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Pflugerville staff present tree-code updates; commission recommends changes to City Council
Summary
Pflugerville staff proposed updates to the city's public-tree code—adding definitions, clarifying responsibilities for the urban forester, tightening rules on prohibited harm and allowing the city to require removal of hazardous trees—and the commission voted to recommend the revisions to City Council.
Pflugerville parks staff asked the Planning and Zoning Commission to recommend updates to the city's public-tree code, a package of changes to Chapter 95 intended to modernize rules last revised in 2012.
Jeff O'Shea, assistant parks and recreation director, said the draft replaces the chapter's purpose and intent language, adds definitions (including certified arborist and urban forester), reduces some responsibilities of the Tree Care Advisory Committee and clarifies contractor requirements and a new prohibited-activities section. "So our code was last updated in 2012... we're really updating based on where our department is now," O'Shea said.
Staff said the proposed code moves administrative tasks that previously fell to the Tree Care Advisory Committee to the urban forester, while retaining the committee's advisory and outreach roles. The presentation noted Pflugerville has been a Tree City USA participant for 18 years and recently earned a growth award for exceeding baseline requirements.
David Madden, identified in the hearing as the city's arborist, described how the revisions clarify when the city may require removal of trees that pose safety hazards to public property. He and O'Shea also explained that the city maintains a public-tree fund used primarily for tree planting and irrigation at public parks, and that staff frequently partners with the Parks Foundation and local nonprofits for volunteer planting events.
Commissioners and members of the public asked how the code applies to trees inside homeowners associations, how enforcement intersects with ADA and fire-code obligations, and whether there are existing supports for homeowners who cannot afford expensive tree removal. Staff said private trees not affecting public space generally fall to property owners or HOAs, that enforcement for public impacts typically begins with education and warnings, and that no formal financial-assistance program for private tree removal was currently in place.
After discussion the commission voted to recommend the proposed tree-code changes to City Council. Staff said the updates would be reviewed and revised as needed in future cycles rather than waiting many years between updates.
The commission also highlighted upcoming volunteer planting events and credited the urban forester for outreach and technical assistance. The matter will move to City Council review under the normal ordinance schedule.
