Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-09-17 Info Packet Ci ty Council I nformati on P acket September 17, 2020 IP1.Council Tentative Meeting S chedule Miscellaneous IP2.Memo from C ity Manager: A pproval of P olice C hief Appointment IP3.Memo from A ssistant City Manager: Tree C anopy S tatus Update and C limate A ction I mplications IP4.I nvitation: National B lack Voter Day - S eptember 18 IP5.I nvitation: C ommunity P olice Review B oard F orum - S eptember 21 IP6.P ress Release: Council L istening P ost - S eptember 22 IP7.J ohnson County A f f ordable Housing C oalition: News and Updates IP8.E mail from Barbara Vinograde: Hello f rom the I owa City F ree Clinic! September 17, 2020 City of Iowa City Page 1 Item Number: 1. S eptember 17, 2020 Council Ten tative Meetin g S ch ed u l e AT TAC HM E NT S: D escription C ouncil Tentative Meeting Schedule City Council Tentative Meeting Schedule Subject to change September 17, 2020 Date Time Meeting Location Tuesday, October 6, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Monday, October 19, 2020 4:30 PM Joint Entities Meeting Zoom Meeting Platform Hosted by Johnson County Tuesday, October 20, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Monday, November 2, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Special Formal Meeting Tuesday, November 17, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, December 1, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Tuesday, December 15, 2020 5:00 PM Work Session Zoom Meeting Platform 7:00 PM Formal Meeting Item Number: 2. S eptember 17, 2020 Memo from City Manag er: Ap p roval of Pol ice Chief Ap p oin tment AT TAC HM E NT S: D escription Memo from C ity Manager: A pproval of P olice C hief Appointment Item Number: 3. S eptember 17, 2020 Memo from Assistant City Manag er: Tree Can opy Statu s Up d ate and Cl imate Action Imp l ications AT TAC HM E NT S: D escription Memo from A ssistant C ity Manager: Tree C anopy S tatus Update and C limate A ction I mplications Date: September 14, 2020 To: City Council From: Ashley Monroe, Assistant City Manager Tyler Baird, Parks Superintendent Brenda Nations, Climate Action Coordinator Re: Tree Canopy Status Update and Climate Action Implications For years, Iowa City has seen growth in its public and private tree canopy. Healthy and mature trees provide a variety of benefits, including increased property value, weather protection and shade, and support for personal health and the environment. Continued care and maintenance of trees is crucial for enjoyment and quality of life in our community as well as helpful in meeting the City’s carbon emissions reduction goals. Unfortunately, in addition to continued infestation of Emerald Ash Borer, the City experienced an extreme weather event on August 10, 2020. The derecho led to a significant amount of tree damage and loss. This memo shares a brief summary of current tree canopy conditions. Tree Damage and Loss The City has an inventory of approximately 16,000 trees in the public right-of-way. After the August 10th storm, City Parks and Forestry staff have estimated damage of between 1,600 and 2,400 public trees (about 10-15%). Staff are estimating around 100 complete removals of City- owned street trees from storm damage and countless tree removals in City parks. Citywide, staff have observed and projected estimates of a total tree canopy loss between 15 and 25%. Overstory trees appeared most affected by the derecho and were mature, varied species, with expansive tree cover. Although the City has experienced significant damage and loss of Ash trees by infestation of the Emerald Ash Borer, these damaged trees were less impacted by the storm because most of them already have reduced canopy and not as much surface area to catch wind. Other trees that lost substantial canopy could be completely lost in future years as the stress of the losses catches up to them. Additionally, prior to the significant rainfall in early September, drought conditions were exacerbating the stress on trees already trying to compensate from storm damage and make up for lost and damaged leaves. Climate Impacts Our community gets significant social and environmental benefit from a substantive tree canopy. The total reduction in trees will have an impact on some of our climate action goals, some of which already called for an increase in tree canopy coverage and expansion of public and private tree plantings. Trees and other native grass plantings contribute to carbon sequestration, simply explained as the process of removing carbon dioxide from the air and storing within root systems. Despite the critical nature of trees, measurable impacts on the City’s carbon emissions is limited because the proportion of carbon emissions savings from trees is minimal in comparison to other types of carbon mitigation efforts, like reduced natural gas use or modified transportation habits. Regardless, loss in this quantity is substantial due to the length of time it takes to return and support urban forestry and without trees decreasing emissions, hinders City climate goals. September 17, 2020 Page 2 The Iowa City Urban Forest Management Plan calculated the benefits and value of the City- Managed Trees (right of way and parks) calculation and overall carbon sequestered at approximately 13.2 million pounds. Using standard estimates for average sequestered carbon from trees (100-120 lbs per tree), the City estimates loss of as much as 72 tonnes to 130 tonnes of sequestered carbon due to street tree damage. To put this into perspective, the average loss is equivalent to removing 21.8 passenger cars for a year, or the consumption of 11,365 gallons of gasoline. Keeping in mind, this is the impact solely to street trees managed by the City and not the full equivalent of all tree loss around town. Our community greatly benefits from trees, including shade that reduces utility usage and lessened urban heat island effects and we will need to collectively work to replant and care for public and private replacements. Plans for Restoration A multi-year approach will be the best available option for efficient and lasting tree replanting. The City has a list of preferred tree species but is dependent upon tree nursery supply. Over the past year, getting trees within typical pricing range was a bit challenging because supplying nurseries experienced workforce shortages. Additionally, the mass of tree canopy loss in eastern Iowa may create barriers to securing desired quantities for public and private customers. Beyond simply putting new trees in the ground, significant time and manpower is needed to properly attend and maintain new trees. Several areas of newer tree plantings in the last few years have declined or failed. For example, due to the level of care needed to keep new plantings healthy, Parks and Recreation has already shifted a staff person from a full workday of other duties to water the Foster Road extension plantings. Adding to the current stock will be worthwhile but requires investment of resources and time to appropriately manage new and existing growth. City staff are actively working on an upcoming street planting in the Mackinaw Neighborhood. Letters have been sent to neighbors to provide information and “opt out” if there is a reason that they do not wish for a tree to be planted in front of their property. The Engineering division is completing bid documents. Planting will likely need to wait until Spring 2021 due to the aforementioned low availability of trees from growers. Since the storm and as part of Emerald Ash Borer impacts, staff have already begun working to get property owners with interest in replacing their right-of-way tree/s onto a replacement list. This process can take as long as two years at times due to demand, tree availability, planting season, and schedule availability. The Accelerating Iowa City Climate Actions report calls for enhanced private and public tree planting programs. Plans started prior to the derecho included a fall 2020 voucher program for tree planting on residential properties. Residents will be able to request an instant rebate voucher for up to 50% off the cost of trees from two Iowa City-based nurseries, Earl May Landscaping and Iowa City Landscaping. Residents within income-eligible Census blocks will receive up to 90% off the cost of trees for planting. Staff is about to begin promotion for the program and hopes to have household participation in the hundreds, between fall 2020 and spring 2021 planting seasons. Additional tree planting and education programs are in development. Item Number: 4. S eptember 17, 2020 Invitation : National B l ack Voter Day - S eptember 18 AT TAC HM E NT S: D escription I nvitation: National B lack Voter D ay - S eptember 18 Item Number: 5. S eptember 17, 2020 Invitation : Commu n ity P olice Review B oard F oru m - S ep tember 21 AT TAC HM E NT S: D escription I nvitation: C ommunity P olice R eview B oard F orum - September 21 Item Number: 6. S eptember 17, 2020 Press Rel ease: Council Listen in g P ost - Sep temb er 22 AT TAC HM E NT S: D escription Press Release: Council L istening Posts Item Number: 7. S eptember 17, 2020 Joh n son Cou n ty Afford able Hou sin g Coalition: News an d Updates AT TAC HM E NT S: D escription J ohnson County A f f ordable Housing C oalition: News and Updates Item Number: 8. S eptember 17, 2020 Email from Barb ara Vinog rade: Hel l o from th e Iowa City F ree Cl inic! AT TAC HM E NT S: D escription Email from B arbara Vinograde: Hello from the I owa C ity F ree Clinic!