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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse to Constituent Letter - Mail Packet - 09/03/2024 - Letter from Mayor Jeni Arndt to Transportation Board re: Urban Forest Strategic Plan: Rooted in Community (2) Mayor City Hall Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.416.2154 970.224.6107 - fax fcgov.com August 29, 2024 Transportation Board c/o Melina Dempsey, Staff Liaison PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 Dear Chair Edgar Peyronnin and Board Members: On behalf of City Council, thank you for providing us with the August 21, 2024 memorandum wherein you offered unanimous support for the Urban Forest Strategic Plan, as it aligns with City values and also supports Transportation Board goals of providing a safe and inviting environment for all modes of transportation along City streets. As you know, this item is scheduled to come to City Council on Tuesday, October 15. We encourage you to view the proceedings that evening either in person at City Hall, 300 Laporte Ave., or online at www.fcgov.com/fctv, starting at 6:00 p.m. Thank you for the expertise and perspectives that you bring to the Board and sharing them with City Council. Best Regards, Jeni Arndt Mayor /sek cc: City Council Members Kelly DiMartino, City Manager Transportation Board Edgar Peyronnin, Chair Alexa Nickoloff, Vice Chair DATE: August 21, 2024 TO: Mayor Arndt and City Councilmembers FROM: Edgar Peyronnin, Transportation Board Chair, on behalf of the Transportation Board CC: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager RE: Endorsement of Urban Forest Strategic Plan: Rooted in Community Dear Mayor and City Council Members, The Transportation Board has voted unanimously in support of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan as presented by Kendra Boot at our meeting in June. The plan aligns with the City’s mission, vision, and values for a vibrant, desirable community. Through partnerships it prioritizes equity in service delivery, ensuring that the most vulnerable and underserved communities benefit from a healthy tree canopy strengthening the community. Additionally, a diverse, well-planned urban forest will support stewardship of the City’s environment and support its green initiatives. The plan supports Transportation Board goals in providing a safe and inviting environment for all modes of transportation along the network of streets and roads throughout the community. Research shows that tree-lined streets were perceived to be safer in both urban and suburban conditions. Individual driving speeds were significantly reduced in the suburban settings with trees. The trees provide shade and cover at Transfort stops, both improving the experience for a rider and protecting the shelters themselves from the harsh sun and elements. They help encourage ridership and reduce the cost to maintain this part of the city’s infrastructure. They can support traffic engineering solutions for the community into the future. The Transportation Board requests that City Council support and approve Rooted in Community: The Urban Forest Strategic Plan. Respectfully submitted, Edgar U. Peyronnin, Transportation Board Chair