+ URBAN FORESTRY BOARD REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, March 18, 2015, - 5:30 p.m. Northwest Recreation Center 2913 Northland Austin, Texas URBAN FORESTRY BOARD MEMBERS: APPOINTMENT : Christopher Kite, Chair Council Member Laura Morrison, Place 4 Peggy Maceo (Vice-Chair) Council Member Kathie Tovo, Place 3 Len Newsom Council Member Bill Spelman, Place 5 Patrick Brewer Mayor Lee Leffingwell Nicholas Classen Mayor Pro-Tem Sheryl Cole, Place 6 Ryan Fleming Council Member Mike Martinez, Place 2 Keith Brown Council Member Chris Riley, Place 1 URBAN FORESTRY EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS : Michael Embesi, City Arborist, Planning and Development Review Department Pat Fuller, Division Manager, Parks and Recreation Department – Director Designee Vacant, Urban Forester, Planning and Development Review Department John Clement, Environmental Program Coordinator, Watershed Protection Department – Director Designee AGENDA A. CALL TO ORDER B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Urban Forestry Board meeting of February 18, 2015. C. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION The first 4 (four) speakers signed up prior to the calling of the meeting to order are allowed a three-minute allotment each to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. D. ANNOUNCEMENTS E. URBAN FORESTER EXECUTIVE LIAISON REPORT – Emily King, Acting Urban Forester, Planning, Development and Review Department, including: • Austin Urban Forest Plan Implementation Monthly Update F. ACTION ITEM BRIEFINGS G. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS H. BRIEFINGS – 10 Minute Limit For Each Briefing 1. Austin Energy Line Clearance Monthly Update – February, 2015. Ray Henning, Line Clearance Superintendent, Austin Energy. 2. City Arborist Program Tree Preservation and Replenishment Monthly Update February 2015. Michael Embesi, City Arborist, Planning and Development Review Department. 3. City Arborist Program Annual Heritage Tree Report – 2014. Presenter: Michael Embesi, City Arborist, Planning and Development Review Department. 4. Update from Treaty Oak Task Force Working Group. Presenter: Patrick Brewer, UFB Board Member. 5. Public Works Department Urban Forestry Program Monthly Update.. Presenter: Rob Grotty, Urban Forestry Program Manager. 6. Parks and Recreation Department Urban Forestry Program Monthly Update. Lara Schuman, Acting Program Unit, Forestry Unit, Parks and Recreation Department. A. Removal of Protected Size Trees on Parkland. 7. Denial of Administrative Heritage Tree Removal at 507 West 23rd Street. Presenter: Michael Embesi, City Arborist, Planning and Development Review Department. I. FUTURE ITEMS FROM BOARD MEMBERS Action Item Briefing on Cemetery Master Plan: Presenter: Kim McKnight, Project Coordinator, Park Planning and Design Unit, Parks and Recreation Department. April 2015. Action Item …
+ URBAN FORESTRY BOARD REGULAR MEETING Wednesday, March 18, 2015, - 5:30 p.m. Northwest Recreation Center 2913 Northland Austin, Texas Board Members in Attendance: Board Chair Chris Kite, Board Vice-Chair Peggy Maceo, Board Members Patrick Brewer, Nick Classen, Ryan Fleming, Len Newsom. Board Member Keith Brown absent. Staff in Attendance: Parks and Recreation Department Pat Fuller, Division Manager, Director Designee Robert Clawson, Nature Based Programs Division Manuel Flores, Parks Grounds Supervisor Planning and Development Review Keith Mars, Environmental Program Coordinator, City Arborist Office Lynn Tozser, Program Specialist, UFB Liaison Austin Energy Department Ray Henning, Line Clearance Supervisor Public Works Department Rob Grotty, Urban Forestry Program Manager MEETING MINUTES A. CALL TO ORDER Board Chair Kite called the meeting to order 5:40 pm. B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Urban Forestry Board meeting of February 18, 2015. Motion made by Board Member Brewer, Seconded by Board Vice-Chair Maceo to approve the meeting minutes of February 18, 2015. Approved by Board Chair Kite, Board Vice-Chair Maceo, and Board Members Brewer, Classen and Newsom. Board Member Fleming abstained. Board Member Brown absent. C. CITIZEN COMMUNICATION None D. ANNOUNCEMENTS The Planning and Development Review Department will be splitting functions into two individual departments: The Planning and Zoning Department and the Development Review Department. This change will allow for a more efficient distribution of workload and an enhanced focus on necessary process improvements. Changes to Landscape Ordinance - City staff held a Green Infrastructure Working Group public meeting on March 13, 2015 at Twin Oaks Library. Staff is exploring best practices and opportunities to improve the City landscape ordinance. E. URBAN FORESTER EXECUTIVE LIAISON REPORT – Keith Mars, Environmental Program Coordinator, City Arborist Office, including: Austin Urban Forest Plan Implementation Monthly Update. No questions on the information posted. Will be reviewed at the April 15, 2015 meeting. F. ACTION ITEM BRIEFINGS None G. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS None H. BRIEFINGS – 10 Minute Limit For Each Briefing 1. Austin Energy Line Clearance Monthly Update – February, 2015. Presenter: Ray Henning, Line Clearance Superintendent, Austin Energy. Presentation Given. 2. City Arborist Program Tree Preservation and Replenishment Monthly Update February 2015. Presenter: Keith Mars, Environmental Program Coordinator, Planning and Development Review Department. Presentation given. 3. City Arborist Program Annual Heritage Tree Report – 2014. Presenter: Keith Mars, Environmental Program Coordinator, Planning and Development Review Department. Presentation given. 4. Update from Treaty …
AUFP Implementation 3-18-15 i. AUFP Review (2019) ii. Annual State of the Urban Forest Report (2015) 1. Per AUFP: a. Update status and trend of Performance Report Card b. Update on progress of Departmental Urban Forest Plans 2. Status: Pending Performance Report Card and DUFP completion. iii. Urban Forest Annual Performance Report Card (9/2015) 1. Per AUFP: a. Obtain and utilize urban forest data (shall include tree inventory and GIS data) to improve data reliability and inform future updates to Performance Report Card’s performance measures (9/2015). b. Share urban forest data with departments for creation of DUFPs (9/2015). c. Annual report to UFB/CC via State of the Urban Forest Report (9/2015). d. Establish standardized data collection and formats (9/2015?). 2. Status: a. 1-28-15 Performance indicators have been divided into two categories. First, the data driven indicators, will be measured using available COA and UFIA data. Second, indicators that are subjective in nature will be assessed by students in the UT class, beginning with literature review. b. 2-18-15 Data standardization survey sent out to key COA staff. c. 3-18-15 Working group meeting to address data standardization, project pending further dialogue. UT class actively working on evaluating and quantifying performance criteria indicators. Ongoing research underway to communicate findings of the SoUF to the public (example: online performance indicator dashboard) iv. Departmental Urban Forest Plans (9/2015) 1. Per AUFP: a. Oversee and provide staff support to departments. b. Use action matrix to facilitate DUFPs. c. UFB hold annual public meeting to review and comment. d. Establish process to include public comments from AUFP into DUFPs. e. Report annually to UFB on AUFP implementation status. 2. Status: a. 1-28-15 A series of 5 workshops have been held, hosted by the UF program and geared towards key staff in the various land managing city departments. Action items based on various policy elements are the primary product of the workshops. The UT class will analyze proposed actions and provide framework recommendations. b. 2-18-15 UT class on track, staff to check in with class tomorrow (2-19-15). c. 3-1815 UT class on track v. Austin Standard of Care (3/2016) 1. Per AUFP: a. Identify/compile all existing operational/regulatory items related to urban forest management (3/2015). b. Facilitate working group to develop Austin specific SoC (9/2014) c. Update SoC, brief UFB (3/2016) d. Incorporate SoC into code. e. Educate the public on SoC. 2. Status: a. 1-28-15 Planning phase. b. …
FEB '15JAN '15DEC '14NOV '14OCT '14SEP '14AUG '14JULY '14JUNE '14MAY '14APR '14MAR '1412-Month TOTALTree Permits11812141671692902282472432492723402882,888Native Inches Removed776197276488462590504458489301923094,942Inches Mitigated374123146932002664762074152692504693,288Percentage Mitigated48%62%53%19%43%45%94%45%85%89%272%152%67%Poor Condition or High Risk1,7341,6211,3581,6073,5183,6193,0153,4713,5023,5394,0292,27033,283Tree Permits2131112142120403337222013256Trees PlantedNR5,40044257123NRNRNRNRNRNRNR5,824Trees Removed36150161617418823202118272Native Protected Removed320120000031211Inches Removed3765602198243177421971102832382182703,343Trees DistributedNR1310131311046090010136846Site Plans Approved4331828182429191718151716252Caliper Inches Surveyed99381478511,23227,9655,39030,9586,4553,1371171,1352,10012,207125,419Caliper Inches Preserved5,1147,3647,48512,4603,64118,3254,484890353101,05410,89372,055Percentage Preserved51%50%67%45%68%59%69%28%30%27%50%89%57%Native Inches Removed4531.573983,74715,5051,74912,6331,9712,247828251,0461,31453,049Inches Planted/Mitigated1,5072,3631,8616,8271,0665,0611,7731,3058259470548323,627Percentage Replanted33%32%50%44%61%40%90%58%100%72%67%37%45%Subdivisions Approved1714933182012241612713195Funds ReceivedNR$154,150$25,400$69,238$80,498$66,945$39,980$88,650$25,100$15,225$12,318$7,175$584,679Fund Amount (Per Inch)NR425127346402335200443126766236$2,578Grants Appropriated7820$0$15,000$6,000$0$12,000$0$610$45,795$45,000$0$125,187City Arborists (5)4023103113354894374804675535705154595,328Oak Wilt Arborist (1)122014132742295439497639414Environmental Inspectors (12)NR4,4664,3003,9873,9983,1893,3613,5893,8763,5893,1703,14640,671Landscape Inspectors (2)NR4537424429614743476166522General Permit Inspectors (4)NR66819015741140138144137110133891,9471 - Tree Ordinance Review Applications (mostly protected size trees on proposed single family construction lots or protected size trees which are diseased/dying)18-Mar-152 - High-risk trees within parks and right-of-ways3 - Trees with trunks greater than 8" in diameter (dead and invasive species not included)4 - Site Plan Corrections, Extensions, and Boat Docks not includedNR - Not ReportedMonthly Report"February 2015"InspectionsUrban Forest Replenishment FundPermitting and ReplenishmentTree PermitsPublic PropertyElectric UtilityCommercial Site Plans
2014 Heritage Tree Report Keith W. Mars City Arborist Program Planning and Development Review Department Overview of Presentation City Arborist Workflow 2014 Heritage Tree Review - Site Plan and Subdivision Permits - Heritage Tree TORA Permits - Dead, Diseased, or Hazard Permits The Big Picture Challenges and Opportunities Predevelopment Consultation Development Review Inspection Permit Data Analysis Work Flow Overview City Arborist Development Review, Inspection, and Permit Analysis Site Plan and Subdivision Review for Heritage Trees No Land Use Commission variances Reviewed 118 site plans and subdivisions 65% and 18% increase from 2013 in # of site plans and subdivisions reviewed ~18,000 inches surveyed ~17,000 inches preserved ~1000 inches removed (95% preservation of healthy heritage trees) 2014 Heritage Tree Permits 1083 heritage trees were reviewed on tree permits in 2014 33,340 inches of trees reviewed 35 healthy heritage trees allowed to be removed American Elm 13% Bald Cypress 1% Black Walnut 0% Bur Oak 0% Cedar Elm 8% Chinquapin Oak 0% Durand Oak 0% Live Oak 41% Pecan 23% Post Oak 6% Red Oak 7% Texas Ash 1% Heritage Trees by Species Reviewed on Tree Permits in 2014 Tree Condition Permits 350 dead, diseased, or imminent hazard heritage trees were reviewed on tree permits in 2014 10842.5, inches of dead, diseased, or imminent hazard trees permitted for removal Heritage Tree Mortality on Tree Permits Species 2014 Number Reviewed 2014 Dead, Diseased, or Hazardous 2014 % Mortality 2013 % Mortality 2012 % Mortality 2011 % Mortality American Elm 143 105 73% 78% 86% 85% Cedar Elm 80 37 46% 52% 47% 50% Live Oak 445 67 15% 20% 24% 26% Pecan 249 75 30% 33% 40% 31% Post Oak 67 22 33% 39% 50% 38% Red Oak 73 37 51% 57% 71% 71% Big Picture The ordinance is working (>95% preservation rate of heritage trees) Regulatory options for means to end Programmatic reorganzation Citizens and development community engaging earlier in development process Dynamic city, dynamic forest Ensuring community values are protected Urban Forest Challenges and Opportunities 4th year as fastest growing city in country while protecting the urban forest Protection of tree species less than 19” Fulfilling vision of Imagine Austin Comprehensive Urban Forest Plan CodeNext Questions? Keith W. Mars City of Austin Arborist Program Planning and Development Review Dept. 512-974-2755 keith.mars@austintexas.gov
Date ApprovedParkAddressSpeciesDBH (in)ConditionTree Risk (i.e. Moderate, High, etc.)Highest Risk Part and Defect TypePrimary Target2/3/2015Upper Bull Creek Greenbelt6958 Spicewood Springs Rd.Black walnut37poorhightrunk: extensive decay & previous failures directly over trailtrail users2/13/2015Butler Shores at Town Lake Metropolitan Park200 S Lamar BlvdHackberry18.5poorhightrunk: extensive decay and deadwoodpark usersPARD Urban Forestry - Program Park Tree Permits February 2015
