Council approves tree-removal plan, spring planting RFQ after discussion of public safety and replacement species

The City of La Porte moved forward with a multi-part urban forestry effort intended to remove hazardous right-of-way trees and replant a diversity of species.

Tucker King said the first action authorizes advertisement for bids to remove 277 trees identified as critical hazards under a U.S. Forest Service tree grant. "We have around 900 trees that need to be removed from our inventory. And this is 277 of those which are identified as the ones that will cause the most damage and are at that risk for failing currently," King said during the presentation.

King said the budget was being balanced so in-house crews could continue other street and tree duties; the city estimates roughly $250,000 for this phase and noted last year the city removed 120 trees. He added the city looks to replace removed trees with species selected to limit damage to sidewalks, utilities and other right-of-way infrastructure.

On a related item, the council approved an Urban Forestry spring planting RFQ to replace 80 trees. King said the planting program is part of a multi-year plan — "part 2 of 6 of our plantings" — intended to replant hundreds of trees over subsequent spring and fall cycles. He told the council that the arborist worked with project planning to identify removal and replanting locations and select roughly 33 species matched to site conditions.

Council discussion touched on cost differences between in-house crews and contractors, stump grinding timing (typically done in late fall or early spring), and homeowner outreach: King acknowledged early plantings drew some homeowner complaints because staff did not contact homeowners before planting in the public right-of-way.

The motion to advertise for tree removal bids and the RFQ for spring planting both passed by voice vote.