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Resident raises safety concerns about large cottonwoods; city says removals already approved and owner responsible
Summary
A resident told council that large black cottonwood trees on North Seventh Street are dropping large limbs and pose a hazard to children; city arborist said removals were approved in 2019 for sidewalk work and the property owner is responsible for removal, and staff are working with the current owner to remove the trees.
A Coeur d'Alene resident told the City Council at the May 20 meeting that towering black cottonwood trees on North Seventh Street regularly shed large limbs and pose a danger to children walking to nearby schools. The resident, Zach McLean, described an incident in which a roughly 500-pound limb fell 10 feet from where his daughter had been playing.
The city's urban forester, Nick, told council the city does not plant black cottonwoods as street trees and that existing specimens often predate current ordinances or grew as volunteers. Nick said black cottonwoods are "not a desirable street tree species" and are more prone to breakouts, but he also said they do not automatically meet hazard thresholds established by the International Society of Arboriculture for the city to force removal.
Nick explained that city code places maintenance responsibility for street trees on the abutting property owner. He said the group that reviewed the location previously approved the trees for removal in February 2019 to permit sidewalk replacement; that work did not proceed then. Nick said the city is now working with the current property owner to obtain estimates and remove the trees as part of planned site work, though the schedule depends on logistics and cost.
Council member Dan Gookin and others pressed for clarity on who pays for trimming and removal; Nick said the code makes adjacent property owners responsible, though licensed tree contractors may perform work and the city issues no-cost tracking permits for routine maintenance. Nick also said licensed companies can perform routine maintenance without a permit, and property owners can obtain a free permit to do the work themselves with inspection.
Council directed staff to continue working with the property owner and to report back; council also discussed adding a future agenda item on sidewalk requirements for property owners and asked staff to prepare that discussion.
Speakers and testimony: Zach McLean (resident/public comment), Nick (city urban forester/arborist), Council members including Dan Gookin and others.
