Street Wading itinto the Revenue $tream

$ $ $ $$ $ $ $ $ $ $ Ralph Mize, City Arborist City of San José, Do you know the way to San José?

San Francisco Oakland San Oakland Francisco

San Jose

San Jose Bay Area Population

1,000,000 San Jose (1, 000, 000)

750,000 San Francisco (825,000)

500,000 Oakland (420,000) 250,000

0 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 Today San José Growth History Population

15M1.5 M

1.0 M

0.5 M

2030 1930 1955 1980 2005 San José has a Rich History of Trees

The Valley of Heart’s Delight We still grow trees in rows! San José’s street diversity

Botanical Name Common Name Family % of Total Pistacia chinensis CHINESE PISTACHE Anacardiaceae 9.40% Liquidambar styraciflua AMERICAN SWEETGUM Hamamelidaceae 8.50% Lagerstroemia indica CRAPE MYRTLE Lythraceae 5.90% Platanus x acerifolia LONDON Platanaceae 5.70% Zelkova serrata SAWTOOTH ZELKOVA Ulmaceae 5.00% Qu ercus ilex HOLLY Fagaceae 4.20% cerasifera PURPLE-LEAF Rosaceae 3.80% Magnolia grandiflora SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA Magnoliaceae 3.50% camphora TREE 3.40% Pyrus calleryana CALLERY Rosaceae 3.10% We are trying to stay within the 10-20-30 Rule San José’s population is also diverse In the San José Municipal Code the property owner is responsible for street tree maintenance. This can lead to problems! San José’s Tree Crew assisted with maint enance and tree emergencies

Budget Cuts eliminated the Crew in FY07-08 Now we have two Contractors to handle tree emergencies: • The City’s Inspector assesses the situation. • If branch is minor, it is pulled out of the Public Right of Way = NO CHARGE • If major, the Property Owner is asked if they can immediately address the Public Safety issue. • If not, the Contractor is called. • The Property Owner is billed, plus $100 Administrative Fee. How has it been going?

FY 08-09 # of tree emergencies? 835 Callouts to the contractors? 418 Total invoiced? $$,193,107 Average invoice? $462 Tot al admi n. fee billbilld?ed? $31,100 Billing Process • Property Owner pays the bill and the matter is settled. • If there is an issue with the wrong address/owner being billed, etc., the correction is made. • Finance Department has a payment plan, if needed. They handle all bill collections. • If P.O. wants to appeal, a Director’s Hearing is held to resolve issues. • If the matter is not resolved, P.O. can appeal to City Council. Appeal schedule is dictated by the Finance Department.

• So far, Finance has not called for hearings. • Process is similar to sidewalk repair co llect io ns . • Less than half of billings have been paid to date. Observations:

• It was a mild weather year! • This hopefully will be an interim process. • Upset property owners may be willing to consid er alternative funding footeear tree mainte teace,nance, such as a property- based user fee. Property-based User Fee

• $25/parcel x 250,000 parcels =

$6,2 50,000/year What’s Next? • Continue work on our street tree inventories: STRATUM (iTree- Streets) and a complete inventory. • Presentation to City Council on a Strategic FkFramework for the Community Forest MtMaster Plan San José’s Community Forest Community- inspired Vision for a thriving community forest 3 Primary Goals: GROW ENGAGE EQUITY Community Forestry Policy

”Trees are loving symbols of peace and hope. A tree has roots in the soil yet reaches to the sky.” Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 NblNobel Peace PPirize

Formalizes City’s commitment to a growing and sustainable community forest San José Green Vision Goal:

• 100,000 net new trees by: 2022 San José’s Community Forest does make a difference! Street Trees Wading into the Revenue $tream

"It was bloom time of the year. ... The landscapes of the Santa Clara VVllalley were fairly drenched with sunshine, all the air was quivering with the songs of the meadowlarks, and the hills were so covered with that they seemed to be painted." John Muir 1868

Ralph Mize, City Arborist