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Niceville council approves amended tree ordinance to pursue Tree City USA designation
Summary
The Niceville City Council approved Ordinance 25-10-03 to update the city's tree code, enable grant applications for median plantings and create a formal tree committee. Councilmembers questioned membership and public involvement before voting to approve the ordinance.
The Niceville City Council approved an amendment to the city's tree ordinance (Ordinance 25-10-03) to bring municipal rules into compliance with Tree City USA requirements and to enable state grant applications for public tree plantings.
City Manager provided the council with background, saying the ordinance change is a first step to rejoining the Tree City USA program and to apply for state 50/50 tree grants. He described a phase 1 planting plan that would place roughly 38 trees in medians across the city, including locations on Highway 85, Twin Oaks, Peppermint Avenue and near John Sims, and noted the proposed species was sweetbay magnolia. The city manager said the community's 'tree wizard' helped craft the plan and that the projected local cost for the initial median plantings would be about $5,000'$6,000, representing the city's 50 percent match if grant funding is approved.
Council members asked about the composition and public access to the tree board. Councilmember Shassel asked why the proposed board listed three city staff as voting members and whether civilian representation should be added. The city manager said the ordinance reflected an internal voting panel (city manager, parks director and public works director) but acknowledged community interest and said volunteers and outside partners would be encouraged to participate in implementation. Councilmember Tobler urged public meeting notice and broader sunshine for decisions made by the group.
Councilmembers also asked why earlier median trees had not been sustainable; staff said the ordinance and project include plans to replant and manage median gaps. The manager said the planting effort would also support outreach programs to offer donated trees for private properties.
After discussion the council voted to adopt the ordinance. The motion passed with the roll call recorded on the floor as: Tobler (yes), Shatzel (yes), Allen (yes), Ominger (yes), and Stauffer (yes). The ordinance amendment was approved; staff will proceed with grant applications and design work for phase 1 plantings.
The change updates Chapter 5.6 Article 2 of the Code of Ordinances to add enforcement, clarify board makeup and allow the city to apply for Tree City USA recognition and related state grants. City staff said no direct city capital outlay is required for the initial median plantings if the grants are obtained, since the local share would be the in-kind or 50 percent match estimated at about $5,000'$6,000.
