Loading...
(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)
(a) To improve management by individual property owners and those who provide tree services to property owners, the Council shall assist with education programs. The Council shall design education programs for the public and tree care professionals to inform and gain public support for urban forestry programs.
(b) The Council shall promote trees as essential infrastructure with inherent value to the City of San Francisco. As infrastructure, trees will require consideration when designing and engineering public and private development projects.
(c) The Council shall promote an understanding of San Francisco's urban forest as habitat for the wild animals that make up a significant part of San Francisco's natural heritage.
(d) The Council's outreach shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Fostering an understanding of the value of trees;
(2) Promoting public understanding of City tree programs and laws;
(3) Working with the media to bring urban forest concerns and information to the public;
(4) Facilitating presentations, programs, and other outreach to property owners and the business and corporate community; and
(5) Promoting special events such as a citywide Arbor Day.
(Added by Ord. 171-03, File No. 030422, App. 7/3/2003)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 5.235)
(a) In an effort to establish and maintain a healthy and sustainable urban forest and ensure public health and safety, the Council shall develop and adopt tree care best management practices for public and private trees. The practices for tree maintenance shall focus on the protection of trees from premature death and irreversible damage caused by improper or inadequate tree maintenance.
(b) The Council shall develop the best management practices in consultation with affected City agencies and with input from interested members of the public. The Council's evaluation of such practices shall incorporate an analysis of the projected costs for implementation of the practices. The best management practices shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Species selection;
(2) Planting practices;
(3) Young tree care;
(4) Tree pruning and maintenance; and
(5) Tree removal.
(c) The Council, with the assistance of the Board of Supervisors, shall urge and encourage City, State, and federal agencies, as well as private property owners and tree care companies working in San Francisco, to adhere to the Council's management practices and tree care standards.
(Added by Ord. 171-03, File No. 030422, App. 7/3/2003)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 5.236)
(a) The Board of Supervisors shall make efforts to provide adequate funding for the Department of the Environment's support of the Council.
(b) In the event funding is not allocated by the City and County of San Francisco for staffing the Council, the Council shall pursue funds for any shortfall in the necessary staffing and support activities and additional funds for any other project it deems necessary to implement this legislation.
(c) To ensure that adequate resources are available for tree management and that public funding is used wisely, the Council shall:
(1) Review urban forest program budget priorities and make recommendations about urban forest funding requirements to the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and affected city departments and commissions;
(2) Investigate and pursue funding options for various urban forest activities;
(3) Assist agencies and organizations in securing funding for urban forest programs;
(4) Apply for and accept grants for public agency or privately sponsored urban forest programs pursuant to the procedures in the Administrative Code; and
(5) Determine whether there are opportunities to improve efficiency and eliminate possible redundancies among managing agencies through city-wide, coordination of tree operations.
(Added by Ord. 171-03, File No. 030422, App. 7/3/2003)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 5.237)
(a) A coordinator from the Department of the Environment shall staff the Council. The coordinator's responsibilities shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Fundraising;
(2) Developing and drafting guidelines for adoption;
(3) Preparing staff and annual reports;
(4) Coordinating with other agencies; and
(5) Develop an annual city-wide tree management budget for local governmental agencies.
(b) The coordinator is essential in order to implement the intent of this legislation.
(Added by Ord. 171-03, File No. 030422, App. 7/3/2003)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 5.238)
(a) The Council shall report to the Board of Supervisors and Mayor by September 1st of each year regarding the state of the urban forest. The report shall contain a review the quality of urban forest stewardship and an assessment of how well public agencies and other urban forest managers are implementing the Urban Forest Plan. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Condition of the urban forest, species composition, and other tree stand characteristics;
(2) Summary of urban forest activities, such as total number of trees, number of trees removed, and number of trees planted on private lands and under the jurisdictions of public agencies and non-profit organizations.
(3) Analysis of the adherence to the Urban Forest Plan;
(4) Analysis of the adherence to the best management practices;
(5) The Council's public education and outreach projects;
(6) Notable achievements in urban forest;
(7) The status of funding for urban forest programs; and
(8) Proposals for tree care guidelines or changes to adopted tree care programs or plans.
(b) City agencies and any non-profit organizations that accept city funding shall report to the Council regarding the trees they manage, the extent to which their management plans correspond to the Urban Forest Plan, and implementation of the best management practices. The Council shall receive the report no later than June 30 of each year. Other public entities also are urged to submit reports to the Council regarding the trees they manage.
(c) City agencies that do not adhere to the policies, guidelines, or standards outlined in the Urban Forest Plan or best management practices shall explain their reasoning at a public hearing before the Council.
(d) Within ninety (90) days of the Council's establishment, the Council shall adopt procedures to address the public hearing process specified in Subsection (c) above.
(Added by Ord. 171-03, File No. 030422, App. 7/3/2003)
(Derivation Former Administrative Code Section 5.239)