LTC 331-2012 Tree City USA - 7 Year Anniversary MINI I B EAC H
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OFFICE OF THE CIT_Y_MANAGER_ —__. 2012 D�c 20 ,
NO. LTC #. 331-2012 �E ;LT,_`'g` b�MW1SS10N
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TO: Mayor-Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Kathie G. Brooks, Interim City Manager
DATE: December 14, 2012
SUBJECT: Tree City USA— 7 Year Anniversary
We are proud to inform you that the City of Miami Beach has once again received the
Tree City USA certification. This marks the seventh year that the City of Miami Beach
has been awarded this designation. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the
National Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State
Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. The Tree City USA designation recognizes
communities that have proven their commitment to a healthy urban forest and an
effective urban forestry program. It honors the efforts of the elected officials, City staff .
and citizens who work to maintain and enhance the urban forest.
To qualify for Tree City USA status a city must meet four standards:
1) A tree board or Department responsible for the care and management of the
city's trees. In Miami Beach, this responsibility resides in the Department of
Parks & Recreation, Greenspace Management Division, Urban Forestry
Program. The program is headed by Mark Williams, an International Society of
Arboriculture Certified Arborist Municipal Specialist, member of the American
Society of Consulting Arborists and Landscape Inspectors Association of Florida
certified Landscape Inspector. Four additional certified arborists in the
Greenspace Management Division assist with monitoring and managing the
City's trees, among other duties.
2) A Tree Care Ordinance. In Miami Beach, Ordinance Number 2000-3279
addresses tree care, maintenance and protection.
3) A Community Forestry Program with an Annual Budget of at Least $2 Per Capita.
Miami Beach easily exceeded this standard with tree plantings under the
Reforestation Program, which the City Commission authorized in 2007, tree
plantings as part of CIP projects, and funds expended for tree maintenance,
including salaries and equipment for a tree maintenance crew.
4) An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation. Each year the mayor proclaims a
date in April as Arbor Day in Miami Beach. The Arbor Day celebrations, which
always include tree planting, have usually been linked to larger events, in order
to bring our tree-friendly message to bigger crowds. In recent years the Arbor
Day celebration has been associated with the Spring Eggstravaganza at North
Shore Park, the Captain Planet Carnival at Flamingo Park, and an ECOMB event
at Marjory Stoneman Douglas Park, where volunteers planted 23 trees provided
by the City.
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Trees are a vital part of the city infrastructure, providing numerous environmental,
economic and social benefits. Among the identified benefits are cleaner air, reduced
energy usage, less storm water runoff, amelioration of high urban temperatures, higher
property values, improved aesthetics, a greater sense of health and well-being, reduced
anxiety levels, and lower crime rates. Being designated as a Tree City USA projects a
positive image of Miami Beach, and tells visitors, convention organizers and prospective
businesses that ours is a community that cares about a healthy environment and their
quality of life. The designation supports those of our residents, who have worked so hard
to ensure a vital urban forest, and encourages residents to plant trees and properly care
for those they have. The Tree City USA designation also assists the city in obtaining
grant money that is allocated for trees or urban forestry programs. Despite declining
funds for urban forestry grants, the Urban Forestry Program has been awarded three
Urban & Community Forestry grants since 2006. The grants assisted with tree planting,
the removal and replacement of six hazardous Australian pines, the purchase of a water
tanker truck to promote better water use efficiency and survival of newly planted trees,
and the trimming of mature Mahogany trees on Alton Road.
We are pleased to report to you that the City's Urban Forestry Program will plant over
150 trees and palms this fiscal year, and a total of 4,174 trees and palms since the
inception of the program in F.Y. 2006-07, utilizing designated funds earmarked towards
the Urban Reforestation Program.
This past year has had many challenges for our tree canopy, with an increased focus on
proper maintenance practices, including pruning both mature and 2-3 year old
reforestation trees for proper form and structure. Two structural pruning projects were
completed in the Biscayne Point Island and Normandy Shores neighborhoods, with 184
mature trees and 75+ 2-3 year old reforestation trees receiving corrective pruning. Prior
to initiating this work there was extensive coordination with the residents of the Biscayne
Point and Normandy Shores neighborhoods to ensure minimal impact to everyone.
The feedback received has been positive, as the residents appreciated the work
performed and are pleased with the healthy condition of the trees after pruning.
Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions.
KGB/ S/JO/MW
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