Since joining the Parks, Recreation, and Tree Advisory Commission of the City of Napa shortly before the COVID outbreak, I have become aware of a number of challenges that the various departments and utility companies involved in gray and green infrastructure (primarily Public Works, PG&E, CalTrans, Napa Sanitation and Stormwater Management, Napa Water, Community Development, and Parks and Recreation) are facing. It appears that conflicting goals and practices often stand in the way of meeting these challenges. They seem to be based on systemic issues and can likely only be resolved by changing existing ordinances, agreements among different management entities, and community engagement. (Photo courtesy of Napa Master Gardeners.)

Fortunately, the recent appointment of a high-level coordinator and facilitator to develop a compendium of comprehensive, immediate, and sustained action to achieve its goal of net zero climate pollution under the City’s Climate Emergency Declaration promises to be a first good step in dealing with most of these systemic issues affecting the public portion of our urban forest, and perhaps private parcels as well.

The City’s goal of net-zero climate pollution includes two parts: (1) Reduction of emissions, and (2) long-term sequestration of climate pollutants. While some of the suggested remedies listed below may take some time, it is never too early to start tackling even “wicked”, systemic problems.

My observations on conflicting goals are as follows:

The Napa Climate Emergency Resolution states:

The City Manager is hereby further directed to develop partnerships with community organizations, businesses, schools, and regional partnerships to educate, mobilize, expand, and accelerate local, regional and statewide support for comprehensive, immediate, and sustained action to achieve its goal of net zero climate pollution. This action in Napa's Climate Emergency Resolution obviously is a great first step. An opportunity exists now, to use the forthcoming development of the Citywide Urban Forest Master Plan to provide detailed information, recommendations, and timelines to effectively manage, sustain, and grow the City’s tree canopy, promote sequestration of carbon through tree growth, and minimize conflicts among other goals in the General Plan. After all, the first action in pursuit of our goal of zero greenhouse gas pollution by 2030, can best be described as “do no further harm.” Unless certain trees meet specific and publicly vetted criteria for being removed for public safety reasons, removing them and releasing their sequestered carbon into the atmosphere  by burning the wood does not sound consistent with the “do no harm” principle.

Given the frequent conflicts between street trees and built infrastructure, such as traffic safety, interference with above-ground power supply lines, below-ground sewage and storm-water drainage, and safe pedestrian and bicycle paths, meeting the goals of the recently adopted General Plan and the Climate Emergency Resolution may seem daunting to many. 

Fortunately, the City of Napa is embarking on an update to its Urban Forestry Masterplan, with funding from a substantial grant from CalFire. One of the grant requirements includes public engagement and involvement in the development of the Masterplan, and a way for residents to learn about the benefits of trees, how their shade may extend the lifespan and quality of the City’s street network, and their public health benefits by lowering the temperature in our City as we face more heat waves due to climate change. The City is poised to start the public engagement process later this spring, and now is a good time to prepare for it and track progress in Masterplan development.

Stay informed by visiting the Parks and Recreation website at: https://www.cityofnapa.org/377/Trees-Urban-Forestry