Norman staff present 20-year Urban Forestry Master Plan; recommend new crew and $1M staffing increase

James Briggs, Park Development Manager for the City of Norman, introduced a presentation to the Norman City Council on Sept. 9, 2025, on the city’s draft Urban Forestry Master Plan produced in partnership with Davey Resource Group. "Hello. Thank you. I'm James Briggs. I'm the, park development manager. I am actually in charge of our city our our entire city forestry crew," Briggs said as he opened the item.

Davey Resource Group consultant Dana Karcher described the plan as a 15- to 20-year guide developed from a 2024–25 review, stakeholder interviews, two community meetings, focus groups and city department coordination. "We look at what the city has, what they want. That's partly through community engagement. How do we get there? What are the steps that are needed to grow the urban forest, grow the canopy?" Karcher said.

The plan draws on the city’s recent Community Wildfire Protection Plan and national comparisons, and includes an inventory of park trees and recommendations on staffing, operations, species selection, canopy measurement and partnerships. Karcher reported a parks inventory of 5,775 trees and said 687 trees were planted and 900 trees were given away during the…