Title
Resolution recommending City Council adopt the Urban and Community Forest Management Plan
Memorandum
Attached for your review and action is a resolution recommending City Council adopt the Urban and Community Forest Management Plan.
Ann Arbor's urban and community forest is made up of the trees, shrubs and woody vegetation growing along city streets; in city parks; and on institutional and private property. It is a defining and valued characteristic of the city that residents affectionately call "Tree Town," helping to make it a desirable place to live, work and play.
The city has approximately 6,900 trees in mowed areas of city parks and over 41,000 trees growing along city streets. These publicly-managed trees provide over $4.6 million in benefits to the community each year, including reducing stormwater run-off, improving air and water quality, and beautifying the city. The City has a long history of care and management of the urban and community forest however, serious challenges over the last decade, like the emerald ash borer, have impacted the city's ability to sustainably care for and manage the urban and community forest placing the health and condition of the city-managed trees at risk.
In 2011, a planning process was undertaken to develop the city's first Urban and Community Forest Management Plan (UCFMP) to provide a framework to effectively manage the urban and community forest as a sustainable asset, consistent with the values and needs of the community. Through a multi-tiered and comprehensive public engagement process stakeholders, community leaders, residents, Environmental Commission members, and city staff participated in the development of the UCFMP. Public workshops, on-line surveys, focus groups, A2 Open City Hall, and an Advisory Committee were used to gather input during the planning process. This input helped to identify and focus plan goals and provided a means of vetting ideas, exploring implementation opt...
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