HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Services Committee - 24 Feb 2025 - Agenda - Pdf
CITY OF RENTON
AGENDA - Community Services Committee Meeting
3:15 PM - Monday, February 24, 2025
7th Floor Council Conference Room/Videoconference
1. URBAN FORESTRY UPDATE
a) Presentation
2. EMERGING ISSUES IN PARKS & RECREATION
If you would like to attend this week's meeting remotely, you can do so by going to
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89858744646?pwd=TDRleTBqZUs5L1VZN1lzMjM2Tm9Udz09
Zoom Meeting ID: 898 5874 4646, Passcode: 139067
You can call through Zoom at (253) 215-8782 and use the Meeting ID.
Urban Forestry
Parks & Recreation Dept
Community Services Committee
February 24, 2025
Ian Gray
Urban Forestry and Natural Resources Manager
City of Renton
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WHY TREES?
Reduce Stress and Improve the quality of Life
Clean the Air and return Oxygen to the Atmosphere
Save Energy and Lower Energy Costs for Buildings
Positively Influence the Climate to Ensure Sustainability
Reduce the Need for Street Maintenance
Raise Property Values and Improve Urban Livability
Conserves Water and Soil, Help Manage Surface Water
Cool Pavements and Reduce Urban Heat Islands
Build Safe Communities and Decrease Crime
Calm Traffic and Make Neighborhoods Safer and Quieter
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Congruence with Council
Priorities
Provide a safe, healthy and vibrant Community
Support planned growth and influence
decisions to foster environmental sustainability
Meet service demands and provide
high-quality customer service
Build an inclusive, informed and hate-free city
with equitable outcomes for all in support of
social, economic, and
racial justice
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Urban Forestry in Renton 3
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27,456 actively managed public trees along streets, in parks or on public properties
89,528 less actively managed public trees in greenways, natural areas or riparian zones
29.3% canopy cover percentage and a Tree Equity Score of 83 out of 100
90 unique general species, (Acer most common 27%) with
281 unique species, (Bigleaf maple most common 15%)
Public trees provide $220,000 in annual ecosystem benefits and services
Public trees have a replacement value in excess of $123 million dollars
By the Numbers
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Many of us recognize what
is meant when we say
‘Grey’ Infrastructure
Trees are referred to as
‘Green’ Infrastructure –
living biotic city assets
So, as we just discussed, trees are highly valuable assets. But, unlike grey infrastructure,
their value increases as they age! Trees get bigger as they age and the larger the
tree, the more ‘work’ they do.
Trees are Infrastructure
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7Urban Forestry’s foundational documents
The 2022-2032
Urban Forest
Management Plan,
completed in 2022
Citywide update to the
Tree Inventory Database
in COR Maps GeoCortex
GIS completed in 2021
A new Tree
Canopy Cover
survey is due – a
Federal grant
award has been
secured and
work began in
late 2024 AG
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Measurement taken of the
Puget Sound urban heat
island from July 2022
Climate Considerations
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9Recommended Public Tree Pruning Rotation
Current and recommended maintenance for Renton’s Public Trees
Pruning Cycle Cost per Year Increase
in Budget
Trees
per Year
Trees
per acre
Current - ~37 years $134,000 750
20-Year Cycle $247,104 + $113,104 1,373 +623
10-Year Cycle $494,208 + $360,208 2,746 +1,373
7- Year Cycle $706,011 + $572,011 6,668 +3,922
2 FTE In-House Arborists
7.5-Year cycle 4,176 Hours
With a 2 FTE Arborist Crew = 7.5 Year Cycle, 4,176 hours, 3,654 trees per year.
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10City of Renton Urban Forestry Work
Plan 2023
• 7 tree trimming and removal contracts
•1 tree watering contract for 521 trees
•1 landscape maintenance contract for 54 right-of
way/streets/public/facilities and public property sites
•3 on-call contracts for emergent tree issues
•1 professional services contract for inspecting arborist services
•1 tree planting contract
•Annual Arbor Day celebration
•3 volunteer events totaling 156 volunteer hours
•16th Tree City USA recognition a 13th Growth award and
a second Tree City of the World designation from the
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112023 Urban Forestry
Statistics
Work requests inspected: 359
Work requests completed: 309
Number of trees inspected: 1615
Number of trees that had data entered: 3467
Number of trees added to the inventory: 960
Number of trees pruned: 1030
Number of trees planted: 426
Number of trees removed: 331
Number of individual tree watering visits: 10,146
Number of tree grates adjusted: 26
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12UF Technical Consulting
•Service requests for multiple departments through Renton Responds
•Tree Clearance from traffic control devices for Transportation
•Tree & Sidewalk replacement projects with Public Works
•Tree Hazard & Risk Inspections for Risk Management
•Design Review for CED development applications
•Design Review for Surface Water, Transportation and
other Capital improvement projects
•Collaboration with Legal Dept in ever-evolving nature
of small public works contracting
•Tree Work for Parks & Trails Maintenance
•Ordinance Support for Code Compliance with tree code violations
•Arborist Report review for CED tree removal permit applications
•On-going coordination with Police and Emergency Management for
tree-related storm and accident events.
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Better Trimming Cycle
+ More Tree Inspection
+ CPTED Planning Lens
= Less Damage in storms
More resilient trees
Safer for Citizens
Fewer claims
Less Liability
Safety
Failure of City tree at
2808 Kennewick Pl on 06/10/2024
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Before and after shots of two Western Red Cedar Trees trimmed by
City Staff at 447 Morris Ave S in August 2024
Aesthetics
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15Good Business
ASSET PROTECTION through best management practices and routine maintenance
SUSTAINABILITY through Engagement, Education and good Environmental Stewardship
BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT:
•Trees help reduce the urban heat island and reduce household cooling costs
•Trees purify the air and improve health outcomes
•Better maintained trees are safer and urban forests become more sustainable
•Shopping areas with plenty of trees encourage people to stay and shop longer
•Properties with mature trees command 10-15% more in real estate sales value
•People recover more quickly from medicals issues when looking out at trees
•Cities with good tree canopy cover are more appealing places to live and work
•Shaded streets don’t need resurfacing so frequently
•Neighborhoods with trees are more cohesive and psychologically healthy
•Tree lined streets reduce vehicle speeds and reduce crime
•Intrinsically AND factually, TREES ARE GOOD!
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Updates - Some Good News!
Last October 2024, Renton was one of four inaugural
Washington cities awarded the Evergreen Communities
Recognition. Renton hosted the launch event for the
Washington Department of Natural resources Urban &
Community Forestry Program, with Public Lands
Commissioner Hillary Franz delivering a keynote speech
in City Hall.
In February 2025, Renton continued with the tradition of
being designated a ‘Tree City USA’ by the Arbor Day
Foundation - Renton’s 17th consecutive year.
Also in February 2025, during a mid-project meeting with consultants PlanIT GEO, preliminary data findings about the extent of the tree canopy cover across the city being updated as part of a 5-year DNR grant funded update show that Renton tree canopy cover INCREASED since 2018 from 29% to 31%!
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What Next? What more is needed?17
More Trees
More opportunities for Youth
More education
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18How do we do that?
To make the Urban Forest more accessible, sustainable
and equitable, we need:
•Additional Resources & Equipment
•An In-House Forestry crew
•Better buy-in across the City
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Questions?
Ian Gray
Urban Forestry & Natural Resources Manager
Ext. 6601 email: igray@rentonwa.gov
“I speak for the trees
for the trees have no
tongues.”
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