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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-23-26 Special Study Session AgendaSPECIAL STUDY SESSION AGENDA CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO Monday, March 23, 2026 This meeting will start at the conclusion of the Regular City Council Meeting which starts at 6:30 p.m. This meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting, and in person, at: 7500 West 29th Avenue, Municipal Building, Council Chambers. City Council members and City staff members will be physically present at the Municipal building for this meeting. The public may participate in these ways: 1. Attend the meeting in person at City Hall. Use the appropriate roster to sign up to speak upon arrival. 2. Provide comment in advance at www.wheatridgespeaks.org (comment by noon on March 23, 2026) 3. Virtually attend and participate in the meeting through a device or phone: Click here to pre-register and provide public comment by Zoom (You must preregister before 5:00 p.m. on March 23, 2026) 4. View the meeting live or later at www.wheatridgespeaks.org, Channel 8, or YouTube Live at https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/view Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to participate in all public meetings sponsored by the City of Wheat Ridge. The City will upon request, provide auxiliary aids and services leading to effective communication for people with disabilities, including qualified sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, documents in Braille, and other ways of making communications accessible to people who have speech, hearing, or vision impairments. To request auxiliary aid, service for effective communication, or document in a different format, please use this form or contact ADA Coordinator, (Kelly McLaughlin at ada@ci.wheatridge.co.us or 303-235-2885) as soon as possible, preferably 7 days before the activity or event. Public Comment on Agenda Items 1. Urban Tree Canopy in Wheat Ridge ITEM NO. 1 Memorandum TO: Wheat Ridge City Council THROUGH: Patrick Goff, City Manager FROM: Karen A. O’Donnell, Parks & Recreation Director DATE: March 23, 2026 SUBJECT: Urban Tree Canopy in Wheat Ridge ISSUE: City Council requested that the Parks & Recreation Department provide a study session presentation regarding the urban tree canopy in Wheat Ridge. Specifically, Council expressed interest in understanding the current condition of the city’s tree canopy and the strategies the City is using to protect, maintain, and expand it. PRIOR ACTION: There has been no prior Council action related specifically to this presentation topic. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this presentation. BACKGROUND: Urban trees provide important environmental, social, and economic benefits to communities. They reduce urban heat, improve air quality, mitigate stormwater runoff, enhance neighborhood character, and contribute to overall community health and livability. Wheat Ridge has a long-standing commitment to urban forestry and has maintained its designation as a Tree City USA community for 48 consecutive years. This designation requires the City to maintain a tree board, adopt a community tree ordinance, celebrate Arbor Day annually, and invest at least $2 per capita in forestry activities. The city’s overall tree canopy is estimated at approximately 19% across both public and private lands. The Parks & Recreation Department manages approximately 8,391 trees located in parks and within the public right-of-way. Canopy coverage varies across the community, with some census blocks as low as 2% and others as high as 33%. The Forestry Team maintains the city’s tree inventory, plants and prunes trees, removes hazardous trees, and addresses threats such as pests, disease, drought stress, and aging tree infrastructure. The City also supports the community’s tree canopy through Study Session Memo – Urban Tree Canopy in Wheat Ridge March 23, 2026 Page 2 several programs, including the Hazardous Tree Grant Program, annual tree sale, branch drop-off services, memorial tree plantings, volunteer Tree Steward opportunities, and the annual Arbor Day event. In addition, the City has secured state and federal pass-through grant funding to support forestry efforts, including tree planting in parks and open spaces, tree inventory software, youth corps partnerships, volunteer supplies, and forestry maintenance materials. RECOMMENDATIONS: This presentation is intended to provide information only. No Council action is requested at this time. Staff welcome Council questions and feedback regarding Wheat Ridge’s urban forestry efforts. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Urban Tree Canopy PowerPoint Presentation – March 23, 2026 Understanding our Urban Tree Canopy City of Wheat Ridge Council Presentation –March 23, 2026 Why Urban Trees Matter •Reduce urban heat and provide shade •Improve air quality •Reduce stormwater runoff •Increase property values •Improve community health and livability •“Urban trees are critical infrastructure just like streets, water systems, and parks.” Tree City USA •48 years as of 2025 •Yearly certification •Maintain tree board •Community tree ordinance •Minimum $2 per capita on forestry •Celebrate Arbor Day City Canopy Overview •19% average canopy coverage throughout entire city (public and private lands) •Census Blocks –lowest 2% highest 33% •8,391 City managed trees (Parks and ROW) •Greenbelt and Open Spaces not inventoried •30-20-10 rule •COWR in good shape Canopy Distribution Common Issues Pests –Emerald Ash Borer, Ips beetle (Spruce), Japanese beetle (young trees) Disease –Blights (Fruiting trees), Thyronectria canker (Locust), Cytospora canker (Spruce) ROW issues –Mature canopy, hazard trees, salts Drought stress –climate, staffing, cost of water Maintenance –Aging canopy = more maintenance, establishment of new trees 2025 Numbers •396 Trees planted –Includes capital projects •206 Trees pruned •25 Trees removed •450 Trees treated for Ips beetle and Emerald Ash Borer Programs We Offer •Hazardous Tree Grant•57 applicants, 35 awarded totaling $32,468.75•Removals, Pruning, Treatments•Approved contractor •Tree Sale•90 trees sold •Branch Drop Off•30 yards of mulch generated for COWR •Memorial Tree Plantings •Tree Stewards Grant Funding •USDN grant: Pass-through from USDA $669,073 (2024-2028) •Paused in 2025 due to federal termination and court injunction •CSFS grant: Pass-through from USDA $380,350 •Awarded and invested throughout 2025 What It’s Funded •Trees for capital projects •100’s of trees in parks/open space •Tree inventory software (3 years) •Mile High Youth Corps work •Parks/Forestry maintenance supplies •Volunteer supplies/events •Staff time USDN grant, pass-through from USDA: Equipment Highlights •2021 addition of specialized equipment •Bucket truck (65 ft boom reach) •Stump grinder •Mini skid steer •Budget implications •Reduced contactor budget by 200k annually •Increased in-house capabilities Forestry Team Dave Lemper Forestry Technician Jared Avalos Forestry Assistant Raymond Picaso Forestry Assistant Arbor Day Event •Volunteer event •Planting 30-50 trees and hundreds of perennials annually •Education for community •Emphasis on environmental care and stewardship •Partnership with Rotary Club, local schools, Crown Hill Open Space •2026 event on Greenbelt - East of Bass Lake Questions?