TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager return to City Council with program to increase Long Beach's urban forest with the ultimate goal of creating an ongoing Community Forestry Program and the City of Long Beach being designated a "Tree City USA".
DISCUSSION
The City has made progress in our efforts to protect and preserve the street trees that make up our urban forest with the creation of our Citizen's Tree Committee and the hard work of our Public Works and Parks, Recreation and Marine Departments. However, we do not have a program to increase the number of street trees.
Trees are major capital assets. Just as streets, sidewalks, public buildings and recreational facilities are a part of our infrastructure, so are our publicly owned trees. Trees -- and, collectively, our urban forest -- are important assets that require care and maintenance the same as other public property. Trees are on the job 24 hours every day working for all of us to improve our environment and quality of life.
Several of our neighboring cities, including Lakewood, Cerritos and the City of Los Angeles have gone to the extra step of becoming so proactive in caring and increasing their urban forests that they have received the designation "Tree City USA" from the National Arbor Day Foundation.
I would request that the City Manager come back to the City Council with how our City might increase our urban forest, create an ongoing Community Forestry Program, and earning the title "Tree City USA"
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
Tonia Reyes Uranga
Councilmember, Seventh District
NAME |
APPROVED: |
TITLE |
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GERALD R. MILLER |
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CITY MANAGER |