HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-19-008 - Approval of Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy (2019-2028) & Implementation PlanREPORT TO:Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:April 15, 2019
SUBMITTED BY:Niall Lobley, Director, Parks & Cemeteries, 519-741-2600 ext. 4518
PREPARED BY:Niall Lobley and David Schmitt
WARD (S) INVOLVED:All
DATE OF REPORT:March 12, 2019
REPORT NO.:INS-19-008
SUBJECT:Approval of Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy (2019 2028) &
Implementation Plan
__________________________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
ThatSustainable Urban Forest Strategy (2019-2028), attached as Appendix A
to INS-19-008be approvedasengaging,
That the Implementation Plan, for the Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy, contained within
this report bereceived;and
Consideration of the recommendationshereinbe referred to the departmental business
planning process and future budget processes.
That staff be directed to provide a grant of up to $40,000 a year as approved in the 2019
budget, to REEP Green Solutions to deliver a subsidised tree planting program in 2019,
2020 and 2021
BACKGROUND:
Direction to develop
consideration comes from the 2015-2018 Strategic Plan for Kitchener. Within the Strategic
Priority Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure, strategy, 4.1 identifies the need to
manage and enhance the urban forest so that it continues to make a long-term contribution to
the livability of Kitchener, and the strategic action, SE06, requests that a sustainable urban forest
management program for public and private lands be developed.
With this direction staff developed in the winter of 2017 a Background Document Developing
a Sustainable Urban Forest Program, a tree canopy report based on 2014 GIS imagery and an
urban forest story map allowing residents to discover their urban forest in their neighbourhood.
***This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994for assistance.
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www.kitchener.ca/trees
urban forest.
This background work identified key principles, listed below, that have strongly influenced the
development of the strategy.
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1)The urban forest includes all trees on publicand private lands
2)The community plays a key role in maintaining and enhancing the urban forest,
particularly on private lands, where asignificant proportionof the urban forest isfound.
3)Trees and the larger urban forest provide significant economic, environmental and
social benefits to the community.
4)A sustainable urban forest maximizes benefits while minimizing the associated costs
and risk. In contrast to traditional corporate assets trees provide their greatest benefits
during their latter stages of life.
Using thisinformation and after an extensive community engagement process (see community
engagement section for details) staff developed:
current reactive program a fair condition (for the full report see resources
www.kitchener.ca/trees).The report card provides a benchmark for where we are today,
and allows us to measure our progress going forward.
Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy (Draft)
In May 2018, Council received the draft Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy, identified near-term
implementation priorities to guide the 2019 budget process, and launched the final stage of
public engagement on thecontents of the strategy.
REPORT:
This report is intended to:
1.Present the final version of the Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy; and,
2.Outline
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Public lands includes parks, open spaces, streets, boulevards, cemeteries, golf courses, community centres, along trail
systems and in our natural and forested areas. The City is the largest single land owner of the Urban Forest in Kitchener, but
the majority of the Urban Forest is owned by multiple private landowners and homeowners, The Urban Forest on private
lands includes trees in front and rear yards, in fields and developer owned land parcels, around schools and businesses.
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The Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy (SUFS) provides the community vision for a sustainable
urban forest as well as a framework (Plan, Engage, Protect, Maintain, Plant) for what actions
are required to achieve asustainable urban forest.
Using the principles of a sustainable urban forest program and the results of the community
engagement process, this strategy presents:
visionand goalfor a sustainable urban forest,
The five branches of a sustainable urban forest, and
Fifteen actions that the city and community can work collaboratively on to move towards
a sustainable urban forest.
Public Engagement onthe development of the strategy was extensive and is outlined in the
Community Engagementsection of this report. Largely positive feedback on the draft SUFS
was obtained through an Engage Kitchener survey, which has informed the final draft.
Appendix A provides the Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy.
Implementing the Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy: Priorities & Actions
The strategy presents a long-term vision and comprehensive list of actions that can be
undertaken to develop a sustainable urban forest. Recognizing that it will take timeand
resourcesto implement the SUFS,staff recommend that an iterative approach to implementation
isadopted whereby the plan is implemented in 5-year implementation stages. At each stage,
staff will review and report on key performance indicators, successes and challenges.
At the May 7, 2018 Strategic Council Session, Council endorsed five implementation priorities
for the SUFS to guide the 2019 budget processand near-term actions. These priorities are:
1.Address areas of risk
2.Address key gaps
3.Improve customer service
4.Continue work that will support tree planting on private lands
5.Protect Trees
Table 1 provides a summary of actions that are underway, require minimal financial support or
were approved through the 2019 budget and represent quick winsto advance the City in
achieving a sustainable urban forest.
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Table 1:CurrentActions
SUFS ActionWhat we are doingInitiation
Timing
Plan for a Sustainable 2019+
Establishing the forestry operational model
Forest
required to implement the SUFS
Identify & Remove at Risk
Developing risk and inspection toolsand
Trees
address areas of high risk as identified
through the inspection process
Establish a tree canopy target based on
updated GIS imagery
Work with the Community 2019-2021
Pilot program with REEP Green Solutions
to develop a non profit tree
to support tree planting and maintenance
planting and stewardship
on private property to be launched in April
program
this year as an initial 3 year pilot
Increase Tree Planting
Activities
Improve Customer 2019+
Engaging an Operations Technologist,
Service
Forestry tohelp respond tomore than 1500
customer querieseach yearand manage
service requests
Develop service levels
Develop a tree planting and 2019-2022
Developing an enhanced tree planting
soils management plan for
program to address thecurrentbacklog
City Lands
(2018) of City treereplacement
Increase Tree Planting
Activities
Embrace Love My Hood2019+
Delivering a pilot tree planting programin
Increase Tree Planting
Cityparksas part of LMH Greening
Activities
initiative
Non Bold Text indicates action taken directly from Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy
submissions
5-Year Implementation Strategy
quick w
the priorities established by Councilandrespond to community feedback. In addition, staff
have identified actions that align to other corporateinitiativessuch as the Customer Service
Strategy, the Corporate Climate Action Plan, and Love My Hood in an effort to support multiple
community and corporate goals.
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Table 2 provides a summary of SUFS actions that are recommended for implementation in the
first 5-year implementation periodto sustain and build on quick wins in table 1, as well as
address other priorities identified in the SUFS.
Table 2: Five-Year Implementation Actions(2020 2024)
SUFS ActionWhat we would like to doFinancial
Impact
Increased tree $$$
Address ongoing tree backlog and work
planting to achieve Capital and
towardsachievinga defined canopy cover
a defined canopy Operational
targetBudget
Implement a $$$
Implement routine inspection to meet
Proactive Capital and
established service levels
Management Operational
Under take an initial pilot(2020)on a
Program for City Budget
structuralpruning program to inform future
owned trees
costs.
Develop operational capacity to address tree
management issues proactively through
routine inspection and management, and
meeting defined service levels
Conserve and $
Explore options for enhanced conservation
Protect the Urban Capital
and protection of the urban forest on private
Forest
lands
Develop a $
Complete natural area management plan
sustainable natural Capital Budget
area management
plan
Create an $
Develop an emergency response plan that will
Emergency Operational
allow us to respond effectively and efficiently
Response PlanBudget
to emergency events impacting the urban
forest
Community Pilots$
Review community pilots (REEP and Love My
Capital Budget
Hood) in 2020 and 2021 and, if successful,
integrate them into our Forest Management
Program
Plan for a $$
Realign ongoing capital program elements into
Sustainable ForestOperational
a sustainable operating program (e.g. existing
Budget
staff resources; tree planting program; etc.)
$ = Less than $50,000 a year
$$ = $50,000 -$150,000 a year
$$$ = More than $150,000 a year
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As noted above, it is staffs recommendation that the ongoing implementation of the SUFS be
seen as iterative, with regular reports back to Council on achievements and progress, and that
these be used to define next steps and inform budget direction in subsequent years.
Staff will use the implementation plan to help inform the annual budget process and Council will
have an opportunity to approve budget requests associated with the implementation plan.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Priority:Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure
Strategy:4.1Manage and enhance the urban forest so that it will continue to make a long-
term contribution to the livability of Kitchener
Strategic Action:SE06 Sustainable Urban Forest Management Program
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
At this time there are no financial implications. The attached strategy and implementation plan
will be used to inform future budget processes.
Staff will be seeking to build operational sustainability into future budget cycles aligned with
these priorities. This will include staff seeking additional FTE staff to support ongoing
implementation.
Through the budget process, and business planning process, Council will be provided options
around level of investment to deliver on the Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy; these options
will impact the extent and speed with which implementation is achieved.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
g important to the
community.
maintaining and enhancing the urban forest a comprehensive and successful community
engagement process was akey objectives of this project.
Residents were informed
website, social media, newspaper articles,radiointerviews,phone calls, direct mailings,
emails,bookmarks, posters, colouring sheets, along with attending meetings/eventsand
.
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During the summer and fall of 2017, staff connected and consultedwith more than 1,800
citizens by attending:
Special events(e.g. Cherry Park Festival),
Neighbourhood meetings,
City events (e.g. Kitchener Market, Bikefest, Earth Day),
Citizen committees, along with holding,
Council /Mayor interviews,
Public tree walks/talks(60+ people),
Two community workshopsattended by 72 residents , and an
Engage survey(78 respondents)
Out of this first phase of engagement five key themes, which have been incorporated into the
strategy(pg. 11-12), emergedand are listed below:
1)Recognize the value of trees
2)Sustain our existing urban forest
3)Grow the urban forest
4)Communicate and provide information
5)Involve neighbourhoods
th
In the spring of 2018 (May 7) staff attended a Strategic Council Session (INS-18-025) to
present council with the draft sustainable urban forest strategy, seek their input and launch the
public review of the draft strategy. Staff also attendedthe Environmental Committee, and Safe
andHealthy Community Advisory Committee.
Through a second Engage survey residents providedtheir commentson the draft strategy
from May to June 2018. During those eight weeks, 116 residents provided comments. Overall
there was strong support for the draft strategy and proposed actions.A full list of all of the
comments received can be viewed in Appendix B of this report.
In addition, previously engaged stakeholders were informed that this report was being
advance of the council/committee meeting.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Denise McGoldrick,General Manager, Infrastructure Services
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