Current situation
According to the council agenda, the primary issue with the city's existing ordinance is that trees on residential property are not protected unless there is a permit or active construction.
The amended ordinance would eliminate that loophole and change language that allows trees to be cut down between the time a property is purchased and when a property owner seeks a permit for development. Instead, officials are looking for the tree ordinance to apply to predevelopment as well as development.
Mayor Gus Pappas said there is still a lot to consider on the policy changes.
Some key policy questions council is still considering include:
- Does the city want to regulate trees on property that is not subject to construction?
- Does the city want to require permits in all cases or will there be exemptions for nonprotected trees?
- Does the city want to accept payment in lieu of replacing trees?
- Does the city want to implement this by hiring a consultant or having residents hire their own arborists and providing documentation?
Taking a step back
Council first discussed the need to revise the tree ordinance in December, prior to new council members taking their seats in January after winning November elections.
The former council ultimately decided to postpone voting on the ordinance changes Dec. 4 and again at the following meeting Dec. 18.
The original recommendation was submitted by council members Catherine Lewis and Brian Witt.
“I’ve worked on this for three years, and it’s important to me,” Witt said. “I just don’t want to say ‘yes’ and then see this disappear into a black hole for six months.”
What happens next?
City Manager Sharon Citino said there is not a specific date on when the topic will return to council for a vote.
“I don’t want to promise a particular date,” she said. “We will continue to make progress on it, but if we lock in, we kind of get into that same position where we kind of forced ourselves to be ready, and perhaps we won’t be.”
