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City staff present major rewrite of tree ordinance; council discusses canopy goals and enforcement
Summary
Parks staff and the city forester walked council through an 18-page rewrite of the tree ordinance that updates national standards, revises size classes and species lists (notably limiting ash planting), clarifies street-tree responsibilities and sight-line rules, and recommends an aspirational 15% canopy goal; council questioned staffing, costs, and enforcement timelines.
Parks and recreation staff and the city forester presented an 18-page overhaul of the city tree ordinance at the May 5 work session, outlining structural, definitional and policy changes intended to align local rules with current national standards and to make clearer who is responsible for planting, maintaining and removing trees in the public right-of-way.
"Whereas the city of Idaho Falls recognizes that trees and plant life are critical infrastructure for a livable community," the forester read from the updated whereas clauses, and staff said the ordinance replaces informal size labels with Class 1/2/3 categories tied to typical mature heights.
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