Resolution Endorsing the Urban Forest Plan: Phase One, Street Trees

[Resolution Endorsing the Urban Forest Plan: Phase One, Street Trees]

The Urban Forestry Council endorses the Urban Forest Plan: Phase One, Street Trees and urges the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, the Department of Public Works, and the Planning Department to adopt the Urban Forest Plan, incorporate the Urban Forest Plan into the City’s General Plan, and to complete the next two phases of the Urban Forest Plan related to Parks and Open Spaces (Phase 2) and Trees on Private Property and Greening Buildings (Phase 3).

WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors formed the Urban Forestry Council to protect the community interest and ensure that San Francisco realizes the full range of tree benefits into the future; and, 

WHEREAS, The Council is charged with guiding the stewardship of San Francisco's trees by promoting a healthy and sustainable urban forest that benefits all San Franciscans while ensuring public health and safety; and,

WHEREAS, The Urban Forestry Council is charged with development and adoption of a comprehensive urban forest plan; and,

WHEREAS, The Urban Forestry Council adopted the 2006 Urban Forest Plan; and,

WHEREAS, The Urban Forest Plan: Phase One, Street Trees includes important planning, funding and design considerations to improve the management, health, and size of San Francisco’s street tree population; and,

WHEREAS, The Planning Department intends to develop two future phases of the Urban Forest Plan focusing on Parks and Open Spaces and Trees on Private Property and Greening Buildings; and,

WHEREAS, The City’s General Plan identifies that, “The livability, amenity and character of residential areas are greatly enhanced by trees, more so than by any other single element”; and,

WHEREAS, The City’s General Plan identifies an adopted policy to “Maintain and expand the Urban Forest”; and,

WHEREAS, In Urban Forestry Council’s Annual Urban Forest Reports, which provides data on urban forestry management activities and resources, San Francisco’s urban forest managers consistently identify their highest priority issue is the lack of adequate resources to effectively maintain the city’s trees; and,

WHEREAS, Urban Forestry Council has continually advocated for dedicated, stable funding to support the city’s urban forestry; therefore, be it: 

RESOLVED, That the Urban Forestry Council endorses the Urban Forest Plan: Phase One, Street Trees; and be it,

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Urban Forestry Council endorses the recommendation of maximizing the benefits of our urban trees as outlined in the Urban Forest Plan; and be it,

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Urban Forestry Council endorses the recommendation of growing the street tree population by half (50,000 newly planted street trees) as outlined in the Urban Forest Plan; and be it 

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Urban Forestry Council urges the Planning Department to work with other city departments to develop a city-wide tree canopy coverage goal as part of the next phases of the Urban Forest Plan; and be it,

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Urban Forest Council supports the establishment of dedicated funding sources for street tree planting and maintenance as outlined in the Urban Forest Plan; and be it,

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Urban Forest Council endorses the establishment of Citywide Street Tree Maintenance Program whereby the Department of Public Works would take on maintenance responsibility for 100% of San Francisco’s street trees; and be it, 

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Urban Forestry Council urges the Department of Public Works to manage all street trees through their lifecycles including the establishment of a Street Tree Nursery and Urban Wood Re-Use Program, with secured adequate funding as outlined in the Urban Forest Plan; and be it,

FURTHER RESOLVED, That that the Urban Forestry Council urges the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, and the Planning Department to adopt the Urban Forest Plan: Phase One, Street Trees and incorporate the Plan into the General Plan; and be it, 

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Urban Forestry Council urges the Board of Supervisors, Planning Department and other City Agencies to prioritize funding and support for the completion of the next two phases of the Urban Forest Plan; and be it,

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Urban Forestry Council urges the Planning Department to work with the Recreation and Parks Department and the Department of the Environment to complete the Urban Forest Plan: Phase Two, Parks and Open Spaces and the Urban Forest Plan: Phase Three, Trees on Private Property and Greening Buildings.

I hereby certify that this Resolution was adopted at the Urban Forestry Council’s Regular Meeting on May 23, 2014.

Monica Fish, Council Secretary                  Dan Flanagan, Council Chair

VOTE:  Approved 8-0; 2 Absent; 1 Vacant

Ayes:  Council Members Flanagan, Short, Hillan, Hillson, Kida, Leffingwell, Sullivan, Swae

Noes:  None

Absent:   Council Members Most and Sherwin