Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution accepts the final report and recommendations from the Urban Forestry Task Force. The report includes 46 recommendations for future action. Accepting the report does not have an immediate fiscal impact but implementing the recommendations may result in the need for increased funding in the future.
Title
SECOND SUBSTITUTE - Accepting the final report and recommendations from the Urban Forestry Task Force.
Body
WHEREAS, the Urban Forestry Task Force was created by the City of Madison Common Council at their August 1, 2017 meeting and charged with the following objectives:
• Review available research and best practices on promoting a vibrant, healthy, and sustainable urban forest.
• Review City policies, practices, programs, and operations that impact the urban forest (e.g. Zoning Code, Emerald Ash Borer Mitigation Plan).
• Solicit input from local stakeholders with additional information on the issue as needed (e.g. WI DNR).
• Develop recommendations to the Mayor, Common Council, Committees or Commissions, and/or City agencies on the establishment of a Canopy Coverage Goal and action plan for the city covering both public and private trees.
• Develop recommendations to the Mayor, Common Council, Committees or Commissions, and/or City agencies to preserve and expand our urban forest resources through a well-planned and systematic approach to tree management.
• Develop recommendations to encourage private landowners to protect, preserve and promote a diverse and sustainable urban forest; and,
WHEREAS, the Task Force included:
• Chair: Jeremy Kane, Associate Director of Urban Tree Alliance, Resident
• Vice Chair: Jackie Suska, Resident
• Former Alderperson David Ahrens, Common Council, District 15 (January 2018 - April 2019)
• Alderperson Sheri Carter, Former Common Council Vice President, District 14
• Lisa Coleman, City Engineering Division (January 2018 - July 2018)
• Marla Eddy, City Forester
• Alderperson Keith Furman, Common Council, District 19 (April 2019 - present)
• Julie Laundrie, Resident
• Dan McAuliffe, City Planning Division
• Michael Rewey, Resident
• James Wolfe, City Engineering Division (July 2018 - present); and,
WHEREAS, it is noted that a special thank you goes to Jeremy Kane, Jackie Suska, Marla Eddy, Julie Laundrie, Dan McAuliffe, Michael Rewey, James Wolfe, Alder Sheri Carter, Alder Keith Furman, Former Alder David Ahrens, and Lisa Coleman for their commitment om ensuring that canopy coverage, presevation and expansion of our urban tree forest and resources in the City of Madison are protected, that we embrace the promotion of a diverse and sustainable urban tree forest in the City of Madison and that the final report reflected the diligence and devotion of the task force's efforts to seek input from the public, city departments, and incorporated those voices into the report; and,
WHEREAS, the Task Force first convened on January 11, 2018 and held a series of thirty-five (35) meetings plus one (1) Public Input meeting; and,
WHEREAS, the Task Force, in consultation with City staff, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison Gas & Electric, the University of Wisconsin-Madison/UW-Extension, reviewed available research and best practices on promoting a vibrant, healthy, and sustainable urban forest as well as City policies, practices, programs, and operations that impact the urban forest; and,
WHEREAS, the final report contains recommendations regarding Canopy Coverage, Preservation and Expansion of Urban Tree Resources, and the Protection and Promotion of a Diverse and Sustainable Urban Forest,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council accept the final report and recommendations of the Urban Forestry Task Force; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a cross-functional staff team from Parks, Parks-Forestry, City Engineering, and Planning be created to prioritize, 3-5 specific recommendations from the report, with implementation timelines, specific costs and cost-benefit analysis, that will be presented to the Common Council by February, 2020 for consideration in the 2021 budget Capital Improvement Plan (CIP); and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a cross-functional staff team from Parks, Streets-Forestry, City Engineering, Traffic Engineering and Planning be created to prioritize, 3-5 specific recommendations based on the sub-committee’s recommendations, with implementation timelines, specific costs and cost-benefit analysis, that will be presented to the Common Council by April, 2020 for consideration in the 2021 budget for both Operating and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP); and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Common Council directs the Council Chief of Staff to present next steps to Common Council Executive Committee.