Honorable Mayor and City Council
January 25, 2022
John Ristow
Director of Transportation
Rick Scott
Deputy Director
Russell Hansen
City Arborist
Ryan Allen
Dudek
San José - Street Tree Canopy
Initiated by the City
Funded through a CalFire Climate Investment Grant
Supplemented with Staff time
Plan Contents;
3rd party analysis of the City's tree programs
Strategic Workplan
T ree Policy & Best Management Practices Manual Update Complements and supports City Policy and Goals
Envision San José 2040 General Plan
Climate Smart San José
Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan
Current iteration is “biggest step San José has taken for urban forestry" - CalFire Community Forest Management Plan
Grant Project
Description
Key Report Deliverables
SWOT analysis of entire CSJ T ree Program
Update T ree Policy & BestManagement
Practices Manual
Other Project Deliverables
Plant 200 trees in disadvantaged communities
Develop tree management database
Update tree inventory for City maintained trees*
* Denotes in progress
Key Findings
Tree canopy cover declined from 15.3% to 13.5% - (2012 to 2018) Economically disadvantaged communities have fewer trees and increased vulnerability to environmental and health impacts "T ree" staffing and maintenance is underfunded and very low compared to equivalent cities
Urban infill and development practices limit space for tree canopy growth
Opportunities for City and Our City Forest to strengthen and expand its partnership
Complete inventory for public space and street trees is needed Canopy Cover by Council District
Canopy Loss by Council District
Strategic Workplan
Identifies strategies and objectives for improvement
Streamline the Governance Structure
Ensure Community Forest Sustainability
Support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Funding the Community Forest
Efficient and Effective Management
Standardize and Improve Planning and Development
Streamline Governance Structure
Our City Forest
Founded in 1994 to advance Urban Forestry in San José
Obtained over $15 million in urban forest grants
Leveraged $25 million in volunteer time
Educated over 40,000 elementary and middle school school students
Planted over 80,000 trees and
shrubs citywide
Operates a community nursery
Sustainability Through Maintenance
Maintenance Funding Needs
Funding $4 million scenario vs. $20 million scenario
T ree Planting Required to Grow Canopy
Number of trees needed to plant annually for 30 years
to achieve canopy cover
Cost to plant/establish a tree*
T ree Planting
• $150 per tree (Park locations, 6 or more trees)
• $175 per tree (Park locations, 5 or fewer trees)
• $210 per tree (Street tree)
3-year T ree Establishment (Watering and Pruning)
• $275 per tree (Park locations and Low traffic street tree, 20 or more trees) • $550 per tree (Park locations and Low traffic street tree, 19 or fewer trees) • $825 per tree (High T raffic street tree w/lane closures) T otal T ree Planting with 3-years of Establishment
• $425-$725 per tree (Park locations)
• $485-1035 per tree (Street locations)
* Source: OCF Master Fee Pricing Document FY 20-21
Outreach Efforts
Website - sanjosecfmp.com
In-person meetings March 2020 (cancelled)
4 Virtual meetings Summer 2020
Website Survey (2,000 responses)
Social Media Surveys (1,100 responses, 188,000
impressions)
Meetings with key stakeholders - Our City Forest, ᴉSí Se Puede!, Open Space Authority, AARP , Audubon
Society, California Native Plant Society, SPUR, League
of Women Voters, Valley Water
Post T & E conversations with Sen. Cortese’s office,
Santa Clara County Parks, County Office of Education,
PG&E, and Coalition to Advance Urban Forestry
(twice)
Roadmap: Protect, Preserve, Plant
Strategies Key Objectives
Streamline the
Governance Structure
Include trees in the beginning
of the design and planning
process
Evaluate and consolidate tree
responsibilities or ensure
sufficient org capacity
Provide an arborist review of all
Planning Division tree
responsibilities
Ensure Community
Forest Sustainability
Tree planting activities will
promote a sustainable urban
forest (biodiversity, fit,
dashboard)
Ensure trees are adapted to
climate change and support local
habitat and wildlife.
Increase tree canopy cover
across all census tracts and
neighborhoods - 20% by 2051
Support Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion
Diverse stakeholders
participate in guiding the
development of the
community forest program
Prioritize increasing canopy cover
in disadvantaged communities.
Fund the Community
Forest
Develop a plan to annually
provide funding to the
community forest program
Fund community forest
management activities at a level to
meet best management practices
as defined by the City.
Efficient and Effective
Tree Management
Maintain current information
on the community forest to
ensure management
decisions are based on the
best available data.
Ensure all City tree management
activities and design standards
reflect the most current
understanding of community
forest sustainability.
Community members and private
property owners will understand
their role in growing and
maintaining the community
forest.
Standardize and
Improve Planning and
Development
Protect and preserve mature
trees
City planning and development will
contribute to increasing tree
canopy cover.
2022-24 2024 +
Next Steps – thru June 2022
• Plan and plant over 250 trees in East San Jose (funded in FY 21-22)
• Finalize procurements for PRNS inventory and establish master agreement to update street tree inventory
• Add Assistant Arborist to support early workplan efforts, including CFAC and review of policies/procedures
• Form Community Forest Advisory Committee (CFAC)
• Evaluate funding options to expedite workplan items
including CalFire Grant (application in July)
• Use FY 22-23 budget process to seek increased funding for City of San Jose maintained trees
Honorable Mayor and City Council
January 25, 2022
John Ristow
Director of Transportation
Rick Scott
Deputy Director
Russell Hansen
City Arborist
Ryan Allen
Dudek