Adopt an Ordinance to create a new Chapter (27) in the Goodyear City Code, titled Parks and Recreation to establish Article 27.1 for Tree Care and Management.

1. ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 2021-2132 DECLARING A PUBLIC RECORD THAT CERTAIN DOCUMENT FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK AND TITLED “ENACTING A NEW CHAPTER OF THE CITY OF GOODYEAR CODE OF ORDINANCES, TO ESTABLISH CHAPTER 27 PARKS AND RECREATION, ARTICLE 27-1 TREE CARE AND MANAGEMENT”.
2. ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 2021-1496 ENACTING A NEW CHAPTER TO THE CITY OF GOODYEAR CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ESTABLISH CHAPTER 27 TITLED, PARKS AND RECREATION, AND ESTABLISHING ARTICLE 27-1 TREE CARE AND MANAGEMENT; PROVIDING FOR CORRECTIONS; SEVERABILITY; PENALTIES AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE. (David Seid, Parks and Recreation Deputy Director)

  There is no financial impact related to this resolution or ordinance.  The city currently exceeds the minimum per capita spending requirements for the Tree City USA designation and this funding is included in the Parks Departments base budget.

   

On March 26, 2018, Goodyear adopted the FY2021 Strategic Plan. One of the goals in this plan was to complete a Bike and Pedestrian Shade Study.

On November 18, 2019, the Bike and Pedestrian Path Shade Study was presented to Council. One of the short-term goals of the Shade Study was for the City to become an official Tree City USA Community.

 In order to become a Tree City USA Community, the following (4) standards must be met:

• Standard 1 – A Tree Department.  This standard will be met by officially assigning this role to the Parks and Recreation Department.  The Tree Ordinance language articulates this obligation.

• Standard 2 – A Tree Care Ordinance.  Ordinance 2021-1496 satisfies this standard. 

• Standard 3 – A Community Forestry Program with an annual budget of a minimum $2 per capita expenditures.  The City currently spends approximately $6 per capita in annual tree care.

• Standard 4 – An Arbor Day Proclamation and Observance.  This standard will be met in April of 2021 when a Mayoral Proclamation is issued and an observance activity is held.

Becoming a Tree City USA Community demonstrates the city’s commitment to residents for a healthy, natural environment, educate residents/organizations on the benefits of trees, and ensure protections are in place to promote urban forestry in Goodyear.
 
It is staff’s recommendation to approve Resolution No. 2021-2132 and Ordinance No. 2021-1496.  This approval will satisfy the tree ordinance requirement of the Tree City USA program.  Once all standards have been met, staff will submit the official Tree City USA application to become a Tree City USA Community.