Rules Committee backs ordinance to change Urban Forestry Council membership and meeting schedule

The Rules Committee on Nov. 4 voted to forward an ordinance amending the environmental code to revise the Urban Forestry Council’s membership and meeting schedule.

The measure, carried at the request of the Urban Forestry Council and sponsored by Supervisor Scott Wiener, responds to a strategic planning process in which the council sought to improve attendance and relevance. Mei Ling Wei of the Department of the Environment said the council passed a resolution endorsing changes to align its bylaws with operational practice and to fill longstanding vacancies.

"The requested change is that they meet 6 times per year," Wei said, describing that the code currently requires monthly meetings while the council typically meets six to 11 times annually. She explained the code currently lists 15 members including six public-agency staff; the council asked that all members have voting status and that four public-agency staff who currently do not vote (Public Utilities Commission, Recreation and Parks, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the redevelopment seat vacated after agency dissolution) be made voting members. The ordinance would convert the redevelopment seat to a port authority seat and allow the Presidio Trust to provide a representative if the GGNRA does not.

Dan Flanagan, chair of the Urban Forestry Council, told supervisors the changes were unanimously endorsed by the council to encourage participation and ensure the right people are available to advise city officials. Supervisor David Campos moved to forward the ordinance with a positive recommendation; the motion passed with no objection.

The ordinance will be considered by the full Board at its next scheduled meeting.