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7A <br />1. Establish and maintain maximum tree cover. <br />The urban forest serves a wide variety of functions that promote the health, safety, and general welfare of <br />residents. These functions include: <br />• conserving energy, by providing shade and evaporative cooling through transpiration; <br />• improving local and global air quality by absorbing carbon dioxide and ozone, adsorbing particulate <br />matter, and producing oxygen; <br />• reducing wind speed and directing air flow; <br />• reducing noise pollution; <br />• providing habitat for birds, small mammals, and other wildlife; <br />• reducing storm runoff and the potential for soil erosion; <br />• increasing real property values; <br />■ enhancing visual and aesthetic qualities that attract visitors and businesses and serve as a source of <br />community image and pride. <br />All these benefits increase as canopy cover increases. By establishing and maintaining maximum tree cover, <br />the community is able to realize the maximum benefits the urban forest can provide. The maximum amount <br />of tree canopy a given community can support must be determined by analyzing limitations posed by climate <br />and land use. <br />Ordinance provisions <br />Tree ordinance provisions covering planting, maintenance, and removal of trees on public and private land <br />are related to this goal. Performance standards for the amount of tree cover the community hopes to achieve <br />and maintain along streets, parking lots, residential and commercial areas, parks and open spaces should be <br />established in these provisions. A provision calling for development of an urban forest management plan is <br />essential to this goal. This plan should provide for a sustained forest canopy through properly phased tree <br />planting and removal. <br />Specific provisions: <br />O Designate administrative responsibilities DONE: PWs, City forester/arborist, PR&F Comm <br />O Develop a comprehensive management plan How would we scope "comprehensive"? <br />O Resolution of conflicts between trees and structures Do we touch this, aside from public situations? <br />O Planting requirements Do we go beyond Chap 1127? <br />O Permit required for activities that may damage city owned trees RoWs vs Public property <br />O Permit required for activities that may damage protected private trees Chap 1127 only <br />Commented [JK1]: Promote maximum tree cover.�Thiscan be done by city property action, new and re- <br />development requirements, and residential encourag <br />Commented [JK2]: Focus could be along major highways <br />— MV Blvd, 35W, Hwy 10 <br />Commented [JK3]: Applies to city Rows, green space and <br />parks <br />Commented [JK4]: Applies to Rows (rain gardens), green <br />space and parks <br />Commented [JKS]: Focus on main thoroughfares, MV <br />Blvd 1 <br />Commented [JK6]: Ne/Re-development chapter 1127, <br />disease chapter 605 <br />Commented [JK7]: can coverage percent (public and <br />private) be estimated based on satellite views? 11 <br />Commented [JK8]: Can we rely on 1127 and 605 as key <br />elements ofthe "plan"? <br />Commented [JK9]: Phased management would generally <br />apply if replacing significant diseased or storm damage <br />trees. MV is essentially fully developed, so phased removal <br />and plant is not very practical. <br />