REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: BRIAN E. RUSSELL, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Streets, Landscape, and Graffiti Divisions
ERIKA PELAYO-LOPEZ, Community Coordinator
Public Works Department, Landscape Division
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the use of the CalEnviroScreening Score Analyzer as the tree equity scoring criteria to be used by staff in accordance with the City of Fresno Tree Policy.
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the use of the CalEnviroScreening Tree Equity Score Analyzer which can be found at oehha.ca.gov as the tree equity scoring criteria to be used by staff to prioritize the planting of trees in neighborhoods deemed high need as part of City of Fresno Tree Policy Resolution No 2022-086.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On April 21, 2022, Council adopted Resolution No. 2022-086 adopting the City of Fresno Tree Policy. Section 21 of this resolution states that the planting of new trees shall be prioritized in neighborhoods deemed high need via a tree equity scoring criteria to be developed by staff, as well as high priority areas as identified by the Parks, Recreation and Arts Commission, and approved by the City Council. CalEnviroScreening is part of the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessments. The CalEnviroScreening score is calculated from the scores for both pollution burden and population characteristics. This will provide guidance in identifying disadvantaged communities in Fresno that would benefit from increased green canopy. The focus of increasing green canopy in lower income neighborhoods improves lives by absorbing harmful greenhouse emissions and providing shade. This tool also captures data from the US Census providing indicators related to the following unemployment, asthma, cardiovascular disease, low birth weight, education, housing burden, linguistic isolation, and poverty. City staff will utilize this tool to identify neighborhoods within the City that are socioeconomically disadvantaged urban neighborhoods for future project opportunities. It is further recommended that as part of the Urban Forest Management Plan, the City adopt a new tree equity scoring criteria when that plan is ultimately approved by the Council. Staff recommends the CalEnviroScreening score as an appropriate interim policy until the Urban Forest Management Plan can be presented to and considered by the Council in late 2023.
BACKGROUND
In response to the Council resolution from April 21, 2022, staff has developed a recommendation that the Council approve the use of the CalEnviroScreening Tree Equity Score Analyzer to prioritize the planting of trees in neighborhoods deemed high need. The scoring rubric can be found at oehha.ca.gov.
On July 21, 2022, Council approved a consultant agreement with Dudek to prepare a comprehensive Urban Forest Management Plan that will be presented to City Council for approval upon completion. The Urban Forest Management Plan will provide guidance to various City departments for design, construction, installation, and maintenance of trees for which the City of Fresno is responsible. The Urban Forest Management Plan process will engage both internal and external stakeholders in reviewing of existing policies, procedures, ordinances, specifications, and guidelines related to street, public and private trees. This project is now in the initial stages.
Dudek’s Urban Forest Management Plan will include analysis of the following data to generate an equity-based priority planting score and map of priority planting areas in the City: tree canopy cover assessment, vulnerability data (including CalEnviroScreen and urban heat island), population size, vacant tree site rate, and any other relevant City specific data. CalEnviroScreen (CES) shows the pollution burden and vulnerability of a specific area and assigns it a score compared to all of California. CES is calculated using exposure indicators (pollution, contaminants, etc.), environmental effect indicators (waste facilities, impaired bodies of water, etc.), sensitive population indicators (asthma, cardiovascular disease, etc.), and socioeconomic factors (educational attainment, linguistic isolation, poverty, and unemployment). The equity-based priority planting score and map of priority planting areas can then be used for staff to identify tree planting projects that will increase canopy cover in strategic, need-based areas.
Upon City Council approval, the new Urban Forest Master plan will replace the City of Fresno Tree Policy and become the new official guiding policy.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Not applicable
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Not applicable
FISCAL IMPACT
The approval of the recommended action will have no impact upon the General Fund. Additionally, any analyses discussed herein will occur during the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan process and will not incur additional costs beyond the scope of the project.
Attachment:
Resolution No. 2022-086