1.
A community meeting to discuss participation and engagement opportunities to achieve the
goals in Tacoma’s Urban Forest Action Plan.
A PLAN FOR TACOMA’S URBAN FOREST
Community Meeting
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
STAR Center December 4, 2019
Discover Space 6:00 – 7:30 PM

2.
WELCOME & INTROS
Chris Peiffer, Project Manager
Marketing Specialist
Director of Field Operations
GIS Technician & Support
Steve Duh, Principal
Jean Akers, Senior Associate
John Bornsworth, President
Urban Forest Planner
Environmental Scientist
Consulting Arborist
Mike Carey,
Urban Forest Program Manager
Arin Lewis,
Urban Forestry Specialist
Arvada, CO
Portland, OR
Port Angeles, WA
2
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY

3.
TONIGHT’S AGENDA
Planning Approach
Alignment of Community Input & Plan Development
Urban Forest Action Plan Overview
Support for Plan Implementation
Open Discussion & Closing Remarks
3
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY

4.
PLANNING APPROACH
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
4
Planning Theme
Existing Policies & Plans
City Staff Interviews
Urban Forest Benchmarks
Data Analyses
Community Interests & Input
ELEMENTS AUDIT
PHASE 1

5.
PLANNING APPROACH
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
5
Planning Theme
PHASE 1
Category Rating
1) Management Policy (MP) 85%
2) Capacity and Training (CT) 81%
3) Funding and Authority (FA) 67%
4) Inventories and Plans (IP) 81%, 79%
5) Risk and Disaster Planning (RM) 50%, 57%
6) Community Engagement (CE) 86%
OVERALL RATING: 77%
AUDIT

6.
PLANNING APPROACH
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
6
Planning Theme
Community
Equity
Human Health
Environment
STRATEGIES TARGETS ACTIONS EVALUATION
PHASE 2
1) Management Policy (MP)
2) Capacity and Training (CT)
3) Funding and Authority (FA)
4) Inventories and Plans (IP)
5) Risk and Disaster Planning (RM)
6) Community Engagement (CE)
Co-Benefits

7.
FEEDBACK & PLAN ALIGNMENT
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
Community Survey #1 (1,494 responses)
Greatest concern → tree and sidewalk issues (Q5, 60%) MP1D.10
Most urgent need → tree planting (Q7, 42%) MP1E.2
Priority services → 48% Grit City Trees program, 39% Hazard trees (Q10) MP1B.3
One Tacoma Components % in Q15 Category
Resource Management – Street Trees 30% FA
Canopy Growth (30/30) 20% MP
Education, Outreach, Collaboration 17% CE
Preserve Existing Trees 8% MP
Planning the Urban Forest 6% IP
Urban Forest Equity & Accessibility 5% IP, CE, FA, CT, MP
Urban Forest Resiliency & Risk Management 5% MP, IP, RM, FA
Climate – Risk Mitigation 4% MP, IP, RM
Resource Management: Environmental & Watershed 2% MP, IP, FA
Resource Management: Viewsheds 2% MP, IP, FA
Urban Forest Long-Term Funding 1% FA, CT
Heritage Trees 1% MP, 7

8.
FEEDBACK & PLAN ALIGNMENT
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
Community Survey #2 (375 responses)
Theme of Survey Question % Action Plan #
30% Canopy Goal:
Increase City efforts
91%
City-led: 2,000 trees
Post-planting care requirements
Partnerships: 8,500 trees
Tree inventories
Neighborhood tree plans
MP1E.2
MP1D.1
IP4A.1
IP4B.3
IP4C.4
30% Canopy Goal:
Encourage private property
owners to plant trees
89%
Resources, materials, stewardship,
events, youth programs, recognition
programs, Grit City Trees and Coupon
Programs
CE6B.6
CE6A.10
CE6D.5
CE6A.4
CE6A.11
IP4E.5
Tree & Sidewalk Conflicts:
Improved design
82%
TMC updates, Phase 3 Tree & Sidewalk
Ops Plan, SOPs, policies and design for
no-net-loss
MP1A.5
MP1D.6
MP1D.8
CT2B.7
MP1D.10
Tree & Sidewalk Conflicts:
City resources for assessments
76%
Biennium budget enhancement request
(2023-24) for City Arborist
CT2A.4
MP1D.6
8

9.
FEEDBACK & PLAN ALIGNMENT
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
Community Survey #2 (375 responses)
Theme of Survey Question % Action Plan #
Heritage Tree Program:
Public street trees
94%
Heritage Tree Ordinance in TMC,
Landmarks Preservation Commission role
MP1C.7
CE6C.7
Heritage Tree Program:
Private trees (voluntary)
72%
Heritage Tree Ordinance in TMC,
Landmarks Preservation Commission role
MP1C.7
CE6C.7
Public Street Tree Maintenance
Responsibility:
City program
64%
Policies and procedures
14 priority corridors, 4k trees, 600/year
Inventories and risk assessments
MP1B.3
FA3B.3
FA3B.4
IP4A.1
IP4A.2
RM5A.1
FA3D.8
Public Street Tree Maintenance
Responsibility:
Resource allocation
63%
Biennium budget enhancement request
(2021-22) for City Arborist Crew
2023-24 enhancement to increase per
capita expenditures
CT2A.3
FA3A.2
FA3A.6
Public Street Tree Maintenance
Responsibility:
Priority corridors
62%
14 priority corridors across neighborhoods
Tacoma Equity Index
4k trees (600 trees per year)
FA3B.3
FA3B.4
9

10.
FEEDBACK & PLAN ALIGNMENT
Question #1
What do you want your urban forest to look like 10
years from now? For future generations?
Question #2
What would 30% tree cover look and feel like and
what would it take to achieve this?
Question #3
If you could change Tacoma’s environment in one
way, what would it be? How would the City’s
urban forest be different than it is now?
10
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Visioning Exercise

11.
FEEDBACK & PLAN ALIGNMENT
11
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
One Tacoma, One Canopy:
Tacoma’s trees and forests are
recognized as integral to sustaining
life and health for all City residents. A
healthy, thriving, and sustainable
urban forest is a community priority,
to be thoughtfully managed and
cared for by partnerships between
the City and its residents to maximize
public safety and benefits that
include a thriving ecosystem, vibrant
economy, and livable communities
shared by all Tacomans.
Discussion Outcomes
✓ Human health
✓ Call to action
✓ Shared effort
✓ Holistic approach
Visioning Exercise

12.
FEEDBACK & PLAN ALIGNMENT
1) City Street Tree Maintenance Responsibility d
2) Tree & Sidewalk Conflicts / Tree Protection d
3) Tree Planting (30% goal, fruit trees, other)
4) Tree Code Revision / Enforcement
5) City Staffing (Outreach/Education)
6) Heritage Tree Program
7) Other Concerns / Strategies Share your ideas
12
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Strategy Prioritization Exercise
Ranked #1 - Tree Planting ($$) with 21 entries (42 tokens)
Ranked #2 - City Staffing (Outreach/Education) ($$) with 20 entries (41 tokens)
Ranked #3 - Heritage Tree Program ($) with 19 entries (19 tokens)
Ranked #4 - City Street Tree Maintenance Respon…($$$$) with 13 entries (54 tokens)
Ranked #5 - Tree Code Revision/Enforcement ($$) with 10 entries (19 tokens)
Ranked #6 - Tree & Sidewalk Conflicts/Tree Protection ($$$) with 6 entries (19 tokens)
Other - 17 tokens and 7 written comments submitted and recorded in meeting notes
Results

13.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
13
Planning Theme
MANAGEMENT POLICY GOAL: Tacoma’s urban forest
policies are the foundation for preserving the environmental
benefits, management, and the character of Tacoma’s urban forest.
1
Some Action Callouts Target Year
Use Code Recommendations to establish an Urban Forestry
Title, align urban forestry policy with One Tacoma, update
antiquated language and inconsistencies, and require the
use of industry BMPs.
2021
Update TMC with a Heritage Tree Ordinance. 2022
Plant 2,000 trees through City projects annually and support
8,500 annual tree plantings through partnerships and public
incentive programs. Improve tracking and reporting of
partnership plantings.
Annual
Align tree protection and design standards in TMC
13.06.502.E with a no-net-loss policy by 2023 to achieve tree
canopy goals.
2023

14.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
14
Planning Theme
MANAGEMENT POLICY GOAL: Tacoma’s urban forest
policies are the foundation for preserving the environmental
benefits, management, and the character of Tacoma’s urban forest.
1
✓ Plant and maintain trees on your property using best practices. Learn about
urban trees from the U.S. Forest Service at fs.fed.us/managing-land/urbanforests.
✓ Explore stewardship and volunteer activities with the City, local non-profits,
and other organizations.
✓ Be vigilant by contacting Urban Forestry if you see a hazard tree or a tree pest
or disease of concern in the right-of-way.
✓ Consider the City’s Grit City Trees and Coupon Programs to help Tacoma
reach the 30% tree canopy goal.
ONE TACOMA, ONE CANOPY
Our urban forest needs you

15.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
CAPACITY AND TRAINING GOAL: The City has the capacity
and expertise to provide optimal levels of service for equitable
urban forest management.
2
Some Action Callouts Target Year
Conduct annual urban forestry events, or partner-events—
especially involving youth—relating to tree planting and pruning
to increase capacity for the care of public trees led by citizen
tree stewards.
Annual
Strengthen arborist crew needs assessment. Develop a
business case in 2020 to propose 2021-2022 biennium budget
enhancement request for an arborist crew (see Appendix C).
2020
Prepare a business case detailing staff needs for a City
Arborist to support implementation of the Plan, and more
specifically, address the technical needs of PWD, ES, and
PDS.
2021
Using the information gathered from the Work Group interviews
(Phase 1 Plan), utilize the continuous improvement framework
to fix operational workflows in urban forest management.
2022
15

16.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
CAPACITY AND TRAINING GOAL: The City has the capacity
and expertise to provide optimal levels of service for equitable
urban forest management.
2
16
✓ Attend tree-related events and workshops.
✓ Join the listserv to stay up-to-date (cityoftacoma.org/environews).
✓ Volunteer for a local tree-related organization.
✓ Want to learn more about trees? Become an ISA Certified Arborist!
✓ Visit cityoftacoma.org/urbanforestry to learn more about proper tree
management, planting, and the tree permit process.
ONE TACOMA, ONE CANOPY
Our urban forest needs you

17.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
FUNDING AND AUTHORITY GOAL: City resources and authority
enable equitable urban forest management for the preservation
and enhancement of tree benefits.
3
Some Action Callouts Target Year
Implement a City street tree maintenance program and start
street tree maintenance in identified corridors and
neighborhoods (approximately 4,000 total trees). 2021
Prune approximately 600 established public trees per year
along target road corridors to preserve existing mature canopy
and train young trees to reduce potential risk.
2022, Annual
Establish and sustain efforts with neighborhood organizations,
NBDs, NCDs, and civic groups in all Tacoma neighborhoods by
2022 to implement young tree maintenance approaches for
the care of 10,500 trees planted annually.
2022
17

18.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
FUNDING AND AUTHORITY GOAL: City resources and authority
enable equitable urban forest management for the preservation
and enhancement of tree benefits.
3
18
✓ Join your neighborhood association and coordinate tree-themed improvement
projects. Funding opportunities described at cityoftacoma.org/urbanforestry.
✓ Learn about the public trees inventoried in Tacoma by visiting www.pg-
cloud.com/TacomaWA.
✓ Learn about public right-of-way tree maintenance responsibility on the City’s
urban forestry website.
✓ Get involved by joining the Green Tacoma Partnership and local environmental
nonprofits and find out how you can volunteer.
ONE TACOMA, ONE CANOPY
Our urban forest needs you

19.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
INVENTORY AND PLANNING GOAL: A comprehensive
understanding of the urban forest ensures data-driven decisions,
sustainable and equitable planning, and amplifies the benefits received
from trees.
4
Some Action Callouts Target Year
Conduct a comprehensive inventory of public trees planted
and maintained by the City, keeping the data current, and
continue the cycle aligned with tree maintenance cycles (600
trees per year) and City tree planting projects (2,000 trees per
year).
Annual
Develop a strategic urban forest management plan for one
priority neighborhood or area per year. Address best practices,
species diversity, and tree pest and disease resiliency.
Annual
Use the tree inventory data in private development as part of
permit inspections for compliance. 2025
Conduct a high-resolution tree canopy assessment Citywide and
by planning boundaries to track canopy gains and losses and to
inform future tree plantings and preservation.
2030
19

20.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
INVENTORY AND PLANNING GOAL: A comprehensive
understanding of the urban forest ensures data-driven decisions,
sustainable and equitable planning, and amplifies the benefits received
from trees.
4
20
✓ Learn more about the extent of the urban forest by reading the 2018 Tree
Canopy Assessment. Find out how canopy goals can be achieved in your
neighborhood.
✓ Visit Pierce Conservation District’s website (PierceCD.org) to learn how you
can manage invasive species and protect your trees from harmful pests and
diseases.
✓ Consider Tacoma’s Grit City Trees program cityoftacoma.org/urbanforestry and
learn how to plant and care for your tree.
✓ Get involved by joining the Green Tacoma Partnership and local environmental
nonprofits and find out how you can volunteer.
ONE TACOMA, ONE CANOPY
Our urban forest needs you

21.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
RISK AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT GOAL: Proactively
manage tree-related risk throughout the urban forest and equip
urban forest leaders with resources to address risks and disasters.
5
Some Action Callouts Target Year
In 2021, assess potential tree-related risks for all 4,000 public
street trees the City is starting to maintain. Then conduct annual
routine inventories in line with maintenance schedules with intent
to document, monitor, prepare, and mitigate current and future risks
to the urban forest.
2021, Annual
Work with environmental non-profit organizations and other partners
to provide resources and annual training regarding tree pest and
disease management as well as invasive species management.
Annual
Implement the Tree Risk Management Plan that relates to
planning for structural tree risks, exotic tree pest and disease
threats, and disasters.
2021
Mitigate high-risk trees in the City’s newly acquired maintenance
areas (public trees) by incrementally (25% by 2021, 50% by 2025,
75% by 2028) addressing high-risk trees annually with the
appropriate maintenance activity.
2021- 2030
21

22.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
RISK AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT GOAL: Proactively
manage tree-related risk throughout the urban forest and equip
urban forest leaders with resources to address risks and disasters.
5
22
✓ Are you prepared for natural disasters and other emergencies? Learn more
about personal preparedness here: co.pierce.wa.us/945/Personal-Preparedness
and stay alert by signing up for Pierce County’s ALERT program:
co.pierce.wa.us/921/Pierce-County-ALERT.
✓ Did you know Tacoma manages almost 500 acres of passive open space,
including many forests and natural areas? Learn more at
cityoftacoma.org/openspace. Consider volunteering to help manage these vital
open space areas at EarthCorps.org/Volunteer.
✓ Did you know there is an international standardized method for assessing trees
and their potential risks? Learn more at PNWISA.org/Certification.
✓ Learn your invasive trees and shrubs and how to manage them at
PierceCountyWeedBoard.org.
✓ Report an invasive tree pest or disease by contacting the state plant health
director at aphis.usda.gov.
ONE TACOMA, ONE CANOPY
Our urban forest needs you

23.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GOAL: Sustainable urban forest
management and equity is achieved through a partnership with
the City and its residents resulting in improved well-being, human
health outcomes, and stronger local economies.
6
Some Action Callouts Target Year
Support and sustain partnerships with local and regional
organizations. Increase number of community volunteers
annually from 2018 records.
Annual
Encourage youth participation in Arbor Day and Green Tacoma Day
events. Encourage and provide technical support to enable tree-
related curriculum and plantings at schools.
2021, 2030
Establish a young adult job training, urban forest stewardship
program to facilitate planting and care of 10,500 trees annually.
2021
Identify appropriate parks, rights-of-way, and other public spaces in
Tacoma that feasibly can support healthy and safe fruit trees to
support gleaning initiatives.
2023
Establish non-conventional partnerships that serve single and/or
multiple Tacoma neighborhoods. All 8 neighborhoods should be
supported.
2025
23

24.
THE URBAN FOREST ACTION PLAN
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Planning Theme
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT GOAL: Sustainable urban forest
management and equity is achieved through a partnership with
the City and its residents resulting in improved well-being, human
health outcomes, and stronger local economies.
6
24
✓ Trees need people just as much as people need trees. Consider volunteering a
local environmental organization.
✓ Engage your local parks and enjoy the restorative effect of our urban forest.
Visit MetroParksTacoma.org to find a park near you.
✓ Sign up for EnviroNews with Citizens for a Healthy Bay to learn about
workshops, training, and news at HealthyBay.org.
✓ Participate in biannual urban forest surveys. Your feedback is influential to
current and future programs.
✓ See how this Plan’s actions align with One Tacoma at cityoftacoma.org/planning
and Tacoma 2025 at cityoftacoma.org/tacoma_2025.
ONE TACOMA, ONE CANOPY
Our urban forest needs you

25.
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
25
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Summary of Opportunities for Community
Support and Engagement
✓Neighborhood plans
✓Private planting and care
✓Non-conventional partnerships
✓Stewardship
✓Volunteering
✓Monitoring and inventory
✓City programs
✓Youth engagement
✓Arbor Day support
✓Education, workshops, events
✓Surveys and feedback

26.
TACOMA TREE FOUNDATION
26
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Call to Action!
✓ Become a TTF Tree Steward
✓ Become a volunteer and help plant trees in communities
✓ Help identify and map opportunities for tree planting
✓ Participate in TTF’s tree inventory project
✓ Attend public meetings and get politically engaged
✓ Sign up for our Newsletter by visiting our website
www.tacomatreefoundation.org!

27.
OPEN DISCUSSION & CLOSING REMARKS
✓ Meeting summary & synthesis
✓ Copy of the presentation
✓ City Council presentation
✓ Phase 3 reports & plans
✓ Read Phase 1 & 2 online
✓ Stay connected at TacomaTreePlan.org!
✓ Thank you for your participation!
Photo source: Tacoma Weekly
27
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Questions/Comments/Discussion
Closing Remarks

28.
THANK YOU!
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Mike Carey
Urban Forest Program Manager,
City of Tacoma Environmental Services Department
(253) 502-2138 │ Trees@CityofTacoma.org
CityofTacoma.org/UrbanForestry
Chris Peiffer
Director of Urban Forestry Consulting,
PlanIT Geo
Project Manager
(717) 579-9890 │ chrispeiffer@planitgeo.com
Stay connected at TacomaTreePlan.org!
“Without a plan, the governments and individuals
responsible for taking care of an urban forest will not
be effective in meeting the true needs of the trees
and the community. A plan establishes a clear set of
priorities and objectives related to the goal of
maintaining a productive and beneficial community
forest.”
American Public Works Association, 2007
28

29.
SUPPORTING STUDIES
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Census Block Groups with
less than the Citywide tree
cover of 20% (139 CBGs)
29

30.
SUPPORTING STUDIES
30
ONE TACOMA
ONE CANOPY
Land Use
Actual Tree
Cover %
Goal
Cover
# of Trees
by 2030
Crossroads Mixed-Use Center 12% 15% 635
Downtown Reg’l Growth Center 7% 10% 968
General Commercial 7% 10% 809
Heavy Industrial 4% 6% 2,640
Light Industrial 6% 10% 710
Major Institutional Campus 10% 15% 1,033
Multi-Family (High Density) 14% 20% 770
Multi-Family (Low Density) 15% 20% 2,438
Neighborhood Commercial 10% 15% 985
Neighborhood Mixed-Use Center 9% 12% 382
Parks and Open Space 56% 70% 22,930
Shoreline 21% 28% 2,341
Single Family Residential 17% 30% 62,164
Tacoma Mall Reg’l Growth Center 10% 15% 797
TOTAL TREES 99,602
TOTAL TREES NEEDED 104,264
DIFFERENCE 4,662
Census Block Groups with
less than the Citywide tree
cover of 20% (139 CBGs)

31.
SUPPORTING STUDIES
31
ONE TACOMA
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Priority Corridors

32.
SUPPORTING STUDIES
32
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Priority Corridors

33.
SUPPORTING STUDIES
33
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Priority Corridors
Priority
Neighborhood Roadway Extent
Estimated
Trees
South Tacoma S Tyler St South 74th St to SR 16 Hwy W 400 trees
South Tacoma Center St S Orchard to South Pine St 100 trees
South Tacoma S Pine St S 80th St to S Tacoma Way 400 trees
South Tacoma S Montgomery St S 77th St to S 56th St 120 trees
South Tacoma S 48th St S Tacoma Way to I5 Hwy N 100 trees
South End Yakima Ave S 96th St to S 48th St 400 trees
South End S L St S 96th St to S 35th St 300 trees
South End Pacific Ave S 99th St to S 56th St 300 trees
East Side McKinley Ave E 72nd St to Upper Park St 500 trees
East Side E 40th St Pacific Ave to Portland Ave E 175 trees
East Side E Portland Ave 74th St C E to I5 Hwy N 500 trees
West End 6th Ave Bridgeport Way W to S Stadium Way 300 trees
North End N 30th St N Pearl St to N Schuster Pkwy 350 trees
North East Nassau Ave NE Browns Point Blvd NE to Northshore Pkwy 150 trees
Total Tree Estimate 4,000 trees