Urban Forest Advisory Committee Livestream 01/22/26

The City of Encinitas Urban Forest Advisory Committee held its first meeting of 2026 on January 22, focusing primarily on urban forestry management and related advisory activities. Key procurement-related discussions included the development and refinement of a master tree species list intended to consolidate multiple disparate lists into a centralized resource to support urban forest planning and tree inventory management. The committee debated the inclusion criteria for tree species, fire safety designations, and water use categories, aiming to create a user-friendly guide for residents, staff, and policymakers. They also discussed website updates to improve public access to tree planting requests and information, with plans to collaborate with city IT staff to enhance the urban forest management program's online presence. Additionally, the committee promoted the use of the "My Encinitas" app for residents to report tree-related issues efficiently, highlighting its integration with city departments for streamlined response. While no direct contract awards or budget allocations were mentioned, the committee emphasized ongoing collaboration with city staff and consultants to advance urban forestry initiatives and public engagement efforts, including potential educational programs like tree walks. The meeting concluded with plans to continue refining the work plan and species list, incorporating public input, and improving digital tools to support urban forest management.