DATE: October 13, 2026
CATEGORY: Consent
DEPT.: Community Services Department
TITLE: Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan,
Project 23-37—Authorize Amendment to
Professional Services Agreement
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager or designee to amend the existing professional services agreement with San Francisco Estuary Institute, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) (Business Entity No. 1141169), to amend the scope of services, extend the term to December 31, 2028, and increase compensation by $150,000 for an amount not to exceed $1,022,880.
BACKGROUND
On August 30, 2022, the City Council authorized a professional services agreement with San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) to develop the Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan. On May 14, 2024, the City Council authorized an amendment to the agreement with SFEI to increase compensation and revise the scope of services to include a more robust role in the community outreach for the Plan. On November 18, 2025, the City Council authorized an additional amendment to the agreement to increase compensation to enable SFEI to complete additional coordination, analysis, and revisions that were necessary to produce the final Plan.
On June 23, 2026, Council adopted the Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan (Plan). The Plan updates and expands the City’s 2015 Community Tree Master Plan into a broader framework focused on biodiversity, urban forestry, habitat connectivity, climate resilience, and community well-being. The Plan was developed by SFEI and a cross-departmental City Project Team through a multi-year process that included technical analysis, extensive community engagement, interdepartmental collaboration, and review by various City commissions.
One of the initial implementation efforts identified in the Plan is to develop a web-based Tree Selector Tool that can be used to find appropriate tree species for specific sites, based on factors such as site conditions, biodiversity support, climate resilience, and ecosystem service benefits.
The tool is intended to be user-friendly and available to both the public and City staff, in order to support future City projects, development, and community tree planting efforts. In light of SFEI’s skillset and experience, staff proposes working with SFEI to develop the web-based Tree Selector Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan, Project 23-37 –
Authorize Amendment to Professional Services Agreement
October 13, 2026
Tool. This requires an amendment to the existing SFEI agreement. Funding for the development of the tool was added to Project 23-37, Biodiversity Strategy, and approved as part of the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget.
ANALYSIS
Tree Selector Tool
The Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan identifies 25 different actions with short-term, mediumterm, and long-term priority levels. Included in short-term priorities is Action 5: Further develop native and climate-resilient planting guidance to support proper installation, maintenance, and sourcing of native plant materials. To support this action, the Plan recommendsthe development and implementation of an interactive web-based plant selector tool that incorporates planting lists and guidelines. The interactive, functional tool would help City and private development project managers, as well as members of the community, select plants and develop plant palettes that are appropriate for their specific site and desired project outcomes.
Action 13: Update the City tree list and Tree Ordinance to increase urban forest health, species diversity, and age diversity, provides more specific direction on how the tool would be used for tree selection based on criteria such as tree form, area requirements, biodiversity support, known challenges and maintenance issues, and other benefits. The tool will update and replace the City street tree list and should be updated regularly based on monitoring, staff experience, and expert guidance.
The development of the tree selector tool will advance implementation of both Action 5 and Action 13 by providing a practical, interactive resource for selecting appropriate tree species based on site conditions, biodiversity benefits, climate resilience, maintenance considerations, and other factors.
SFEI Scope of Work
Staff recommends continuing to contract with SFEI for the development of the web-based tree tool. SFEI is a recognized leader in urban ecology and environmental planning and was instrumental in developing the Plan. Through this work, SFEI has developed a strong understanding of the City’s biodiversity, urban forestry, and climate resilience goals, as well as the local environmental conditions that should inform tree and plant selection. Retaining SFEI will allow the City to build upon this existing expertise and ensure that the tool is consistent with the recommendations and priorities established in the Plan. SFEI will work closely with the City’s IT Department to ensure the tool is developed in accordance with City policies and can be seamlessly accessed through the City’s website. SFEI will host and maintain the tool for the Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan, Project 23-37 –
Authorize Amendment to Professional Services Agreement
October 13, 2026
duration of the agreement. Attachment 1 includes a more detailed description of the scope of work for this task.
The current agreement with SFEI expires on December 31, 2026 and all tasks in the current scope of services have been completed. Staff recommend extending the term of the agreement and amending the scope of services to include the development of the tree selector tool in close collaboration with the City’s IT Department, other staff and key stakeholders. The proposed new term of the agreement is through December 31, 2028, to ensure that a robust tool can be developed, tested and implemented.
FISCAL IMPACT
Biodiversity and Urban Forest Plan, Project 23-37, is funded with $1,160,000 from the Capital Improvement Program Reserve Fund. Currently, there is sufficient funding available for the recommended action, which will utilize substantially all of the remaining project budget. No additional appropriation is being requested at this time.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not approve the recommended professional services agreement amendment.
2. Provide other direction.
PUBLIC NOTICING—Agenda posting.
Prepared by:
Brenda Sylvia
Assistant Community Services Director
Lindsay Wong
Senior Management Analyst
Reviewed by:
John Marchant
Community Services Director
Approved by:
Audrey D. Seymour
Assistant City Manager
Attachment: 1. Proposed Scope of Services