PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING PACKET - FEBRUARY 13, 2025

Page 4 of 5 the plan also identifies ways to improve efficiency and ease the financial burden on the City. For instance, the cost of watering street trees during the three-year establishment period could be reduced, which is a major percentage of the maintenance costs. The adjacent property owner could do watering, or the city could focus on areas with an irrigation source. The projected cost of management, along with the need for community engagement and support, is why the plan recommends creating a dedicated staff that focuses on the urban forest and why working with residents, developers, the school district, and other property owners to maintain the health of the urban forest is so critical; both from a financial perspective and an overall urban forest health perspective. The technical assessment section analyzed the urban forest's environmental impact, such as carbon sequestration, average pollutant capture, avoided runoff, avoided emissions, and structural and functional values. Dollar amounts are estimated for these benefits, which will be useful for education, long-term planning, and securing tree program funding. The UFMP found that a healthy urban forest is one of the first lines of defense against storms and climate change impacts. Urban forests greatly reduce the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and help absorb the sun’s heat. For instance, studies have found that adjacent pavement and buildings could be 50 to 90 degrees hotter than the surrounding air temperature. Part 3 – Appendices The appendices provide best management practice standards, wildfire planning, and answers to frequently asked questions that are useful for property owners and City staff. They also include a list of recommended trees for Pleasanton, recommendations for potential funding sources, solutions for infrastructure and sidewalk conflicts, and other documentation relevant to or obtained during the public outreach process. EQUITY AND SUSTAINABILITY The creation of the Urban Forest Master Plan was specified under the CAP 2.0 action items. This will help facilitate an increase in tree canopy and native habitat to reduce and store carbon emissions, reduce the impacts of climate change, and create a healthier environment. The UFMP outlines the path to ensure an equitable canopy cover of 25 percent in every neighborhood in the city so that the benefits of the urban forest can be enjoyed by all, regardless of where one lives. OUTREACH The public outreach occurred throughout the project and is further detailed in the Appendix of the UFMP. Next Steps The draft UFMP will be presented to the City Council in March with the expectation that the final UFMP will be adopted by the City Council in May or June. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT The public outreach for and creation of the UFMP and the amendment to the Municipal Code's Tree Preservation chapter helps achieve all five key strategic plan goals. The UFMP strategizes a 25-year plan to maintain, protect, and improve our urban forest, including the costs associated with maintenance. The amended municipal code provides more clarity Page 11 of 27