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Commission hears update on tree priorities, canopy inventory and urban forest management plan
Summary
Staff updated the commission on a citywide tree inventory and canopy study led by Planet Geo and discussed using the resulting data to guide an urban forest management plan, updates to the tree ordinance and joint commission work in November.
City staff told the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission on Sept. 10 that a citywide tree inventory and canopy study will begin this fall and feed directly into a proposed urban forest management plan to guide tree planting, maintenance and code updates.
Staff said the city has contracted Planet Geo to perform the inventory and that the work will cover public right-of-way trees, park trees and the first 10 to 15 feet of front yards as visible from the public right of way. Staff expects the inventory and canopy deliverables to be available by the end of the calendar year and said a draft would be presented to the commission and to a joint meeting with the Planning Commission and the Climate Action Commission in November for cross-commission review.
Commissioners voiced support for starting with the inventory and management plan and said ad hoc committees could tackle education, planting/maintenance guidance and enforcement details that do not require waiting for the full master plan. Staff noted leftover funds from the inventory contract might be available to help pay for an urban forest management plan consultant and reiterated that ordinance overhauls should be informed by the inventory findings.
Staff also flagged that the inventory will be performed from public rights of way (the team will not enter private yards) and that some entries will be estimates for front‑yard trees that cannot be accessed. The inventory will include an attribute database and recommendations to inform an updated master tree list and planting priorities.
The commission and staff agreed to plan a joint cross-commission meeting in November to review Planet Geo's draft inventory/canopy findings before sending recommendations to the City Council.
