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Pocatello council adopts urban forest plan to better maintain roughly 8,700 public trees
Summary
The Pocatello City Council voted to adopt the Pocatello Urban Forest Plan, directing staff to shift from reactive to proactive tree maintenance after staff said the city maintains about 8,700 public trees on an annual tree activity budget of just over $11,000.
The Pocatello City Council on July 2 adopted the Pocatello Urban Forest Plan by resolution, directing staff to pursue a more proactive approach to managing the city's trees.
Long-range planner Jim Anglesey told the council the city is responsible for about 8,700 public trees and that much maintenance has been deferred because of limited staffing and funding. "Our annual tree activity budget is just over $11,000 to care for nearly 8,700 trees," Anglesey said, adding that the current reactive approach—responding to storms, emergencies and resident complaints—raises costs and safety risks.
The plan recommends improving interdepartmental coordination, establishing consistent maintenance standards, expanding volunteer programs and using data to prioritize work. Anglesey said the strategies are intended to be phased in over time as staffing and funding evolve.
Councilmember Paulson moved to adopt the plan by resolution with staff-recommended amendments; Councilmember Mangum seconded. The council approved the resolution on a roll-call vote.
Mayor noted the plan aligns with the city's comprehensive plan and provides a roadmap for preserving urban trees as long-term community assets. The council packet included written public comments; no members of the public offered oral testimony on the plan during the hearing.
Next steps: staff will incorporate the legal-department–review edits recommended in the packet and proceed with implementation planning, including any necessary budget requests.
