Urban Forestry Commission

City of Cleveland Urban Forestry Commission
Development
Environment
Health

Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024
4:00 p.m. — 5:30 p.m. EST

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601 Lakeside Ave E. Cleveland, OH 44114 (Directions)

Cleveland City Hall, Room 514 (or watch on YouTube)

The commission formerly known as the “Tree Commission” was established in the early 1990s and went dormant in the early 2000s. New legislation was introduced in 2021 by Cleveland City Council members to amend and revive the Tree Commission in the Codified Ordinances (Chapter 163, Sections 163.01 to 163.04).

Now known as the Urban Forestry Commission (UFC), its purpose is to advise the mayor and City Council on policies and regulations that will increase the tree canopy and vibrancy of our neighborhoods. Under this scope, the UFC will provide advice and strategic planning on how the city can implement best practices to maintain and grow Cleveland’s tree canopy. The work of the UFC will play an integral part in improving citywide tree canopy revitalization plans. Their duties include assisting with the adoption of an urban forest management plan, developing and updating a comprehensive inventory of trees, providing recommendations on policy and plans, monitoring the implementation of city plans, soliciting grants or funding contributions, and much more.

Commission members:

  • Xavier Bay (City Planning, Cleveland)
  • Jose Hernandez (Public Utilities, Cleveland)
  • Bernie Jackson (Cleveland Public Power)
  • Mikal Jeanbaptiste (Burten, Bell, Carr Development, Inc.)
  • Jennifer Kipp (Urban Forestry, Cleveland)
  • Dan Leamon (resident, health specialist)
  • Samira Malone (Cleveland Tree Coalition)
  • Sarah O’Keeffe (Director of Sustainability and Climate Justice, Cleveland)
  • Grai Oleksy (Cleveland Museum of Natural History)
  • Tom Schreiber (Western Reserve Land Conservancy)
  • Jenny Spencer (Ward 15 City Council Member)
  • Divya Sridhar (Cleveland Neighborhood Progress)
  • Rick Switalski (Capital Projects, Cleveland)
  • Roger Tokars (resident, NASA engineer)
  • Youth resident (vacant)

Here’s the agenda: https://assets.nationbuilder.com/sustainablecleveland/pages/36376/attachments/original/1704251243/DRAFT_AGENDA_-_WINTER_2024_MEETING_%2801.09.2024%29.pdf?1704251243

Watch the meeting:

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sustainablecleveland7281/streams

On TV20: http://www.tv20cleveland.com/watch-now/

Find past Documenters coverage of this meeting here: https://cleveland.documenters.org/reporting/?agency=689

Find videos of past meetings – along with their agendas, minutes, and presentations – here

Check the source website for additional information

Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Cleveland - OH Documenters Team

Live reporting by Daniel McLaughlin

City seeks about $1 million grant for tree work

Danny Mc
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 2/22
The Tree Commission broke dormancy in 2021 following legislation from @CleCityCouncil The new Urban Forestry Commission advises @MayorBibb & council on policies & strategies to grow the city's tree canopy
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 3/22
More duties of the Urban Forestry Commission from the @sustainableCLE page: assisting with the adoption of an urban forest management plan developing & updating a comprehensive inventory of trees monitoring & providing recommendations on policy & plans soliciting grants/funding
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 4/22
You can find the agenda for today's meeting on the @sustainableCLE website (as well as agendas & recordings from previous meetings) sustainablecleveland.org/urban_forestry…
sustainablecleveland.org/urban_forestry…
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 5/22
Here is who serves on the @CityofCleveland Urban Forestry Commission. The Commission is still seeking a youth participant (Cleveland resident age 11-17)
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 6/22
The meeting starts at 4 pm. I'll be streaming it on YouTube here and it's available on TV20 Recordings are available on Sustainable Cleveland's website
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 7/22
And I'll be listening for any mention of my top 3 favorite trees 🤞
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 8/22
The meeting was called to order. There are a few commissioners out today, including the Chair. The meeting opened with a slide about the duties of the commission. It's more thorough and complete than my previous attempt to summarize!
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 9/22
I like how the live stream of this meeting keeps the slideshow/presentation on screen, but it's hard to tell who is speaking. 🌲It would be helpful for folks watching this format if the speakers announce themselves or get announced by the chair cc @sustainableCLE
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 10/22
A discussion about forestry commission committees: 🌳Committees are less than a quorum, so committee meetings aren't public. Community members could occasionally be invited as subject matter experts 🌳committees advise the commission, which votes to refer legislation to council
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 11/22
The meeting moved into committee report outs. Here's who's on the 3 committees. Chairs: Tom Schreiber from @WRLConservancy Dan Leamon resident & tree steward @jennyspencercle Ward 15 councilmember
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 12/22
The maintenance committee mentioned working with CDCs to do listening tour-style visits to hear resident concerns about tree maintenance. It sounds like they're starting w/ Burten Bell Carr & then going to Slavic Village. Where can residents find more info about these sessions?
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 13/22
The City applied for ~$1 million grant from @ohiodnr (via Inflation Reduction Act) Funds are meant for tree planting, maintenance & removal in economically disadvantaged communities, which ~80-90% of Cleveland census tracts qualify as Grant includes $ for a new staff position
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 14/22
The commission voted to approve letters of support for their application + 3 other local applicants Metroparks - $120k: plant 200 trees in Gordon Park South Land Conservancy - $300k: plant 400 trees + maint. for 1500 trees Holden - $350k: tree corps workforce training program
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 15/22
The Planning Commission is asking the Urban Forestry Commission if it wants to weigh in on the form-based code zoning proposal. Part of the code includes references to "the furniture zone" (formerly "tree lawn") Shannon Leonard from planning will present at an upcoming meeting
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 16/22
🎙️ an in-person public comment from Michael Armstrong: He says trees are mentioned throughout the city's form-based code proposal. Wants the commission to go deep when it looks at form-based code. Gave an example of the width of the "furniture zone" (formerly "tree lawn")
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 17/22
some public comments were submitted online as well. You can submit public comments online here: and you can read previous online comments here: these comments were submitted b/w 10/4/2023 and today. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI… docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI… docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 18/22
There were 3 online public comments. Summary below: -asking for overhanging trees at an abandoned building to be removed -concern about lack of new plantings at Luke Easter Park -desire for a proactive tree trimming program for overhanging trees & bushes
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 19/22
The meeting was adjourned around 5:30 some takeaways: 🌱the City + 3 local orgs applied for $1.8M in grant money for tree plantings & maintenance in Cleveland 🌿 the Urban Forestry Commission is talking to the planning commission about the new form-based code zoning proposal
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 20/22
a thing to highlight: 🐦 the Urban Forestry Commission has a vacancy for a youth resident - they're accepting applications for a Cleveland resident ages 11-17 to join the commission
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 21/22
and some things I'm wondering: 🌰 when/where are the upcoming tree commission "listening tour" stops? 🥥 how will tree canopy goals be incorporated into the new zoning legislation? both planting & protection? 🍩 how can we learn more about the tree corps jobs training program?
Danny Mc @dmcbillion 22/22
That concludes my coverage of today's Urban Forestry Commission meeting. Thank you for reading along with me! Have questions? Think I got something wrong? Send any inquiries on the meeting or these tweets to @cledocumenters Or email us at cledocumenters@gmail.com
View thread
Note-taking by Joanna Tomassoni

Forestry Commission still seeking Youth Resident member

View notes
Note-taking by Ronaldo Rodriguez Jr

Cleveland tree maintenance costs adding up: At least $3 million needed

View notes

Agency Information

City of Cleveland Urban Forestry Commission

www.sustainablecleveland.org

See Documenters reporting

The commission formerly known as the “Tree Commission” was established in the early 1990’s and went dormant in the early 2000’s. New legislation was introduced in 2021 by Cleveland City Council members to amend and revive the Tree Commission in the Codified Ordinances (Chapter 163, Sections 163.01 to 163.04).

Now known as the Urban Forestry Commission (UFC), its purpose is to advise the mayor and City Council on policies and regulations that will increase our tree canopy and vibrancy of our neighborhoods. Under this scope, the UFC will provide advice and strategic planning on how the city can implement best practices to maintain and grow Cleveland’s tree canopy. The work of the UFC will play an integral part in improving citywide tree canopy revitalization plans. Their duties include assisting with the adoption of an urban forest management plan, developing and updating a comprehensive inventory of trees, providing recommendations on policy and plans, monitoring the implementation of city plans, soliciting grants or funding contributions, and much more.

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