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Resident urges Altaona to reestablish shade-tree commission; council signals support
Summary
During public comment at the May 12 Altoona City Council meeting, resident Lawrence Carter urged the council to appoint a volunteer shade-tree commission to plan planting and maintenance; council members agreed the city should revive the body and noted an ordinance may still exist on paper.
Lawrence Carter, an Altoona resident, urged the City Council on May 12 to reestablish a volunteer shade-tree commission that would coordinate annual planting, recommend species appropriate for urban settings and prepare a public-facing annual report.
Carter framed his request with a short history, saying that in the early 1900s residents planted maple seedlings donated by Gables department store as part of a city beautification effort. “Over the years, we learned that maple trees are not good city trees,” Carter said, and he recommended using several species that are better suited to modern urban streetscapes to avoid sidewalk damage and interference with power lines.
Council members responded favorably in general terms. Vice Mayor Ellis said reviving a shade-tree commission is “something that we definitely need to get put back in place.” Other councilors remarked on storm damage to older Norway maples and the work public-works and the fire department have done following windstorms to clear roadways, and they said a commission could help coordinate removal and replanting.
City staff noted the city’s previous commission or ordinance may remain on the books in some form and that Penn State could be a resource for species selection and technical assistance, as Carter suggested. No formal motion or appointment to create a new commission was made at the meeting; councilors said staff will consider how best to reestablish the group and return with options.
Clarifying details: Carter proposed the commission solicit citizen and business contributions with public recognition, coordinate with city departments on planting and removal, and prepare an annual report for the council. He suggested Penn State could assist with complex projects. Council and staff agreed trees are important to neighborhood character and that some older Norway maples show storm damage and structural concerns.
Next steps: Staff to confirm whether the prior ordinance and commission structure remain on the books and to propose options for reestablishing a volunteer shade-tree commission; no formal vote was taken on May 12.
