YOUTH COMMISSION AGENDA PACKET 02142024

Page 2 of 5 In recent years, some residents have expressed concern regarding the Tree Preservation Ordinance’s language, intent, and enforcement. In 2022, the City Council adopted Climate Action Plan 2.0 (CAP 2.0), which recommended the creation of an Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP). The UFMP is anticipated to address concerns regarding the Ordinance, update the City’s tree inventory, and better understand what is required to manage our urban forest. Council approved the UFMP, CIP No. 22773, as part of the FY 2021/22 CIP budget. On March 21, 2023, the City Council approved a professional services $325,178 contract with Dudek to prepare a comprehensive UFMP. Staff held the UFMP kickoff meeting with Dudek on May 16, 2023. DISCUSSION The UFMP is a document that will guide the management of the City’s urban forest over the next 25 years. The plan will lead to an equitable, resilient, and sustainably managed urban forest. It will clearly and concisely communicate a framework for long-term care, preservation, and expansion of the community’s urban forest. Staff have been working with Dudek since March 2023 on initial plan tasks. This includes updating the tree inventory by measuring and assessing all City-maintained trees in City parks, properties, and streets. All park trees have been inventoried as well as the majority of City-maintained street trees. A website (www.ptowntrees.com) has been created that provides information regarding the master plan process and tracks master plan progress. Relevant City documents relating to the urban forest, such as the General Plan and CAP 2.0, were reviewed to help ensure UFMP consistency with previously adopted documents. Additionally, the consultant is well into the canopy analysis, the staff has conducted public outreach regarding the UFMP, and the staff and the consultant have analyzed ordinances from other cities and spoken with various urban forestry experts including local tree contractors to determine City’s Tree Preservation Ordinance recommendations. OUTREACH The creation of the UFMP is rooted in an extensive public outreach process. The plan represents the desires and needs of the community regarding the urban forest and strives to sustain the health of the urban forest. The public outreach process began in August 2023 and is expected to continue with multiple opportunities for the public, commissions, and the City Council to provide input. The website www.ptowntrees.com contains survey results, past and future outreach events, and community feedback. The site will eventually contain the draft UFMP, an interactive map showing city tree types and locations, and the final UFMP. The map will provide residents with the ability to learn what trees are planted where in the city.