Review of public comments received on May 22, 2024 at the Urban Forest Master Plan Community Meeting #2 and consider options to moving forward

Review public feedback from the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) Community Meeting #2.

Consider the draft list of "Next Steps" below, including an approach to implementing that feedback with the City Forester for incorporation into the UFMP, including heavily revising the Tree Species List to focus on planting, maintaining, and replacing native trees.

Discuss how to best utilize the Steering Committee in the coming months, and set a date for a specific meeting to ensure we are collectively on the right track on the Tree Species List given the public’s feedback. Record the meeting, and allow further public comments.

The second Community Meeting for the UFMP was held at the Sunset Center’s Carpenter Hall on May 22, 2024 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm as an opportunity to garner input and feedback from the public. This meeting was advertised in the "Carmel Pine Cone," posted in "Friday Letters," and noted at prior Forest and Beach Commission meetings. Over 60 members of the public attended, as well as members of the Forest & Beach Commission (Sarah Berling, Kelly Brezoczky, Tamara Michie, and Gerald Montmorency), City Council (Jeff Baron) and City Staff (Justin Ono, Tom Ford, and Bob Harary).

When the audience was asked if they had heard or attended the first UFMP Community Workshop on July 12, 2023 and/or seen notices about the Community Survey, only a few hands were raised. It was noted that the Community Survey was available online and on paper formats at four locations in the City (Post Office, City Hall, Public Works, and Harrison Memorial Library) for 45 days beginning September 25th until November 13, 2023. Many attendees indicated they were residents; however, the exact percentage of residents to non-residents who attended the workshop is unknown.

Three attachments regarding the Workshop follow:

• Attachment 1 contains the Agenda for the community meeting and a description of each item as it was presented or conducted.

• Attachment 2 contains the written public comments from the meeting, including breakout activity questions and feedback.

• Attachment 3 contains sentiments verbally expressed by members of the public following group discussions.

The following themes emerged numerous times at the Workshop:

• Protect, prioritize, and adequately care for native tree species, in particular our predominant native species of Monterey pines, coast live oaks, and Monterey cypress. Maintain what we have.

• Address the community survey’s validity, as well as the terms "Urban Forest" vs. "Urbanized Forest."

• Seek further input from scientists, professors of ecology and forestry, and licensed and certified professionals in these fields.

Regarding the final bullet point above, the City intends to continue doing so throughout this UFMP process. The City will also continue to recognize the critical importance of community input, and will continue to seek community input.

Next steps moving forward:

At the June 13th Forest and Beach Commission meeting, Staff will recommend that the Commission and Steering Committee consider the following next steps to continue to develop the draft UFMP. 

• Push Davey Resource Group to finish their report. The report will be further reviewed, but ultimately modified prior to consideration for adoption.

• Adjust the Tree Species List to highly prioritize native trees, especially maintaining our predominant Monterey pines, coast live oak, and Monterey Cypress, while significantly reducing, or eliminating, non-native trees, trees which are not climate-appropriate, and/or trees require extensive watering.

• The City will adjust the report to reflect a reasonable and practical combination of expert input alongside the wishes of residents, particularly regarding the preservation and care of native trees and our most notable native species.

• Continue to address specific, technical portions of the UFMP at each Forest and Beach Commission/Steering Committee meetings. Examples of subsequent topics include, Operational Review of City Tree Maintenance, and Priority Planting Plan/Tree Replacement Model.

• Consider a joint meeting of the Forest and Beach Commission and Planning Commission to ensure the UFMP is aligned with the General Plan.

• Discuss how to best utilize the Steering Committee in the coming months, and set a date for a specific meeting to ensure we are collectively on the right track on the Tree Species List given the public’s feedback. Record the meeting, and allow further public comments.

• Hold Workshop #3 in late fall/early winter to review the draft UFMP to ensure it reflects the sentiments of the community and the expertise of industry professionals.

Apart from minimal costs of workshop materials (advertisement, pens, flipchart, sticky notes), no other costs were incurred beyond the original scope of the UFMP capital improvement project budget.