Carol Case, Foreperson Yolo County Grand Jury 2023-2024

Recommendations 5

• R1
  - The Grand Jury recommends that the City clarify its expectations that private property owners maintain City-owned Street Trees on their property so that Street Trees do no suffer early decline that forces early removal at City expense. Publication of specific expectations for watering and coordination with other landscaping is needed. This outreach effort should include extra measures to communicate with absentee owners and property managers. This should be done by January 1, 2024. Status Update: The Public Works Utilities and Operations Department of the City operates a robust outreach program that has been managing the outreach efforts for the Urban Forestry program since 2021. From the time that the City received the Grand Jury letter to present, the following information has been shared regarding specific watering expectations for trees of all ages on private property: This includes: · Materials (including handouts and booklets) provided for events: o Nov. 2023 Discover Davis and Dia De Los Muertos event o April 2024 Arbor Day Festival · A booklet (Greener Davis Guidebook) mailed to all Davis addresses in fall of 2023 with a section on Protection and Care for Trees · Mailers to tree care and landscape management companies with business licenses for the cities of Davis, Woodland and West Sacramento outlining City regulations for property owners with City trees on their property (sent in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024) 530-757-5602 | @CityofDavis 23 Russell Boulevard, Davis, CA 95616 · A utility bill insert (distributed to all utility customers) in September 2023 on Sustainable Landscaping (includes a section on Tree Selection & Care) · A utility bill insert in January 2024 on Checking for Leaks and Watering Restrictions which included information on continuing to water trees & how to water them · In Greener Davis Newsletter E-blasts (via email to over 16,000 addresses): o September 2023 (Fall is the time to plant) o October 2023 (Lend a hand to our urban forest) o January 2024 (Plant a tree under 10 simple ways to be green in 2024) o April 2024 (Arbor Day event) o April 2024 – Special edition Tree eblast · In the City’s monthly column in the Davis Enterprise: o Sept. 2023: sustainable landscaping o January 2024: top 10 new year’s environmental resolutions (number 9 on using mulch includes trees) o March 2024: Green Gardening (Consider the right tree for the right place) o May 2024: (running soon) spring irrigation and landscape tips includes “Don’t forget your trees” · In Greener Davis Social Media, on Facebook and Instagram o September Tree Davis volunteer post, memorial grove stewardship o October Tree Davis volunteer posts (2) o October sustainable landscaping post includes trees o November save our water water-wise fruit tree post, leaf mulch posts (4) o December Tree Davis volunteer post o April Arbor day event posts, water-wise trees post, sustainable landscaping talk post o August/September 2023 social media campaign on Trees Need TLC and H2O (a sample of this outreach is provided below) 530-757-5602 | @CityofDavis 23 Russell Boulevard, Davis, CA 95616 Public Works Utilities and Operations staff have been working with the City’s Renter’s Resources Program to provide information to all landlords regarding tree care responsibilities and protections within the City. Multifamily property landlords have already been receiving this information.
• R2
  - The City should enforce compliance with Chapter 37 obligations to maintain City Street Trees. Status Update: As stated in the response letter, modifications to the Chapter 37 of the municipal code are necessary to spell out repercussions for lack of maintenance of City trees, as the current code relates to the removal or significant visible damage to trees. City staff have been in the process of drafting updates to Chapter 37 for review. As staff anticipates a robust community discussion around the updates to the City’s tree ordinance, we envision the process starting late fall of 2024, and extending into 2025 for legal drafting and review. Additional staffing resources have bolstered the Urban Forestry program and violations of Chapter 37 continue to be enforced. In addition to the outreach and education focused on tree care and maintenance as discussed above, additional outreach on obligations of property owners to conform to regulations regarding City trees on their property has been widely shared via handouts and online media platforms.
• R4
  - The Grand Jury recommends that the City amend the language of Ordinance 2521, now DMC sections 15.14.010, 15.14.040, and 15.14.070, to effectuate voter’s intent in adopting Measure H. This should be completed by January 1, 2024. Status Update: Ordinance 2648 adopted by the City Council on December 5, 2023 is attached. The Municipal Code has been updated.
• R5
  - The Grand Jury recommends that the City post on its website a simplified summary of annual revenues received from Measure H and related appropriate annual City allocations and expenditures. This should be completed by January 1, 2024. Status Update: The information is posted on the city’s webpage at https://www.cityofdavis.org/city-hall/finance/park-maintenance-tax
• R6
  - The Grand Jury recommends that Davis Municipal Code, Chapter 37, be amended to clearly identify responsible departments and officials charged with overseeing each element of the City’s tree program. This information should be clearly posted on the City’s website. This should be completed by January 1, 2024. 530-757-5602 | @CityofDavis 23 Russell Boulevard, Davis, CA 95616 Status Update: The responsible department overseeing the Urban Forestry program is clearly posted on the City’s website at https://www.cityofdavis.org/city-hall/urban- forestry We hope this satisfies your requests. Please let us know if we can provide you with further information. Sincerely, Michael Webb City Manager Attachment: · Ordinance 2648 530-757-5602 | @CityofDavis 23 Russell Boulevard, Davis, CA 95616 ORDINANCE NO. 2648 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DAVIS AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF THE DAVIS MUNICIPAL CODE TO CLARIFY AND UPDATE CERTAIN SPECIFIED PROVISIONS IN CHAPTERS 1,2,15, 16, AND 17 WHEREAS, this ordinance includes updates to outdated