Council provisionally adopts ordinance to create city tree fund and appoint city forester duty; public hearing set for April 1

The Belgrade City Council provisionally adopted ordinance 2025-1 to amend the city’s trees and shrubs code, create a city tree fund and establish a city forester position, subject to required publication and a public hearing on April 1, 2025.

Deputy Mayor Kyla Murray presented the ordinance update, saying the prior 1986-era regulations had become outdated and that a forester appointed by the city manager would draft a Belgrade tree manual to guide public planting and boulevard-tree standards. The ordinance also clarifies which trees are protected in public areas (boulevards, rights-of-way and public easements) and the city’s authority to abate nuisances after property owners are given an opportunity to remedy issues.

On funding, Murray said the forester role initially will be an additional duty within the parks department and that funding would come from permit fees and possibly a small tree assessment if needed. “We'll see how the permitting fees go,” a councilor said; the presentation noted communities commonly use a mix of permit fees and small assessments to support tree programs.

Council Member Inacoochee moved to provisionally adopt ordinance number 2025-1, subject to publication requirements and a public hearing on 04/01/2025; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

The ordinance will return for a second look and a public hearing on April 1, 2025, at which time the council will consider adopting final language after publication and the public comment period.