Report Prepared by: Juan Olmos, Acting Public Works Manager - Tax Services
Title
SUBJECT: Adoption of the 2020 Urban Forest Management Plan Prepared by Davey Resource Group as Part of the Urban Forest Tree Inventory and Management Plan CalFire Grant
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers adopting the 2020 Urban Forest Management Plan prepared by Davey Resource Group as part of the Urban Forest Tree Inventory and Management Plan CalFire Grant.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion approving and adopting the 2020 Urban Forest Management Plan.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to modifications as conditioned by Council; or,
3. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items as requested by Council; or,
4. Deny; or,
5. Continue to a future Council meeting.
AUTHORITY
City of Merced Charter, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Addresses Council priority for beautification of public spaces.
DISCUSSION
In 2017, the City of Merced applied for and was awarded a $475,000 Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Resource Management Grant to complete a tree inventory assessment and prepare an urban forest management plan. The completed tree inventory and management plan will provide the Public Works Department with the necessary tools to better manage the City’s urban forest.
Davey Resource Group, Inc. (Davey), was hired to complete both the inventory and management plan. The inventory evaluated the health of the City’s urban forest and provided a total number of City maintained trees. At the completion of the 2019 inventory assessment, the City’s community tree resource included 44,107 trees (6,830 park trees and 37,277 street trees) and 220 unique tree species throughout Merced.
The 2020 Urban Forest Management Plan is a resource for the community on the benefits of a maintaining a healthy urban forest, including energy savings, improved air quality and carbon dioxide reduction, storm water management and water quality, wildlife, health, and socioeconomic benefits. The plan also provides a snapshot of the current state and inventory summary of the City’s urban forest, explains operations and services, funding, partners, and policies. Additionally, the plan provides an 8-year work plan to prioritize management needs and set benchmarks for maintenance tasks, as well as address long-term goals lasting beyond the initial 8 years.
Staff recommends approval of the 2020 Urban Forest Management Plan. Once the plan has been adopted by Council, staff will proceed with corresponding updates to the Merced Municipal Code in respect to tree policies at a future meeting.
History and Past Actions
The City of Merced was awarded a $475,000 Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) Resource Management Grant in June 2017.
On December 18, 2017, Council approved an agreement in the amount of $461,085, with Davey Resource Group, Inc., to complete the Urban Forest Tree Inventory and Management Plan. The tree inventory portion of the grant cost $366,833 and included data collection for all city-maintained trees, a 3-year software subscription and technical support, as well as greenhouse gas calculations for grant reporting. The management plan included program review, public meetings, an urban tree canopy assessment, and completion of the management plan for a cost of $94,252.
On October 3, 2019, a community meeting was held to gain public input on the proposed management plan, including input on pruning cycles, tree species, plantings, and any other citizen concerns.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Urban Forest Management Plan