The selected consultant is expected to provide the following services: 1) Develop a long-term strategic urban forest plan that supports a healthy, dynamic, diverse, and cohesive urban forest ecosystem valued and cared for through community stewardship. The plan should outline goals, policies, and actions to manage the City of Newark’s urban forest and ensure equitable tree distribution within the public right-of-way. 2) Assess the current urban forest inventory, including species composition and distribution. 3) Develop a recommended tree list for public and private property, and a prohibited tree list for public property that considers benefits (e.g., esthetics, habitat, urban heat island reduction, food production (for private property)), site-specific characteristics (e.g., sidewalks, roadways, powerlines, underground utilities, irrigation), and hazards (e.g., wind, increased temperatures, fire, rising groundwater, pests, drought (including MWELO)). 4) Develop a realistic tree canopy cover target for 2035 and 2045 and a proposed approach for achieving those targets through planting or replacing trees on public and private property. 5) Develop a tree planting and maintenance guidance manual. Most City Street Trees are now scheduled for routine pruning every 8 years. 6) Develop and implement a community outreach plan to provide opportunities for residents and businesses to provide input on the Plan. 7) Deliver a draft and final comprehensive report summarizing findings, management strategies, action plans, timelines, and budgets. Include recommendations for community engagement, funding sources, and partnerships to ensure the successful implementation of the management plan.
