La Center council adopts Tree Protection Ordinance, creating Tree City USA pathway

The La Center City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 2024-08, amending Chapter 18.350 (Tree Protection), after a staff presentation and a public hearing on Jan. 8, 2025.

City staff member Tracy Coleman explained the ordinance and the city’s intention to pursue Tree City USA recognition. Coleman said the program is administered through the Arbor Day Foundation and “provides communities with direction and assistance” and that becoming a Tree City USA would make the city eligible for technical support and some tree-planting resources. She told the council the city would need to document roughly $2 per capita in annual tree-maintenance spending (an amount she said totals about $8,714) but that most of that could be met by existing maintenance labor hours.

Coleman described the program as focused on trees in the city right-of-way and parks rather than on private-property tree regulation. During the public hearing several residents expressed views both for and against stronger tree protections. Al Phillip raised concerns about restrictions on private-property trees, saying property owners “shouldn’t be able to tell me what to do with my trees on my property.” Kimberly Goheen Alban and Dinah McClain spoke in favor of protecting trees for environmental reasons and asked about cost and implementation details.

Council members asked staff several implementation questions, including whether the Tree City USA recognition would require an inventory and whether existing maintenance tasks could be counted toward the program’s required spending. Coleman said the Arbor Day Foundation would perform an evaluation and that staff proposed tracking crew hours and other existing maintenance activities to meet the requirement. Council members also discussed using Tree City recognition for community education and planting projects.

Council member motioned to approve the ordinance and a second was recorded. The clerk conducted a roll call vote: Council member Fox — yes; Council member Casper — yes; Council member Boyle — yes; Council member Leija — yes; Council member Cervini — yes. The ordinance passed.

The council recorded no change to private-property permitting processes within this ordinance discussion beyond the existing planning and subdivision review process; Tracy Coleman said planting and replanting requirements for developers remain part of the planning commission and permit review process.

The council directed staff to track tree-maintenance hours and to follow the Tree City USA application process; staff indicated follow-up during future council meetings would include suggested proclamation language and a proposal for an annual tree-planting or similar public event.

The tree-protection ordinance vote was the only formal legislative action on the subject during the Jan. 8 meeting and the council closed the public hearing after receiving public comment.