4/25/2023
1 RiversideCA.gov
1 RiversideCA.gov
UPDATE ON THE
URBAN FORESTRY POLICY MANUAL
Land Use, Sustainability, and Resilience Committee
May 8, 2023
Public Works Department
RiversideCA.gov
2 2. The purpose of the Urban Forestry Policy Manual
(Manual) is to provide guidelines for the planting,
pruning, preservation and removal of all trees in city
rights-of-ways based on industry standards and specs.
BACKGROUND
1. Designated by the National Arbor Day
Foundation as a “Tree City, USA” every
year since 1987, the City strives to
preserve and protect this tree heritage.
1 2
4/25/2023
2 RiversideCA.gov
3 1. Staff provided a progress
update on the Manual before
the Land Use, Sustainability, and
Resilience Committee for
feedback and approval
– T h em o s tr e c e n to fw h i c hw a s
shared with the Committee on
January 9, 2023.
BACKGROUND
RiversideCA.gov
4 1. Update the branding of the Manual so it has a City of Riverside look and is consistent with City branding;
2. Provide a clear method on notification of removals to the community;
COMMITTEE DIRECTIVES
Pictures courtesy of TreePeople.
3 4
4/25/2023
3 RiversideCA.gov
5 3. Provide options relative to a Perpetual Tree Care and Planting Fund for the City of Riverside; and
4. Bring updates to the Committee on the M on the Manual periodically.
COMMITTEE DIRECTIVES
RiversideCA.gov
6 1. On March 3, 2023, an updated draft of the
Manual was received that incorporated the look
of the City and is consistent with the branding of
the City amongst other revisions by Staff.
2. On March 13, 2023, a Standard Operating
Procedure (S.O.P.) came into effect for tree
removal notifications.
3. Staff is currently researching options on the most
effective method on hosting a Perpetual Tree
Care and Planting Fund.
DISCUSSION
5 6
4/25/2023
4 RiversideCA.gov
7 1. Not yet accepting applications due to funding restrictions.
2. Currently looking for funding for operations.
3. Staff would like to proceed with
the current draft Manual, with any
potential grant funds going
towards future updates and
Manual revisions.
CALFIRE GRANT
RiversideCA.gov
8 Our urban forest has an estimated value
of more than $449,000,000!
OUR URBAN FOREST
It is more important than ever to continue pursuing funding opportunities that will augment and care for our urban forest. 7 8
4/25/2023
5 RiversideCA.gov
9 DISCUSSION
The City’s Urban Forest provides social,
communal, environmental, and economic
benefits to the entire community.
RiversideCA.gov
10 Strategic Priority 4 – Environmental Stewardship
Goal 4.5 - Maintain and conserve 30% of Riverside’s natural lands in green space including, but not limited to, agricultural lands and urban forests in order to protect and restore Riverside’s rich biodiversity and accelerate the natural removal of carbon, furthering our community’s climate resilience.
Cross-Cutting Threads
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
9 10
4/25/2023
6 RiversideCA.gov
11 That the Land Use, Sustainability, and Resilience Committee:
1. Provide recommendations on desi red modifications, if any, to the Urban Forestry Policy Manual; and
2. Recommend that the City Counci l approve the Urban Forestry Policy Manual.
RECOMMENDATIONS
11