On June 19, 2023, all Steering Committee members, which include the five Forest and Beach Commissioners plus five public Steering Committee members, proposed questions to be included in the Community Survey for the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP). After collecting proposed questions from the Steering Committee, UFMP consultant, Davey Resource Group (DRG), and Public Works staff, Forestry staff consolidated similar questions and included questions critical to the development of the UFMP. Other goals of the Survey included maintaining anonymity and requiring no more than 10-15 minutes to complete, thus having the highest chance of receiving a large response from the local community.
At the September 7, 2023 Special Meeting of the Forest and Beach Commission, the Steering Committee finalized the Survey questions. The Survey was subsequently launched on September 27th and was available in both online and paper formats. "Survey Monkey" was the online platform used to conduct the digital version of the Survey. The Survey was noticed on the City’s website, published in the "Carmel Pine Cone," mentioned in a number of City Friday Letter newsletters, and posted via "Constant Contact" which alerted hundreds of residents and businesses of the Survey.
The Survey remained open for 47 days and closed on November 13th. A total of 358 responses were received with 318 online surveys and 40 paper surveys.
The Survey results are included in the three attachments as follows:
· Attachment #1 includes graphical results of all questions, Questions 1- 21.
· Attachment #2 provides unedited narrative responses to Question 10, requesting responders to comment on their level of satisfaction of the City's care of public trees.
· Attachment #3 provides unedited narrative responses to Question 20 which requested responders to identify the most important issue to be addressed in the UFMP.
This data was compiled just prior to posting of the Forest and Beach Commission meeting agenda. The results and comments provide a considerable database for years of future policy and decision making and forestry operational improvements. DRG nor Forestry staff have had the opportunity to draw any specific conclusions at this point. However, as listed with Question 10, common themes included:
1. Public trees require more maintenance/trimming
2. Dead trees/limbs are dangerous during storms and around power lines
3. Appears that we need more staff in Forestry
4. Need more replacement trees where trees have fallen/died
At the December 14, 2023 meeting with the Steering Committee, the City Forester will present the preliminary results of the Survey. The results are currently being evaluated and will become part of the Draft UFMP which is anticipated to be presented at an upcoming meeting. In the meantime, staff is seeking guidance from the Steering Committee about how to develop an effective game plan to interpret the Survey results, as well as other recommendations forthcoming from the UFMP, program improvements, and establish priorities to improve the urban forest in Carmel.
ENVIRONMENTAL EVALUATION
This action does not constitute a project within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act under Public Resources Code Section 21065. It has no potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment and, therefore, does not require environmental review.