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West Miami approves first reading to create citywide tree trust fund, moves second reading to May 7
Summary
The City of West Miami approved on first reading an amendment to its zoning code allowing developers to pay into a city tree trust fund when landscape requirements cannot be met; the measure passed 4-0 and will return for second reading May 7.
The City of West Miami Commission on April 11 approved on first reading an ordinance to allow an optional pay-in-lieu to a citywide tree trust fund when landscape requirements in the zoning code cannot be met.
The measure, introduced as an amendment to the City of West Miami Code, Chapter 12 (Planning and Development), and to the adopted zoning ordinance (section 4.3(c) and section 4.32-4, Landscape/Open Space), would permit developers to deposit funds into a municipal tree trust that the city would use for planting trees in city rights-of-way and related landscape work. The ordinance includes provisions described by staff for payment schedules, deposit accounts, expiration, enforcement and other implementing regulations. Because the commission approved only a first reading, the ordinance is not final.
Mayor Eric Diaz Padron read the ordinance language and commissioners conducted a roll-call vote. Commissioner Ivan Chavez Jr., Commissioner Luciano Suarez and Commissioner Juan Blanes each voted yes; Mayor Diaz Padron also voted yes, producing a 4-0 vote to advance the ordinance. The commission set a second reading for May 7, 2025, at 6 p.m.
City staff presented the item as a mechanism to address situations where required on-site landscaping cannot be installed and to centralize funds for tree planting in public rights-of-way. The ordinance text on file with the city names the affected code sections and describes administrative details (payment schedules, deposit accounts and enforcement language) but does not set specific fee amounts in the language presented at first reading.
Because this action was a first reading, the commission made no final adoption and did not set fee levels or an implementation timetable beyond directing staff to carry forward the ordinance language to a second reading. The commission did not vote to expend funds or to direct immediate planting; those steps would require further administrative action after final adoption.
The commission will consider final adoption and any fee-setting or implementing rules at the May 7, 2025 hearing.
