Commission approves urban forestry management plan as step toward updated master plan

The Park and Recreation Commission approved a staff-produced urban forestry management plan on Feb. 27 and directed staff to pursue a DNR urban forestry grant to fund a consultant for an updated urban forestry master plan.

Rick, staff presenting the item, told the commission the city’s last formal urban-forest plan dated to 1995 and is out of date, particularly after the emerald ash borer (EAB) arrived to the region. He said staff prepared the management plan as an interim, working document to formalize current practices, summarize a recent street-tree inventory update and position the city to seek grant funding for a full master plan.

Key inventory findings and program components Rick described include: - Street trees: In 1995 the city’s inventory listed about 8,400 street trees; staff’s 2025 inventory lists about 10,200 street trees. - Potential planting sites and vacancies: In 1995 staff counted roughly 12,800 potential planting sites; the 2025 inventory identifies about 19,570 potential sites. Of those potential sites, the staff briefing reported that roughly 50% are currently vacant compared with a substantially lower vacancy rate in 1995. - EAB and species mix: The city removed approximately 3,600 trees over a prior 10-year period because of EAB and related removals, and staff estimated they have replaced roughly 2,000 of those removals. The inventory shows a shift in approved-status species: only about 32% of the city’s current street trees now appear on the department’s approved street-tree list used for new plantings; Norway maples and previously common species appear less favored for new plantings.

Rick said the management plan includes a computer-based street-tree inventory, an outreach and education component, an annual forestry work calendar, and goals and strategies to align planting and maintenance practices with staffing and budget realities. He said staff intends to use the management plan to support a 2026 DNR urban-forestry grant application to fund a consultant who would prepare a full urban forestry master plan, an updated street-tree inventory, canopy assessment and budget/staffing recommendations.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the city’s unapproved tree list and whether unapproved means imminent removal; staff and commissioners clarified the list indicates planting preferences going forward rather than a requirement to remove existing trees immediately. One commissioner asked about remaining ash trees (the management-plan notes referenced a count of 114 ash trees in the inventory); staff said that number likely overstates actual remaining ash because some entries were in unmanaged or trail areas and because the inventory-update process is ongoing with county GIS support.

The commission voted to approve the urban forestry management plan as a working document and to allow staff to pursue grant funding for a full master plan.

Ending: Staff said the management plan will help the city seek consultant support in 2026, align planting priorities and preserve an updated inventory as the community moves toward longer-term canopy management and budget planning.