Urban Forestry Commission plants seeds for bigger budget

The Urban Forestry Commission Policy Committee, chaired by Tom Schreiber of Western Reserve Land Conservancy, has been working since the commission’s founding to update the Cleveland tree ordinances, which currently include language first introduced in 1924. Schreiber presented the formal recommendations for this process to the broader commission, which were approved unanimously and can now be brought before the City of Cleveland for review. 

APPROVED – The commission recommends that Cleveland City Council, in coordination with forestry experts, stakeholders, and residents, should revise the existing tree ordinance to uphold the following goals:

• Inclusion of a purpose and intent section. 
• Inclusion of a modern definitions section.
• Simplification of language and incorporation of recognized standards.
• Modernization of tree preservation and development review requirements. This will consolidate provisions around tree preservation plans into a single ordinance, prioritizing:
  • Preservation first, 
  • Qualified professional review (documents prepared or reviewed by Division of Forestry), 
  • Tree protection standards (during construction and development), 
  • Mitigation and replacement requirements, 
  • Tree Preservation Fund Improvements (expanding allowable fund use), 
  • Enforcement and accountability, 
  • Equitable administration, and
  • Interdepartmental coordination.

Increasing the Urban Forestry budget

The Urban Forestry Commission Budget Committee, chaired by Sara Tillie of the Cleveland Tree Coalition, advised on the nearly $7 million forestry budget. The committee recommended opportunities to support the commission and increase divisional staffing while simultaneously achieving the tree canopy goals outlined in Mayor Justin Bibb’s Climate Action Plan and pursuing accreditation through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. 

Cleveland City Council Member Nikki Hudson said that according to a 2014 report, “Municipal Tree Care and Management in the United States,” the average city spends .52% of its annual budget on forestry. In Cleveland, current allocation to forestry is closer to .25% of the city budget. The Budget Committee presented a recommendation for increased city funding to grow the Urban Forestry Division, which was approved unanimously and can now be brought before city budget hearings for review. 

APPROVED – The commission recommends that the City of Cleveland allocates an increased budget of $7.8 million ($7.2 million in operating and $600,000 in capital projects for planting) to the Division of Urban Forestry, prioritizing the following, according to the recommendation:

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• Reduced reliance on outside contractors and increased engagement of city employees to conduct maintenance services.
• Funding for proactive tree services provided to the community at reasonable cost per unit.
• Shifting division focus away from reactivity and into modern management and cultivation (including invasive species management, community engagement, and increased permitting).

Deer management

The commission introduced a motion to increase investment in urban deer management, which was approved unanimously and can now be passed to the City of Cleveland and the Office of the Mayor.

Commission Chair Jennifer Chandler noted, “This is a very exciting day for us here,” and Council Member Nikki Hudson thanked Commission Member Laura Marks for her continued advocacy on this issue. Hudson also apologized for having been resistant in the past to acknowledge the scope of challenges presented to the community when the deer population goes unmanaged. Hudson credited Jonathon Cepek, a wildlife ecologist with the Cleveland Metroparks, with educating her on this issue and said she intends to work with Cepek to host community presentations on Cleveland’s wildlife history and goals for the future. The commission members spoke candidly that deer management may include the killing of these animals, so that the public can be aware these conversations are happening, though no specific plans to this end have been put forward at this time.

There’s more: Read the full notes from this meeting by Documenter Hannah Morgan..

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at documenters@signalcleveland.org  with “Correction Request” in the subject line.