From: Julie Ott
To: Montoya, Michelle
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Advocacy for Strengthening Tree Programs and Policies Date: Friday, September 27, 2024 1:58:33 PM
Dear Michelle and Members of the City Council Climate Change Subcommittee, I am writing to advocate for the expansion of tree programs and policies in our neighborhoods to address climate change. Urban trees are one of the most cost-effective and impactful ways to reduce climate impacts and enhance community well-being.
Key Benefits of Trees
Climate Mitigation: Trees absorb carbon dioxide, offsetting emissions.
Cooling: Provide natural shade, reducing the urban heat island effect and cooling neighborhoods.
Stormwater Management: Reduce runoff, improve water quality, and help prevent flooding.
Air Quality: Filter pollutants, improving public health.
Biodiversity: Support local wildlife, increasing ecosystem resilience.
Public Health: Green spaces reduce stress, encourage outdoor activity, and improve mental health.
Economic Value: Increase property values and attract businesses.
Equity: Improve environmental justice in underserved areas with less green space.
Policy Recommendations
Increase Funding: Allocate more resources for tree planting and maintenance, especially in those with low-canopy or recent canopy loss, near major roads or freeways, and in historic neighborhoods.
Create a plan and identify and apply for grant money to help increase funding for tree programs
Develop a Master Plan: Create a citywide plan to expand and replace tree canopy, enhance biodiversity, and set carbon sequestration targets.
Community Engagement: Partner with local organizations to promote tree planting and care.
Tree Protection: Strengthen ordinances to protect mature trees during development.
Green Infrastructure: Incentivize tree planting in all new developments and urban design.
Investing in trees will help create a healthier, more resilient, and equitable city for all.
Thank you for your leadership on climate change and for considering this vital initiative.
Sincerely,
—
Julie A Ott
Sept 22, 2024
Dear Members of the Climate Change Sub-Committee:
Three years ago, I purchased a home in the Luther Burbank Garden District and was shocked to find that the “City of Trees” has a serious tree canopy problem including:
• The lack of a health equitable tree canopy!
• The lack of a city tree program,
• The absence of city-community organization partnership, • Many old, sick trees,
• Trees being cut down, right and left, with no consequences, • Many empty tree wells – even right outside City Hall, • New/replacement trees were hard to find,
• No one at the city to call about its trees!
I was even more dismayed to discover that the City of Santa Rosa, unlike many cities in California, did not apply, and thus was not awarded, Inflation Reduction Act tree funds. I was beside myself to discover that the City of Santa Rosa, not only did not apply for these funds but did not even know about these funds, despite the news of the availability of these funds being widely disseminated.
I am cautiously happy to hear that the Climate Change Sub-Committee will be discussing trees at the October 2
nd, 2024 meeting. I would hope that the Committee is aware of the scientific evidence on the ecological and public health benefits of trees. Surely you must know that the clock is ticking and thus we must be working to mitigate the effects of climate change now, most specifically addressing increasing heat and the uneven rains.
Trees are one of the few things that we can do relatively easy and inexpensively to address the effects of a changing climate plus mitigate the impact of urban pollution and noise, and to create more healthy communities.
I am writing to tell the Committee that it has no choice but to make tree canopy a priority across all city departments which means:
1. Task staff to seek out funding for tree canopy;
2. Implement and enforce policies regarding the cutting of all trees;
3. Implement public notification requirements of trees being removal so the public can weigh in, endure that the removals are necessary, and to create a value toward trees and to help the public understand the importance of eliminating trees, especially mature trees;
4. Require trees to be planted at a minimum of every 25 feet along sidewalks and bike lanes;
5. Require any tree being removed to be replaced within 60 days;
6. Require every home to contribute to sidewalk tree canopy; Permits for other home renovations cannot be signed off on unless there is the presence of a street tree.
7. Require all public works projects to include the addition of trees;
8. Make sidewalk cutting for trees same day/over the counter permitting or eliminate permitting all together;
9. Provide residents a fee for service by DPW to cut tree wells when requested by residents,
10. Implement significant fines to tree service companies that violate policies;
11. Plant in open areas, along major transit corridors, in school yards, etc large native trees; these trees are likely to be able to sustain the future’s climate changes;
12. Create a program to help homeowners repair sidewalks possibility damaged by trees and to cut tree wells bigger. Relatedly, remove the extra cement, bricks, asphalt installed to covered open curbs which would result in increasing the city’s permeable surfaces,
13. Hire an arborist to do a city-wide tree canopy assessment to examine the health of the city’s tree canopy and to identify canopy inequities.
14. Task the city with implementing a Free Tree Giveaway. I personally will provide funding for such a program.
The list above is not complete nor are these ideas new. These approaches are currently being employed by many cities in California. The City of Santa Rosa can look to Petaluma, a city a fraction of the size, who is many years ahead of Santa Rosa in understanding the importance of its tree canopy in mitigating climate change.
I have included a Climate Forward Tree list that was completed for Santa Rosa in 2022 by the Master Gardeners, although no one seems to know about this list. I have provided this list to Tim Finnegan, Parks Dept, for review. Please forward to others who may be working with trees in their city work.
In summary, The City of Santa Rosa needs to prioritize tree canopy, task staff with identifying and applying for funding, and work to get a functional and progressive Tree Program ASAP. I completely support the Climate Change Subcommittee FINALLY putting tree canopy on its agenda and hope it moves forward with an extensive tree program.
Beth Brown
Founder of Santa Rosa Releaf
From: Marian Knox
To: Montoya, Michelle
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Advocating for tree programs
Date: Monday, September 30, 2024 1:53:35 PM
I am writing to advocate tree programs and policies in our neighborhoods to address climate change, enhance neighborhood health, and continue to make Santa Rosa a wonderful place to live and work.
I urge the city to source funding such as the IRA act tree monies that many CA cities have obtained. Doing so would make Santa Rosa's Urban tree program one of the most cost-effective and impactful ways Thank you,
For your taking serious notice of this matter.
Marian Knox Mill street!
From: Merrysue Mosconi
To: Montoya, Michelle
Subject: [EXTERNAL] IRA Act tree monies
Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 7:47:12 AM
Santa Rosa City Council has been remiss in ignoring the IRA Act which many of our Sonoma County Cities like Petaluma and Ukiah have obtained.
I, like many find it Ironic that the city who claims Luther Burbank as one of their heroes would be too lazy to apply for monies that would provide funding to beautify our neighborhoods and plant trees to create cooling shade, improve community health and neighborhood wealth.
If Luther were alive today, he would urge you to apply for this money..
Do your job for all of us.
I urge you to do it NOW!
Merrysue Mosconi
Luther Burbank Neighborhood
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