Urban Forest Plan
PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT
February 2025
Project Team
2 City of Alameda
Sustainability and Resilience (PBT)
Recreation and Park Dept
Public Works
Alameda Municipal Power
Consultant Team
Dudek
AIM Consulting
6 Purpose of the Urban Forest Plan
Benefits of Trees
Community Engagement To Date
JAN 2023
Online
Survey
JAN 2023
Pop-up
Workshop at
Bohol
Immigrant
Park Opening
FEB 2023
Pop-up
Workshop at
Storytelling
and Drum
Festival
MAR 2023
Pop-up
Workshop
at Spring
Shindig
APR 2023
Earth Day
Student
Letter
Writing
Activity
MAY 2023
Urban Forest
Summit
Listening
Session
JAN 2025
Community,
Board,
Commission
and Council
Workshops
2023- 25
Working
Group
Meetings
Draft Plan Public Engagement and Next Steps
January 27: Public Utilities Board and Planning Board
January 29: In-person Public Workshop
January 30: Virtual Public Workshop
February 4: City Council Study Session
February 6: Historical Advisory Board
February 13: Recreation and Parks Commission
February 14: Public Comment Period Closes
Spring 2025: Final Draft for City Council Adoption
Visit www.alamedaca.gov/UFP
to review and comment on the draft plan using the feedback form by February 14th
Structure of the Urban Forest Plan
Volume 1 – Urban Forest Plan
• Section 1 – Executive Summary
• Section 2 – Introduction and Purpose
• Section 3 – Analyzing Alameda’s Existing Urban Forest • Section 4 – Management of Alameda’s Urban Forest
• Section 5 – Planning for the Future
• Section 6 – Plan Development Process and Community Engagement • Section 7 – Monitoring the Plan
Volume 2 – Best Management Practices – standards, details, guidelines and policies for how the City will effectively manage the tree inventory an urban forest.
Draft Plan - Vision
Alameda’s urban forest is a collection of healthy,
diverse, resilient trees supported by sustainable
resources and management practices that enhance
our quality of life, provide habitat for wildlife, and
support adaptation to climate change for the benefit
of all community members and generations to come.
Draft Plan – Goals and Strategies
Draft Plan – Goals and Strategies
Canopy Cover and Priority Planting Score
Updated Tree Species List for Public Trees
• Species appropriate for Alameda’s
current and future climate
• Includes detailed information to
assist City in selecting the right tree
for the right place
• Consideration of which species are
appropriate for planting under power
lines
https://selectree.calpoly.edu/list/108
Canopy Increase Analysis
20% tree canopy goal can be
accomplished through growth of the
City managed tree inventory and
planting new trees in various City
managed and non-City managed
locations.
Tree preservation a key component
for existing trees
Additional funding will be needed to
plant an additional 9,600 trees over
30 years and manage a larger forest
Funding and Staffing Needs
Current funding allows the City to
meet some key performance
metrics.
As the urban forest grows,
additional funding and staffing
positions are needed to effectively
implement the Urban Forest Plan
and meet its canopy growth goals.
Council will provide direction on
phased funding through budget
process to accomplish goals.
Phases
What We’ve Heard So Far
• Retain major streets and neighborhood tree recommendations • Identify opportunity sites for tree planting in parks and other open spaces
• Provide more flexibility to plant larger trees under low voltage power lines, on iconic corridors, and considering undergrounding plans • Add or remove specific species from list, focus on natives, and provide a procedure for planting species not on the list that are well suited • Provide additional funds to remove pavement from tree wells in Census Tracts with high Priority Planting Score
• Increase tree protection measures and ensure adequate replacement ratios
• Accelerate tree planting and consider a more aggressive canopy cover goal
Provide feedback on the Draft UFP
• Overall content and presentation of the
draft UFP
• Vision, goals and strategies in the UFP
• Current canopy cover goal and a phased
implementation approach to funding and
staffing it
• Concept of implementing community
programming, adopting regulations, and
provide enforcement to increase the tree
canopy on private property
• Focus on prioritizing equitable
distribution of the urban forest.
14 Photo: Isla Vessali
Recommendation