Title
A Resolution Approving the City of Colorado Springs Urban Forest Management Plan
Presenter:
Karen Palus, Director - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department,
Dennis Will, City Forester - Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department
Chris Peiffer, Director of Urban Forestry Consulting Services, PlanIt Geo
Body
Summary:
The City began developing the Urban Forest Management Plan (herein referred to as the "Plan") in July of 2019. PlanIt Geo, LLC was selected as the consulting firm that would write the Plan. They were the same firm that provided our Urban Forest Canopy Analysis. Funding was provided by the City of Colorado Springs General Fund.
The Plan is a citywide management plan and is adopted by resolution. The Plan was developed in response to and as a recommendation of the City's Urban Forestry Canopy Analysis next steps.
The Urban Forest Management Plan was developed after the Tree Canopy Assessment as the next logical progression in a series of analytics that would focus on preserving, maintaining, and managing the urban forest ultimately to benefit the residents of Colorado Springs. This plan outlines recommendations, projections, and procedures to achieve these goals for various management scenarios depending on resources.
Public engagement included an online survey with 389 respondents where 89% stated that healthy public street trees are important for maintaining a healthy community atmosphere. In addition, a stakeholders meeting was held in October, 2019 which included Colorado Springs Utilities, City Fire, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, City Police, El Paso County, Colorado State Forest Service, City of Colorado Springs Public Works, Stormwater, Planning, Neighborhood Services, Legal and others.
City Forestry staff led the Plan's development process. Through an iterative process with PlanIt Geo it identified four management scenarios based on levels of funding and tree maintenance and six Urban Forest M...
Click here for full text