The goals of the Division are to maximize the benefits gained from the urban forest while striving to resolve conflicts between street trees and other vital infrastructure, encourage community and private partnership involvement in urban forestry issues, minimize maintenance costs, and ensure the preservation of a healthy and safe street tree population.

Methods for ensuring a healthy and safe tree population and maximizing the benefits gained from street trees include:

•  Optimize tree canopy cover – the optimum canopy cover will vary in accordance with climate region, street size, existing infrastructure, community needs, environmental limitations, and aesthetic considerations.

•  Optimize the above ground and below ground space available for street trees.

•  Provide tree age diversity and distribution – a mix of juvenile, young, and mature trees is essential to ensure a constant level of benefits from street trees.

•  Ensure species diversity – species diversity is an important element in the long-term health of the urban forest.

•  Reduce conflicts with existing infrastructure through proper tree selection and through the recognition of street trees as a vital and equal component of the City's infrastructure.

•  Maintain a comprehensive plant health care program.

•  Protect the native remnant forest that exists on the public right-of-way.

•  Promote awareness of the benefits and needs of street trees to the community, private industry, and elected and appointed officials, through educational outreach programs.

•  Ensure that public and private agencies that impact trees operate with common goals and objectives.

•  Recycle and reuse all greenwaste generated through the management of street trees.

•  Preserve, protect, and manage the existing street tree population through the use of consistent and approved tree maintenance standards.

•  Maintain a computerized inventory management system to assist in monitoring and assessing the overall condition of street trees on a routine basis.