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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 03/04/2025 - Memorandum from Kendra Boot re Rooted in Community, Urban Forest Strategic Plan (UFSP)Forestry Division 413 S. Bryan Avenue PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522 CC: Dean Klingner, Community Services Director Mike Calhoon, Parks Director Sylvia Tatman-Burruss, Senior Project Manager MEMORANDUM Date: February 26, 2025 To: Mayor and City Councilmembers Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager From: Kendra Boot, City Forester Subject: Rooted in Community, Urban Forest Strategic Plan BOTTOM LINE The purpose of this memo is to summarize discussions during the Planning and Zoning Commission’s (PZC) Work Session and Hearing, on February 14 and 20, 2025, respectively. After presenting to the Commission, staff has received a Recommendation for Council to adopt Rooted in Community, the Urban Forest Strategic Plan as a component of City Plan. DISCUSSION SUMMARY Staff provided a quick overview of the benefits that trees provide to the community, the state of the urban canopy, and shared the recommended growth strategies within the final draft of the Urban Forest Strategic Plan. General feedback and unanimous support for the plan was provided by the Commission. Discussion themes included tree policy improvements, City organization leading by example in Capital Improvement, balancing green energy with canopy as well as other competing priorities including cost to developments, and sustainable funding for the Forestry Division. The Urban Forest Strategic Plan shares a vision, dataset, community perspective and strategic best-practice policy recommendations for supporting the urban forest over the next two decades. Changes to the Land Use Code and other tree policies will be brought to the Commission and then to Council as separate work streams. NEXT STEPS Staff will be available to answer any questions Council may have on March 4, 2025, as this item will be on Discussion for second reading. Docusign Envelope ID: 2B583405-1A39-4EB9-806C-CDF901BD25D0