Our CR - March 2022

C I T Y

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C E D A R

R A P I D S

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M A R C H

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A Plan to Bring Back our Trees Y O U R PA R KS & RECR E AT I

LOOK INSIDE

ON GUIDE

FOR

*NEW* LITTLE YOGIS p. 38 *NEW* FANTA SY FOAM BATTL E CAMP p. 36 *NEW* REC UNITE D SUMMER SOCCE R p. 50

MARCH - AUGU

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Summer-2022-P

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CRREC.ORG

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 SUMMER PLAY! GUIDE p. 31

MARCH 2022

FROM THE

CITY MANAGER FROM THE CITY MANAGER • SPECIAL SECTION •

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4

NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW • DIRECTORIES •

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n August 10, with very little time to prepare, the City of Cedar Rapids was hit with a derecho, bringing wind speeds of well over 100 mph and causing widespread

devastation throughout our community.

SUMMER PLAY! GUIDE •

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During and immediately after the storm, City crews began responding to emergency needs, including clearing tree debris from roads, responding to emergency calls, and more. Beyond the critical safety and shelter needs, we knew in these early days that it was going to take years of thoughtful work and planning to recover from the devastation of the storm.

CONNECT

WITH CEDAR RAPIDS

Trees are an important part of the identity of Cedar Rapids, and replanting and restoration of our tree canopy is a priority. The

City of Cedar Rapids Iowa Government

Mobile CR Smartphone App

City is very lucky to have Trees Forever, a nationally recognized

@CityofCRIowa

CR News Now Text / Email Alerts

have a strong public-private partnership, working together with

CityofCR

City Source Email Newsletter

fundraising effort. ReLeaf Cedar Rapids is a visionary plan to

City of Cedar Rapids on Nextdoor

CityofCR.com/Subscribe

organization, right here in our community. We are fortunate to Trees Forever to implement the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan and build back the 669,000 trees — 70 percent of our tree canopy — that was lost. It requires a significant investment of resources, but the impact of our efforts will be felt for generations.

I would like to thank the Cedar Rapids community for your support and patience during this challenging time. From an

Cover Illustration by Chad Jewell

extremely difficult and trying situation, Cedar Rapids continues to show we are a strong and resilient community. Thank you for supporting this effort and showing the best of Cedar Rapids.

Interested in Advertising with Us? Contact the Our CR Communications Specialist at 319-286-5742.

Jeffrey Pomeranz Cedar Rapids City Manager

For tree lovers, the August 10 derecho was a horrible disaster. We watched as our trees went down, one by one, in such a short time. These were our friends, our shelter, and homes for countless creatures – our living green infrastructure. We shed a lot of tears. With each change in season, we are reminded of our loss, yet we are a resilient community.

There’s no time to waste ramping up our plan to replant.

Trees grow faster than we think, especially when they have

It’s Time to Plant the Future

healthy root systems and enough water to thrive. Within five years, we will see a major difference along our streets, in our yards, and in our many parks.

ReLeaf Cedar Rapids was shaped by the The Trees Forever mission is to plant and care for trees

stories people shared: stories of sadness for

and the environment by empowering people, building

trees lost, gratitude for trees still standing,

community, and promoting stewardship. Our mission

and a commitment to replant. The plan

pretty much explains why we quickly said “yes” when

will guide tree planting and care for a full

asked to help lead the replanting effort. We’ve always

decade into the future. The total cost over

collaborated with many community organizations, and will

that decade is $37 million. While the price

need to grow even more partnerships and build an army

tag may seem steep, it is only a fraction of

of volunteers to accomplish this ambitious plan.

the value that the trees will produce. It is a prudent investment in rebuilding the green

Thanks to the many donors, volunteers, and future helpers

infrastructure on which we all depend.

who have and will contribute to ReLeaf Cedar Rapids.

Thanks to our Mayor, Council Members, City Manager,

The City of Cedar Rapids and Trees Forever

and staff leadership for making replanting a priority!

will work together with community leaders

Future generations will indeed thank us for our hard work

and citizens to raise private dollars to match

and generous commitments. As we plant and nurture our

and exceed the $10 million committed

trees, they will once again shade and nurture us.

by the City. You are invited to make a personal or corporate contribution to ReLeaf

Best wishes for a green and growing future.

Cedar Rapids. For more information visit treesforever.org/ReLeaf.

 To support the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan Shannon Ramsay Trees Forever Founder

financially, submit your donation through Trees Forever. Find information at treesforever.org/ReLeaf

RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS

Let’s Get Started

I

n a place historically called the “Emerald City” for its lush canopy, a “Tree City USA” whose very city seal is a picture of a tree, a powerful derecho ripped through Cedar Rapids, destroying two-thirds of the tree canopy. While houses, businesses, and schools have been repaired in the months that followed, the trees did not miraculously reappear.

Sadly, many of the trees felled were the largest, most beautiful, and most cherished.

Completed over a full year under the direction of the City and Trees Forever, the plan was created with a conviction that how we build back matters; that the simple replacement of all that was lost — hard as that will be — is not enough. Cedar Rapids has a real opportunity here, not just to restore its canopy, but to do so in a way that maximizes so many of the things that residents care about: neighborhood beauty, comfort, and resilience; supporting wildlife and limiting global warming; empowering young people and improving equity; and even helping to create community. Trees can do all these things if we do this right. Let’s get started.

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Photographs by The Gazette and Tyler Richardson (top)

Such a catastrophic loss of tree canopy in a sizable American city is, quite literally, unprecedented. It is possible that no other weather event in modern history has killed so many city trees. Extraordinary challenges call for extraordinary responses, and the desire to be extraordinary motivated the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan.

The ReLeaf Cedar Rapids Plan This magazine is a condensed version of the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan. It includes articles, information, maps and summaries from the full ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan. The full plan, with many additional resources, can be viewed at CityofCR.com/ReLeaf.

The ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan was produced by Confluence, Inc. in partnership with Speck & Associates, lead planner, under the direction of Trees Forever and the City of Cedar Rapids. Design and illustrations for the ReLeaf plan by Chad Jewell Design.

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The ReLeaf Cedar Rapids Planning Team Sandi Fowler, City of Cedar Rapids February 2022

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

A Plan to Bring Back our The Trees ReLeaf Rules P. 40

The Master Tree List P. 44

Kiley Miller, Trees Forever

How to Plant and Raise a Tree

P. 48

670,000 trees lost

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

Jeff Speck, Speck & Associates Patrick Alvord, Confluence Inc. Denise Hurt, Confluence Inc.

Almost

of the tree canopy destroyed

Shannon Ramsay, Trees Forever

Debris pile

50%

than the Great Pyramid of Giza

5

RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS

What We Learned from Others

Growing Back Better

While no sizable North American city has ever experienced an event as destructive to its canopy as the 2020 derecho, Galveston and Calgary lived through catastrophic weather events that led to massive citywide efforts to reforest. Both cities showed us how dramatic tree loss can be met with a dramatic commitment to recovery, and how central to that recovery is a methodical focus on every tree: its health, its needs, and its value. A similar focus drives this plan.

I

t’s fair to say that most of the trees destroyed in the derecho were planted at a time when their true value was not known. Also not as well understood in past generations of planting was how to select and locate trees to optimize their lifespans and their benefits to us.

We didn’t understand the essential role they play in the food web that keeps us alive. We didn’t know that non-native trees don’t feed native animals. We didn’t know that trees share nutrients and valuable information underground. We were only beginning to understand trees’ ability to clean our water and our air, and reduce urban heat. We didn’t know, it would seem, that planting street after street with ash trees was an invitation to blight.

We didn’t know – or didn’t care – that a white oak easily provides ten times the ecosystem benefits of a Bradford Pear.

There remains a tremendous amount that we don’t understand about trees. But it is essential that the effort to replant our city be guided by what we do know. That is the purpose of this plan. ReLeaf Cedar Rapids is a plan of who, what, when, where, why, and how. It describes the role that each of us can play. It recommends trees by species. It devises a ten-year sequence for street and park planting. It makes recommendations for yards and provides some detailed instructions for tree planting and care. It does all this with the conviction that, as we tell our children, anything worth doing is worth doing the best that we can.

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CALGARY, AB

GALVESTON, TX

GALVESTON, TEXAS

CALGARY, ALBERTA

In 2008, Galveston was hit by Hurricane Ike, its worst storm in more than a century. The island community lost an estimated 39 percent of its trees and 47 percent of its canopy. Being a smaller city than Cedar Rapids, this equated to roughly 40,000 trees, almost 11,000 of which were public. The City’s response was to commit to replanting 25,000 of those trees over the next five years.

The plan was remarkable in the precision with which it ordered and budgeted the sequence of all public replanting. This was done across more then eighty parks, cemeteries, roads, public school campuses, public buildings, and parking lots, at a budget of $3,364,996.

In September of 2014, a storm dropped nearly a foot of wet snow on a city in full leaf, damaging almost all its trees. While relatively few were killed, 350,000 out of 400,000 public trees required major pruning. Calgary has roughly ten times the population of Cedar Rapids but the lowest tax rate of any major city in Canada. In response to the storm, the City invested $47 million in just three years. It trimmed almost every damaged tree and refined an inventory system that keeps close track of all street and park trees, including data on each tree’s size, value, ecosystem impacts, and the party responsible for its maintenance. While Cedar Rapids has a tree database, it does not yet include park trees, and many of the data fields for each tree are not yet populated. Calgary’s system is a model worth emulating.

PERCENT TREES LOST TO DERECHO BY BLOCK GROUP

Percent Trees Lost to Derecho by Block Group

Sources: City of Cedar Rapids (Tree Points) U.S. Census Bureau (Block Groups)

PRE-DERECHO PERCENT TREES COVER BY BLOCK GROUP (2009)

Pre-Derecho Percent Trees Cover by Block Group (2009) Sources: State of Iowa (High Resolution Land Cover) U.S. Census Bureau (Block Groups)

Cedar Hills

Taylor Neighborhood

Grant Elementary

Kingston Village

Linwood Cemetery

NORTH 0

A

1.0

2.0 MI

Cedar Rapids Percent Trees Lost to Derecho Least Loss (0 - 7.7%) Low Loss (7.8 - 18.9%) Average Loss (19.0 - 29.1%) High Loss (29.2 - 39.2%) Highest Loss (39.3% - 53.2%)

Appendix A | Page 7 of 23

NORTH 0

A

1.0

2.0 MI

Cedar Rapids Percent Trees Cover (2009) 0 - 12% 13 - 25% 26 - 36% 37 - 52% 53 - 77%

Appendix A | Page 8 of 23

The Challenge Before the storm, Cedar Rapids was already working to grow its canopy, which then covered about 24 percent of the city’s land area. The goal was to bring this total up to 30 percent. That represented a 25 percent increase in tree cover, an ambitious but achievable goal. Post-derecho, the estimated two-thirds loss of all canopy would suggest that trees now shade only 8 percent of the city’s land area. Older, larger trees caused much of the canopy loss. That can be seen as good news; it means that many of the younger trees that endured, and will grow the city’s canopy, have already been planted…they just need time to mature.

Different areas of town were more badly hit than others.

Downtown, where most trees are smaller and sheltered by buildings, they fared relatively well, but areas to the immediate south, west, and northeast suffered badly. Also hard hit were some areas including Cedar Hills on the west side of town, the neighborhood just south of Grant Elementary, and north of Collins Road between Edgewood and I-380, to name a few.

Map 1 depicts the areas with the highest tree loss.

As in most cities, the pre-derecho tree canopy in Cedar Rapids was distributed inequitably. Downtown lost fewer trees but had the least to begin with. Other areas, like the neighborhoods surrounding Linwood Cemetery and north of Collins Road between Edgewood and I-380, suffered the double-whammy of high percentage loss and a canopy that was already quite sparse. See Map 2 for the areas that had the least tree cover pre-derecho.

In addition, maps have determined that some of the most vulnerable areas in terms of unemployment, crowded housing, lack of vehicle access, and non-English speaking households lost the most canopy. This unfortunate coincidence means that, in post-derecho Cedar Rapids, poor canopy and corresponding heat-island impacts track more closely with social vulnerability than was previously the case.

As part of the public input process to determine guiding principles, the people of Cedar Rapids felt strongly that social equity should drive the plans to rebuild its canopy, so maps of pre-derecho canopy, derecho tree loss, and social vulnerability, were used to help determine where the City plants first.

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

7

Process

effort within a decade, so that principle became instead a mere given.

RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS

oll participants P were asked to rate the thirteen initial principles on a scale of 5 (most important) to 1 (least important), and also to rank them in order of preference.

This second exercise turned out to be useful, as most people liked most principles, and the ranking forced some tough choices. The ratings and rankings were then combined to create overall scores, shown here.

It is clear that there were essentially three tiers of scores, with two principles under-performing the others: Homeowner Choice and Edible Landscape.

These had been described in the poll as follows: Homeowner Choice: Homeowners in Cedar Rapids have traditionally been allowed to choose the species of street A plan is only as good itsplants principles. tree theas City in front of their house, and someIf this plan is to have the right outcomes times to stop the City from for Cedar Rapids, its actions planting at all.must be Edible Landscape: Street, yard, driven by a set of beliefs that the people and park trees can feed people of Cedar Rapids share. this Planting reason, as well For as animals. fruit and nut trees can shrink the plan’s public outreach focused on urban food deserts. identifying what those beliefs are.

Given its low performance, Edible Landscape was eliminated from the principles list. for It was not suggestions cut from We cast a wide net, asking public the plan, however, since it and coming up with a list of thirteen possible can be provided in certain guiding principles. These were then submitted locations like parks without to polling across a range of venues, including at conflicting with other public workshops (via Zoom due to the global principles.

Homeowner Choice, pandemic), through theinonline ReLeaf and contrast, was portal, eliminated through clipboard interviews neighborhood entirely,atbecause it directly events, with the goal of also hearing from those who might not engage online.

Guiding Principles and Public Process

8

conflicts with as many as six principles that were rated higher, such as Native Landscape, Species Diversity, and Beauty & Character. It just isn’t possible to deliver fully on these goals without the City being able to select the species of the trees it plants.

Finally, the resulting list of eleven principles was reduced to nine based on two realizations: • It turned out that the concept of Expediency simply

• Research demonstrated that the two principles of Habitat Preservation and Native Landscape were essentially the same, since only native plants provide adequate habitat for native creatures.

They were combined into Native Habitat.

While each of the remaining nine principles received different average scores, the range of those scores ended up fairly small, only 0.75 points on a 5 point scale. We can comfortably

none of them conflict with any of the others; there is no reason that they can’t all drive the plan.

These nine principles can conveniently be grouped into three different categories: • Planet: Rebuilding the canopy to keep the earth supportive of life.

• People: Rebuilding the canopy for the best social outcomes.

• Plants: Rebuilding the canopy with trees that last and maximize their impact.

Photograph from www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/softlandings.html

Guiding Principles Rankings 4.66

Habitat Preservation 4.52

Resilience

4.51

Native Landscape Climate Action

4.49

Equity

4.46 4.42

Species Diversity 4.24

Expediency Volunteer Participation

4.05

Beauty and Character

4.05 4.02

Public Education

3.91

Human Capital 3.63

Homeowner Choice

3.61

Edible Landscape 3.0

3.5

4.0

4.5

ReLeaf Principles: Categories

Over seven months, more than 2,800 people weighed in. Poll responses showed strong support for most of the suggested principles, but not all.

Of the top eleven principles shown in the Guiding Principles Rankings Chart, Expediency was the only principle removed. The mandate was to complete the effort within a decade, so the principle became a mere given. Research demonstrated that the two principles of Habitat Preservation and Native Landscape were essentially the same, and they were combined into Native Habitat. The remaining nine principles can be grouped into three different categories shown at right.

PLANET

Rebuilding the canopy to keep the earth supportive of life.

PEOPLE

Rebuilding the canopy for the best social outcomes.

PLANTS

Rebuilding the canopy with trees that last and maximize their impact.

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MARCH 2022

5.5

THE ReLeaf PRINCIPLES Mission Statement

PLANT PRINCIPLES

ReLeaf Cedar Rapids is committed to rebuilding a resilient canopy of mostly native trees, one that preserves citywide plant diversity and distinct neighborhood character, while striving to limit climate change, increase social equity, encourage volunteerism, grow human capital, and educate our children.

PLANET PRINCIPLES

PEOPLE PRINCIPLES

Native Habitat Our continued presence on this planet is threatened by a “sixth mass extinction” already underway. Right now, 52 percent of insects and 25 percent of mammals face extinction risk due to habitat loss.

Native trees are a key component of the food web that supports these creatures and, ultimately, us. Non-native trees do not feed local insects or birds.

Equity The benefits provided by local trees include improved air quality, greater stormwater absorption, lower summer temperatures, higher property values, and even reduced crime.

These benefits matter everywhere, but they are especially impactful in historically underserved neighborhoods, where investment in a robust tree canopy can balance out other disparities.

Illustrations by Chad Jewell

Climate Action Cedar Rapids must do its part to fight climate change. Trees are a primary defense against global heating, and trees near roads are uniquely effective at absorbing greenhouse gases.

Human Capital The job of replanting Cedar Rapids and tending to its canopy requires workers who can potentially come from anywhere. Given that this is a multi-year effort, and tree service management training can lead to a good career, local talent — specially low-income youth — should be nurtured in the plan’s execution.

Volunteer Participation Many positive personal impacts come from planting trees and helping them grow, and residents who help with planting are more likely to value and care for trees in the years ahead. Also, most of Cedar Rapids’ trees are privately owned, so rebuilding a robust canopy will depend on robust citizen action.

Public Education The post-derecho replanting of the Cedar Rapids canopy provides an unmatched opportunity to inform the public about the value of trees. It can also be used to involve and educate schoolchildren and adults around forestry, ecology, geography, and meteorology.

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

Resilience The derecho taught us a valuable lesson. Future storms are inevitable, as are blights like the emerald ash borer.

Trees must be selected, sourced, planted, and tended with an eye to these risks. Stormwater management — key to a resilient community — must also inform planting decisions.

Species Diversity A resilient ecosystem is built from a wide variety of trees and plants, and the threat of diseases and insects mandates that we don’t rely on too few tree species. Additionally, good cities offer the delight of variety and allow different neighborhoods to distinguish themselves through their trees.

Species Diversity One of the great benefits of trees is the pleasure provided by their changing shapes, colors, scents, and sounds. Also, urban trees rarely stand alone, but rather contribute to placemaking in combination with others. The selection and grouping of trees should be informed by their beauty and the goal of establishing places of distinct character.

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THE ReLeaf RULES Right Tree, Right Place, Right Reason Trees belong everywhere; the trick is choosing a tree that belongs in a given spot.

The Right Tree, Right Place rule has driven urban forestry for decades. It simply acknowledges that different trees fit and thrive in different places. A tulip tree looks great in a park, but its low salt tolerance makes it a bad choice along busy roads.

Other trees do better in wet soils or in dry soils, and some even tolerate the compacted soil under a sidewalk. Right Reason adds a new twist, focusing not just on survival, but purpose: different trees serve different needs, from blocking wind to evaporating and slowing stormwater.

Citywide Diversity & Local Character We should meet overall diversity targets while grouping species locally.

The threat of blight means that the City must plant no more than 10 percent of any one tree species, 20 percent of any one genus, and 30 percent of any one tree family. But this rule applies citywide, not locally. The most beautiful streets often hold just a single repeated tree, and same-species trees are the best at supporting each other underground. (The only exception, and an important one, is that oaks should be kept at least 100 feet apart, due to oak wilt.) When residents overplant a single genus, like maple, the City needs to compensate with its own choices.

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Tots Not Teens If they can be protected, plant trees when young.

Locals Not Imports

Transplanting a tree is a traumatic event that dramatically curtails root growth. The most resilient trees start in place as the smallest seedlings. But seedlings are vulnerable to being trampled, weedwhacked, or eaten. For locations where each tree matters, like along a street, established saplings are the proper choice. The City currently requires saplings to have a caliper (diameter) of 1 ½ inches but, in less vulnerable locations, like parks, a 1-inch caliper is preferred. 1-inch caliper trees generally catch up in size with 2-inch caliper trees within five years, and then surpass them in growth and vitality.

Don’t plant a non-native tree where a native tree will thrive.

Non-native trees do not support native animals and insects and can actually undermine the efforts of those that do. All trees provide some ecosystem services like cooling and CO2 absorption, but only natives support the food web. However, true natives can be hard to find.

Much more common are native cultivars (cultivated varieties), which have a mixed record when it comes to feeding insects. We are only now slowly learning what cultivars do that job well. The proper strategy for choosing a tree for any location is to first look for a true native that will thrive there. If that fails, select a native cultivar. Nonnative trees should only be planted where a native tree can’t be expected to achieve a healthy maturity.

Every tree planted needs a designated caretaker and plan.

Saplings are not “plug and play;” to survive and thrive, each needs at least two years of manual watering and periodic pruning. Residents should reach out to Trees Forever for guidance with yard trees. City-owned saplings, when planted, must be assigned a waterer, given a pruning schedule, and be logged into the City database. The database will be expanded to include information about the tree and its ecosystem value.

Break the Grass Habit Don’t plant grass when other groundcovers will do.

Let Trees Mingle Where possible, plant trees in groups and close together.

Big Not Small

The misapprehension that trees thrive best when given “space to breathe” is disproved in nearly every forest. Trees, especially same-species trees, share nutrients and information through their roots. More significantly, an intertwined root network makes groups of trees more resilient against windstorms. The only reason to keep trees apart is to shade more land with limited stock. This is most important above paved surfaces, where trees should be planted at a distance smaller than the width of their full mature canopy.

Don’t plant a small-species tree where a large-species tree will thrive.

The typical large-species tree has a canopy roughly ten times the volume of the typical small-species tree. Almost one hundred percent of a tree’s benefits come from its canopy. Large canopy trees can also be ideal for tight spaces, where they grow tall enough to shelter the space. The only bad location for a large tree is under utility wires, or where there is not enough room underground for roots to spread.

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As lovely as it looks, grass is one of the least ecological uses of soil. It wastes water, inspires the spraying of carcinogenic toxins, causes tremendous CO2 emissions through mowing, and interrupts the food web by killing most caterpillars that fall on it. While we won’t be able to change landscaping habits overnight, we can make efforts to provide native prairie and woodland plants directly under tees so that they can support the food web.

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CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

11

RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS

SUPERIOR (continued)

(Native, Large, Food Web Supporters)

Cultivar for Consideration

Bitternut Hickory Carya cordiformis Shagbark Hickory Carya ovata Butternut Juglans cinera Black Walnut Juglans nigra American Elm / Hybrids Ulmus x

ALLOWED

(Large to Medium, Native or Adapted)

Princeton, Regal, New Horizon, Triumph, Accolade, Pioneer

Cultivar for Consideration

Yellow Birch Betula alleghaniensis River Birch Betula nigra

Heritage, Dura-Heat

Quaking Aspen Populus tremuloides Black Cherry Prunus serotina Black Willow Salix nigra Ohio Buckeye Aesculus glabra

Early Glow

White Pine Pinus strobus Limber Pine Pinus flexilis Tuliptree Liriodendron tulipifera B

A key aspect of the ReLeaf Tree List is that it groups trees by desirability.

Trees are either Superior, Allowed, or Contingent. To maximize community and ecosystem benefits, only trees from the Superior category should be planted.

These trees are not only large and hearty; they also support the food web; all are either natives or native cultivars that support caterpillars. Ideally, newly planted trees would be sourced from this list alone, up to the point that any one species, genus, or family meets the 10-20-30 rule.

However, the “Right Tree, Right Place, Right Reason” rule means that the Superior list is not enough. So does the supply chain of trees: there just aren’t

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that many natives to be had on short notice. For that reason, the Allowed category includes additional big, locally adapted trees that may not support the food web but are preferable to a hole in the canopy. Finally, there is the Contingent category, so named because there are certain places where a large tree truly won’t fit. Most often, that is under transmission wires. These trees are smaller, but none of them are exotics with no roots in Cedar Rapids.

The ReLeaf Tree List encourages us to plant Superior trees whenever we can and plant Contingent trees only when we have no other option. Residents are, of course, free to plant whatever they want on their private property but will be encouraged to learn about the ReLeaf Tree List and to follow its guidance.

The Tree List orders trees by their contribution to the food web, with the shape of the canopy and growth rate also shown. The Tree List shows the right place for each tree. Finally, the List identifies which trees produce flowers, fall color, or edible fruit.

Illustrations by Chad Jewell

T

he heart of this plan is a new citywide tree list for Cedar Rapids that embodies the first four of the ReLeaf Rules: “Right Tree, Right Place, Right Reason,” “Citywide Diversity & Local Character,” “Locals Not Imports,” and “Big Not Small.” The new list is a modification of the City’s previous list that more fully reflects the ReLeaf Principles.

Emerald City

Appendix B | Page 3 of 5

Compaciton Tolerance

Road Salt Tolerance

Clay Soils Tolerance

Dry

Moist / Well Drained

Wet

Under Utility Lines

Tree Pit

Parking Lot

Median

Parkway

Yard

Park

Forest

Food for People

Food for Wildlife

Flower

Fall Color

Growth Rate

Shape

Height / Width

Iowa Native

Keystone Species

Bold Text

Additional Notes

V

Y

NA

Y

NA

Y

NA

- May be difficult to find in nurseries

NA

- Produces a compound that may damage nearby vegetation confirm tolerance before planting

Varying Sizes

70’+ 50’

Y

Compaciton Tolerance

Road Salt Tolerance

Clay Soils Tolerance

Dry

Moist / Well Drained

Wet

Under Utility Lines

Tree Pit

Compaciton Tolerance

Parkway Fall Color Median Flower Parking Lot Food for Wildlife Tree Pit Food for People Under Utility Lines Forest Wet Park Moist / Well Drained Yard Dry Parkway Clay Soils Tolerance Median Road Salt Tolerance Parking Lot

Yard

Park Growth Rate

Forest

Additional Notes

Tree Width (ft) 30’

Bold Text Additional Notes

Y

NA

- May be difficult to find in nurseries

Y

NA

- Vibrant fall color - Unique, peeling bark

V

NA

NA

Clay Soils Tolerance

NA NA Dry

Tree Pit

Parking Lot

Median

Parkway

Yard

Park

Forest

Food for People

Flower

Fall Color

N

Food for Wildlife

Y

Moist / Well Drained

Y

Wet

NA

Under Utility Lines

Y

N

LEGEND

Pyramidal

Vase

Keystone Species

Columnar

Irregular

Slow Growth Moderate Growth

Tree Height (ft)

Fast Growth

30’

Tree Width (ft)

- An important contributor to the food web - UseDisease should be limited to naturalized areas due 30’ to susceptibility 50’ 70’+ - Hybrids exhibit resistence to Dutch Elm to breakage, mess, and potential for water/sewer utility damage

Mixed Fall Color

White Blooms Ovate

- Not to be planted near horses or livestock to whom the nuts Round produced are poisonous

Food Type:

- Evergreen

Nut Vase

Pyramidal

Fruit/Berry

- Evergreen - Less prone to storm damage than native pine

Columnar

- Black Walnut tolerant

- Unique flower and leaf-shape Additional Notes

NA = Not Allowed in Parkway Irregular (per current Cedar Rapids tree list)

- May be difficult to find in nurseries

Slow Growth

- Vibrant fall color - Unique, peeling bark

Moderate Growth

 Find the ReLeaf Tree List NA

Ovate

- An important contributor to the food web - Usenearby shouldvegetation be limited -to naturalized areas due to susceptibility - Produces a compound that may damage to breakage from ice and potential to spread due to heavy fruit confirm tolerance before planting production

Compaciton Tolerance

Y

NA

70’+

Round

70’+

- Tree can sucker - May be difficult to find in nurseries - Is highly susceptible to ice damage

Road Salt Tolerance

NA

50’

Varying Sizes

50’

Y

Tree Height (ft)

30’

- Hybrids exhibit resistence to Dutch Elm Disease

Shapefor People Food

Iowa Native Fall Color Height / Width Flower

Food for Wildlife

V

N

The Importance of Natives

LEGEND

- Tree can sucker - Is highly susceptible to ice damage

Fast Growth

in the Appendices section at CityofCR.com/ReLeaf.

NA

- An important contributor to the food web - Use should be limited to naturalized areas due to susceptibility to breakage from ice and potential to spread due to heavy fruit production

Mixed Fall Color

- An important contributor to the food web - Use should be limited to naturalized areas due to susceptibility to breakage, mess, and potential for water/sewer utility damage

NA

- Not to be planted near horses or livestock to whom the nuts produced are poisonous

NA

- Evergreen

NA

- Evergreen - Less prone to storm damage than native pine

White Blooms Food Type: Nut

Fruit/Berry

NA = Not Allowed in Parkway - Black Walnut tolerant - Unique flower and leaf-shape

For many years, urban foresters have debated the importance of planting native trees in streets and yards rather than the wide variety of attractive imported species that have proliferated across the continent. What the foresters questioned, the biologists have confirmed. Non-native trees can provide many useful ecosystem services, but one thing they do not do is support the food web. In fact, they actively undermine it.

Plants and animals have evolved in tandem across the millennia. It takes hundreds of thousands of generations for insects to alter their diets. Most insects are restricted to eating just a few plants. Monarch butterflies for example, only eat milkweed. Native plants support native wildlife. A plant that supports more than 100 species in another country may support five or fewer here.

In addition, imported trees and plants may overrun native plants in natural areas.

Planting an imported tree is not merely a missed opportunity to plant a native tree; rather, it often leads to a net loss in native trees overall. Fewer native trees means less food for native creatures.

(per current Cedar Rapids tree list)

Enough with the Maples, Already!

The pie chart shows the diversity of Cedar Rapids’ street trees in 2014. It’s worse than it looks. The latest tree blight, emerald ash borer (EAB), means that the City stands to lose as many as a quarter of its street trees aside from the derecho. The lesson here is clear: planting so many ash trees was a mistake. Looking at the chart, does anything else trouble you? Cedar Rapids is, in a word, over-mapled. At least as far as street trees go, we have

City Street Tree Inventory

exceeded recommendations for planting one genus. This excess is mirrored on the private side, where maples are clearly the yard-tree of choice.

This is understandable, given their lovely fall color, but it is not resilient or sustainable.

For this reason, maples are not included in the ReLeaf Tree List.

We can look forward to a time when Cedar Rapids’ canopy is so robust and diverse that the planting of maples can be encouraged once more.

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

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RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS

R

eLeaf Cedar Rapids is not just a plan for the City to plant trees. If it were, it would be missing 85 percent of the opportunity. Of the roughly 670,000 trees lost to the derecho, only about 100,000 were on city land. The remainder were private; sheltering house yards, corporate and institutional campuses, and private open spaces like cemeteries and golf courses. Growing back the private canopy is the most important part of this plan.

Like in many midsize cities, the single largest land use in Cedar Rapids is the front, back, and side yards of single-family houses. These yards are where the derecho exerted its greatest impact, and where we can stage the quickest, most impactful recovery.

In the year since the storm, hundreds of residents have already replanted, many taking advantage of tree adoptions sponsored by generous donors.

But most have not. This plan hopes to inspire that action and maximize its impact.

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THE YARD TREE PLAN ADOPTIONS

Trees Forever will continue and work to expand the tree adoption program, limiting its supply to Superior and Allowed yard trees on the ReLeaf Tree List.

VOLUNTEERS

Trees Forever will work to expand its TreeKeepers (and other similar) programs, teaching tree-care skills to neighborhood volunteers, with the goal of a TreeKeeper in every neighborhood.

TARGET YARDS

Trees Forever will work to expand the deployment of its TreeKeepers (and other similar) programs to plant yard trees at apartment complexes and other rental properties around the city.

THE SEEDING SOLUTION

Trees Forever will create a program that sources, packages, distributes, and promotes the private planting of native seedlings citywide.

GROUNDCOVER

ReLeaf Partners will work with local nurseries and garden centers to encourage the sale of, and education around, native groundcovers as an alternative to lawn.

BACKYARD FORESTS

Through its Backyard Forests program, Trees Forever will make a concerted effort to communicate with the owners of large properties, offering planting advice and access to native seedlings.

STORE ENDORSEMENT

ReLeaf Partners will create a ReLeaf Certification for nurseries and garden centers that meets established guidelines in promoting and selling trees from the ReLeaf Tree List.

GROWING ARBORISTS

Trees Forever will explore stronger partnerships with local colleges and universities with the goal of developing more robust coursework and greater ties between arboriculture students and the Cedar Rapids area.

Illustrations by Chad Jewell

The Plan for Yard Trees

The Sheltered Yard Evergreens planted to the north and west block winter winds

Backyard lawn limited to an “area rug” for activities

Deciduous trees planted to the south shade homes during the warm summer months, and allow the sun’s warming rays through in the winter

Street trees absorb stormwater, shade pavements, and clean the air

Maximize areas planted with native trees, shrubs and perennials that support wildlife Low growing native perennials planted under trees provide “soft landings” for caterpillars and help support the food web Native plantings replace lawn turf and eliminate the need for irrigation and chemical applications

WHY YARD TREES MATTER The North American front yard is a strange thing. Largely absent on most other continents—where building setbacks are small or nonexistent— it serves no useful purpose and is mostly ornamental. As such, most front yards can easily receive a new tree or two without causing any inconvenience.

Depending on the house’s orientation, that tree can lower summer cooling costs, winter heating costs, or both, while improving the property’s sense of privacy.

Meanwhile, the back yard is often our own private Shangri-La, a cherished location of family activity for half the year. But these too often suffer from lack of privacy when they don’t have fences or shrubs at their edges. As the summers get warmer, adding a couple of well-placed shade trees can greatly extend their use. As in the front yard, these trees can be placed to create significant energy savings.

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

Every yard counts, but as more and more yards become sheltered with canopy, a suburban neighborhood eventually crosses the threshold from a subdivision with trees to its conceptual inverse, houses carved out of the forest.

This transformation is possible at any suburban density, and with the right tree species, it can make all the difference.

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Illustrations by Chad Jewell

RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS

Recommendations for Yards

Don’t Forget Groundcover

Backyard Forests

ReLeaf Cedar Rapids is a tree plan, not a shrub plan or a yard plan. But as we have learned, planting alternatives to grass under yard trees dramatically improves their contribution to the food web. Trees Forever will work with its partners, especially local nurseries, to increase awareness of the importance of ground cover.

ReLeaf Partners will work with local garden centers to stock native groundcovers such as wild geranium, prairie dropseed, and wild ginger, and to also encourage large mulch circles in places where owners do not want plants. Mulching trees requires less mowing and, while inferior to native plantings, is better for pollinators than grass. Other benefits include retaining moisture, conditioning the soil, and protecting trees from “mower blight,” the damage sustained from weedwacker whips and mower decks.

The derecho was devastating for many local large-acreage owners, many of whom lost between 50 and 100 trees.

In most cases, these landowners either had planted many trees themselves, or had done their best to manage and enhance inherited forests. Much of this woodland now needs replacement, and a program at Trees Forever can help.

The Backyard Forests educational program was started as part of the Our Woodland Legacy effort with support from Jacque and Dennis Holloway.

Owners of over 40 acres on the edge of Cedar Rapids, the Holloways wanted to create a program that “would be the voice and value for trees and woodlands.” In partnership with the Iowa DNR and Trees Forever, the Backyard Forests program has helped advise and educate hundreds of landowners on being better stewards of the natural resources on their land.

The ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan supports continuation of the Backyard Forests program, tailoring it to all landowners with more than ten acres of property.

Events should include workshops on the value of native trees and understory plants, and special offerings of seedlings and saplings to aid in reforestation.

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How do I protect my new tree from wildlife?

Few things are more disheartening than finding a newly planted tree that you have tenderly labored over nibbled down to a stub by nature itself. White-tailed deer, rabbits, and even voles can wreak major havoc on new plantings.

Small seedlings can be protected with plastic tree tubes surrounding the tree and held in place with a stake or small post. These will need to be removed as the tree grows.

For larger trees, fencing, ideally woven-wire with a mesh too small for rabbits or voles to squeeze through is the most effective way to keep critters clear of your new planting. The fencing needs to be either high enough (6 to 8 feet) or far enough away from the leaves to prevent deer from reaching inside. The bottom of the woven wire material should make contact with the ground and be held in place with metal landscape staples to prevent smaller animals from squeezing underneath.

Once your tree outgrows its fencing, consider setting a few steel T-posts around the trunk to protect the tree from further damage caused by male deer rubbing their antlers along the bark. This protection is likely only necessary if your neighborhood has a resident deer population.

A last resort, or as an option for those unwilling or unable to instill fencing material, is to apply a deer and rabbit repellent spray or granules. These products require regular reapplication and can be quite foul smelling, often made from ingredients like putrescent egg solids and garlic.

Tree Adoptions and Sales Trees Forever has been working for decades to help people plant yard trees in Cedar Rapids. It organizes Tree Adoptions to eliminate the cost barrier for people who are motivated to plant a tree. Since the derecho, Trees Forever and other partners, such as the Monarch Research Project, have organized tree adoptions, distributions, and tree sales leading to thousands of yard trees being planted in the community. Continuing adoptions, especially of species designated as Superior or Allowed on the ReLeaf Tree List, will be a component of reforestation.

LOCAL RESTAURANTS LOCAL DELIVERY

Trees Forever operates a program called TreeKeepers. The program provides volunteers with approximately eight hours of training. Then, those volunteers work to organize and lend a hand with plantings all over the community. If someone needs help planting a tree, they can call a TreeKeeper. TreeKeepers also help serve as team leaders in corporate employee planting events, and volunteer at tree adoptions as well. There are several hundred graduates of the TreeKeepers program in the community.

Trees Forever will continue and expand its TreeKeepers program to plant yard trees at multi-family houses and other rental properties around the city. These properties, many of which house vulnerable populations, are places where yard trees can have the most positive impact.

Photograph by Trees Forever

TreeKeepers

Free Delivery Code: OURCR www.chomp.delivery 17

RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS

How to

PLANT A TREE

Before planting, call 811 to locate underground utility lines for free.

Lower your tree into the hole. Place your shovel handle across the hole to provide a guide for the surrounding ground level. Ensure that the exposed root flare is at, or slightly above, ground level. Add or remove soil until the correct depth is met.

Mark where you’ll plant your tree and dig a circle 2–3 times the diameter of your tree’s container.

The hole should be no deeper than 1 foot.

Use your shovel as a guide to confirm your tree is sitting vertically. Add or remove soil to the hole until it is. Be careful to maintain the root flare at ground level.

Once your tree is sitting level, backfill the planting hole to roughly half full with the original soil. Pour one bucket of water around the planting hole to settle the soil and remove air pockets.

CONTINUED CARE FOR TREE HEALTH

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 Continue watering 5–15 gallons of water weekly for at least the next 2 years

 Prune broken or dead branches and those crossed or rubbing together

 Water from ground thaw to freeze and remove bags or buckets during winter months

 Remove tree guard and watering accessories as the tree grows to prevent damage

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Remove your tree from its container or cloth bag.

Prep your tree for planting by finding the root flare. The root flare is where the base of the tree flares into the roots.

Carefully remove the top layer of soil, stopping before you get close to the trunk, until you find the first root the size of a finger. Remove soil from around the entire tree so the root flare is exposed on all sides.

Make a vertical slice every few inches around the tree’s root ball to prevent circling roots.

Circling roots can strangle a tree as it grows and make it more prone to fall during heavy winds.

Fill in the planting hole with the remaining soil and build a berm (or donut) around the perimeter. Again, make sure the root flare is still exposed.

Apply a 2–4 inch layer of mulch around your tree.

Mulch should be held back from the trunk and root flare — wet mulch can rot the trunk, leading to disease and death.

Place a tree guard over the trunk.

Attach either a watering bag or 5-gallon bucket with a 1/8-inch hole drilled near the bottom. If using a bucket, make sure the hole is pointing towards the trunk.

Photographs by Trees Forever

 Replenish mulch yearly to conserve moisture, control weeds, and prevent damage from lawn-mowing equipment

 For guidance on preventing wildlife damage to your new tree, see: www.extension.iastate.edu/ news/yard-and-garden-prevent-wildlife-damagetrees-and-shrubs

 Consider planting native plants under and around your tree to support the food web CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

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RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS

Street Planting Priority

TREE EQUITY SCORE

The Tree Equity Score is made up of factors including the existing tree canopy, urban heat island impacts, population density, income, employment status, public health, the presence of children, seniors, people of color, and social vulnerability.

DERECHO TREE LOSS

The derecho hit some parts of Cedar Rapids worse than others. The tree canopy data included in the Tree Equity Score was measured before the derecho and is adjusted by a factor that approximates what it would be today. The best measure we have available is the percentage of street trees that the City had to remove after the storm.

One of the biggest and most difficult tasks of the plan was to create a timeline for the work that reflects the plan’s principles and goals.

There is no single right answer to this challenge; the important thing is to establish a transparent, justifiable methodology and to apply it consistently. In creating the Street Tree Prioritization, each street location was considered in terms of the following:

Nowhere are trees more impactful than where people are walking. The Cedar Rapids Pedestrian Master Plan lays out clearly where demand for this infrastructure is highest. This factor is weighted heavily because it subsumes a number of important factors like the presence of schools and higher-density development.

ROADWAY CLASSIFICATION

Classifications of roads make a difference because streets with heavy traffic are more visible and impact more people than local roads.

AVAILABLE PLANTING SITES

Given limited workforce, it is more efficient to plant streets that have more planting locations available.

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Illustrations by Chad Jewell

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PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE DEMAND

STREET TREE PLANTING PRIORITY RANKING

Factors considered: Road Classification, Percent Trees Lost to Derecho, Total Number of Vacant Planting Spots, Tree Equity Score, and Pedestrian Infrastructure Demand (Factors Considered: Road Classification, Percent Trees Lost to Derecho, Total Number of Vacant Planting Spots, Tree Equity Score, & Pedestrian Infrastructure Demand)

Street Tree Planting Priority Ranking

Sources: City of Cedar Rapids (Trees Lost to Derecho, Vacant Tree Planting Spots, Pedestrian Demand Score) American Forests (Tree Equity Score) Iowa DOT (Road Classification)

The Overall Ranking The five factors on page 20 were weighted heaviest to lightest, from Tree Loss down to Available Planting Sites.

Each of over 7,500 street segments in Cedar Rapids was evaluated and scored according to the weighted factors, resulting in a numerical prioritization. To implement the plan, street segments should be replanted in order, with all segments with a higher score being replanted before any of a lower score. Since many of the scoring factors vary along the length of their streets, many streets will not be replanted all at once, but no segment is less than a full block long.

NORTH 0

A

1.0

2.0 MI

Cedar Rapids Priority Ranking Lowest (Score 0.13 - 2.90) Low (Score 2.91 - 4.01) Average (Score 4.02 - 5.31) High (Score 5.32- 7.03) Highest (Score 7.04 - 12.21)

Like any system that distributes resources, this one creates shorter and longer wait times, and some people will want to change it to get their street replanted sooner. These impulses will hopefully be quelled by the understanding that this is simply a prioritization of where planting happens first, not where it happens; the plan is to replant the whole city.

The prioritization system represents an earnest effort to turn the ReLeaf Plan’s principles into action.

Appendix A | Page 20 of 23

DON’T WANT TO WAIT?

When will my street get trees?

Over the next ten years, every street segment within the city limits will be planted to the extent that planting sites are available. These efforts are scheduled to align with the greatest need as determined through the Street Tree Planting Prioritization ranking.

The ReLeaf Plan provides City staff with a year-by-year breakdown of street segments to focus on. The first two years of the plan are “scaling” years in which the City will be planting and caring for just over 1,700 trees each year. In year three, the number jumps to 3,850 trees a year for the remainder of the plan. The scaling years give the City time to add staff and equipment needed to meet the plan goals and allow for the supply chain to catch up to demand. A total of 34,230 new street trees will be planted and cared for during the life of this plan.

Sewer and street projects may affect street priorities and planting.

If you prefer not to wait for the City’s planting crews to arrive on your street, citizens are welcomed to plant their own street trees within the public right-of-way, adjacent to their property, at any time planting conditions are favorable. A permit must first be submitted and approved before planting, and the species must be selected from the ReLeaf Tree List at CityofCR.com/ReLeaf.

Instructions on How to Plant a Tree are found on pages 18-19 of this magazine.  To access the City’s permit application, and to learn more about replanting in the right-of-way, please visit: CityofCR.com/StreetTrees.

 Donate to Cedar Rapids reforestation at treesforever.org/ReLeaf.

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

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RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS

Replanting Our Streets Almost every street in Cedar Rapids lost a tree to the derecho. Many lost many, and some lost them all. To address some of the large gaps that now exist between surviving street trees and move toward the goal of a canopy that covers 30 percent of the land area in Cedar Rapids, the City will use tighter spacing when planting.

For large-species trees, gaps will be filled with trees that are spaced 30 feet on average with no gap greater than 40 feet or less than 25 feet.

For small-species trees beneath utilities, gaps will be filled with trees that are spaced 20 feet on average with no gap greater than 25 feet or less than 15 feet.

SPECIAL PLACES All streets matter, but some provide more opportunity than others for impactful replanting. Downtown streets, where most people walk but where the most challenges to planting can be found, and gateway corridors, where new rows of trees can have the most impact, are addressed in the ReLeaf Plan.

principal Gateway Corridors and plans for planting downtown streets on pages 70–72 of the plan at CityofCR.com/ReLeaf.

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Illustrations by Chad Jewell

 Find a map identifying

STREETS OF CHARACTER

Streets of Character

Sources: Conuence with inputs from City of Cedar Rapids

Streets of Character Most of the streets in Cedar Rapids hold a variety of trees. One goal of the plan is to establish local character with a single species in places where that is possible.

The strategy will be applied to locations where a consistent species can be planted for a distance of 200 feet or more, which is a little less than a one-minute walk. The City will look for stretches of streets that meet the requirement to plant rows of similar or similar appearing trees. In cases where a block is dominated by a tree that is not on the ReLeaf Tree List, like an ash or maple, the street could be planted with a species on the list that resembles the dominant species in shape and color. Some streets considered for Streets of Character planting are shown on the map on the right.

Cedar Rapids NORTH 0

A

1.0

2.0 MI

Historically Consistent Planting Opportunity Street of Character

Appendix A | Page 15 of 23

COMING SOON: NEIGHBORWOODS

TRACK PROGRESS An interactive mapping program has been created to allow residents to search their street address to determine where it falls on the priority list. As work continues, the map will be expanded to allow residents to determine when planting efforts are scheduled on their street. This tool will also track the progress made in street planting over the years of the plan.

 Find out about the

Neighborwoods program in the full ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan at CityofCR.com/ReLeaf.

 Find the tool at CityofCR.com/ReLeaf.

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

23

RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS

Daniels Park: replanted condition after 10 years

A park without trees is just a field. Some parks include fields, but the beauty and utility of many Cedar Rapids’ parks comes from their trees. To visit these places now can be heartbreaking: the ragged tops of those trees that survived only remind us of the many that were lost. This memory of former glory spurs us to replant them as quickly and robustly as possible.

But this replanting is also an opportunity to make these parks better. Best practices in park forestry have advanced since Cedar Rapids’ parks were originally designed.

Applying these practices to the City’s parks results in plans that move beyond the simple replacement of lost trees.

24

Daniels Park: pre-derecho

Daniels Park: day after derecho

An aggressive strategy for replanting Cedar Rapids’ parks is detailed on page 95 of the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan. It includes selecting trees from the ReLeaf Tree list and not planting imported species where a native tree will thrive.

Parks will be planted according to the 10-20-30 rule regarding the percentage use of any one species, genus, or family of trees.

Park trees will be planted as saplings, protected by stakes. They will be placed as groups in groves of seedlings close enough together that their roots can eventually touch. The groves will be placed at the edges of existing tree stands and along shared property lines.

Large numbers of seedlings will be planted along unshaded segments of recreation trails.

Trees will be planted along existing paths with same-species trees on both sides. They will also be located

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in areas of activities to provide shade and summer cooling. Plans identify the location of current or potential future community gardens. The planting of groves of food-producing seedlings adjacent to community gardens is encouraged.

Replanting will include opportunities for planting an understory of native shrubs, perennials, and/or groundcover beneath trees. The City will pursue a strategy to eradicate major invasive species from its woodlands and unimproved park areas and begin to populate open areas with seedlings as they become available.

All the work in replanting will be entered into a City database, applying asset management best practices.

Each tree will be assigned a watering and inspection schedule and pruned as necessary.

Illustration by Chad Jewell

The Park Trees Plan

Park Prioritization As with street trees, one of the responsibilities of the plan was to determine which parks get replanted first. Three criteria were used to determine priority: Park Classification, Tree Equity Score, and Percent Population below 18 Years.

PARK CLASSIFICATION

Due to their accessibility to nearby residential areas, smaller school and neighborhood parks have a greater impact on people’s daily quality of life and should be prioritized above community parks, which should in turn be prioritized above regional parks.

TREE EQUITY SCORE

The Tree Equity Score, described on pages 75–78 of the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan, is used to incorporate important canopy coverage, climate, and socioeconomic variables into the overall analysis.

The City of Cedar Rapids identified 38 of its parks as in need of detailed planting plans following the derecho. Designs for these parks are included in the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan appendix.

PERCENT POPULATION BELOW 18 YEARS WITHIN 1/2 MILE

The goal is to prioritize the replanting of parks that are most likely to be used by local children.

The Parks and Recreation Department maintains four park crews within a quadrant system. Therefore, consideration is made to prioritize work sorted by quadrant, so each crew can maintain a steady pace and make efficient use of watering equipment.

 See the Priority Ranking of Parks map on page 92 of the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids Plan at CityofCR.com/ReLeaf.

INVASIVE SPECIES CONTROL Aside from replanting our trees, one of the most labor-intensive efforts to arise out of the 2020 derecho is the control of invasive species. As the mature trees in our wooded areas fell, woodland floors were disturbed, and sunlight streamed in where it had not before. Under these conditions, many of the invasive species now common to Iowa woodlands were given a chance to take on a more dominant role in those ecosystems.

In the Cedar Rapids area, species such as bush honeysuckle, European buckthorn, garlic mustard, oriental bittersweet, and multiflora rose are likely to out-compete young or newly planted native trees and shrubs and will require dedicated effort to control. It is imperative that control methods are used while the invasive species are young since fighting them once established can prove to be an overwhelming — if not impossible — task. Control methods are referenced in the Iowa DNR Forestry Invasive Species Guide.

CEDAR-RAPIDS.ORG

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TREES FOREVER Founded in 1989, Trees Forever is a nonprofit organization with a central focus across Iowa and Illinois and a strong national presence. Since its inception, Trees Forever has partnered with the City of Cedar Rapids and built a reputation for collaboration across all sectors. Trees Forever leads the ReLeaf Cedar Rapids plan for the next decade working alongside the City in meeting replanting goals.

Trees Forever will lead the fundraising efforts in coordination with city leaders. Donations of any size will help plant trees for today and future generations, and Trees Forever has promised to manage the recognition of donors for replanting public spaces.

Through its Growing Futures and TreeKeepers programs, Trees Forever will plant and water a large portion of the city’s trees, as it already does today. It will continue to organize tree adoptions and education programs, as it serves as an interface between the City of Cedar Rapids and private organizations and individuals that want to lend a hand in the ReLeaf effort.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY

T

he City of Cedar Rapids strives to receive diverse input from citizens to guide decisions. Representation from individuals with varied backgrounds and experiences is critical in creating a community that serves all citizens. One of the best ways to have a voice in the future of Cedar Rapids is to serve on one of the many City boards, commissions, or advisory committees.

Women, minorities, and qualified persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applications are due by April 30, 2022. For more information, contact the City Clerk’s Office at 319-286-5060, or email city-clerk@cedar-rapids.org.

Find a complete list and learn how to apply by visiting cedar-rapids.org then clicking on Local Government > City Boards & Commissions. Download and submit your application today.

RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE David Blankenship, Transamerica (retired) Ron Corbett, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Nancy Duncan, Trees Forever Les Garner, Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation Katie Hill, Mortuary Lift Company Julie Johnson, Hall-Perrine Foundation James Klein, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust Tamara Marcus, Linn County Clark McLeod, Monarch Research Project Mary Meisterling, Alliant Energy John Myers, Indian Creek Nature Center Scott Olson, City Council-City of Cedar Rapids Scott Overland, City Council-City of Cedar Rapids Rich Patterson, Indian Creek Nature Center (retired) Jeff Pomeranz, City of Cedar Rapids Dan Pulis, Cargill Chris Thoms, Parks, Recreation & Waterways Commission Clint Twedt-Ball, Matthew 25

RELEAF CEDAR RAPIDS CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE Mary Quass, Co-Chair John and Dyan Smith, Co-Chairs Brad Hart, Former Cedar Rapids Mayor Jeff Pomeranz, City of Cedar Rapids Helen B. Arnold, Arnold Olson Associates Samuel Jones, Shuttleworth & Ingersoll James D. Klein, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust Kim Lehrman, Communications Engineering Company Cydney Lovell, ITC Midwest Leah Rodenberg, Alliant Energy Foundation Kiley Miller, Trees Forever Shannon Ramsay, Trees Forever Lisa Williams, Trees Forever

26

MONARCH RESEARCH The City has a long-standing partnership with Monarch Research (MR), a non-profit organization co-founded

by Clark McLeod and Cam Watts that works to add native pollinator habitat in Linn County, and reestablish the monarch population. MR initiated and led the successful 1,000-Acre Pollinator Initiative, a public/ private partnership with Linn County Conservation, Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation, and Marion Parks to restore 1,000 public acres to a diverse native prairie habitat within five years.

Following the derecho, MR spearheaded Planting Forward, a program that provides high-quality, low-cost native trees to individuals for planting on derechodamaged property. Trees are given to employees of non-profit organizations including hospitals, local government, and school districts’ faculty and staff.

Trees are also offered for purchase, at MR’s cost, to larger landowners and local businesses who offer them to employees as a benefit, either for their yards or for neighbors and friends. All trees offered serve as habitat to many native Iowa pollinators, birds, and wildlife, and are core species of Iowa forest ecology. MR raises private funds to purchase the trees and works with organizations that have the ability to manage large tree distributions. Over 28,000 trees were distributed through the Planting Forward program in 2021. MR will distribute 14,450, 3-gallon trees, 3-5’ tall with tree trunk guards, to residents this spring along with educational materials for planting and tree maintenance.

A FASTER.

STRONGER. BETTER.

mortgage team is here for YOU.

Linda Meis

Marcia Baumann

Jason Greenwaldt

Tammy Yamilkoski

Member FDIC | myfsbonline.com |

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NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW

City of Cedar Rapids Seeks Property Owners’ Assistance Updating Water Service-Line Records

Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz challenges every resident to collect at least one bag of litter each year in an effort to clean up the city.

The Cedar Rapids Water Division (CRWD) is working to update its records of water service lines. A service line is the connection between water distribution pipes in the street and the water meter in a customer’s home or business.

Last June, the community set a new record for litter collection in Cedar Rapids through the City Manager’s 1-Bag Challenge. A total of 4,476 bags of litter were collected between July 2020 and June 2021 by resident volunteers, the City’s Solid Waste & Recycling Division, and contracted workers. This nearly doubles the previous record set in 2018 of 2,341 bags.

Some older houses and buildings in Cedar Rapids still utilize lead plumbing or may have a lead service line between the water main and water meter. Lead can leach into water during overnight contact with lead pipes and faucets in older buildings. To reduce the risk of dissolved lead from old pipes, CRWD adds lead corrosion control to its water supply. This consists of a very low concentration of zinc ortho-phosphate, a mineral that reduces the risk of dissolved lead in consumers’ water. This small amount of mineral has long been proven safe for consumption.

An updated citywide service-line inventory isrequired under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s recently revised LeadCopper rule. To better manage resources and costs, the CRWD is asking for help from residents and business owners to identify private water service-line material. Residents are encouraged to complete the survey, regardless of the age of their home or business.

 Take the survey online at: CityofCR.com/inventory

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To date, the challenge has inspired volunteers to fill nearly 21,000 bags, removing a whopping 260 estimated tons of trash from City streets since the program began in 2012.

Pomeranz is more than pleased with the results.

“Litter and debris were additional challenges for our community after the derecho. Our residents once again rose to the occasion,” he said. “Our volunteers’ dedication to the 1-Bag Challenge proves the pride we all take in Cedar Rapids.”

The City Manager’s 1-Bag Challenge is a great way you can show how much you care about Cedar Rapids.

 Find out where you can pick up your free kit and join the City Manager’s 1-Bag Challenge at www.CleanUpCR.com.

We’re excited to be your new hometown network, so we’re bringing you an exclusive offer. With our Essentials plan, you’ll pay just $22.50/line for four lines with unlimited talk, text and data for the life of your plan.

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Limited time offer; subject to change. Discount on lines activated at participating retail stores during promotional period only. Qualifying new account & Essentials, Magenta, MAX, or Business Unlimited voice plan required. Max 12 lines on qualifying plans.

Plus taxes and fees for Essentials & Business Unlimited (6+ lines); monthly Regulatory Programs (RPF) & Telco Recovery Fee (TRF) totaling $3.49 per voice line ($0.50 for RPF & $2.99 for TRF) applies; taxes/fees approx. 4-38% of bill. Allow 2 bill cycles for discount to appear; applied after any AutoPay discount. $5 more per line w/out AutoPay. Discount will stop if you cancel any voice lines. May not be combined with some offers and discounts. Credit approval, deposit, and $30 assisted or upgrade Limited time offer; subject to change. Discount on lines activated at participating retail stores during promotional period only. Qualifying new account & Essentials, Magenta, MAX, or Business Unlimited voice plan required. Max 12 lines on qualifying plans. support charge may be required. Unlimited while on our network. During congestion, heavy data users (>50GB/mo. for most plans) and customers choosing lower prioritized plans may notice lower speeds than other customers; see plan for details.

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CITY SERVICES DIRECTORY CITY SERVICE

LOCATION

Animals

7241 Washington View Parkway SW

Assessor

City Services Center, 500 15 Avenue SW

319-286-5888

CRAssessor@Cedar-Rapids.org

Bid Opportunities

City Hall, 101 1st Street SE

319-286-5021

Bid-Purchasing@Cedar-Rapids.org

Building and Housing Codes

City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW

319-286-5831

Building@Cedar-Rapids.org

Buses

Ground Transportation Center, 450 1st Street SE

319-286-5573

CRTransit@Cedar-Rapids.org

Fire Safety Inspections

713 1st Avenue SE

319-286-5166

CRFire@Cedar-Rapids.org

Garbage, Recycling and Yard Waste Collection

City Services Center, 500 15 Avenue SW

319-286-5897

Solid-Waste-Recycling@Cedar-Rapids.org

Housing Assistance Programs

City Hall, 101 1st Street SE

319-286-5872

HSG-Admin@Cedar-Rapids.org

Land Development

City Hall, 101 1 Street SE

319-286-5822

DevelopmentServices@Cedar-Rapids.org

Park Rentals

City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW

319-286-5566

Recreation@Cedar-Rapids.org

Potholes and Street Maintenance

City Services Center, 500 15 Avenue SW

319-286-5826

Street@Cedar-Rapids.org

Recreation Programs

Northwest Recreation Center, 1340 11th Street NW

319-286-5566

Recreation@Cedar-Rapids.org

Sewer Backup or Problems

City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW

319-286-5815

Sewer@Cedar-Rapids.org

Traffic Signals, Signs and Markings

City Services Center, 500 15th Avenue SW

319-286-5176

Traffic@Cedar-Rapids.org

Utility Billing

City Hall, 101 1st Street SE

319-286-5900

WaterMail@Cedar-Rapids.org

th

th

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PHONE

EMAIL ADDRESS

319-286-5993

AnimalControlMgmt@Cedar-Rapids.org

For more information about the City of Cedar Rapids and its services, call 319-286-5080 or visit www.cedar-rapids.org.

CITY COUNCIL

To leave a message for a City Council member, call 319-286-5051.

Find your district at www.linncountyelections.org.

MAYOR

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 2

Tiffany O’Donnell

Martin Hoeger

Scott Overland

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 4

DISTRICT 5

Dale Todd

Scott Olson

Ashley Vanorny

t.odonnell@cedar-rapids.org

dalet@cedar-rapids.org

m.hoeger@cedar-rapids.org

scott.olson@cedar-rapids.org

a.vanorny@cedar-rapids.org

AT LARGE

AT LARGE

AT LARGE

Patrick Loeffler

Tyler Olson

Ann Poe

p.loeffler@cedar-rapids.org

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s.overland@cedar-rapids.org

t.olson@cedar-rapids.org

OUR CR

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MARCH 2022

ann.poe@cedar-rapids.org