HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-03-14; Status of the City of Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan Update; Hazeltine, Chrisro the members of the:
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Council Memorandum
March 14, 2019
To:
From:
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Chris Hazeltine, Parks & Recreation Direi~
Via: Elaine Lu key, Chief Operations Officer '1/
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Carlsbad
Re: Status of the City of Carlsbad Community Forest Management Plan Update
This purpose of this Memorandum is to provide a status of the Carlsbad Community Forest
Management Plan (CCFMP) update.
Background
In negotiations to settle the lawsuit against the city's certification of the General Plan
Environmental Impact Report, North County Advocates expressed their desire that the city
update the CCFMP. In March 2017, the City Council approved the General Plan Lawsuit
Settlement Agreement between the City of Carlsbad and North County Advocates {Council
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 City Council to approve an update to the CCFMP.
Discussion
On Sept. 18, 2018, the City Council received the attached staff report, and adopted a resolution
authorizing staff to update the CCFMP. As noted in the staff report, the update requires
additional expenditures and resources, including staff time from the Parks & Recreation, Public
Works, Library & Cultural Arts, Community & Economic Development, Communications,
Finance, and Fire Departments/Divisions. The update also necessitates the hiring of qualified
consultants, and the re-engagement of the public. Staff estimated costs of $135,000 and a
minimum of one year to complete the update to the CCFMP.
Since the City Council's authorization to proceed, Parks & Recreation staff has taken the
following actions toward completing the update to the CCFMP:
Sept. 20, 2018:
Oct. 11, 2018:
Solicited consulting arborist firm's services for compilation of update
Held meeting with consulting arboriculture firm to review anticipated
scope of work, and request a proposal
Parks & Recreation Department
Administration 799 Pine Avenue, Suite 200 I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-434-2826 t
Memo ID #2019022
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
March 14, 2019
Page 2
Oct. 19, 2018:
Oct. 24, 2018:
Nov. 1, 2018:
Nov. 8, 2018:
Nov. 14, 2018:
Dec. 13, 2018:
Dec. 14, 2018:
Dec. 19, 2018:
Jan. 8, 2019:
Jan. 10, 2019:
Jan. 14, 2019:
Completed execution of a services agreement with historian/arborist to
bring current the Heritage Tree Reports (Ph. I and Ph. II)
Instructed consultant to proceed with requisite field inspections and
administrative tasks
Received proposal from consulting arboriculture firm for compilation of
update
Negotiated cost reduction on proposal from consulting arboriculture firm
Approved reduced proposal from consulting arboriculture firm
Held meeting with consulting arboriculture firm to co_mmence services
Instructed firm to proceed with GPS surveys/inventory refinement
Instructed firm to proceed with administrative tasks
Held teleconference with city's Communication Manager to review
upcoming needs for public outreach on the update to the CCFMP
Corresponded with city's Sr. Program Manager to request participation in
outreach/review of update, to incorporate Climate Action Plan principles
Held meeting with consulting arboriculture firm to review progress on
surveys, inventory, and administrative tasks
Provided firm with responses to specific inquiries on each service, and
instructed its staff to continue
Corresponded with the city's Senior Planner to ensure measures related
to Village & Barrio MP are addressed, per the California Coastal
Commission
Committed to providing California Coastal Commission opportunity to
preview the revised list on Approved Species of Street Trees
Determined that historian/arborist's work on Heritage Tree Reports was
progressing on track
Verified field inspections had been completed, and administrative
tasks were due to be completed by April
Determined that consulting arboriculture firm had completed GPS
surveys/inventory refinement for Lighting and Landscaping District No. I
Instructed firm to proceed with GPS surveys/inventory refinement for
Lighting and Landscaping District No. II
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
March 14, 2019
Page 3
Jan. 22, 2019:
Jan. 24, 2019:
Feb. 7, 2019:
February 2019:
Next Steps
Received draft of revised list on Approved Species of Street Trees from
consulting arboriculture firm and performed departmental review
Instructed consulting arboriculture firm to proceed with revision
Corresponded with city's Assistant Fire Chief to request participation in
outreach/review of update to the CCFMP, to incorporate fire
prevention/safety standard
Received proposed edits from the city's Assistant Fire Chief on the
Emergency Operations Chapter of the current CCFM P
Instructed consulting arboriculture firm to incorporate the proposed
edits into the update to the CCFMP
Conducted multiple email communications with consulting arboriculture
firm on several chapters and subsections of the update to the CCFMP
Instructed consulting arboriculture firm to proceed with a variety of
additions/modifications to the update, including those related to tree
protection and preservation; expansion, maintenance and
sustainability of the community forest; tree trimming standards and
best maintenance practices; integrated pest management; tree
removal and replacement policies; and risk management
By early spring, Parks & Recreation staff anticipates receiving the initial draft of the update to
the CCFMP from the consulting arboriculture firm, as well as the current Heritage Tree Reports
from the historian/arborist. Staff will then review the documents, and coordinate the editing as
needed.
Staff will next engage the public for review of the documents in the spring. Staff will consider
the input received from the public, and provide instruction on editing and completing the draft
update to the CCFMP (including the Heritage Tree Reports) by mid-summer. Staff will then
present the final draft of the update of the CCFMP to the Historic Preservation Commission, the
Parks & Recreation Commission, and the City Council in September, for potential adoption.
cc: Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Gary Barberio, Assistant City Manager
Kyle Lancaster, Parks Services Manager
Tim Selke, Parks Superintendent