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Sandusky Tree Commission backs raising tree-ordinance fine to up to $1,000
Summary
The Sandusky Tree Commission recommended increasing the city tree-ordinance penalty from $100 to a cap of up to $1,000 to better cover replacement and removal costs and to deter vandalism; the commission voted to support the change pending law-department wording and formal commission approval.
The Sandusky Tree Commission on May 20 recommended raising the maximum monetary penalty in the city’s tree ordinance from $100 to a cap of up to $1,000, citing the current fine as insufficient to cover inspection, removal and replacement costs and as ineffective as a deterrent.
City staff (Speaker 5) told the commission that the existing $100 fine "does not even come close to a fraction of replacement of a tree," noting a bare-tree cost of roughly $300–$400 and additional charges for stump removal, labor and planting. Staff said complete removal and replanting work, including multiple-person crews and equipment, can push costs well above $1,000 and sometimes toward $2,000.
Commissioner-level discussion focused on whether the ordinance should require a person who damages a tree to replace it or simply pay a fine. Speaker 4 noted the language as written could be read to require both a fine and replacement, and urged that the commission clarify whether the $1,000 cap would cover removal and replanting or only serve as a penalty. Staff said the law department (referenced by name in the transcript as Stuart Hastings, law director) advised keeping a set dollar cap in the draft rather than giving the city manager authority to set fees.
After discussion about per-tree assessments, appeals and wording, Speaker 6 moved to amend the penalty language to allow fines “up to $1,000” and Speaker 4 seconded. The chair announced, “Motion is carried.” The transcript records no roll-call tally; the commission’s support is documented in the meeting minutes and staff said the finalized ordinance language will return to the commission after law-department review and before going to the full commission for formal adoption.
Staff emphasized the policy goal is not revenue generation but protection of newly planted and established street trees: "We don't want them to just go hack on a tree or cut it or improperly prune it," Speaker 5 said, explaining the increase is meant to provide more deterrence. The commission also discussed that the ordinance, as currently written, assesses fines per affected tree, so multiple trees damaged in one incident could lead to multiple fines unless language is changed.
Next steps: staff will work with the law department to refine the ordinance wording (clarifying whether fines cover removal and replanting versus a monetary penalty) and bring the finalized draft to the commission and then to the city commission for formal action. The transcript indicates the commission expects to revisit the item later in the year; no effective date or final vote tally was recorded in the May 20 meeting.
