Monday July 29, 2024 | LANGFORD, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
A consultant is working on an Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) for the City of Langford.
Public engagement has included a launch meeting in council chambers back in November 2023, and more recently some pop-up info booths around town at community-level events, as well as a wrap-up in-person session at city hall on the evening of July 24.
The City of Langford encourages residents to visit LetsChatLangford.ca/UFMP to provide their input on the creation of the City’s Urban Forest Management Plan. Urban forest includes what is selected for planting within urban areas as well as what is present in natural forest areas or on people’s private property.
A significant chunk of Langford’s tree canopy is on private land, as pointed out by the consultant, Diamond Head Consulting.
An online survey about the Langford Urban Forest Management Plan continues to be available online to August 25, 2024.
Process trumps value:
This could be an example of where process trumps content. Information is dense but at the same time generalized. Discussion about specifics has been modest.
So far there has been no forefront discussion about highlighting or saving particular trees in the Langford landscape. Species like Douglas Fir and arbutus are iconic in the Langford viewscape, but neither has been specifically mentioned in presentations.
The consultant says that each specific tree that is singled out would cost the city more to manage and protect. But if not mentioned in the process now, then when?
Mis-matched process:
The latest in-person session did not allow for questions and discussion from the floor, rather the city and their consultant Diamond Head Consulting wanted to just meet one on one with those who attended.
As a matter of process, that’s a contrived mix of ‘be there but don’t speak up’. While councillors and staff and consultant of course listened to whomever chose to speak with them while mingling and touring the display boards, the value of having various members of the public highlight particular issues about the topic at hand was not only missed but intentionally suppressed.
The reason given was that ‘some people are nervous speaking in front of a crowd’. Well, naturally those people will listen and learn, but that opportunity was not made available.
Not having statements made from the audience in a Q&A felt like muzzling for some, who discussed the absence of Q&A with staff and members of council after the brief formal presentation. Mayor Goodmanson said he felt it would have been harsh to cut off Q&A after 30 minutes, but people can handle some of both — Q&A and then mingling. After nearly two years as mayor, the public might hope for more comfort with the process in their leadership, but it does appear the corporate systems of municipal government have taken a strong hold.
The city has even more staff this year but best use of staff time and expertise — and staffing budgets — might still be in the works. Putting staff out front for three pop-ups in community but truncating the political discourse (in-council) public engagement aspect will perhaps be found to have been short-sighted. People who show up for an event at city hall (vs strolling by a pop-up at a Friday night market) are among the voices council should want to hear from.
Background:
Phase One of the UFMP took place last November, seeking community input and insights to inform the vision and strategic direction of the draft Plan. Phase two public engagement will seek community feedback on the draft plan that will shape the City’s UFMP before it is finalized and presented to Council for adoption in the coming months.
In addition to the survey, the City of Langford invites residents to attend a presentation to learn more about the Plan on Wednesday, July 24 at 7 p.m. This will provide an opportunity for residents to share feedback with City staff and the technical consultant at City Hall Council Chambers, located at 877 Goldstream Ave.
“Council recognizes the significance of Langford’s urban forest and wishes to formalize its protection and management through the creation of the City’s first Urban Forest Management Plan,” said Scott Goodmanson, Mayor of Langford. “Residents input is crucial in forming a shared vision and setting priorities to guide Langford’s urban forest management plan.”
Langford’s urban forest consists of all trees, forested areas, plants, soils, and ecosystem components located within the city boundary. Many types of trees make up the urban forest, including public street trees, park (i.e., ornamental) and woodland trees, as well as the trees on private land in both urban and rural landscapes.
The City is developing its Urban Forest Management Strategy (UFMP) to establish directions and provide guidance for the management of the urban forest over the next 25 years.
The UFMP will contain tailored actions the City will seek to implement in achieving the community-led vision for its urban forest over the next 25 years. The UFMP will include:
- Baseline information on the current state of Langford’s urban forest.
- A long-term vision for the City’s urban forest.
- Program goals, recommendations, and targets.
- Operational plans, policies, and specifications to support the Plan’s implementation.
Other public engagement:
The City of Langford also welcomes public engagement on the Official Community Plan — in particular around the fast-increasing population of the municipality. The theme is to plan for 100,000 people, up from the current 50,000 or so where the city has expanded to in just the last decade.
