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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.
Key changes include adoption of the ANSI A300 2017 standards, a new classification chart (Class 1: <=30 feet; Class 2: ~30—0 feet; Class 3: 40+ feet), an updated restricted-species list (including discouraging ash planting because of emerald ash borer risk), clarified definitions for topping and street-tree responsibilities, and new sight-line and sign-visibility tables tied to vehicle speeds.
City Forester Lee Washburn, introduced by staff, explained the rationale for several provisions. "We changed the ANSI to the 2017 edition," Washburn said, and highlighted the city's concern about emerald ash borer: "We haven't detected it yet. We hope we don't, but it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when." He and parks staff also recommended aspirational canopy language: staff said the city's canopy maps place local canopy at about 11% and proposed a 15% aspirational goal.
Councilors asked detailed operational questions: how the city would enforce clearances around stop signs and hydrants; whether parks staff could plant trees in easements or require homeowners to maintain trees adjacent to sidewalks; and how staffing and funding would scale to meet expanded program responsibilities. Staff noted grants from federal infrastructure programs as possible funding and discussed the potential of structural soil and strategic planting to reduce sidewalk damage over time.
No final ordinance vote was taken; staff said revisions discussed at the session would be incorporated and the ordinance would return to a future work or regular council meeting for formal consideration. Staff also discussed possible heritage-tree protections, mitigation options and the need to align definitions with engineering standards.
The council asked staff to return with clarified language on enforcement (notice/abatement timelines), appeals/refund language consistent across ordinances, and an estimate of additional staffing or contractor costs needed to implement the expanded program.
