City moves for Urban Forest Master Plan, more work on tree removal program

March 22, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV)-- The Tallahassee City Commission held a workshop Wednesday to discuss an Urban Forest Master Plan.

This, after the Commission moved to develop a UFMP at its annual retreat in January. The idea is to create a plan for the City's urban forest that tailors to the needs of the community.

The urban forest is any and all trees and vegetation on public and private land within city boundaries. An Urban Forest Master Plan considers the current state, how the public feels, what they want from the trees and how to manage them internally; plus, it develops a path forward for achieving goals.

To create this, staff recommended the Commission do four things. The first is to issue an RFP for a consultant to perform an Urban Tree Canopy Analysis, as well as direct a public engagement program. Secondly, to modify some of the policies regarding the electric utility tree trimming program. Third, to create a Storm Preparedness Pilot Program, which would offer loans to residents for tree removal of specific tree. And finally, to consider underground utility conversion in specific areas of the city.

Fiscally, this would all cost nearly $3 million.

The Commission moved to approve the first two recommendations, including starting an Urban Forest Master Plan and continuing the City's electric utility tree trimming program.

However, they decided to continue discussion on the Storm Preparedness Pilot Program after voicing concerns about the program as is.

The City Commission first discussed the Storm Preparedness Pilot Program at a February Commission meeting.

The program would be an extension of the City's Energy-Efficiency Loans program and would allow residential utility customers to apply for loans for tree removal, as well as generators. To qualify, trees must be dead or dying. Or, within 100 feet of an electric distribution line or service drop. Loans cap out at $10,000 and would be subject to five percent interest.

At that meeting residents voiced concerns over the program. Some, said it was written too vaguely. Others, said there was not enough community imput. Thus, the program was pushed to the workshop for more citizen engagement.

At the workshop, residents expressed concerns of people potentially using the program to take out trees just because they wanted to, not because they actually posed a utility risk. As well as the risk of the City being overcharged by a private tree removal company.

Commissioners echoed some of these concerns. Commissioner Richardson said he'd like to see the loan program as something that's part of the long term master plan. Mayor Gillum said there needs to be clear guidelines that this is program is only for trees that pose risks for public utilities. And Commissioner Ziffer said he'd like to see a risk assessment done in advance to make sure that the trees that are being removed, qualify.

Commissioner Miller would also like to see more educational programs so residents could tell which trees on their property they need to be concerned with. And, she also questioned whether corrective pruning for high risk trees could be eligible for loans.

Following these concerns, the Commission moved to have staff continue working on the Storm Preparedness Pilot Program, and bring it back to the Commission with more details and the requested changes.

The final topic for recommendation, was considering underground utilities.

For the entire city to switch to underground utilities, it would take 40 years; this would cost $1.7 million per mile. And, although underground utilities would make outages less frequent, when they happen they take longer to repair and need maintenance work more often.

Because of this, City Utilities suggested taking a more targeted approach, starting with studies in the areas of Centerville and Miccosukee roads, as these areas include hospitals and nursing homes. Once the study is done, staff would report back to the Commission.

Staff also requested the authority for cost sharing for conversion. That means when development projects come along, the perspective party could request underground utilities, paying a certain percentage of the cost and the City paying a percentage of the cost.

The Commission voted unanimously on these recommendations.