At the City Council meeting on October 7th to provide the public with an update on the implementation of the Urban Forest Management Plan, highlighting significant progress and ongoing initiatives.

City officials reported that efforts focus on disadvantaged communities, particularly in the southern regions of the city. The goal for the current fiscal year (2024-2025) was to plant 250 trees; the city exceeded that goal by successfully planting 290 trees. The city has launched an efficient tree inspection process, allowing residents, city employees, or contractors to submit service requests through an app or the city’s website. A certified arborist then conducts a field inspection to assess each tree’s health and safety, determining whether it should be preserved, pruned, or removed. Advanced technology like Sonic tomography can be used for further assessments when necessary.

The city aims to increase tree pruning significantly, targeting approximately 10,000 trees each year. Last fiscal year saw the pruning of 40,770 trees, marking a substantial achievement for the city.

As part of its commitment to transparency and community engagement, the city is developing a public-facing website to showcase the benefits of urban trees. This platform will feature essential data, including species information, tree canopy coverage, and visual maps highlighting vegetation in the area. The first draft of this website is expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

One map will illustrate the savings provided by shade trees for cooling systems. Analysis based on a total of 35,000 trees covering an area of 838.5 acres. The environmental benefits include the removal of approximately 50 tons of pollutants each year, carbon storage nearing 16,000 tons, and the production of 1.908 thousand tons of oxygen annually. The most common species identified are Magnolias, with the largest variety being the Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica). Only about 17% of the trees have a diameter of less than six inches. Since June 2023, over 950 new trees have been planted.