City and County of San Francisco Department of Public Works Presentation to the San Francisco County Transportation Authority Citizens Advisory Committee
DPW as stewards of the Urban Forest Under Article 16 of the PWC, DPW has jurisdiction over all trees in the public right ‐ of ‐ way, and is charged with managing the urban forest to realize the benefit of trees for San Franciscans. DPW believes a healthy urban forest enhances our quality of life, and reduces water, air and noise pollution. Our management includes planning, planting, maintenance, and removal of trees in the public right ‐ of ‐ way. We care for public street trees and enforce the code for privately maintained trees. Because of funding cuts, DPW is not able to care for all of the trees which are currently our responsibility. We believe transfer of maintenance responsibility to property owners, while not ideal, is necessary to meet our responsibilities under the Urban Forestry Ordinance. 2
State of the Urban Forest San Francisco has approximately 100,000 street trees planted in sidewalks or medians. Before Transfer Trees Transferred After Transfer Privately 65,000 +21,653 86,653 Maintained Street Trees DPW Maintained 27,800 ‐ 21,653 6,147 Street Trees DPW Maintained 7,500 0 7,500 Median Trees Total 100,300 0 100,300 3
State of the Urban Forest Trees should be pruned every 3 to 5 years. With current resources DPW prunes trees every 10 to 13 years. DPW’s resources for tree maintenance continue to be cut. Lack of maintenance causes trees to threaten safety or property, including sidewalk damage. 4
DPW Resources for Tree Care Prop K planting and establishment, $597,459 Gas Tax Prop K maintenance, maintenance, $1,683,125 $606,970 CIP CIP planting and maintenance, establishment, $236,250 $378,883 5
Tree Maintenance Need DPW, in partnership with the Planning Department and Friends of the Urban Forest, commissioned a financing study to determine the need to properly care for and grow the urban forest. 6
7 Tree Maintenance Need
Economic Hardship In response to concerns raised by the CAC, DPW has developed a program to help In response to concerns raised by the CAC, DPW has developed a program to help low ‐ income property owners with tree maintenance costs low ‐ income property owners with tree maintenance costs Modeled on a similar program offered by DPW to help property owners with Modeled on a similar program offered by DPW to help property owners with sidewalk repair costs, DPW has developed a loan program for qualifying property sidewalk repair costs, DPW has developed a loan program for qualifying property owners. owners. DPW defers to the Mayor’s office of Housing to qualify property owners for the DPW defers to the Mayor’s office of Housing to qualify property owners for the loan. loan. The information on the loan program will be sent along with tree maintenance The information on the loan program will be sent along with tree maintenance transfer notices to all property owners. Program information will also be sent to transfer notices to all property owners. Program information will also be sent to all property owners who have already been transferred maintenance responsibility all property owners who have already been transferred maintenance responsibility for a tree or trees. for a tree or trees. The loan program will be available to all property owners who have maintenance The loan program will be available to all property owners who have maintenance responsibility for right ‐ of ‐ way ‐ trees. responsibility for right ‐ of ‐ way ‐ trees. 8
Tree Maintenance Assistance Program The intent of the Tree Maintenance Assistance Program (T-MAP) is to assist low-income homeowners (of single-family and two-to-three unit homes) to correct street tree-related maintenance concerns. THE LOAN MAY BE USED: To correct local Public Works Code requirements related to tree care. ELIGIBLE REHABILITATION WORK: Street Tree Maintenance, Sidewalk Repairs, Curb Work Household Size Maximum Household Income 1 $62,200 2 $71,050 3 $79,950 4 $88,800 5 $95,950 6 $103,050 7 $110,150 8 $117,250 (2012 Income Limits, updated 2/1/2012) 9
Tree Maintenance Assistance Program TO QUALIFY: You must be a homeowner who lives in the subject property, meet the income guidelines above, and cannot have more than $25,000 in liquid assets (excluding retirement funds, 401ks, 403bs, pension accounts, trust funds or other similar assets not available for liquidation).For two and three unit homes, tenants MUST also meet the income guidelines. LOAN LIMITS: From $250 to $5,000 LOAN TERMS: Payments are deferred onto the property's tax bill from three to five years or become fully due at the sale of the property, transfer of title or non-occupancy of the homeowner's unit. All loans include an additional 12% administrative fee. IF YOU WOULD LIKE AN APPLICATION, HAVE QUESTIONS, OR NEED ASSISTANCE DETERMINING YOUR ELIGIBILITY, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AT (415) 554-7336 10
Why still plant trees? Create a healthier City: Annually, San Francisco’s urban forest removes 260 tons of Create a healthier City: Annually, San Francisco’s urban forest removes 260 tons of pollution and stores about 196,000 tons of carbon. Street trees reduce the burden on our pollution and stores about 196,000 tons of carbon. Street trees reduce the burden on our storm water system by directly absorbing and then slowly releasing rainwater. storm water system by directly absorbing and then slowly releasing rainwater. Stimulate business: Research has shown that consumers are more attracted to Stimulate business: Research has shown that consumers are more attracted to commercial districts with street trees and, once there, shop longer, spend more, and are commercial districts with street trees and, once there, shop longer, spend more, and are willing to pay more for parking. willing to pay more for parking. Benefit property owners: Trees raise the value of adjacent properties by as much as 10%. Benefit property owners: Trees raise the value of adjacent properties by as much as 10%. Enhance safety: Sidewalk trees provide a buffer between pedestrians and traffic. Enhance safety: Sidewalk trees provide a buffer between pedestrians and traffic. Motorists drive more slowly on tree ‐ lined streets. Neighborhoods with green streetscapes Motorists drive more slowly on tree ‐ lined streets. Neighborhoods with green streetscapes experience lower levels of violent crime and quality ‐ of ‐ life crimes such as litter and graffiti. experience lower levels of violent crime and quality ‐ of ‐ life crimes such as litter and graffiti. 11
Proposed Tree Maintenance Transfer Schedule Fiscal Year Number of Trees FY11 ‐ 12: 12/31/11 3,400 FY11 ‐ 12: 6/30/12 3,000 FY12 ‐ 13 3,000 FY13 ‐ 14 3,000 FY14 ‐ 15 3,000 FY15 ‐ 16 3,000 FY16 ‐ 17 3,000 FY17 ‐ 18 2,300 Total 23,700 12
Actual Tree Maintenance Transfer To Date Status of Transfer Number of Trees Transferred FY 11 ‐ 12 700 Transferred FY12 ‐ 13 2,969 Inspected, not 10,714 transferred Not inspected 6,868 Remain DPW 9,538 13
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