In the development of model evergreen community management plans under RCW 35.105.050, the department shall consider including, but not be limited to, the following elements:

     (1) Inventory and assessment of the jurisdiction's urban and community forests utilized as a dynamic management tool to set goals, implement programs, and monitor outcomes that may be adjusted over time;

     (2) Canopy cover goals;

     (3) Reforestation and tree canopy expansion goals within the city's, town's, and county's boundaries;

     (4) Restoration of public forests;

     (5) Achieving forest stand and diversity goals;

     (6) Maximizing vegetated storm water management with trees and other vegetation that reduces runoff, increases soil infiltration, and reduces storm water pollution;

     (7) Environmental health goals specific to air quality, habitat for wildlife, and energy conservation;

     (8) Vegetation management practices and programs to prevent vegetation from interfering with or damaging utilities and public facilities;

     (9) Prioritizing planting sites;

     (10) Standards for tree selection, siting, planting, and pruning;

     (11) Scheduling maintenance and stewardship for new and established trees;

     (12) Staff and volunteer training requirements emphasizing appropriate expertise and professionalism;

     (13) Guidelines for protecting existing trees from construction-related damage and damage related to preserving territorial views;

     (14) Integrating disease and pest management;

     (15) Wood waste utilization;

     (16) Community outreach, participation, education programs, and partnerships with nongovernment organizations;

     (17) Time frames for achieving plan goals, objectives, and tasks;

     (18) Monitoring and measuring progress toward those benchmarks and goals;

     (19) Consistency with the urban wildland interface codes developed by the state building code council;

     (20) Emphasizing landscape and revegetation plans in residential and commercial development areas where tree retention objectives are challenging to achieve; and

     (21) Maximizing building heating and cooling energy efficiency through appropriate siting of trees for summer shading, passive solar heating in winter, and for wind breaks.

[2008 c 299 § 12.]

NOTES:

     Short title -- 2008 c 299: See note following RCW 35.105.010.