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(a) It is the intent of the Board of Supervisors to form an Urban Forestry Council that will protect the community interest and ensure that San Francisco realizes the full range of tree benefits into the future. The Board also intends to replace any existing tree advisory bodies that the Board of Supervisors has created through legislation.
(b) The purpose of the Council is to guide the stewardship of San Francisco's trees by promoting a healthy and sustainable urban forest that benefits all San Franciscans while ensuring public health and safety.
(c) To meet this purpose, the Council shall work with all the affected stakeholders to:
(1) Develop and adopt a comprehensive urban forest plan;
(2) Educate the public on urban forestry issues;
(3) Develop and adopt tree care standards;
(4) Identify funding and staffing needs and opportunities for urban forestry programs;
(5) Report on the state of the urban forest;
(6) Help secure and encourage commitment of adequate resources for tree programs; and
(7) Facilitate coordination among agencies with tree management responsibilities.
(d) This Chapter applies the Precautionary Principle to the management of trees in San Francisco by emphasizing public participation, preservation, and expansion of the urban forest.
(Added by Ord. 171-03, File No. 030422, App. 7/3/2003)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 5.230)
(a) The Council's scope of authority is limited to the territorial boundaries of the City and County of San Francisco.
(b) The Council shall consider issues as they relate to trees on property managed by government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private property owners.
(c) In order to effectively address the whole of the urban forest, the Council also shall consider issues as they relate to trees on private property.
(d) The Council's scope of authority is completely advisory and educational in nature. The Council will have no authority to legislate.
(Added by Ord. 171-03, File No. 030422, App. 7/3/2003)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 5.231)
(a) Council members will represent the full range of urban forest stakeholders including City agencies, non-profit organizations, tree management organizations, and community members. The Council shall be composed of fifteen voting members.
(1) The Board of Supervisors shall appoint seven voting members:
(A) One member from an educational organization involved with tree management (University of California Cooperative Extension, etc.);
(B) Two members certified by a professional tree management organization (International Society of Arboriculture, American Society of Consulting Arborists, or American Society of Landscape Architects, etc.);
(C) Two members of non-profit organizations involved in urban forestry or other environmentally-related issues; and
(D) Two members from the community.
(2) The Mayor shall appoint two voting members:
(A) One member from the tree care industry; and
(B) One member at large.
(3) The Director or General Manager of each of the following departments, or his or her designee, shall each serve as a voting member:
(A) The Director of the Department of Public Works;
(B) The Director of the Planning Department; and
(C) The General Manager of the Recreation and Park Department.
(4) The Public Utilities Commission shall appoint one voting member.
(5) The Golden Gate National Recreation Area is invited to appoint one voting member. If the Golden Gate National Recreation Area does not make an appointment within 60 days after the seat is vacant, the Presidio Trust may appoint one voting member to serve that term. If the Presidio Trust does not make an appointment within 30 days after it is authorized to do so, the Mayor shall appoint an at-large member to fill the seat for the duration of that term.
(6) The Port of San Francisco shall appoint one voting member.
(b) Council members shall serve for two years. A Council member may serve successive terms if reappointed by the authority that originally appointed the Council member. Council members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority that appoints each Council member, as specified above. The appointing authority that appoints Council members also may appoint at-large members to serve any unfilled Council positions.
(c) The Council shall meet at least six times per year.
(d) The Council shall establish its own operating procedures, which, at a minimum, shall meet the public notice, meeting, voting, agenda and other procedural requirements set forth in local law.
(e) Subcommittees shall be created to adequately address other special areas of concern on an as needed basis.
(f) The Department of the Environment, with adequate funding to assist the Council in carrying out its mission, shall provide professional and administrative staff to the Council.
(g) All members of the Council shall serve without compensation.
(Added by Ord. 171-03, File No. 030422, App. 7/3/2003; amended by Ord. 210-08, File No. 080233, App. 9/19/2008; Ord. 239-14
, File No. 140953, App. 12/4/2014, Eff. 1/3/2015)
(Derivation: Former Administrative Code Section 5.232)
(a) The Council's responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Advise the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, city departments and commissions on urban forestry concerns;
(2) Review project plans for major publicly-sponsored developments and civic improvements and changes to the public right-of-way as they may impact trees. Based on its review, the Council shall make recommendations regarding these projects to the Planning Department and other affected agencies;
(3) Establish criteria for a landmark/heritage tree program to provide for the protection of valuable trees on public and private property. The program shall propose administrative procedures and a tree removal appeal process for landmark/heritage trees;
(4) Adopt guidelines for protecting trees during project design and construction;
(5) Encourage early and continuous public participation in urban forestry projects and programs that includes consideration of neighborhood interests;
(6) Facilitate the cooperative interaction of tree-related activities among various city, State, and federal agencies, as well as among businesses, public utilities, non-profit organizations, and the public;
(7) Notify and involve public agencies when issues relate to trees on lands under their jurisdiction;
(8) Provide at designated Council meetings for a regular forum that follows an agenda of scheduled topics for public discussion of urban forestry issues;
(9) Assist with the formulation of legislation and policies that affect trees;
(10) Serve as a clearinghouse for information related to the urban forest through the Department of the Environment;
(11) Prepare the plans and reports as set forth in this legislation; and
(12) Assist agencies with tree management responsibilities in their efforts to incorporate and follow the urban forest plan guidelines, best management practices, and other Council recommendations and policies.
(Added by Ord. 171-03, File No. 030422, App. 7/3/2003)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 5.233)
(a) To assure well-guided stewardship of San Francisco's trees, the Council shall develop and adopt a long-term comprehensive plan that sets policy for the management of the City's public and private trees. This Urban Forest Plan shall be developed in consultation with affected City agencies and with input from interested members of the public.
(1) The planning process for such Plan shall include an assessment of the current condition of the urban forest and create a vision and goals that incorporate community values on urban forestry stewardship.
(2) The Planning process also shall include consideration of and referral to existing plans that relate to trees, including, but not limited to, plans for reforestation of parks and plans for street trees.
(3) The Plan shall include strategies and activities for achieving the envisioned urban forest. It shall include specific guidance to agencies and the public in developing education programs, establishing continuous and consistent tree care practices, identifying funding priorities and opportunities, and assuring that all needs of the urban forest are recognized and addressed.
(b) The Council shall oversee periodic updates to the Plan and evaluate the effectiveness of agencies in reaching the Plan's goals.
(c) Prior to adoption of the Plan or amendment thereto, the Council shall forward the plan and amendments to affected city agencies for review.
(d) The Council shall work with the Planning Department and the Department of the Environment to incorporate elements of the Urban Forest Plan into the City's General Plan.
(e) The Council shall work with the Recreation and Park Department and the Department of the Environment to incorporate elements of the Urban Forest Plan into the Recreation and Park Department's forestation plans.
(Added by Ord. 171-03, File No. 030422, App. 7/3/2003)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 5.234)
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