Current Status
Canopy Coverage: The Dudek study found that the City’s current 26% overall canopy cover is ahead of the American Forests standard of 20% for a city like Beverly Hills that was historically a grassland vegetation community. Beverly Hills is also at the upper end of regional comparables including Santa Monica, Irvine, Los Angeles and Pasadena where canopy coverage ranges from 17% to 28% respectively.
Program Support and Funding: The study concludes that the urban forestry program in the City enjoys the support of the community, has effective management practices in place, to include staffing, and that the City’s annual per tree expenditure of $96.12 is at the upper tier in a comparables group (i.e. San Jose, Los Angeles, Downey, San Francisco and Palo Alto) when annual per tree expenditures in the care of public trees is considered ($20.11 to $119.85 respectively).
Sustainability: The consultant calls attention to several issues that limit the ability of the current makeup of the City’s urban forest to be viable into the future including:
Tree age/species diversity.
A strong dependence on a tree species that is more important to identity than environmental benefit.
The inappropriateness of some species that represent a significant percentage of the urban forest makeup and the ability of those species to thrive in an environment that is becoming increasingly hotter and drier.
Tree inventory system: The current inventory system is provided as part of the tree maintenance contract and serves its purpose to schedule and document work histories at the individual tree level. It is useful for defining basic trends within the tree population, as well for tracking and predicting expenditures. The consultant used the Tree Eco tool, which is a component of the iTree tree canopy software, to complete the analysis provided in the report. The consultant provided the methodology used in the current analysis so that a future review of results and trends related to implementation of UFMP recommendations can be completed using the same software.
Findings and Recommendations
Sustainable and Resilient Urban Forest: In identifying climate change as the most critical threat to the sustainability of the City’s current urban forest and its specific characteristics, the consultant suggests focus be given to:
Changes to the species palette that consider climate appropriateness, water use and longterm nursery availability. Limiting any single tree species dependence to 5% or less. A City-wide assessment of the condition of all public trees at the individual tree level.
Expanding the Urban Forest: With a goal of expanding the current level of canopy coverage trees offer to the community, the consultant suggests:
Planting 7,500 additional trees by 2041 to improve the City’s canopy coverage from the current 26% to the consultant’s recommended goal of 33%. Identifying City managed sites where additional trees can be planted (e.g. planting shade trees between existing palms.
Planning Commission Report
Draft Urban Forest Management Plan
September 9, 2021
Codifying or standardizing and improved communication of tree related practices for both public and private trees in the areas of nursery selection and tree installation. Extending contracted water services for newly planted public trees.
Protecting and Preserving the Urban Forest: The consultant suggests that strengthening City policies and ordinances in the following areas will positively impact the sustainability of the tree canopy:
Identification of historically important palm trees.
Alternative means of preserving tree canopy when infrastructure conflicts pose a loss of trees.
Improve public tree canopy coverage in alternate areas when canopy is diminished in another area.
Promote canopy preservation on public property though species alignment with existing water efficient landscaping and metering requirements, providing incentives for the retention of mature trees in the improvement of private properties and by providing City arborist support to the broader community.
Providing Sufficient Resources for the Urban Forest: With regards to providing the resources to work towards the goals and recommendations of the UFMP, the consultant suggests:
Funding the urban forest program to match improvements in lieu of reducing the cost of palm maintenance and by planting smaller nursery stock. Providing cost effective arborist support for private property tree planting and management.
Improving the current Street Tree Master Plan process that provides for increased public participation.
NEXT STEPS
The Draft UFMP will be presented to the City Council at a Study Session this fall. Input received from the Planning Commission, Public Works Commission and Design Review Commission will be included in the report and presentation to City Council for their consideration.
City of Beverly Hills
Planning Division
455 N. Rexford Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210
TEL. (310) 285-1141 FAX. (310) 858-5966
Design Review Commission Report
Attachment(s): if none, remove bullets and state “none” A. Urban Forest Management Plan DRAFT
Report Author and Contact Information:
Ken Pfalzgraf, City Arborist
310-285-2540
[email protected]
Meeting Date: Thursday, October 7, 2021
Subject: DRAFT URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN
Project Applicant: City-Initiated
Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Design Review Commission review the Draft UFMP and provide comments for City Council consideration for inclusion in the final UFMP.
REPORT SUMMARY
The City’s public tree inventory consists of approximately 25,000 trees in the public right-of-way and City parks. The first street tree plantings date back to 1907 when landscape architect Wilbur David Cook, Jr. prepared the first street plans for the Rodeo Land and Water Company. The City is proud to have received the Tree City USA designation from the Arbor Day Foundation for 37 years. Past tree studies were limited to street trees, including the 1996 Street Tree Master Plan Focused Study and the 2007 Canary Island Date Palm Street Tree Master.
In mid-2019, the City began work on its first ever Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP). The UFMP takes a comprehensive look at the goals, policies and practices that affect the urban forest, including the following focus areas:
An assessment of the current status of the urban forest to include species makeup, canopy extent and value.
An evaluation of the City’s current tree inventory system. A comparison of the City’s current public and private tree management policies and guidelines to urban forest industry best management practices. Evaluation of the tree canopy, tree planting opportunities and tree canopy goals. Identify hazardous or undesirable trees and strategies for replacement over time. Identify issues that will affect the long-term health and resilience of the urban forest, such as drought, disease and climate change.
Following a qualifications-based selection process, the City Council awarded the environmental consulting firm, Dudek, an agreement to prepare the UFMP. Dudek has worked with staff from several City departments and with input from the community through surveys and engagement activities over the past two years to prepare the attached Draft UFMP. Below are summaries of the current status of the urban forest and the key findings and recommendations of the UFMP.
BEVERLY
HILLS
-�
Design Review Commission Report
Draft Urban Forest Management Plan
October 7, 2021
Current Status
Canopy Coverage: The Dudek study found that the City’s current 26% overall canopy cover is ahead of the American Forests standard of 20% for a city like Beverly Hills that was historically a grassland vegetation community. Beverly Hills is also at the upper end of regional comparables including Santa Monica, Irvine, Los Angeles and Pasadena where canopy coverage ranges from 17% to 28% respectively.
Program Support and Funding: The study concludes that the urban forestry program in the City enjoys the support of the community, has effective management practices in place, to include staffing, and that the City’s annual per tree expenditure of $96.12 is at the upper tier in a comparables group (i.e. San Jose, Los Angeles, Downey, San Francisco and Palo Alto) when annual per tree expenditures in the care of public trees is considered ($20.11 to $119.85 respectively).
Sustainability: The consultant calls attention to several issues that limit the ability of the current makeup of the City’s urban forest to be viable into the future including:
Tree age/species diversity.
A strong dependence on a tree species that is more important to identity than environmental benefit.
The inappropriateness of some species that represent a significant percentage of the urban forest makeup and the ability of those species to thrive in an environment that is becoming increasingly hotter and drier.
Tree inventory system: The current inventory system is provided as part of the tree maintenance contract and serves its purpose to schedule and document work histories at the individual tree level. It is useful for defining basic trends within the tree population, as well for tracking and predicting expenditures. The consultant used the Tree Eco tool, which is a component of the iTree tree canopy software, to complete the analysis provided in the report. The consultant provided the methodology used in the current analysis so that a future review of results and trends related to implementation of UFMP recommendations can be completed using the same software.
Findings and Recommendations
Sustainable and Resilient Urban Forest: In identifying climate change as the most critical threat to the sustainability of the City’s current urban forest and its specific characteristics, the consultant suggests focus be given to:
Changes to the species palette that consider climate appropriateness, water use and long-term nursery availability.
Limiting any single tree species dependence to 5% or less. A City-wide assessment of the condition of all public trees at the individual tree level.
Expanding the Urban Forest: With a goal of expanding the current level of canopy coverage trees offer to the community, the consultant suggests:
Planting 7,500 additional trees by 2041 to improve the City’s canopy coverage from the current 26% to the consultant’s recommended goal of 33%.
Design Review Commission Report
Draft Urban Forest Management Plan
October 7, 2021
Identifying City managed sites where additional trees can be planted (e.g. planting shade trees between existing palms.
Codifying or standardizing and improved communication of tree related practices for both public and private trees in the areas of nursery selection and tree installation. Extending contracted water services for newly planted public trees.
Protecting and Preserving the Urban Forest: The consultant suggests that strengthening City policies and ordinances in the following areas will positively impact the sustainability of the tree canopy:
Identification of historically important palm trees.
Alternative means of preserving tree canopy when infrastructure conflicts pose a loss of trees.
Improve public tree canopy coverage in alternate areas when canopy is diminished in another area.
Promote canopy preservation on public property though species alignment with existing water efficient landscaping and metering requirements, providing incentives for the retention of mature trees in the improvement of private properties and by providing City arborist support to the broader community.
Providing Sufficient Resources for the Urban Forest: With regards to providing the resources to work towards the goals and recommendations of the UFMP, the consultant suggests:
Funding the urban forest program to match improvements in lieu of reducing the cost of palm maintenance and by planting smaller nursery stock. Providing cost effective arborist support for private property tree planting and management.
Improving the current Street Tree Master Plan process that provides for increased public participation.
NEXT STEPS
The Draft UFMP will be presented to the City Council at a Study Session this fall. Input received from the Planning Commission, Public Works Commission and Design Review Commission will be included in the report and presentation to City Council for their consideration.
Attachment 3
RESOLUTION NO. PWC-05
RESOLUTION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BEYERL Y
HILLS RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPT THE DRAFT URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN (2021) WITH CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS Whereas, the Public Works Commission has the obligation to provide recommendations to the City Council related to public works infrastructure and programs; Whereas, the Public Works Commission has reviewed, discussed and invited public comment on the draft Urban Forest Management Plan (2021) presented by Staff and prepared by an outside consultant; and
Whereas, in lieu of a broad endorsement of the draft Urban Forest Management Plan (2021), a complex and detailed document, the Public Works Commission believes it can best implement its obligations to City Council with the recommendations herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Public Works Commission of the City of Beverly Hills resolves as follows:
Section 1. The Public Works Commission recommends adoption of the recommendations of the Urban Forest list on pages 64-67 of the draft Urban Forest Management Plan (2021) except for the following recommendations which the Public Works Commission does not support:
• Conduct a health and risk assessment of all palms. Identify which palms are in decline and replace them with shade trees when they require removal. • Provide funding to establish a city arborist position dedicated to review of private property tree relate issues. To reduce the City's financial commitment, the position could be a city-approved third-party on-call arborist in lieu of a full-time position.
Section 2. The Public Works Commission recommends adoption of the following additional policies and practices as a basis to enhance the City's commitment to its urban forest:
URBAN FOREST
STRATEGIC GOAL
Recommendations:
• TREAT MUNICIPAL TREES AS CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.
• Recognize climate change may require expedited replacement of certain species of trees and its budgetary impact.
URBAN FOREST
PLANNING CYCLE URBAN FOREST
CANOPY
URBAN FOREST
VALUE
Recommendations:
• The city council should review its urban forest goals on a 3-to5-year basis. o While a long-term urban forest plan offers value, a
shorter review time has considerable merit for goal
evaluation. Today's climate assumptions may not be of value in a few years. o The Urban Forest Management Plan should be viewed
as living document, updated and revised periodically in response to climate conditions.
Recommendations:
• Strive to achieve and maintain a city-wide canopy cover of 30% or better. On a three-year basis, strive for a canopy increase of
1.5% over current canopy.
• Pursue tree plantings in available open municipally controlled spaces with an emphasis on the southern portion of the city. • Implement a yearly free tree offering to residents and businesses for planting on their property.
• Include canopy coverage retention and expansion as part of the planning process for new commercial and residential projects. • Wherever feasible retain monoculture, or at least, a compatible dual-culture of tree species on a block by block, street by street basis.
• Pursue tree species diversity city wide with trees compatible to climate change, drought and local planting conditions.
Recommendations:
• Minimize or avoid replacement, however, of any other species of trees in the city with palms trees going forward.
• Due to the limited canopy of palm trees, consider increase the increasing plantings between palm trees as well encouraging increased vegetation in areas of palm tree plantings. • Acknowledge that trees interconnect with water use, climate change, air pollution and other environment factors. At the same time, urban trees in Beverly Hills, in particular, promote the city's brand as well as a unique urban beauty and setting.
Trees also equate to an economic benefit to the residents (property values), to the business community (tourism) and to the city (tax revenue). As a result, the city must balance all of these interests must balance.
URBAN FOREST
DIVERSITY URBAN WARMING URBAN FOREST & PRIVATE TREES URBAN FOREST &
STAKEHOLDERS
Recommendations:
• Wherever feasible retain monoculture, or at least, a compatible dual-culture of tree species on a block by block, street by street basis. • Pursue tree species diversity city wide with trees compatible to climate change, drought and local planting conditions.
Recommendations:
• Recognize that trees alone will not alone resolve urban warming or climate change.
• Promote increased, drought tolerant/water efficient, trees and vegetation on city and private property.
• Promote the incorporation of green walls and green roofs in construction.
Recommendations:
• Minimize the negative effect on the urban forest from private development and infrastructure maintenance
o Enact ordinances requiring preservation or replacement of existing trees and specifying species for planting; canopy cover for parking lots or pavement materials. o Remove fees for tree inspection, removal or permitting related to trees.
• Include canopy coverage retention and expansion as part of the planning process for new commercial and residential projects.
Recommendations:
• Offer public guidance and education on private tree plantings including a list of recommended trees to plant and tree maintenance advice.
• Reasonably advise residents and property owners of any intent to replace or remove tress in front of their homes as well as the date for replanting.
• Replacement of city trees should be with larger plantings where practicable and fiscally reasonable.
• Continue to provide a voice for landowners and residents affected by tree removal or replacement.
• Reach out to local environmental, climate and tree advocacy groups affording those groups a voice in ongoing urban forest decisions.
URBAN FOREST
INNOVATION URBAN FOREST
ENFORCEMENT
Recommendations:
• Experiment with innovative methods to enhance canopy and tree growth in the city such as the implementation of the Miyawaki (tiny forest) method to create mini urban forests. • City should investigate grant funding for increasing canopy.
Recommendations:
• Encourage communication to residents of recommended trees to plant.
• Simplify permit process and remove permit fee for residents complying with high-risk tree removal
• Elimination of fees for City Inspections of trees.
• Recommend hiring an additional internal arborist to enforce city tree ordinances.
• Recommend against mandating removal of otherwise healthy trees on private property.
• Support city encouragement of increased, compatible,
sustainable tree plantings and vegetation in planning of commercial and residential developments.
Section 3. The Secretary shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution and shall cause this Resolution and her certification to be entered in the Book of Resolution of the Public Works Commission of this City.
Adopted: November 10, 2021
Chuck Alpert Chair of the Public Works Commission of the City of Beverly Hills, California