This is a service / maintenance or supply contract in Victoria, British Columbia. Contact the soliciting agency for additional information.

Inquiries All inquiries regarding this request for proposal must be directed to: Leah Stohmann, Deputy Director of Planning and Subdivision, at lstohmann@langford.ca. All requests for information (RFI) related to this RFP are to be submitted in writing by email at least 10 calendar days prior to the Closing Date Proposals clearly marked "City of Langford - Urban Forest Management Plan" 1. BACKGROUND The City of Langford is looking for qualified consulting firms and professionals to provide professional services and consultation for the development of an Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP). The UFMP will establish guidelines for Langford's urban forest and provide strategies and actions to preserve and enhance the urban forest in the City over the next 25 years and beyond. Langford's urban forest is comprised of all the trees found within the City boundary including trees in parks, on streets, in existing forests and other ecosystems, in agricultural lands, and on private properties. The City of Langford adopted an interim Tree Protection Bylaw in 2022. The Tree Protection Bylaw was primarily developed to direct the management of trees focusing on retention. However, the rapid growth of population and increase of development activities are creating a number of challenges including the loss of trees and forests due to development and competition with the installation of utilities, growth of invasive species, aging and diseases, continuous trend of climate change, and limited operational resources. The City believes the development of an UFMP is necessary to provide baseline information to preserve the urban forest, establish acceptable canopy coverage and forest health targets, and achieve tangible goals while managing challenges. The Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) will be a comprehensive document which will provide the direction and long-term vision for managing the City's urban forest for the next 25 years and beyond. 2.OBJECTIVES The objectives of developing an Urban Forestry Management Plan (UFMP) are to: - Establish a clear vision, methodology, and framework for managing Langford's urban forest; - Provide an extended review of the current conditions of Langford's urban forest; - Conduct a review including, but not limited to, current practices, procedures, priorities, resources, trends, successes, operational gaps, and capital budgets; - Provide information to Council and the residents of Langford on the value of the urban forest, including economic, environmental, and social benefits, as an integral part of the City's Green Infrastructure and an essential service to enhance the quality of life; - Provide guidance on and support to the City's related other policies, guidelines, and regulations for incorporating trees as a part of city infrastructure; Provide guidelines for tree risk management and hazard abatement includingwildfire - Endeavor to engage the public and community partners and interested parties who contribute to the success of the urban forest; and - Address the impacts that climate change will have by proposing strategies that will maintain and improve our urban forest. 3. SCOPE OF WORK The consultant will be expected to perform the minimum following tasks and provide the stated data and deliverables: 3.1. Background Research and Review: 3.1.1. Review the City's Tree Protection Bylaw No. 2117. Review and assess urban forest management and tree planting Best Management Practices (BMP) and relevant tools, including the Province's Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy, applicable to the City of Langford for trees on public and private property. Incorporate any sections and information from the City's Tree Protection Bylaw into the Urban Forestry Management Plan (UFMP). Recommendations and discussion of implementation of BMP and budget implications for staffing should be included in detail with supporting data and graphics; 3.1.2. Review and evaluate the City's current urban forest management practices and operational procedures. Update tree management practices and procedures. Specifications and a manual for tree protection measures, root pruning, excavation methods, etc. is to be developed or reviewed and improved (in the case of tree protection measures, which already exist); and 3.1.3. Provide detailed review of current practices and procedures in other neighbouring municipalities of similar size and context. 3.2. Inventory, Mapping, and Analysis: 3.2.1. Using the City's data and other resources as necessary, including the latest aerial imagery, to conduct a technical analysis of urban forest canopy coverage in Langford. Provide baseline information for the extent, composition and condition of the City's urban forest such as percentage of canopy cover, density estimates, and risks. Maps, graphics, and tables in digital format (PDF, JPEG, and GIS ESRI compatible files) are to be created to provide information to the public and Council; 3.2.2. Provide stratified data by land uses defined in the current OCP as well as for specific areas such as watershed, defined neighbourhoods, open space including parks and natural areas, current and future development areas, transportation corridors, and designated areas including Agricultural Land Reserve, Steep Slope Protection Areas and Environmentally Sensitive Areas; 3.2.3. Based on the inventory of the City's urban forest and analysis of the canopy coverage, provide the data or quantified value of ecological benefits and services that the City's urban forest provides such as storm water management capability, reduction of the heat island effect, air quality, greenhouse gas reduction, etc. Identify potential improvements to the ecological services of the urban forest under alternate forest management and enhancement scenarios; and 3.2.4. Analyze and map out inventory data to identify tree corridors and thickets of forested area that contribute to urban biodiversity and habitat preservation, areas for enhancement and replanting, and areas with significant community character. 3.3. Community Visioning and Goal Setting: 3.3.1. Refer to the City's OCP and over-arching plans, develop goals, objectives and a vison for Langford's sustainable urban forest; 3.3.2. Design and undertake departmental and interdepartmental staff meetings and public engagement processes. Staff and public engagement process should include (at minimum) the following: - One staff workshop for the Parks department; - One interdepartmental workshop; - On-line Survey for the public that meets all City standards; - Presentation at any committees of Council, as necessary; - Two public open houses; and - One Council working session/presentation. The City will provide administrative support for advertising on-line and off-line, on- line survey, coordinating venue, refreshment, and set up. 3.4. Recommendations and Action Plans: 3.4.1. Review the City's current organizational structure and resources to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and constraints. Make recommendations for improvement and provide high-level direction on capital and operational budget required to achieve goals identified in the UFMP. Based on the review of applicable Best Management Practices of maintenance programs, develop a maintenance program for trees in the City of Langford; 3.4.2. Provide recommendations on the enhancement of the ecological health and functions of the urban forest considering opportunities and constraints and implementation strategies including areas with low canopy cover and opportunities of replanting; 3.4.3. Establish short (5 year), medium (5-15 year) and long-term (15+year) action plans for management strategies including criteria, indicators of success, and monitoring programs; 3.4.4. Review the inputs and outcomes from staff meetings and public engagement and recommend applicable policies, bylaws and programs that can be integrated into the other relevant City Polices and Bylaws; 3.4.5. Update the City's tree planting standard, detail, and specifications including the requirement of soil volume and recommend options to meet the requirement. A set of various details and options should be developed for specific areas where increased density development is being proposed, including root mitigation strategies for current and future conflicts with infrastructure; and 3.4.6. Provide recommendations for communicating with interested parties, including residents, community partners, corporate partners, external agencies, organizations, service groups, and developers to assist in managing and enhancing the urban forest as well as promoting the value of a healthy urban forest through education and interpretation. The Scope-of-Work detailed is intended to provide the Proponent with information pertaining to general extent of the work. The Proponent will use innovation when developing its proposal and will propose revisions or alternatives which may be considered beneficial to the City. All proposed revisions or alternates must be clearly identified.