20240627-005: DRAFT 2023-2024 Urban Forestry Annual Report — original pdf

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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 inflation. • Require Urban Forestry to identify City owned properties greater than .5 acres that may be candidates for micro-forests, butterfly gardens and other rewilding opportunities.