RESOLUTION NO. ____________
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA ADOPTING THE CITY OF FRESNO TREE POLICY WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Fresno to ensure that planting and maintaining trees throughout the City is a priority; and WHEREAS, the planting of a substantial number of trees within the City would provide cleaner air, reduce carbon in the environment, reduce the City’s heat island effect, reduce stormwater flooding, improve beautification and a sense of pride to the City, lower energy consumption by reducing sun and wind exposure to homes, and add overall more green space for our community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Fresno as follows:
The City of Fresno commits to facilitating the planting of at least 1,000 net new trees on public property, commencing in Fiscal Year 2023, every fiscal year, up until fiscal year 2036, either directly or in conjunction with outside partners. If at such time that the City receives a proposed guiding document that provides an alternative tree planting goal, the Council may at that time elect to adopt that as the new official guiding policy.
The definitions in this policy shall be consistent with the definitions set forth in Fresno Municipal Code (FMC) section 13-301.
Trees shall be selected and planted in accordance with the City’s Approved Tree List maintained by Public Works, as may be amended from time to time, and in compliance with applicable FMC provisions.
Tree species should strive to be diverse, as well as balanced when it comes to choosing aesthetic and practical function where appropriate.
In addition, trees planted pursuant to this policy should also strive to meet the following tree planting guidelines:
Stock Size
Street tree and park planting: 15 gallons or larger.
Water needs/Irrigation
Dedicated irrigation is required for each tree planted, to ensure healthy growth and maximum water efficiency.
Largest stature species suitable for a planting site.
Tree selection should strive to minimize trees with:
Surface roots
Root invasiveness
Weak branch attachment
High water needs
On the invasive plant list (any rating level) found at: https://www.cal-ipc.org/ Encourage species with desirable attributes:
Drought tolerant species
Climate-ready species
The City shall dedicate a portion of future budgets towards the efforts and objectives outlined in this policy, to account for costs such as trees, labor, irrigation, trimming, education, etc. $400,000 in current funding shall be allocated to new tree plantings, irrigation, labor, tree maintenance, and related efforts.
The City will commit $50,000 annually from various funding sources (e.g., local workforce development dollars, Measure P, Californians for All Youth Job Corps Grant Program, etc.) toward workforce development youth jobs to further these efforts.
Within 45 days of adoption of this policy, the Administration shall take all steps to formalize the appropriations directed herein.
The Administration will actively pursue state, federal, and other grant opportunities to further the progress of this policy.
The City will create an incentive fund to incentivize home and business owners to voluntarily plant trees from the City’s Approved Tree List on parkways or public tree easements in locations that have an established and functional irrigation system.
Funding for the incentive program shall start at a total aggregate amount of $50,000. Any Fresno address may be granted a one-time reimbursement up to $200 upon production of receipt. Reimbursable funds shall include total cost of the tree, labor for planting, and other costs as determined by the Department of Public Works. Ongoing costs such as water and tree maintenance costs will be at the property owner’s expense.
A portion of the incentive funds may come from the current $400,000 allocation.
The incentive program shall be administered by the Department of Public Works, and the Director may establish additional guidelines for implementation of the program.
Labor for the tree plantings in public right-of-way or on City property must be performed under the oversight of a licensed arborist, a company under contract with the City, City staff, or a qualified forestry organization approved by the Public Works Director. Partnership with organizations such as Tree Fresno and Cal-Fire are encouraged.
As a condition of participation in the incentive program, the property owner agrees not to remove the tree without written permission of the City.
Anyone wishing to remove a tree funded through the incentive program must go through the appropriate permitting system and be approved by the City of Fresno. If a tree funded through this program is removed with the written permission of the City, it shall be replaced by the property owner at their own expense, or the property owner shall pay a payment in lieu of replacing the removed tree, in accordance with FMC 13-305(f). The payment of in lieu fees will be used by the City to purchase trees that will be planted within the public right of way or on other public property. Where possible, trees will be planted in the vicinity of the removed tree.
If a tree funded through this program is removed within one-year of its planting without the written permission of the City, the property owner shall refund the City the total costs associated with the planting of the tree.
The City will proactively replace dead or decaying trees as they are identified, in locations that have an established and functional irrigation system, in accordance with FMC section 13-305(g). In neighborhood park strips, the City shall coordinate with the property owner on tree selection and placement. In situations where a property owner refuses the new street tree, and does not want the tree, a tree will not be planted at that location.
At a minimum, the City shall operate on a 10-year tree maintenance cycle.
The planting of new trees shall be prioritized in neighborhoods deemed high need via a tree equity scoring criteria to be developed by staff, as well as high priority areas as identified by the Parks, Recreation, and Arts Commission, and approved by the City Council. Within 120 days of adoption of this policy, the Administration shall return to Council with the recommended tree equity scoring criteria. The Council may also elect to amend this policy in the future.
Removal of a tree from a parkway without proper permitting and City approval is subject to paying double the cost of a tree removal permit. The Code Enforcement Division of the City Attorney’s Office shall be responsible for the enforcement of this section and may issue an administrative citation.
The City shall, whenever practicable, utilize wood chips from tree trimmings and removed trees for decorative purposes.
The City shall strive to achieve Tree City USA Status and shall take necessary steps in furtherance of that goal.
The City shall formally recognize Arbor Day annually via events promoting tree planting and educational awareness.
28. An annual update shall be provided to the Council on the progress of the City of Fresno Tree Policy.
29. This resolution shall be effective upon final approval. * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF FRESNO ) ss.
CITY OF FRESNO )
I, TODD STERMER, City Clerk of the City of Fresno, certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the Council of the City of Fresno, at a regular meeting held on the day of 2022.
AYES :
NOES :
ABSENT :
ABSTAIN :
Mayor Approval: , 2022
Mayor Approval/No Return: , 2022
Mayor Veto: , 2022
Council Override Vote: , 2022
TODD STERMER, CMC
City Clerk
By:
Deputy Date
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
DOUGLAS T. SLOAN
City Attorney
By:
Mary Raterman-Doidge Date
Senior Deputy City Attorney
2 of 2
1 of 2
Date Adopted:
Date Approved:
Resolution No. ____________Resolution No. ____________Effective Date:
Resolution No. ____________
Resolution No. ____________
City Attorney Approval: ______