2017-055 Tree Mitigation FundDate: August 11, 2017 Report No. 2017-055
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO CITY MANAGER
SUBJECT:
Purpose and policies regarding tree fund account expenditures.
BACKGROUND:
The Tree Mitigation Fund was codified with the adoption of ordinance 2004-332 on October 19, 2004 as
a component within the Denton Development Code (DDC) Section 35.13.7.e.i of this ordinance states:
“The City shall administer the Tree Fund. Tree funds shall be used to purchase, plant and maintain trees
on public property, to preserve wooded property that remains in a naturalistic state in perpetuity, to
perform and maintain a city-wide tree inventory and to educate citizens and developers on the benefits
and value of trees.”
Council adopted ordinance No.2015-252 on August 18, 2015, modifying section 35.13.7.e.i to allow
programs initiated under the Denton Tree Initiative use of the Tree Mitigation funds for the purpose of
planting trees on private property.
Section 35.13.7.e.i currently reads:
“The City shall administer the Tree Fund. Tree Funds shall be used to purchase, plant and maintain
trees, to preserve wooded property remaining in a naturalistic state in perpetuity, to perform and maintain
a City-wide tree inventory, and to educate citizens and developers on the benefits and value of trees, all
within the City of Denton. The Tree Fund may also be used to support programs for the public purpose
of increasing the tree canopy within the City of Denton as approved by City Council.”
Informal direction on expenditure percentages from the Tree Mitigation Fund occurred on August 18,
2015 during a Council work session. Staff presented and sought formal approval on their proposed
percentages to be allocated from the Tree Fund as follows:
Tree Planting and Maintenance 75%
Purchase of Tree Property 15%
City Wide Tree Inventory 5%
Education of citizens and developers 5%
Following discussion, Council stated that 95% should be used on Tree Planting and Land Purchases, and
5% should go towards education. These criteria, however, were never memorialized by ordinance or
resolution.
VISION FOR DENTON’S URBAN FORESTRY PROGRAM
The Denton Plan 2030, the City’s comprehensive plan, recommends the development of a Comprehensive
Urban Forest Management Plan (CUFMP) to identify important tree canopy resources and specific
strategies for protection and provisions to foster a more robust tree canopy. The CUFMP will build on the
broad goals and policies in the Denton Plan 2030 and use an integrative approach to environmental
Date: August 11, 2017 Report No. 2017-055
management to create local land conservation strategies tailored to protect Denton’s water, air,
ecosystems, and natural character.
The city commissioned a tree canopy assessment in 2016 that provided an overview of the current state
of Denton’s urban forest. There are approximately 3.5 million trees, with an estimated canopy coverage
of 30 percent, with much of the coverage found on undeveloped land. According to the assessment,
Denton’s urban forest provides an estimated $7.2 million in environmental service that includes pollution
removal, carbon sequestration, energy savings and storm water management.
A CUFMP as called for in the Denton Plan 2030 will identify important tree canopy resources and include
specific strategies for their protection and maintenance. Development of a comprehensive urban forestry
management plan will include:
a. A mission statement and vision for the urban forestry program.
b. An Inventory and Assessment of the current status of the urban forest.
c. A Strategic Plan: Goals, Objectives, and Actions based on the information analyzed and
identified needs.
d. An Implementation Plan with specific dates and assigned responsibilities.
e. A Monitoring Plan with a system or matrix to check effectiveness and revise the CUFMP
as needed; and
f. Tree Fund Management policies and procedures.
SUMMARY:
This report provides background regarding current policy on Tree Fund Expenditures.
A Provision within section 35.13.7.e.i “to preserve wooded property remaining in a naturalistic state in
perpetuity” has been interpreted by some to include the purchase of land. However this typically is
accomplished through conservation easements, which would have the same results the same at less cost.
The table below highlights the advantages and disadvantage of purchasing treed land vs. planting
individual trees throughout the City of Denton.
Treed Land Purchase
Advantages
Treed Land Purchase
Disadvantages
Individual Tree Planting
Advantages
Individual Tree Planting
Disadvantages
Less use of personnel time High Cost Lower Cost More use of personnel time
Mature Canopy preserved Mature Trees have less Life
left
Trees at the start of their Life
Ecological and Functional
benefits* are not being
increased but will be
reduced as trees decline
Ecological and Functional
benefits will increase over
time as trees mature
Urban Heat Island not
mitigated
Reduces Urban Heat Island
Effect as trees mature
Existing Tree Canopy
preserved not growing
Tree Canopy will be
increased significantly
Date: August 11, 2017 Report No. 2017-055
*Ecological and Functional Benefits:
energy conservation
storm water runoff reduction
pollution removal
oxygen production
carbon emission reduction
reduces urban heat island effect
tree canopy is increased
Land purchases from the Tree Mitigation fund are solely regulated by the DDC. The percentage of the
funds to be used for this purpose was never codified or established through an official resolution. It is the
Urban Foresters assessment that the most efficient and responsible use of the tree fund that will grow the
canopy is the planting of new trees.
However, to effectively manage and monitor the City’s tree canopy, a Comprehensive Urban Forest
Management plan should be approved to include a digital tree inventory. This would ensure the health
and viability of the Urban Forest is managed for sustainability.
STAFF CONTACT:
Robert Makowski, CS, CA, RF, REM
Planning Supervisor
940-349-8507
Robert.Makowski@cityofdenton.com