Council approves tree-removal resolution after residents question lack of notice amid ash‑borer work

The Austin City Council on an unan­imous 7-0 vote approved a resolution related to city ash-tree removals after residents raised concerns that trees were being taken down without advance notice.

A resident who spoke during the meeting said they returned from work or vacation and "saw the tree's gone," calling that kind of surprise likely to "raise a lot of concern." The resident urged clearer advance notice so homeowners would not confront contractors in the street.

City staff member Jason told the council that the city treated about 430 trees last spring and that its most recent inventory of public ash trees was about 2,000. "The contract removal is 1,125 trees," he said, adding that slightly more than half of removals this year were handled by contractors while city crews focused on park trees and hazardous removals.

Jason also explained the limits of treatment for emerald ash borer: "So even an infested tree that's treated, it's still likely going to die. It just it buys some time," he said, and noted certified tree inspectors may deem heavily infested trees to need removal even when leaves remain on the canopy.

On resident notification, a staff member said the city posts notices through Facebook and the newspaper and relies on word-of-mouth; there is no bid specification that requires contractors to notify individual homeowners before removing boulevard trees.

After the discussion the chair called for a motion; the resolution was moved, seconded, and passed 7-0. The council did not adopt a separate contractor-notification requirement during the meeting.

The council’s action will allow the city to continue its ash-tree removals and contracted removals while staff maintain the inventory and removal schedule. No follow-up date for changes to notification procedures was announced.