INS-19-008 - Approval of Sustainable Urban Forest Strategy (2019-2028) & Implementation Plan

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REPORT 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. 8 - 1