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Petaluma committee hears $120,000 grant allocation to seed urban-forestry consultant role
Summary
At its April 15 meeting the Petaluma Tree Advisory Committee heard staff say a roughly $120,000 grant allocation will fund a consultant or part‑time urban‑forester role to implement the recently adopted Urban Forest Management Plan; staff said the city will convene a leadership team to scope the position and an RFP, with monthly updates to the committee.
Acting Chair Taryn O'Bade on April 15 convened the Tree Advisory Committee to receive a status update on the city’s recently adopted Urban Forest Management Plan and the grant dollars intended to implement it.
The parks and open‑space superintendent, Jen Santos, read the grant strategy describing an urban‑forestry protection and preservation line item and told the committee the grant includes funding to “strengthen Petaluma's urban forest management by funding a part time urban forester/slash arborist position.” Santos said the city still has about $120,000 available for urban‑forestry work as part of that grant.
The update matters because the funding is intended to pay for consultant services or a temporary position that would advise residents and businesses, develop ongoing tree‑care programs, help update the tree protection ordinance and support the city’s transition to an in‑house urban‑forestry function. Director Halter said the city will use the money to advance immediate priorities while seeking sustainable, long‑term funding.
Committee members asked whether the $120,000 is a single‑year allocation or intended for a two‑year cycle. Santos and Halter said that the amount is the grant allocation and that staff will determine whether to phase work over one or two years as part of internal planning. Halter said the grant funds are expected to be used within a two‑year cycle and cautioned that “a 120,000 can go real quick when you really look at a city's needs.”
Staff described next steps as convening a leadership group that includes planning, public works and parks to scope the consultant role, clarify job responsibilities and develop an RFP or contract approach. Patrick Carter, assistant to the city manager, was identified as the staff member shepherding the grant and initial meetings; staff said they would return with monthly updates to the committee.
The committee did not take formal action on the funding at the meeting; members expressed support for using the grant to both accomplish immediate priorities and to position the city for longer‑term funding. Santos and Halter said several implementation decisions — including the exact timeline and whether to hire a consultant or create a temporary staff position — remain to be resolved by city leadership.
The committee is expected to receive updates on the grant implementation and the scope for a consultant/temporary urban‑forester in future meetings.
