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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MANAGER TO FORMULATE A COUNTYWIDE COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN FOR STREET TREES TO GUIDE ALL FUTURE PLANTINGS AND TO DEVELOP MAINTENANCE PROGRAM FOR EXISTING INVENTORY OF LANDSCAPING AS WELL AS ALL NEW PLANTINGS

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WHEREAS, a master plan that considers ecological needs, geographic settings, biodiversity, tree canopy coverage to lower ambient temperatures in urban areas, and emphasizes low-maintenance and hardy native species would maximize the investment of the street tree funds for the public welfare; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County is home to many native species, renowned for their unique character, prized for their beauty and found nowhere else; and
WHEREAS, native trees are naturally adapted to our environment, and, if established in conditions similar to their native habitat, require less maintenance than exotic species; and
WHEREAS, streetscaping funds invested in the public rights-of-way should serve the maximum public benefit; and
WHEREAS, the beautification of public thoroughfares is an essential consideration in urban design, and the use of attractive native species can exemplify the unique character and highlight the distinctness of Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida have different criteria for planting and maintaining street trees and the guiding principles for urban street tree planting in Miami-Dade County are not united under a single comprehensive master plan,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The County Manager is directed to develop a countywide Comprehensive Street Tree Master Plan that:
(a) Emphasizes the use of native trees over exotic species;
(b) Encourages biodiversity and the co-location of ecological community associates where feasible and appropriate (e.g., coastal hammock species should be planted alongside other coastal hammock species; tropical hammock species with other hammock species; wetland species with other wetland species; and pineland species with other pineland species);
(c) Acknowledges the historic ecological community and geographic conditions of each site and emphasizes the use of original native species where feasible or appropriate for current conditions (e.g., species should be selected based upon their historic geographical distribution and proximity to similar geographic features: coastal species near the coast; wetland species in wet areas; and pineland and tropical hammock species in areas of higher elevation);
(d) Encourages an emphasis on native species listed as "threatened" or "endangered" where feasible and appropriate;
(e) Evaluates the existing Code provisions relating to landscaping and the landscape manual for compliance with these principles and recommends amendments if necessary;
(f)
Evaluates the County's current procurement methodology for its ability to access the limited supply of native trees;
(g) Investigates the feasibility of contract-growing native species listed as "threatened or endangered" in order to create an economy for these at-risk species;
(h) Ensures that all new plantings comply with contract specifications and are properly installed;
(i) Recommends a Street Tree Maintenance Program to maintain the existing inventory of landscaping as well as all new plantings; and
(j) Identifies one department to implement, monitor, and maintain the Comprehensive Street Tree Master Plan and Maintenance Program.
Section 2. The County Manager shall present the proposed State Tree Master Plan and Maintenance Plan to the Commission within 90 days of the passage of this resolution.