Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tree Species Guidance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
UFAC to build consolidated guide to city tree lists; committee agrees on index approach
Summary
Committee member Mark Genney proposed creating a single index and guidance page tying together multiple city and agency tree lists (street trees, fire-related lists, invasive lists). UFAC supported the approach and asked for a fleshed-out framework at the next meeting.
The Urban Forestry Advisory Committee discussed a proposal to consolidate and clarify the numerous, inconsistent tree-species lists the public and staff currently reference. Committee member Mark Genney said residents and contractors face multiple, sometimes conflicting lists (city UFMP, fire department lists, arborist guidance) and proposed an indexed portal or map showing authoritative lists and their intended uses.
Why it matters: Multiple lists create confusion for residents, developers and staff about appropriate species for parkways, private yards and fire-prone areas. The UFAC agreed a single index that points users to the correct list for different purposes would be a practical near-term improvement while a longer-term update to the official master list may require code changes.
Committee direction
Members agreed Genney should prepare a more detailed framework and return in one to two meetings with a draft that identifies which lists should be maintained, which should be retired from public posting, and how to reconcile fire-safety guidance with tree-selection recommendations. Staff flagged that Encinitas Municipal Code §15.02.03 references an approved tree species master list; committee members said they will preserve the authority in code while improving usability and correcting known errors in existing public lists.
Next steps
Genney will bring a more formal proposal to the UFAC agenda in an upcoming meeting so the committee can review and provide edits before staff actions.
