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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-05-20; Parks & Recreation Commission; 502-5; Community Forest Management PlanI"" PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION -AGENDA BILL I AB# 502-5 TITLE : 0 INFO ,- MTG. DATE: 5-20-02 COMMUNITY FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN ACTION STAFF: CARROLL RECOMMENDED ACTION : That the Parks and Recreation Commission accept the Community Forest Management Plan and recommends the City Council to adopt said plan. ITEM EXPLANATION : On June 6, 2000, the City Council appropriated funds and directed staff to implement the Accessory Recommendations created by the Citizen Committee to Study the City's Tree Policy. The Committee felt that the Accessory Recommendations would enhance the tree policy for the entire City. One of the main recommendations was to create a Community Forest Management Plan (CFMP). A CFMP is a document that will provide direction to develop regulations and incentives to manage tree-related issues in a proactive manner. The plan will address public trees and will discuss planting, maintenance, removal, replacement and the preservation of public trees. The Plan will also help raise citizen awareness of the benefits of a healthy and diverse urban forest, proper tree selection and care. In addition, the Plan will include the remaining Accessory Recommendation items such as: 0 Updating the City's tree list. Updating the City's Uniform Street Tree Planting Map. 0 Replace old age trees. 0 Removal of trees not in the City's right-of-way. 0 Develop a Heritage Tree Program. 0 Develop a Management and Rehabilitation Plan for Hosp Grove. With the assistance from David Evans & Associates, the Plan is now complete and it is available for public comment. A copy of the Plan is currently on display at the Main and Cole Libraries. The CFMP is also available on the City's website. On May 13, 2002, the Plan was presented to Carlsbad's Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), which has been working on developing a visual Heritage Tree Guide for the City. The HPC accepted the CFMP and is recommending that the City Council adopt said Plan. A representative from David Evans & Associates will be attending tonight's meeting to give a brief presentation about the CFMP. EXHIBITS: 1. Community Forest Management Plan - Distributed May 9" to Parks and Recreation Commission Members. Additional copies are available for review at each of the two City Libraries and at 405 Oak (Public Works Maintenance Yard). 1 a sl I '1 ra Questisms about the Carisbad Community Forest Management Pian .- I understand we are planning on planting 400 new trees in the 3300 empty spaces waiting to be filled. This will take over 8 years. Could we increase this to 600 per year so that we can help balance the lack of older trees? Currently only 25% are over 12 years old, yet we are celebrating our 50 birthday. Then the baby boomers may be able to enjoy in their lifetime. Be sure to include HOA’s in community education, the boards typically meet 6 times per year and would welcome a report on tree maintenance and care. If we start a tree steward program, I suggest we start with challenging the nrhnnln tn anme anrt nf rnntent ). You list lots of indirect public relations, is there one person who will be responsible for this? Tree selection: Since Carlsbad is famous for our flower fields, it would make sense to capitalize on this with additional flowering tree in our approved list. Large-”Chinese Flame Tree, African Tulip Medium-Silk Floss, Jacaranda Small-”Evergreen Pear, Pink Trumpet Tree, Flowering Peach /c All of these can be seen at Quail Botanical Gardens and Balboa Park. Since Phase I1 of the Heritage Tree program will be identifying Heritage Trees outside the ’Village”, can we do this simultaneously to help build community awareness since there is a lack of large trees. This may in turn encourage communities to plant more mature trees in their open space. In reviewing the stand alone Hosp Grove management plan I have serious concerns about the money and time investment into a park that is geographically difficult to access, has inhospitable topography to humans and trees, is surrounded by major arterial roads and highways, is noisy and used marginally. In a time of diminishing resources and increasing population, it is paramount to invest our dollars in parks that service the greatest part of our population. The natural constraints, disease, lack of diversity, inadequate spacing, inadequate soil cover, poor soil, no imigation, present a real challenge. The inherent problems with fire, vandalism, - remoteness and limited parking are a given no matter what we plant there. I suggest you proceed with the removal of the dead trees and watch closely the expenditures as our budgets evolve in the next 5 years.