Multiple residents brought tree and vegetation safety concerns to the Sept. 2 City Council meeting, saying low-hanging branches in several neighborhoods make streets difficult to navigate and could block emergency vehicles.

Barbara Castillo described branches at her neighborhood entrance that scrape vehicles and told the council she has repeatedly reported the condition. Staff and council members replied that the city ordinance requires a 14-foot vertical clearance for trees over roadways and that the city will distribute a fact sheet clarifying property-maintenance rules. A staff member said citations for overhanging branches and similar code violations were slated to begin Sept. 1 and offered to email the fact sheet to residents needing details on clearance and grass-height standards.

Other residents said low branches have damaged recreational vehicles and made driving difficult; they asked the city to prioritize safety and to communicate the exact standards for compliance. City staff said they would follow up on alley debris and storm cleanup items raised at the meeting and would coordinate targeted notices to affected blocks.

Ending: Staff committed to deliver a written fact sheet with ordinance standards (including the 14-foot clearance) to residents who request it and to pursue cleanup and enforcement steps for obviously hazardous trees; councilors also asked staff to include tree-health topics (including oak-wilt awareness) on a future agenda.