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CC - Adoption of a Resolution (1) Adopting the Culver City Urban Forest Master Plan, Which Shall Supersede and Replace the Existing Culver City Street Tree Master Plan and Implementation Guidelines Dated November 11, 2002; and (2) Adopting a Categorical Exemption Relating Thereto Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.
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Contact Person/Dept: Eric Mirzaian/Public Works
Phone Number:
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Commission Name:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (03/24/16); (E-mail) Artecho (03/21/16)
Department Approval: Charles D. Herbertson/Public Works Director/City Engineer (03/18/16)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution (1) adopting the Culver City Urban Forest Master Plan, which shall supersede and replace the existing Culver City Street Tree Master Plan and Implementation Guidelines dated November 11, 2002; and (2) adopting a Categorical Exemption relating thereto pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
BACKGROUND
On November 11, 2002, the City Council adopted the Culver City Street Tree Master Plan and Implementation Guidelines (STMP), which is utilized to identify a specific tree species for each street block in the City. As the City’s urban forest has aged and become more susceptible to environmental factors such as adverse weather, diseases, and pests, the Public Works Department identified a need to create a long-term comprehensive planning document for managing the City’s urban forest.
At its July 14, 2014 meeting, the City Council approved a professional services agreement with Artecho in the amount of $84,965 to prepare the proposed Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP). This project was partially funded through a grant from Cal Fire’s Urban Forestry Grant Program in the amount of $75,000
DISCUSSION
Throughout the process of preparing the UFMP, several community meetings and outreach functions were conducted as follows:
1. During Fiesta La Ballona in 2014, Artecho staff was present at the event to educate the public on urban forestry and to conduct surveys to determine how residents and business owners viewed the City’s urban forest.
2. The survey used at the Fiesta was also posted on the City’s website for general public access and input.
3. Four additional community meetings were conducted during the months of January and February 2015; two of which focused on residential tree population and the other two focused on trees in the City’s commercial corridors. At each meeting, participants were separated into smaller focus groups to allow for direct dialogue and communication with Artecho staff and other members of the community.
4. A fifth community meeting was conducted in April 2015 to present a draft of the proposed species designations based on input received from the previous community meetings and online survey.
5. The final draft of the UFMP was posted on the City’s website with an opportunity for comments and questions by the public. This opportunity was announced via the City Manager’s Bi-weekly Report and the City’s email notification system to anyone that had subscribed to receive notifications for this project.
The proposed UFMP promotes site specific planting suitability, species diversification, and disease/pest resistance species; represents a comprehensive document that articulates a clear vision for the future of the City’s urban forest based on analysis of the City’s historical and existing urban forest; and establishes best management practices to maintain the City’s urban forest.
Through this culmination of community engagement, the final version of the proposed UFMP is being presented to the City Council tonight for consideration and recommended adoption as the guiding document for future tree plantings throughout the City to sustain a resilient urban forest.
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, approval and implementation of the UFMP does not create any potentially significant adverse impacts on the environment; and the UFMP has been determined to be Categorically Exempt pursuant to Section 15301(h), Class 1 - Existing Facilities (where the proposed project consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use). Specifically, subsection (h), sets forth maintenance of existing landscaping as an example of such a project. Therefore, the adoption of the UFMP qualifies for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption, pursuant to CEQA.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact created by adoption of the UFMP. It should be noted that in addition to the $75,000 grant amount, the granting agency did require a 25% match which came in the form of staff time associated with management and oversight of the project (participation/coordination of community meetings, addressing questions from the community, etc.), as well as, a $15,000 monetary match by the City (used to fund the contract beyond the $75,000 grant and additional outreach done by Artecho at Fiesta La Ballona 2014).
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Resolution
2. Proposed Culver City Urban Forest Master Plan
RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
That the City Council:
Adopt a resolution (1) adopting the Culver City Urban Forest Master Plan, which shall supersede and replace the Street Tree Master Plan dated November 11, 2002; and (2) adopting a Categorical Exemption relating thereto, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act.