DATE:
February 12, 2025
01
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE AND AWARD CONTRACTS FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE TREE PROGRAM AND CEQA EXEMPTION (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The County of San Diego (County) Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) manages 158 facilities across 58,000 acres of land and more than 389 miles of trails. Trees are valuable assets to the park system as they increase the usability of parks, contribute to biodiversity, and serve as important climate buffers that moderate temperature and moisture and make parks more desirable for the public. Preserving a healthy tree canopy is crucial to facilitating native tree species regeneration because without shade it is very challenging for young trees to survive in dry environmental conditions.
DPR is a regional leader in the planting of trees and has planted trees throughout San Diego County as part of its Comprehensive Tree Program to improve the overall regional tree canopy. Since 2016, the County has planted more than 40,000 trees with at least 3,500 trees planted per year, including 4,645 trees planted through this program in calendar year 2024. DPR identifies priority areas where trees are needed based on factors including where trees have been lost from the impacts of drought, invasive pests, age of the existing trees, and environmental fit for the trees. This prioritization process includes following the guidelines in the County's Native Landscape Program approved by the County Board of Supervisors (Board) on December 14, 2022 (11). DPR also uses databases like the California Healthy Places Index (HPI) and CalEnviroScreen to help identify County-maintained parks in underserved communities that lack access to tree canopies.
On September 11, 2024 (6), the Board adopted the Climate Action Plan Update, now called the 2024 Climate Action Plan or 2024 CAP, which guides the County in investing in actions that increase sustainability, reduce harmful emissions th...
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