Within three years of the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter, the Director, with the advice and participation of the Development Services, Engineering and Community Services Departments, shall prepare a Community Forest Management Plan. All City departments thereafter shall use their best efforts to insure that activities of the City are guided by such plan. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, the following elements:
A. In November 1992, the City Council established the goals of the Community Forest Management Plan which are as follows:
1. Establish and maintain optimal tree cover,
2. Maintain trees in a safe and healthy condition through good cultural practices,
3. Establish and maintain an optimal level of age and species diversity,
4. Promote conservation of tree resources,
5. Provide suitable locations for and select, situate and maintain street trees to minimize hazard, nuisance, hardscape damage and maintenance costs,*
6. Centralize tree management under one department to ensure the enforcement of policies,
7. Foster citizen support for the local community forestry program and encourage good tree management on privately-owned properties.
*Special consideration will be given to compatibility in commercial areas with regard to aesthetics and signage visibility.
These goals have been incorporated into the General Plan, and specific policies and objectives will be created as part of the comprehensive update process;
B. A designation of proposed community forestry themes for major traffic routes and districts within the City consistent with the City's Master Street Tree Plan, together with a program, schedule and suggested budget for implementing such treatments;
C. An up-to-date inventory of every street tree and any other trees in public areas deemed necessary, which inventory shall include, as appropriate, species, DBH, canopy height and spread, condition, maintenance records, names of adjacent property owners, record of fees and fines, and any other information necessary or usable in the long-range planning or day-to-day planting and maintenance of the City's community forest;
D. A Master Street Tree Plan, based on an evaluation of species diversity, growth characteristics and performance as recorded in the inventory, providing for rotational reforestation of diseased or declining trees and break-up of potentially problematic monocultures;
E. A set of standards for street tree installation, landscape tree installation, pruning and maintenance, acceptable tree species and any other standards, criteria or administrative procedures deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of the ordinance codified in this chapter and the Community Forest Management Plan;
F. A process for continual update and improvement of the Community Forest Management Plan's elements.
(Ord. 2859 § 2 (part), 1995).