Council to add heritage and high-value tree definitions before broader tree policy vote

The Eau Claire City Council heard a proposal on July 21 to add two tree-classification definitions to the city code as a preliminary step before broader tree-preservation policy decisions. The proposed language would define “heritage trees” and “high-value trees” and enable other code sections to reference those terms.

Council Vice President Wirthman and Council member Miller introduced the amendments during the meeting’s second agenda item. Wirthman summarized the heritage-tree definition as capturing trees with “exceptional size or age” (trees 30 inches DBH or greater or estimated older than 100 years), historic or cultural significance, rare native species and exceptional aesthetic value. She said the proposed designation would apply automatically to qualifying trees on public property, including boulevards and rights-of-way, and noted that…