Versión en español a continuación. Urban Forestry Committee Meeting February 10, 2021 Urban Forestry Committee to be held February 10, 2021 with Social Distancing Modifications. Public comment will be allowed via telephone; no in-person input will be allowed. All speakers must register in advance (February 9, 2021 by noon). All public comment will occur at the beginning of the meeting. To speak remotely at the February 10, 2021 Urban Forestry Committee Meeting, members of the public must: •Call or email the board liaison Kaela Champlin, (512) 974-3443, Kaela.Champlin@austintexas.gov, no later than noon, (the day before the meeting). The following information is required: speaker name, item number(s) they wish to speak on, whether they are for/against/neutral, email address and telephone number (must be the same number that will be used to call into the meeting). •Once a request to speak has been made to the board liaison, the information to call on the day of the scheduled meeting will be provided either by email or phone call. •Speakers must call in at least 15 minutes prior to meeting start time in order to speak, late callers will not be accepted and will not be able to speak. •Speakers will be placed in a queue until their time to speak. •Handouts or other information may be emailed to Kaela.Champlin@austintexas.gov by noon the day before the scheduled meeting. This information will be provided to Board and Commission members in advance of the meeting. •If the meeting is broadcast live, it may be viewed here: http://www.austintexas.gov/page/watch-atxn- live 1 Reunión del Urban Forestry Committee FECHA de la reunion (10 de febrero de 2021) La junta se llevará con modificaciones de distanciamiento social Se permitirán comentarios públicos por teléfono; no se permitirá ninguna entrada en persona. Todos los oradores deben registrarse con anticipación (9 de febrero de 2021 antes del mediodía). Todos los comentarios públicos se producirán al comienzo de la reunión. Para hablar de forma remota en la reunión, los miembros del público deben: • Llame o envíe un correo electrónico al enlace de la junta en Kaela Champlin, (512) 974-3443, Kaela.Champlin@austintexas.gov a más tardar al mediodía (el día antes de la reunión). Se requiere la siguiente información: nombre del orador, número (s) de artículo sobre el que desean hablar, si están a favor / en contra / neutral, dirección de correo electrónico (opcional) y un número de teléfono (debe ser el número que se …
City Arborist Program Heritage Tree Report October - December 2020 Issue Date Address Diameter Condition 10/1/2020 2712 SCENIC DR 10/1/2020 2725 BARTON SKWY 10/1/2020 2725 BARTON SKWY 10/1/2020 2725 BARTON SKWY 10/1/2020 1602 WETHERSFIELD RD 10/1/2020 3602 WINFIELD CV 10/1/2020 2712 SCENIC DR 10/1/2020 2712 SCENIC DR 10/2/2020 1911 ROBBINS PL 10/2/2020 10716 GALSWORTHY LANE 10/2/2020 205 ROWLAND DR 10/2/2020 405 W ELIZABETH ST 10/2/2020 706 E 43RD STREET 10/2/2020 5901 SHOALWOOD AVE 10/2/2020 405 W ELIZABETH ST 10/2/2020 405 W ELIZABETH ST 10/5/2020 7053 AUCKLAND DRIVE 10/5/2020 2902 CLEARVIEW DR 10/5/2020 2820 PRADO ST 10/5/2020 2004 PARKER LN 10/5/2020 4713 CHIAPPERO TRL 10/5/2020 1406 E 37TH ST 10/5/2020 4713 CHIAPPERO TRL 10/5/2020 4713 CHIAPPERO TRL 10/5/2020 4713 CHIAPPERO TRL 10/5/2020 4713 CHIAPPERO TRL 10/5/2020 1300 GUADALUPE STREET 10/5/2020 4419 DIANE DRIVE 10/5/2020 4713 CHIAPPERO TRL 10/6/2020 4501 SHOAL CREEK BLVD 10/6/2020 4501 SHOAL CREEK BLVD 10/6/2020 8529 ALOPHIA DR 10/7/2020 505 W ST JOHNS AVENUE 10/7/2020 4206 WILDWOOD RD 10/7/2020 5108 WOODVIEW AVE 10/7/2020 3102 W HIGHLAND TER 10/7/2020 5108 WOODVIEW AVE 10/7/2020 1624 W 5TH STREET 10/7/2020 2007 ROBINHOOD TRL 10/7/2020 2312 WESTOAK DR 10/7/2020 3102 W HIGHLAND TER 10/7/2020 2007 ROBINHOOD TRL 10/7/2020 2007 ROBINHOOD TRL 10/8/2020 6700 BRIDGE HILL CV 10/8/2020 13002 HUNTERS CHASE DR 10/8/2020 6700 BRIDGE HILL CV Public No Yes Yes Yes No No No No Yes No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No No Species Live Oak Live Oak Live Oak Live Oak Pecan Live Oak American Elm Live Oak Pecan Live Oak Pecan Live Oak Pecan Pecan Live Oak Live Oak Live Oak Cedar Elm American Elm Cedar Elm Live Oak Pecan Live Oak Live Oak Spanish Oak Live Oak Pecan American Elm Spanish Oak Live Oak Live Oak Live Oak Red Oak Live Oak Pecan Live Oak Cedar Elm Live Oak Live Oak Live Oak Live Oak Live Oak Live Oak Elm Live Oak Live Oak 24 Good 24 Good 24 Good 24 Good 25.75 Fair 28 Poor 29 Good 31.5 Good 24 Fair 24 DDI 24 Good 28.5 Fair 31 DDI 32 Fair 36 Fair 46 Fair 24 Good 25 Fair 25 Poor 26 Fair 26 Fair 28 DDI 29 Fair 30 Fair 30 Fair 33 Fair 34.5 DDI 36.5 …
Urban Forest Program Updates for Urban Forestry Subcommittee F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 1 Highlights • Youth Forest Council • Community Tree Priority Map • Arborist Continuing Education • Awards/Recognition • Staffing Youth Forest Council • 2020 wrap up, projects online • 2021 cohort on-board Community Tree Priority Map • Resource prioritization tool • Full write up online Community Tree Education • Certified Arborist Prep - virtual • Tree Maintenance Training • Project Learning Tree Awards Urban Connections – Teacher Conservation Institute 2020 Forestry Innovation Award Texas Forestry Association From Tree to Urban Forest Health 2020 Arboricultural Project of the Year Texas ISA Austin’s Possible Planting Space Map ESRI Map Gallery Staffing • Vacant Environmental Program Coordinator (Urban Forest Health coordinator) • Co-facilitator for Youth Forest Council (part time) Links Youth Forest Council Homepage: https://www.austintexas.gov/page/youth-forest-council Blogs: https://www.austintexas.gov/blog-tags/youth-forest-council Community Tree Priority Map Article: https://www.austintexas.gov/blog/explore-austins-community-tree-priority-map Map: https://arcg.is/1fvPq0 Teacher Conservation Institute Award https://tfaannualmeeting.com/2020-tfa-awards/texas-forestry-association-announces-aimiee-aubin-and-april-rose- as-forestry-innovation-award-recipients/ Austin’s Possible Planting Space Map https://www.dropbox.com/s/vw445j5h0qfp4ny/Possible%20Planting%20Space%202014%20Map%20v4.jpg?dl=0 Emily King Urban Forester Community Tree Preservation Division Development Services Department Emily.King@austintexas.gov
EXCEPTS FROM THE YEAR END SURVEY “Seeing myself improve in certain skills gave me more confidence in speaking up.” “I feel much more equipped to eventually enter the workforce. I feel much more connected to the urban forest and feel much more equipped to discuss it.” “I 100% improved my professional skills, including project management. I have already implemented this in some areas outside of YFC.” 100% OF YFC MEMBERS AGREED OR STRONGLY AGREED WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS: Through this internship, I learned new information about careers in the outdoors, nature, and the environment. I have spoken to others in my community (family, friends, neighbors, schoolmates, etc.) about the things I'm learning. Since starting the internship, I feel more equipped to take actions to support the urban forest in my community. COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECTS Each YFC member was responsible for planning a Community Action Project (CAP). CAPs were grounded in equity and community engagement and offered a chance for YFC members to share learnings with their own community. Despite the limitations presented by COVID- 19, 2020 YFC members designed and implemented impressive projects that deepened the Urban Forest Program’s connection to Austinites. “[The] most impactful part was having a chance to create my own community action project. I feel proud and thankful for letting me have the opportunity to use my own ideas for this project.” READ MORE ABOUT 2020 COMMUNITY ACTION PROJECTS. 2020 Y E A R I N R E V I E W Youth Forest Council (YFC) is a yearlong internship for young people in Austin. 2020 was the pilot year of the program. Over the course of the year, 12 interns joined the Urban Forest Program as temporary part-time staff. Each intern worked independently and with staff and partners on projects aligned to the Urban Forest Program’s mission of “Enhancing Austin’s quality of life by fostering a healthy urban forest for all.” The program is aligned to multiple strategies within Strategic Direction 2023: ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND AFFORDABILITY HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT GOVERNMENT THAT WORKS FOR ALL
DRAFT Tree Inspection, Accountability, and Reporting Concerns Tree inspectors now answer to Construction Dept. and lost their connection to the city arborist because direct supervision has been transferred to the Construction Division. The City Arborist develops, coordinates, and implements citywide urban forest regulatory policies, procedures, and programs and is the responsible party and the expert resource for staff. Management and oversight are crucial. The City arborist is also the connection to the community. City of Austin code 25-8-623 states, “the city arborist shall inspect trees.” Community Tree Preservation Division had a tree-oriented staff that connected them to the community. This is City of Austin policy. Experienced tree inspectors are now tasked with erosion control and sedimentation review and trees are no longer a priority. Trees are no longer the priority and focus, creating a drop in the level of service to trees and diluted the effectiveness of the city arborist program. Development is the major reason for yearly tree decline. Citizen violation reports are sent to the construction dept. Loss of faith with the community and connection to the City Arborist office. Change in established policy. Response time: adding layers Lack of understanding of tree survival issue and active violations. Loss of urgency. Safety issues. Adding layers to response time kills trees. Trees are alive and living breathing infrastructure. Rapid response to problem resolution is critical. All tree inspectors assessing trees need certification and training. Training is critical. Knowledge of code and recognizing tree impacts are critical for tree survival. UFC November 12, 2020 Recommendations: Address code 25-8-623 by restoring inspection oversight to the city arborist and prioritizing trees and sustainability. Only qualified tree inspectors should inspect trees. Re-establish the link for citizens reporting tree concerns to the city arborist office by returning oversight for tree inspections to the city arborist office. Develop an immediate response chain for urgent tree violations/safety issues/ inspections which should take top priority. Define tree safety issues by a qualified tree inspector. Restore direct supervision and allow the city arborist to speak directly to tree inspectors. Establish training guidelines for tree inspectors through the city arborist’s office including ISA tree risk assessment. Require the city arborist be involved in hiring of new tree inspectors, and have a role in writing job descriptions and performance reviews. Provide the Environmental Commission quarterly spreadsheets tracking tree violations/removals, inspections/results. Allow tree inspectors to inspect commercial sites monthly. Consider community …
