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Home My WebLink About2019-09-16; Parks & Recreation Commission; ; 0919-3 COMMUNITY FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN Meeting Date: September 16, 2019 To: Parks & Recreation Commission From: Kyle Lancaster, & Recreation Director Staff Contact: Tim Selke, Parks Superintendent tim.selke@carlsbadca.gov, or 760-434-2857 Subject: Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan and recommendation of its approval by the City Council Recommended Action Receive a presentation on the update to the Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan and recommend its approval by the City Council. Executive Summary: Section 4.3.10 of the Carlsbad General Plan Lawsuit Settlement Agreement executed in March 2017, between the city and North County Advocates, states “Within 18 months, the city shall present to the City Council for consideration an update to the Community Forest Management Plan which includes a program to identify and protect heritage trees, where practicable, and will include provisions for protection and enhancement of the urban tree canopy.” On September 18, 2018, the City Council received a staff report on the Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan (CCFMP), which included discussion of various chapters and sections of the document that were eligible for updates (Exhibit 1). Staff estimated the update would entail $135,000 in expenditures and take a minimum of one year to complete. The City Council adopted a resolution authorizing staff to update the CCFMP, in response to the General Plan Lawsuit Settlement Agreement (Resolution No. 2018-168). The update to the CCFMP is complete and staff is proposing the Historic Preservation Commission’s recommendation for its approval (specific to the Heritage Tree Reports) by the City Council. Discussion Background In negotiations to settle the lawsuit challenging the city’s certification of the General Plan Environmental Impact Report, North County Advocates expressed their desire that the city update its community forest management plan. In March 2017, the City Council approved the General Plan Lawsuit Settlement Agreement between the city and North County Advocates (Resolution No. 2017-228), which includes Section 4.3.10 that states: “Within 18 months, the city shall present to the City Council for consideration an update to the Community Forest Management Plan which includes a program to identify and protect heritage trees, where practicable, and will include provisions for protection and enhancement of the urban tree canopy.” The agreement didn’t obligate the City Council to approve an update to the plan. 46 of 64 On Sept. 18, 2018, the City Council received a staff report on the Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan (CCFMP), which included discussion of various chapters and sections of the document that were eligible for updates. The City Council adopted a resolution authorizing staff to update the CCFMP, in response to the General Plan Lawsuit Settlement Agreement. Staff subsequently sought and hired two qualified consultants, Wisniewski & Associates and West Coast Arborists, Inc. (WCA), to assist in the process of updating the CCFMP. The assistance of Wisniewski & Associates was specific to the updating of the Carlsbad Heritage Tree Reports – i.e., The Historic Village District, and Phase II. The assistance of WCA was germane to updating the full CCFMP, minus the Carlsbad Heritage Tree Reports. WCA has also been the city’s primary contractor for tree maintenance services over the last 15 years. Tree Inventory As a foundation of updating the CCFMP, staff ensured that WCA brought current the full inventory of city managed trees. – i.e., street, median, park, facility, trail and urban forest interface trees. The inventory includes tree characteristics such as species, height, width, and condition, as well as Global Positioning Systems location, and inspection/pruning history. As a result of those recent efforts, the full inventory of city managed trees is at 28,066 trees, of 284 different species. In addition, the city’s urban forest areas – i.e., Hosp Grove, Woodbine Banks, Batiquitos Lane and Village H – consist of an estimated 15,000 trees, predominantly of Eucalyptus species. Combined, the city successfully manages an estimated 43,000 trees, using industry standards and best management practices. Goals and Strategies of the Updated CCFMP As with the original CCFMP, the updated CCFMP specifically addresses the portions of the community forest that the city can influence directly. The plan is focused on city-managed landscapes and areas within the street tree assessment districts. The updated CCFMP includes the following goals and strategies for the protection and enhancement of the urban forest canopy: 1. Promote citywide tree preservation and community education about the community forest and sustainability. A. Maintain the Tree City USA designation in perpetuity. B. Encourage residents to participate in city tree planting events held on occasions such as Earth Day, Arbor Day and National Public Lands Day. Such events typically include collaboration with staff from the Communications and Environmental Services Divisions to further assist in promoting quality tree care in the community. C. Showcase specimen trees or heritage trees on the city’s website and on social media throughout the year to generate interest in the diversity and significance of trees. 2. Expand the community forest in areas with lesser tree canopy density and maximize its benefits. A. Add an average of 500 trees per year to the city’s tree inventory or affect an increase in Carlsbad’s Total Tree Canopy by 5% (whichever occurs first) through the end of calendar year 2025, so as to further enhance the community forest. 47 of 64 B. Plant two inventoried trees for every one inventoried tree removed, to ensure the longevity of the community forest. Only one each of those planted trees shall count toward the addition of an average of 500 trees per year to the city’s tree inventory. C. A concentrated effort will be made to install new trees in sparsely forested areas in Hosp Grove that lack shade canopy. 3. Manage over 43,000 City of Carlsbad-owned/ controlled trees using industry standards and best management practices. A. Continuously review the condition and recommended maintenance of the city’s community forest and look for opportunities to improve health. B. Utilize best management practices and industry standards when all work is performed on city trees. C. Continuously train staff on new technology and scientific discoveries to ensure the most up-to-date information is in the hands of tree care professionals. Consistency and Alignment The updated CCFMP is consistent with, and/or aligned with, each of the following: • Carlsbad Community Vision and Values • Carlsbad City Council Policy No. 4 – Street Trees • Carlsbad Municipal Code Chapter 11.12 – Trees and Shrubs • Carlsbad Municipal Ordinances Nos. 43, 44 and 46 – Water Conservation/Irrigation • Carlsbad Landscape Manual • Carlsbad Climate Action Plan • Carlsbad Local Coastal Program • Carlsbad Village and Barrio Master Plan Carlsbad Heritage Tree Reports Chapter 6 of the updated CCFMP is dedicated to a program to identify and protect heritage trees, where practicable. As another foundational element of the updated CCFMP, staff ensured that Wisniewski & Associates brought current the Carlsbad Heritage Tree Reports – i.e., The Historic Village District (also known as Phase I), and Phase II. Phase I identified heritage tree candidates that were predominantly within the Historic Village District (depicted via maps in Appendix A to the report). Phase II identified heritage tree candidates in a wider geographical area, some near the original zone, and some within further outlying areas (depicted via maps in Appendix A of the report). The Carlsbad Heritage Tree Reports contain both city-owned and privately-owned heritage tree candidates. The original Phase I report of 2002 contained 110 total heritage tree candidates. The updated Phase I report reflects 74 of those tree candidates remain, and one tree candidate has been added, for a net of 75 heritage tree candidates. Of those 75 heritage tree candidates, 41 are city-owned and 34 are privately owned. The original Phase II report of 2009 contained 51 total tree candidates. The updated Phase II report reflects 41 of those tree candidates remain. Of those 41 heritage tree candidates, 11 are city-owned and 30 are privately owned. Both Carlsbad Heritage Tree Reports contain the same Management Recommendations Summary (Phase 1 – Page 91; Phase II – Page 257). The summary contains 15 48 of 64 recommendations, some of which are solely administrative and others of which have operational and/or financial impacts. As stated in both reports, the recommendations are to: …provide for the health, safety and longevity of Carlsbad’s Heritage Trees. These recommendations should be adopted by the City Council as mandatory for all city owned Heritage Trees, and are advisory only recommendations for any privately-owned and non-city owned public Heritage Trees. The Carlsbad Heritage Tree Report – Phase II also contains six Supplemental Recommendations (Page 260). Like the initial recommendations, some of the supplemental recommendations are solely administrative and others have operational and/or financial impacts. As stated in the report: The trees in the Phase II Study have some additional requirements, especially those located in historic parks or in natural open space areas. Some of these recommendations are of a general nature, and others are specific to individual trees. As in the Phase I Study the recommendations should be adopted as mandatory for all city owned Heritage Trees and are advisory only for privately owned and any non-city owned public Heritage Trees. Both Carlsbad Heritage Tree Reports additionally contain the same Heritage Tree Nomination Process (Phase 1 – Page 93; Phase II – Page 261). A ten-step nomination process is suggested. As stated in the report: A process should be developed for the city to allow for the nomination of additional Heritage Trees by its citizens. Review, Input and Action The process of updating the CCFMP involved review and input from staff of the Parks & Recreation, Public Works, Library & Cultural Arts, Community & Economic Development, Communications, Finance, and Fire Departments. Additionally, the process included review and input from North County Advocates. In late June 2019, staff sent a preliminary draft of the updated CCFMP to North County Advocates. In early July 2019, North County Advocates provided comments to the preliminary draft of the updated CCFMP and in late August 2019, staff responded to those comments (Exhibit 3). In late August 2019, staff also posted a revised draft of the updated CCFMP on the city website for public review, sent social media alerts, and notified the Historic Preservation Commission and the Parks & Recreation Commission. On Sept. 9, 2019, the Historic Preservation Commission received a presentation on the updated CCFMP (specific to the Heritage Tree Reports) and voted to recommend its approval by the City Council. On Sept. 11, North County Advocates provided further comments to the revised draft of the updated CCFMP and on Sept. 12, 2019, staff responded to those comments (Exhibit 4). No other comments from the public were provided. 49 of 64 Next Steps On Sept. 24, 2019, staff will recommend the City Council approve the update to the CCFMP, and appropriate ongoing funds for implementation of its goals, strategies and recommendations. Exhibits: 1. City Council Staff Report, dated Sept. 18, 2018, authorizing staff to update the CCFMP 2. North County Advocates comments/staff responses on prelim. draft of update to the CCFMP 3. North County Advocates comments on revised draft of update to the CCFMP 4. Update to the CCFMP, on file at the City Clerk’s Office 50 of 64 51 of 64 52 of 64 53 of 64 54 of 64 55 of 64 56 of 64 57 of 64 58 of 64 59 of 64 60 of 64 61 of 64 62 of 64 63 of 64 64 of 64