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City staff present tree‑preservation policy tied to Morton Arboretum grant; ordinance limits apply to public right‑of‑way
Summary
Public works director Harmon presented a tree‑preservation ordinance required by a Morton Arboretum grant. Harmon said the policy applies only to trees on public right‑of‑way, ties to an urban‑forestry management plan and a GIS tree inventory (staff cited ~1,902 public‑right‑of‑way trees), and includes pruning, removal, replacement and enforcement provisions.
Public works director Harmon told the commissioners the city received a Morton Arboretum grant that requires adoption of a tree‑preservation policy and presented a draft ordinance (cited as ordinance number 25,2025).
Harmon said the policy "only regulates trees on public right away" and does not regulate trees on private property. He described the policy as a comprehensive set of provisions to "recognize the services and functions that trees provide" and to set city goals for protection, preservation, planting, pruning and replacement of trees on public land. Harmon said the ordinance will be placed in chapter 22 of the municipal code and will work together with an urban‑forestry management plan currently in development.
Staff reported that a tree inventory has been completed and that the active count for trees on public right‑of‑way is 1,902, a figure cited in the meeting packet. Harmon said the inventory data will be integrated into the city's GIS and that Chastain and Associates and the Morton Arboretum provided template language; the arboretum has approved the version included in the packet and major changes would require their signoff because they administer the grant.
Harmon outlined enforcement and technical elements in the draft ordinance, including use of certified arborists, legacy‑tree protections, replacement requirements, invasive species control and final inspection and penalties. Staff indicated the urban‑forestry management plan will later be brought to the commission for formal approval once the final inventory and GIS integration are complete.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the duration of the Morton Arboretum team's site visits; staff said the team had been on site roughly two weeks and that weather caused some cancellations. Harmon invited commissioners and the public to review the draft and submit comments prior to a future formal vote.
What’s next: Staff will refine the draft ordinance, integrate final tree‑inventory data into GIS, and return the ordinance and the urban‑forestry management plan to the commission for formal consideration.
