUNITY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION
FROM: JEREMY SWAN, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
DATE: FEBRUARY 7, 2024
Reviewed by:
City Manager: n/a
SUBJECT:
Title
UPDATE ON URBAN FOREST DATA MODIFICATIONS
Body
SUMMARY
On November 15, 2023, the Tree Committee discussed options for modifying the monthly and semi-annual data reporting on urban forest activities. At the meeting, five different modifications were requested. These modifications include total urban forest numbers over time, reporting on reasons for removal, plantings and removals over a decade, canopy coverage, and avian activity. Staff has since looked into the feasibility of these reporting criteria.
On December 20, 2023, staff presented modifications to the reporting data to the Tree Committee. The Tree Committee discussed the options provided and made a recommendation to the Community and Human Services Commission to approve the modifications with slight revisions.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the Community and Human Services Commission approve the proposed modifications to reporting of urban forest data.
Body
ALTERNATIVES TO RECOMMENDATION
In addition to the recommendation, there is the following alternative:
• Refer the matter back to staff for additional information.
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The staff cost to prepare this report is estimated at $1,500 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Services Department.
ANALYSIS
The Community Services Department is charged with the maintenance and care of the urban forest. Under the direction of the Community Services Director, the Community Services Manager oversees the day-to-day operations of urban forest maintenance. This includes tree plantings, removals, and trimming. Per the Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual, staff is to provide a monthly report to the Community and Human Services Commission of trees planted and removed each month. In September 2022, the Community and Human Services Commission directed staff to report urban forest maintenance activities on a semi-annual basis, in April and November of each year.
In September 2023, staff was asked to look into the possibility of modifying the current data that is provided. In November 2023, the Tree Committee discussed the different data they would like provided and asked for the following: total urban forest numbers over time, reporting on reasons for removal, plantings and removals over a decade, canopy coverage, and avian activity. Staff has looked into the feasibility of these modifications and provided recommendations to address each request. On December 20, 2023, staff presented these modifications to the Tree Committee.
Urban Forest Numbers over Time
Providing total urban forest numbers over time provides a snapshot of the overall size of the urban forest. The total number of trees in the urban forest is static data, which changes almost daily. Reporting of the total number is possible, however a date on which the data is collected should be determined. Staff recommends pulling this data on July 1 of each year, which is consistent with the start of each fiscal year. The graphs below compare three years of past data, compiled from past urban forest update reports. Data prior to 2021 is not available. Moving forward, this information will be provided in the annual Urban Forest Update report.
The Tree Committee approved this modification as presented.
Reasons for Removal
Tracking by reason the number of trees removed provides an idea as to why trees are being removed and allows for staff to track if there is a trend in removals that may need to be looked into. Over the past few years, reasons for removal have not been consistent. Recently, removals have been tracked by reasons as described in the Tree Policies and Guidelines Manual. These removals include trees that are dead, diseased, hazardous, or for the greater good of the community. Staff re-categorized the trees removed during the last calendar year to fit into these criteria; re-categorizing reasons for removal prior to this time period would be a lengthy process. Moving forward, this information will be provided in the annual Urban Forest Update report.
Calendar Year 2022
The Tree Committee approved this modification; however they requested additional details for those trees determined to be diseased and/or those removed for the greater good of the community.
Plantings and Removals over Decades
Already included in the semi-annual report is a comparison of plantings and removals over time. Staff was asked to look into the feasibility of comparing plantings and removals over the last decade. The City’s contractor, West Coast Arborists, Inc. (WCA), uses a GIS-based inventory for tracking of work history. During a normal planting season, WCA is the sole provider for tree planting. During the CAL FIRE and Supervisor Solis planting grant periods, the majority of planting was done by volunteers, so dates were not recorded. At the conclusion of the grant period, a list was submitted to WCA to update the inventory, but there is no planting date for trees planted under these two grants. Grant-based tree plantings occurred between 2016 and 2019, and complete planting data for these years is not available. Staff will continue to compare plantings and removals from 2019 forward on a semi-annual basis.
The Tree Committee requested that staff go back farther than 2019 for reporting plantings and removals. Staff explained that the years of grant planting will be approximate numbers. The Tree Committee asked that this be noted, and directed staff to report plantings and removals for at least the past 10 years.
Canopy Coverage
The 2018 Urban Tree Canopy information is available for the state of California through CAL FIRE and United States Forest Service. The data provided gives canopy coverage as of 2018 but does not provide information from the 2012 study as a comparison. Comparing the two sets of data will provide the City with a better analysis of the City’s canopy coverage over time and will allow for the City to set a goal for future growth. Staff will solicit a consultant that can provide this analysis and bring the results to the Tree Committee once the analysis is complete.
The Tree Committee accepted this proposal as presented.
Avian Activity
West Coast Arborists, Inc. has a robust Wildlife Protection Plan that includes the protection of birds as it relates to maintaining the urban forest. WCA staff is trained to inspect trees prior to removal or trimming of any tree. If avian activity is identified, WCA posts a notice on the tree and reschedules the required maintenance for a later date when avian activity is no longer occurring. Staff has requested that WCA provide avian data on a monthly basis, so staff can begin reporting avian activity on a semi-annual basis.
The Tree Committee accepted this modification as presented.
Proposed Modifications
Staff proposes the following modifications to the semi-annual and urban forest update data: On a semi-annual basis, staff will continue to provide a comparison of plantings and removals and add the reporting of avian activity. The annual reporting of the Urban Forest Update will now include urban forest numbers over time and reasons for removals. These modifications will begin with the next semi-annual urban forest maintenance update and annual urban forest update.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
COUNCIL COMMITTEE/COMMISSION REVIEW
On December 20, 2023, the Tree Committee unanimously approved the proposed modifications to the semi-annual urban forest maintenance update and annual urban forest update. Minutes from this meeting are attached.
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a paper copy, please contact the Community Services Department.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Jeremy Swan Cari Dillman
Community Services Director Community Services Manager
Attachment:
12-20-23 Tree Committee Meeting Minutes