Urban Forestry Committee Meeting June 27th, 2024 at 11:30 AM Permitting And Development Center, Events Center, Room 1401 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive Austin, Texas 78752 Some members of the Urban Forestry Committee will be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Elizabeth Funk, Watershed Protection Department, at (512) 568-2244, Elizabeth.Funk@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). CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Richard Brimer (Committee Chair) Mariana Krueger Colin Nickells Melinda Schiera CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL AGENDA The first 5 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES STAFF BRIEFINGS Services Department 1. Approve the minutes of the Urban Forestry Committee Meeting of March 28, 2024 2. City Arborist Quarterly Report FY24 – Naomi Rotramel, City Arborist, Development 3. Staff briefing on climate adaptation and Austin’s urban forest – Emily King, Urban Forestry, Development Services Department DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Brimer, Urban Forestry Committee Chair Richard Brimer, Urban Forestry Committee Chair FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT 4. Discussion and recommendation on strategies to improve Austin’s tree canopy – Richard 5. Discussion and recommendation on the 2023-2024 Urban Forestry Annual Report – The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Elizabeth 512-568-2244, Elizabeth.Funk@austintexas.gov; for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. Protection Department, Funk, Watershed at
Vulnerability Assessment of Austin’s Urban Forest and Natural Areas J u n e 2 0 24 Vulnerability Assessment What is it Why it matters Dive deeper What is it An assessment that evaluates the vulnerability of urban trees and natural and developed landscapes within the City of Austin to a range of future climates. Vulnerability is… …the susceptibility of a system to the adverse effects of climate change. Vulnerability is a function of potential climate change impacts and the adaptive capacity of the system. Use this space for an engaging chart or images Vulnerability Assessment Highlights: Climate ● Increased temperatures ● Precipitation (droughts and floods) ● Shift to aridification Vulnerability Assessment Highlights: Trees Almost 90% of species are moderately – highly vulnerable 76% of low and moderately vulnerable species are native to our area Why it matters Climate change is here; 6 of the hottest 10 years in Austin were between 2000-2019. Austin has over 33 million trees; our trees will be directly and indirectly impacted by climate change. Extreme heat is a threat to our community. Trees shade and cool. Significant Benefits Dive deeper • Summary of the report here • Full report here • Austin's Climate Equity Plan Emily King Urban Forester Emily.King@AustinTexas.gov facebook.com/NatureCityATX instagram.com/NatureCityATX
Annual Internal Review This report covers the time period of 7/1/2023 to 6/30/2024 Urban Forestry Committeee The Committee mission statement is: May study, investigate, advise, report, and recommend actions, programs, or plans the Committee determines necessary or advisable for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal, or disposition of trees and shrubs and other landscaping in public parks, along streets, and in other public areas. Develop recommendations for urban forest plans for the planting, maintenance, and replacement of trees in parks, along streets, and in other public area, and submit them to the Environmental Commission for review and appropriate action. 1. Describe the board’s actions supporting their mission during the previous calendar year. Address all elements of the board’s mission statement as provided in the relevant sections of the City Code. • Review current tree removal and public complaint processes. • Review and recommend Austin’s tree canopy status and goals for 2050. • Define the term “ghost trees” and how they impact tree canopy management. • Review Heritage Tree administrative varaiance process. • Plan for upcoming year’s activities and goals. • Receive update on tree preservation numbers. • Update Committee on tree preservation incentives in the HOME code amendments. 2. Determine if the board’s actions throughout the year comply with the mission statement. The Committee’s actions throughout the year did comply with the mission of the Urban Forestry Committee. 3. List the board’s goals and objectives for the new calendar year. • Continue to work with City Staff on implementation to meet the City’s goal of 50% canopy cover by the year 2050 and focus on increasing canopy equity. • Move the 50% canopy cover date forward to 2040. Annual Review and Work Plan 2024 Page 2 • Coordinate with Parks and Recreation Department and Parks Board in efforts to improve canopy cover along trails. • Work more closely with non-profits (e.g., Treefolks) to increase the number of trees provided to schools, public parks, and individuals in efforts to reduce the heat island effect in urban areas. • Develop plans with City Staff to encourage developers to increase the use of butterfly gardens, micro-forests to improve biodiversity. Improve documentation of unpermitted tree removals. • • Calculate City of Austin canopy cover biennially. • Require Urban Forestry to double the existing canopy coverage in East Austin (east of Interstate I-35) by 2040. • Adjust the tree mitigation fund to account for …
URBAN FORESTRY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION 2024XXXX-00X Date: Subject: City of Austin Tree Canopy Ordinance Motion by: Melinda Schiera Seconded by: WHEREAS, the Urban Forestry Committee recognizes Council approved, on August 8, 2019, a Resolution declaring a climate emergency in the City, and WHEREAS, the Council approved, on September 30, 2021, the Austin Climate Equity Plan setting a goal of 50% Tree Canopy by 2050, and WHEREAS, Council re-affirmed its target of net-zeros community-wide emissions by 2040 on February 15, 2024, and WHEREAS, current data shows 41% canopy cover city wide based on satellite imagery captured in the summer of 2022, and WHEREAS, the tree canopy over East Austin is less than West Austin, and there is a specific need to increase tree canopy on private land in East Austin, and WHEREAS, an expansive Tree Canopy mitigates the heat island effect, removes carbon from the air, improves community health be removing pollutants from the air, and improves biodiversity, and WHEREAS, feedback from Urban Landscape Architects to the Environmental Commission is that trees planted from site plan requirements are not surviving, THEREFORE, the Urban Forestry Committee recommends the Environmental Commission advise Council adopt the following actions to more aggressively expand, protect, and enhance the City’s Tree Canopy: 1. Set a goal of 50% city-wide canopy cover by 2040 instead of 2050. 2. Capture satellite imagery to calculate the city-wide canopy cover biennially instead of every four-years. 3. Require the City Arborist and the Development Services Department to document the number and scope of unpermitted removal of protected and heritage trees removed each year by address and actions taken. A report of these activities shall be presented to the Environmental Commission, Urban Forestry Committee, and Council annually. 1 of 3 4. Add fruit and nut bearing trees to the list of preferred trees that are appropriate for the Central Texas climate. Bennually update the list of preferred trees to adjust for changing climate. 5. Define a new category of protected trees, based on the breadth of the canopy in addition to the diameter as measured four and one-half feet above natural grade. 6. Improve incentive plans for developers to encourage retention of existing trees using non- financial incentives, development considerations, density, increased FAR, etc. 7. Require the Urban Forestry Department develop a plan to double the existing canopy coverage in East Austin (east of Interstate I-35) by 2040. This plan shall be presented to …
1. 2. 3. 4. URBAN FORESTRY COMMITTEE MEETING REGULAR CALLED MEETING MINUTES WEDNESDAY, March 28, 2024 The Urban Forestry Committee convened in a REGULAR meeting on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive in Austin, Texas. Chair Brimer called the Urban Forestry Committee Meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. Commissioners in Attendance: Richard Brimer Commissioners in Attendance Remotely: Mariana Krueger, Melinda Schiera Commissioners Absent: Colin Nickells PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Urban Forestry Committee Meeting of October 12, 2023 The minutes from the regular meeting on October 12th, 2023 were approved on Commissioner Schiera’s motion, Commissioner Krueger’s second on a 3–0 vote. Commissioner Nickells was absent. STAFF BRIEFINGS Staff briefing heritage tree administrative variance procedures – Jim Dymkowski, Division Manager, Community Tree Preservation, Development Services Department Item conducted as posted. No action taken. Staff briefing on overall tree preservation numbers – Jim Dymkowski, Urban Forestry, Development Services Department Item conducted as posted. No action taken. Staff update on drafted tree preservation incentives in HOME code amendments – Jim Dymkowski, Urban Forestry, Development Services Department Emily King, Urban Forestry, Development Services Department Speakers: Bobby Levenski, Save our Springs Alliance (speaking on items 4 and 5) Item conducted as posted. No action taken. DISCUSSION ITEMS 5. Discuss ghost trees and how they are addressed in the current heritage tree ordinance– Richard Brimer Speakers: Bobby Levenski, Save our Springs Alliance Item conducted as posted. No action was taken. 6. Discuss Committee goals for the upcoming year – Mariana Krueger Speakers: Commissioner Krueger, on increasing food forests and native planting corridors Commissioner Schiera, on the growth of tree canopy and increasing tree review after planting Commissioner Brimer, on actionable items to protect tree canopy and incentives on compliance with existing regulations Item conducted as posted. No action taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Commissioner Schiera requested to meet to determine high-level priorities and action items for the committee. Commissioner Schiera requested making a recommendation to Council on increasing the inspections of trees after plantings Commissioner Krueger requested an agenda item to create package of recommendations to support food forests and community gardens at the Environmental Commission. Chair Brimer adjourned the meeting at 12 p.m. without objection.
City Arborist Program Tree Report Environmental Commission Urban Forestry Subcommittee Meeting June 27, 2024 Naomi Rotramel, City Arborist City Arborist Program Tree Report: Preservation City Arborist Program Tree Report: Inches Replanted for Mitigation City Arborist Program Tree Report: Dead, Diseased, Imminent Hazard Removals (Site Plan and stand-alone Tree Permit only)
City Arborist Program Tree Report Environmental Commission Urban Forestry Subcommittee Meeting June 27th, 2024 Naomi Rotramel, City Arborist 1 City Arborist Program Tree Report: Preservation City Arborist Program Tree Report: Inches Replanted for Mitigation City Arborist Program Tree Report: Dead, Diseased, Imminent Hazard Removals (Site Plan and stand-alone Tree Permit only) 5
