Title
Urban Forestry Asset Management Plan Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Briefing - No action requested
City Manager Recommendation:
No action requested.
Report
Issue:
This briefing will provide an update on the status of the Urban Forestry Strategic Plan, Street Tree Inventory, and implementing initial recommendations of those reports toward improved asset management of the city’s urban forest.
Staff Contact:
Shelly Bentley, Urban Forestry Program Manager, Community Planning & Development, 360.753.8301
Presenter(s):
Shelly Bentley, Urban Forestry Program Manager, Community Planning & Development
Background and Analysis:
In 2015, we completed an Urban Forestry Strategic Plan. A first step in the strategy was to form a cross-department urban forestry team, which we have done. The strategy charged the team with evaluating the next priority steps needed to better manage our urban forest. The team has defined the following tasks and timelines (assuming current level of resources):
1. Street Tree Inventory (2016)
2. Master Street Tree Plan Update (2017), Urban Forestry Manual Update (2017)
3. Urban Forestry Management Plan (2018)
It is important to do these steps in this order, as our current street tree inventory was outdated and we now have technology to be able to use and update the data as we manage our assets. The street tree inventory will provide information about the type, health and location of the City’s street trees in downtown and along our major roadways.
We are currently completing the street tree inventory through a technical assistance grant from Department of Natural Resources/USDA Forest Service. With this inventory information, the Master Street Tree Plan can be updated. This plan will provide an overall plan for maintenance of our current street trees downtown and along our major arterials, and planning for appropriate future street tree planting and/or replacement and move us in the direction of establishing an asset management approach to our street trees.
This base of information is necessary to support development of an Urban Forestry Program Management Plan in 2018. The Management Plan will include the City’s entire urban forest including parks, public open space, street trees and private forested property. It should address issues like development review, urban forestry related codes and policies, public outreach and education, hazard tree maintenance and future planting and replacement among other things.
Neighborhood/Community Interests:
Olympia’s urban forest is an asset and helps to define the character of our community. The importance of the City’s urban forests was well documented and supported in the Imagine Olympia process and the adopted Comprehensive Plan.
Options:
Briefing only.
Financial Impact:
None at this time.
Attachments:
Urban Forestry Next Steps Chart