Section 2.32.060 of the Carmel-by-the-Sea Municipal Code states the Duties, Responsibilities, and Authority of the Forest and Beach Commission. The Commission is to “provide publicity in regard to the problems of the urban forest, including a public information program concerning care of the forest resources…” Additionally, Section 2.32.070 gives the Commission authority to allocate budget to advance the Commission’s responsibilities as long as the City Council approves.
Currently, there is a knowledge gap within the residents, property owners, and developer communities regarding the urban forest and beach. An awareness campaign could address this issue by:
- Providing FAQs at the time of the purchase of new property
- Creating a developer guide for building near trees
- Providing guidance on how to be a good beach user
- Connecting the community to the open space assets of the City
- Raising awareness about forest pests and pathogens
Methods to execute a campaign could potentially include social media posts, mailing, print advertisement, videos, webpages, and in-person events.
The proposed fiscal year 2021/2022 operating budget for Forest and Beach is $184,000, which is an increase of $34,000 over the current fiscal year 2020/2021 adopted budget.
The fiscal year 2021/2022 budget includes a line item of $20,000 for an urban forest management plan; however, if the plan includes a complete tree inventory, the total cost is anticipated may be closer to $50,000.