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Council adopts urban forest strategic plan as component of city plan, votes 6-1
Summary
Council voted 6-1 to adopt "Rooted in Community," an urban forest strategic plan that sets goals for expanded tree canopy, planting and cross-departmental coordination; staff will follow up with policy work on tree protection and mitigation.
Fort Collins City Council voted 6-1 on Tuesday to adopt the city—s Rooted in Community urban forest strategic plan as a component of City Plan, directing staff to continue implementation and to return with additional policy work.
The plan, produced with community engagement and multiple council touchpoints, sets a multiyear strategy to expand tree canopy, plant more trees in the public realm and coordinate planting and maintenance across departments. Staff emphasized the plan—s alignment with the city—s 2024 strategic priorities and noted community outreach, focus groups and commission briefings that informed the strategy.
City Forester Kendra Boot told council the plan aligns with priorities including climate resilience, active transportation comfort, access to nature in the built environment and cross-department coordination for street-tree planting and maintenance. Staff recommended adopting the plan as a component of City Plan and indicated they would seek a Planning & Zoning Commission recommendation and return for second reading with any P&Z input.
Several councilmembers praised the plan and the work to secure funding for tree planting; staff said budget action this year provides funding to plant 1,000 trees annually subject to future budget review. Some councilmembers and residents asked about stronger near-term protections for large, mature trees and about how the plan would work with street and right-of-way projects. Staff said preservation and mitigation policy options will be part of forthcoming work, with staff expecting a tree-preservation work session in the second quarter.
One councilmember voted against the measure, citing concerns about the process, the level of special-interest involvement, and language that suggests staff will solicit input from frequent code users when testing policy options. That councilmember said relying primarily on code-user feedback risks privileging private development interests over broader community or ecological considerations.
Votes and next steps: The council adopted ordinance number 17 20 25 on first reading (6-1). Staff will seek a Planning & Zoning recommendation (scheduled Feb. 20) and will return to council for second reading with any P&Z feedback; staff also plan a future work session to present tree-protection and mitigation policy options.
