HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Tree Master Plan as submitted by the Tree Advisory Board.pdf
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: John Van Delinder, Street Superintendent
Debbie Arkell, Public Services Director
SUBJECT: Approval of City Tree Master Plan
MEETING DATE: July 25, 2011
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent.
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the City Tree Master Plan as submitted by the Bozeman
Tree Advisory Board.
BACKGROUND: The Bozeman Tree Advisory Board was created in 1993 to promote urban
forestry and educate the public about urban forestry. Section 2.92.030 of the Bozeman
Municipal Code identifies ten duties and responsibilities of the Bozeman Tree Advisory Board.
These duties and responsibilities include “recommend an urban forestry plan and the master
street tree plan to the City Commission for its acceptance” and to “periodically review master
street tree plan and recommend changes to the City Commission”.
The Board has been active since its creation and has completed many of the duties and
responsibilities outlined in the Municipal Code. Recently, the Board worked with the City
Forester to develop the master street tree and urban forestry plans as directed in Section
2.92.030. The result is the attached City Tree Master Plan. This plan is designed as a guide for
the ongoing stewardship of Bozeman's urban forest. It explains the benefits of an urban forest,
lists goals and objectives, and outlines strategies to guide the ongoing stewardship of Bozeman’s
urban forest. The plan applies to all trees on publicly owned property which includes parks,
Sunset Hills Cemetery, street boulevards, medians, and public facilities.
The Board is recommending the name of the plan be changed from master street tree plan and
urban forestry plan to City Tree Master Plan which better reflects the content of the Plan.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES: None
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission
FISCAL EFFECTS: The cost of implementing the City Tree Master Plan will be paid for
from the Tree Maintenance Assessment District.
Attachments: City Tree Master Plan
Report compiled on: April 29, 2011
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City Tree Master Plan
City of Bozeman, Montana
Adopted by the Bozeman City Commission
July 25, 2011
Table of Contents
Introduction
Mission Statement
Goals and Objectives
Strategies
Bibliography
Credits/ Acknowledgements
References
Introduction
More than 26,000 publicly owned trees, valued at roughly $26 million dollars, are located
on boulevards, in city parks and at the cemetery in the City of Bozeman. Urban forests
mitigate air pollution, reduce building energy costs, filter storm water runoff, stabilize soil,
and decrease urban heat. Urban forests also have been shown to improve mental health
and social interactions.
Private lots in Bozeman are bordered by a public right-of-way, typically 11.5 feet from the
curb including the sidewalk and boulevard. As Bozeman grows it is important to plant the
proper tree in the proper place. Improper species, location, planting depth, and
inadequate watering are the most common planting problems. This plan is designed as a
guide for the ongoing stewardship of Bozeman's urban forest.
Mission Statement
The City of Bozeman has an obligation to maintain a healthy and safe urban forest on
municipal land and along public streets. This makes the city's living environment more
aesthetically pleasing, and reduces tree related problems.
Goals and Objectives
1. To provide for the health and maintenance of existing trees located on municipal
property such as parks, along street right of ways, and in the cemetery.
2. To provide an ongoing tree planting program that ensures each appropriate location is
planted as conditions permit and to provide a replacement planting program.
3. To ensure diversification of tree species throughout the City, and within each major
section of the City, as a key to ensuring the overall health of the urban forest.
4. To provide citizens of the City with information regarding appropriate species and
planting locations for their neighborhood.
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5. To maintain an updated inventory of existing trees, including number of trees, species,
and value of our forest.
6. To improve inter-departmental and inter-jurisdictional coordination and
communication regarding City tree regulations, policies, planting, preservation standards,
and guidelines.
7. To encourage the preservation of existing trees and the planting of new trees on public
and private property.
8. To ensure that all stakeholders recognize and appreciate the value of Bozeman's urban
forest and advocate its stewardship.
9. To enhance the aesthetics of the City of Bozeman.
10. To continue to meet Tree City USA standards and criteria requirements.
11. To meet federal, state and local regulations for small municipal storm water systems, by
limiting the storm water runoff that could carry potential pollutants to local rivers and
streams.
Strategies
1. Provide for consistency within neighborhoods. Build on established character of a
neighborhood, especially within the historic district. Balance species diversity with visual
unity.
2. Phase out problem tree species from the inventory and identify replacement species,
respecting existing canopies and conforming to boulevard widths, traffic, storm water and
utility constraints.
3. Utilize the current Tree Guide when choosing species and update the publication when
needed.
4. Use tree inventory data to characterize each section of the city and to set general goals.
5. Discourage the planting of nut and fruit bearing trees adjacent to city streets, where
debris could clog the storm drain system, in compliance with the city’s Storm Water
Management Plan.
6. Utilize the city tree inventory data to define appropriate planting locations and to
establish guidelines for identifying these locations and establish strategies for meeting
goals.
7. Respond to insect and disease outbreaks with Integrated Pest Management strategies,
and encourage those practices through public education.
8. Identify and remove hazard trees as determined by the city forester.
9. Maintain a yearly Cost Share Boulevard tree planting program and a replacement tree
voucher program. Trial new tree species/cultivars as planting stock becomes available.
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10. Update or create new tree related publications as needed. Share publications with other
city and county entities as appropriate. Promote educational opportunities for city
employees, arbor professionals and interested citizens.
11. Board members shall attend county commission meetings and other advisory board
meetings as topics dictate. Representatives from other entities will be invited to attend tree
board meetings as appropriate. New publications will be sent to other agencies if
applicable.
12. Promote tree planting on public and private land in the Gallatin Valley.
13. Promote urban forest values and rewards through public service announcements,
Arbor Day activities, newspaper articles and talks to civic groups.
14. Make the planting of new trees in the older parts of town a priority to fill suitable
planting locations as they become available.
15. Over time, strive to achieve a 30-20-10 tree composition citywide. (No more than 30%
of the trees from the same taxonomic family, no more than 20% of the trees from the same
genus and no more than 10% of the same species/cultivar.)
16. Revise the City Tree Master Plan as needed as our urban forest grows and changes.
Bibliography
Culver City Approved Street Tree Master Plan Criteria, Policies, and
Implementation Guide, Culver City, CA, (2002).
Rockville Master Street Tree Plan, Rockville, MD, (2010).
Urban Forest Master Plan, Arlington, VA, Department of Parks and Recreation (2004).
The Road to a Thoughtful Street Tree Master Plan, Ken Simons & Gary R. Johnson,
Univ. of MN, (2008).
Credits/ Acknowledgements
Bozeman Tree Advisory Board
City of Bozeman Forestry Division
References
City of Bozeman Tree Guide
City of Bozeman Forestry Specification Manual
Bylaws of the Bozeman Tree Advisory Board
Bozeman City Ordinance 1363
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