Agenda Report
Fullerton City Council
MEETING DATE: APRIL 18, 2023
TO: CITY COUNCIL / SUCCESSOR AGENCY
SUBMITTED BY: STEPHEN BISE, CITY ENGINEER / ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR PREPARED BY: STEPHEN BISE, CITY ENGINEER / ASSISTANT PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
JULIO JACOBO, LANDSCAPE SUPERVISOR
SUBJECT: COMMUNITY FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE
SUMMARY
City Community Forest Management Plan update and intent to plant 500 trees in conformance with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal-Fire) grant requirements.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Community Forest Management Plan and proceed with planting 500 trees.
CITY MANAGER REMARKS
The City Manager concurs with the Parks & Recreation Commission’s recommendation to approve.
PRIORITY POLICY STATEMENT
This item matches the following Priority Policy Statement:
Infrastructure and City Assets.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City received a $377,000 award in FY 2020-21 and has $282,863 in unspent grant funds to support the City plan to plant 500 trees.
DISCUSSION
A Community Forest Management Plan provides the framework of goals and objectives to manage and improve tree canopy during a specified time. Fullerton adopted its first Community Forest Management Plan in 1998. The City reviews governing documents for the urban forest as the environment changes, new information becomes available and new studies emerge and makes any necessary adjustments.
City Council authorized staff to partner with West Coast Arborists, the City’s selected professional contractor for tree maintenance services, in November 2019 to submit a proposal to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) to develop a Community Forest Management Plan. The Public Works Department received a $377,000 grant in August 2020 with the following expected project outcomes:
create a Community Forest Management Plan (CFMP) developed by industry professionals reflecting an accurate inventory and has community input plant 500 trees with a focus on increasing the tree canopy in disadvantaged communities in Fullerton.
Conduct community education events and produce supporting materials to distribute.
Staff presented the draft Community Forest Management Plan to the Infrastructure and Natural Resources Advisory Committee (INRAC) on September 19, 2022 for comments. Staff has incorporated those comments into the document. One of the biggest concerns INRAC raised related to infrastructure and tree impact. Species selected for use in the CFMP address infrastructure impact and consideration of the predominate type of tree on the block, the tree canopy height and width at maturity, general growth rate and watering requirement. Staff chose the trees in the plan to preserve an aesthetic design and honor historical planting in the specific districts. The plan makes use of the concept of “right tree, right place” which refers to selecting the appropriate size and shaped tree for growing space, as well as considering nuisance and infrastructure conflicts.
Staff presented the CFMP to the Parks and Recreation Commission on October 10, 2022 and received substantial comments and feedback. Staff returned to the Parks and Recreation Commission on March 13, 2023 with a revised CFMP, which the Commission unanimously recommended for City Council approval.
Staff will use the adopted plan to plant grant-funded trees during the optimum planting season. The updated Community Forest Management Plan will help City staff and residents work together to maintain a healthy and desirable urban forest.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 – PowerPoint Presentation
Attachment 2 – Community Forest Management Plan
cc: City Manager Eric J. Levitt
Community Forest Management Plan Update
April 18, 2023 - Page PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 2