Resolution Urging the Board of Supervisors to Develop a Fund to Manage Street Trees

Resolution Urging the Board of Supervisors to Develop a Fund to Manage Street Trees.

The Urban Forestry Council urges the Board of Supervisors to develop and implement a plan to create a dedicated funding source to enable San Francisco Public Works to take on maintenance responsibility for 100% of San Francisco’s street trees. 

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 Council is charged with development and adoption of a comprehensive urban forest plan; and

WHEREAS, The Council has found that requiring private property owners to maintain street trees is harmful to the long-term viability of the City’s urban forest and has urged the Mayor and the Board Of Supervisors to identify and develop long-term funding options to support urban forestry programs (Resolution No. 006-11-UFC); and

WHEREAS, The Council has endorsed the Urban Forest Plan: Phase One, Street Trees and has endorsed the establishment of the Citywide Street Tree Maintenance Program, whereby San Francisco Public Works would take on maintenance responsibility for 100% of San Francisco’s street trees (Resolution No. 007-14-UFC); and,

WHEREAS, The Urban Forest Plan: Phase One, Street Trees was incorporated into the City’s General Plan by the Board of Supervisors through Ordinance No. 23-15 in February 2015; and,

WHEREAS, The Council supports the establishment of dedicated funding sources for street tree planting and maintenance as outlined in the Urban Forest Plan; and

WHEREAS, The Council has continually advocated for dedicated, stable funding to support the City’s urban forest; and,

WHEREAS, San Francisco’s urban forest managers consistently identify the lack of adequate resources to effectively maintain the City’s trees as their highest priority issue; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Urban Forestry Council commends the efforts of the Board of Supervisors in prioritizing street tree management through their adoption of the Urban Forest Plan: Phase One, Street Trees into the City’s General Plan; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Urban Forestry Council renews its finding that the transfer of street tree maintenance responsibilities to private property owners will be harmful to the long-term viability of the City’s urban forest; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That Urban Forestry Council recognizes the importance of establishing a dedicated funding source to manage street trees; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Urban Forestry Council urges the Board of Supervisors to develop and implement a plan to establish a dedicated fund for street tree management and if necessary to submit this plan to the voters.   

I hereby certify that this Resolution was adopted at the Urban Forestry Council’s Regular Meeting on May 27, 2016.

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Anthony Valdez, Commission Affairs Manager        Dan Flanagan, Council Chair

Vote:              11-0 Approved

Ayes:             Members Flanagan, Short, Hillan, Hillson, Kida, Lacan, Andrew Sullivan, Taylor, Carter, Manzone and Swae

Noes:             None

Absent:          Member Michael Sullivan