SR-04-10-2012-8CCity Council Meeting: April 10, 2012
Agenda Item: 8C
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Karen Ginsberg, Department Director
Subject: Urban Forest Task Force Member Qualifications and Criteria
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that City Council:
1) Reconstitute an Urban Forest Task Force for seven years as an advisory body to
support the implementation of the Urban Forest Master Plan;
2) Approve criteria for the appointment of Task Force members;
3) Authorize the City Clerk to publish the vacancies of the Task Force with a
deadline for applications May 17, 2012.
Executive Summary
On December 13, 2011 Council adopted the Urban Forest Master Plan (Master Plan) as
a guide for perpetuating and enhancing Santa Monica's urban forest. Formulation of the
Master Plan was spearheaded by a Council- appointed seven - member Urban Forest
Master Plan Task Force which met regularly and provided invaluable input throughout
the process. The Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force's role formally concluded when
Council adopted the Master Plan.
The adopted Master Plan recommends that an urban forest advisory body be in place
for the first seven years of the Master Plan to evaluate the implementation and
effectiveness of the plan. Staff recommends that Council reconstitute an Urban Forest
Task Force (Task Force) in an advisory role, approve the criteria for the appointment of
Task Force members, and authorize the City Clerk to publish the vacancies of the Task
Force. There is no immediate financial impact related to this policy decision.
Discussion
This Master Plan establishes guiding principles, related goals and specific strategies to
ensure community stewardship and best management practices for the care of the
urban forest. A goal of the first guiding principle of the plan — The Urban Forest and Its
Environment — is to enhance the understanding of the environmental benefits of the
urban forest and to asses and report on the progress of these benefits. To achieve this
goal, three strategies are outlined:
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1. Biennial reporting on performance related to tree planting, removal, trimming,
emergency responses and vacancy counts.
2. Seven -year reporting on performance to document areas, including but not
limited to, energy savings, canopy coverage, wildlife activity, and ratios of
deciduous to evergreen trees and native to exotic trees.
3. Establishment of a public advisory body to evaluate the implementation and
effectiveness of the Master Plan during the first seven years of the Master Plan.
At seven years, the City's trees would be re- inventoried, and upon completion of
the inventory the Task Force would advise City staff on recommended changes
to the goals and strategies of the Master Plan for consideration by the City
Council.
Proposed Task Force Responsibilities
To help ensure a focused and effective advisory body, during its tenure the Task Force
would advise staff in the following areas related to the urban forest:
Capital Projects
• Provide input on proposed tree planting activities in City public improvement
projects.
• Provide input on tree planting on School District property.
Street Tree Species Selection
• Provide input on street tree species designation adjacent to designated
landmarks and within historic districts in conjunction with the Landmarks
Commission.
Education
Provide input on refinements to the Heritage Tree educational program.
Funding
• Advocate and support funding initiatives including grant funding opportunities.
Report Evaluation
• Evaluate biennial reports and the first seven -year report on achieving the stated
environmental performance goals as specified in the Master Plan. At the
completion of this first seven -year reporting cycle, the Task Force would advise
staff on recommended changes to the Master Plan's goals and strategies,
including the appeals process, tree species designations, the public review
process for tree removals, and tree relocations as part of City public
improvement projects.
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LUCE Implementation
• Provide input on implementation of LUCE including input on zoning ordinance
development and development requirements related to public trees.
During the development of the Master Plan, the subject of formulation of policies for
private trees was discussed by the Master Plan Task Force as well as by members of
the community, and it was suggested that these discussions continue with the new Task
Force. However, because the role of the reconstituted Task Force would be to evaluate
the implementation and effectiveness of the Master Plan, and the Master Plan is
focused on public trees, staff does not recommend that policies regarding private trees
be considered by this Task Force.
Proposed Task Force Composition
Staff proposes a seven member Task Force. Given that urban forestry expertise would
be required for some of the issue areas that the Task Force would advise on, it is
recommended that at least three members be current or past International Society of
Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborists or have professional experience in urban forestry,
landscaping, or horticulture.
To help the Task Force accomplish its objectives, staff also recommends that Council
adopt the following eligibility criteria for Task Force membership:
• Members should collectively have experience in interpreting and evaluating data -
driven reports to measure the performance of a plan, program, or organization
and the effectiveness of a goal or strategy; and demonstrated commitment to the
Santa Monica environment and its urban forest.
• Members should individually and collectively have demonstrated achievements in
working in an advisory capacity, working effectively in a group- setting, and
balancing competing priorities.
• Members must be residents of the City of Santa Monica or persons who do
business or are employed in the City of Santa Monica. Pursuant to Section
2.32.280 of the SMMC, no City employee may serve as a member of any
legislative body all of whose members are appointed by the City Council.
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Proposed Meetinq Frequency and Term Lengths
Staff recommends that the Task Force meet on a bi- monthly schedule. Since the length
of service of the proposed Task Force is seven years as outlined in the Master Plan,
staff proposes that members serve an initial term of three years followed by two two -
year terms. It is also proposed that Task Force members would not have term limits.
Upon Council approval of the proposed criteria, the City Clerk will publish the openings
and staff will utilize its urban forest distribution list to announce the openings.
Prospective board members would be asked to complete an application (Attachment A),
to give staff and Council a complete understanding of how the applicant could contribute
to the Task Force. Staff intends to review the applications and will submit
recommendations to Council for consideration at a future Council meeting.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no immediate budget/financial impact related to this policy decision.
Prepared by: Carlos Collard, Senior Administrative Analyst
Approved:
Karen GinsbWrg
Director, Community aid C Itural
Services
Attachment A: Task Force Application
8
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
URBAN FOREST TASK FORCE APPLICATION
CITY OF SANTA MONICA
that met regularly. The Urban Forest Master Plan Task Force's role formally concluded when the City
Council adopted the proposed Master Plan.
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1111116101 ON
of Arboriculture (ISA) certified arborists or have professional experience in urban forestry,
landscaping, or #,
� APPLICATIONS DUE MAY 17, 2012 AT 5:30p.m. +
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Ily-INTA3
PHONE: ()
'MAILING ADDRESS: E -MAIL
If address is different from your residence address, please print your residence address on the back of this form (for confidential use only).
WORK ADDRESS:
WORK TITLE:
WORK PHONE :()
CHECK ALL THAT APPLY. I CURRENTLY:
❑ RESIDE IN SANTA MONICA ❑ DO BUSINESS IN SANTA MOINCA ❑ AM EMPLOYED IN SANTA MONICA
FOR HOW MANY YEARS? FOR HOW MANY YEARS? FOR HOW MANY YEARS?
Specify current or prior service on a City Board /Commission:
List community activities in which you are involved:
PLEASE COMPLETE ALL THREE PAGES OF THE APPLICATION
All persons are invited to apply for membership on City Boards and Commissions regardless of race, age, sex, religion, marital
status, national origin, ancestry, sexual preference, or disability. Applicants shall not, however, be under 18 years of age or serve on
more than one Board, Commission or Corporation. Some Boards and Commissions do require special qualifications and
requirements. Appointment of members will be made by Councilmembers at an open City Council meeting. Please answer all
questions on this application. This application will become a public record and will be available for public inspection or
duplication.
Return applications to the Office of the City Clerk, PO BOX 2200, SANTA MONICA, CA 90407 -2200.
Your application will be kept for one year. Only those applicants appointed by Council will be notified. If appointed, you will be
SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT
DATE
Page I I
URBAN FOREST TASK FORCE APPLICATION
APPLICANT'S NAME:
Areas of Demonstrated Expertise (Check all that apply):
International Society of Arborists (ISA) certified
arborist
Professional experience in urban forestry,
landscaping, horticulture
nInterpreting quantitative reports
Evaluating performance of a plan, program, or
organization
Evaluating the effectiveness of a goal or strategy
Commitment to the Santa Monica environment
or urban forest
What are vour coals in
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APPLICANT'S NAME:
What is vour vision for the urban forest and the role it olays in
Participation on the Urban Forest Task Force requires a three -year commitment, which Includes attendance at
bi- monthly meetings, and possibly other tasks outside of those meetings.
Will you be able to commit the necessary time to perform your duties if appointed to the Task Force?
Yes [:] No
Personal qualities identified in the criteria include demonstrated achievements in working in an advisory
capacity, working effectively in a group setting, and balancing competing priorities. Provide examples of how
you have demonstrated these qualities:
SUPPLIED TO COUNCIL MEMBERS ., , REQUEST.
ALL INFORMATION IS PUBLIC, YOUR NAME, ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBERS WILL BE
PUBLISHED ON THE CITY'S WEB SITE.
DISABILITY RELATED ASSISTANCE AND ALTERNATE FORMATS OF THIS DOCUMENT ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
BY CALLING THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE AT (310) 458 -8211.
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