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Council tables proposed tree-list resolution, asks staff for a shorter park-strip top-10 and shrub guidance
Summary
City forester Kevin Milberg presented an expanded tree list to modernize species guidance for park strips and city property; council directed staff to produce a shorter top-recommendation list for park strips, add a shrub list and clarify private-property scope, then tabled the resolution for revision.
Harrisville’s proposed update to the city tree list drew prolonged discussion and was tabled after council directed staff to make several clarifications.
Kevin Milberg, introduced as the community forester, walked the council through an expanded list intended to align municipal species recommendations with current water-management and ecology practices. He described changes to size categories, removals of species unsuited to alkaline soils and the plan to produce a park-strip–specific set of recommendations.
Council members raised a series of practical concerns: whether shrubs should be listed alongside trees, how the city would help residents obtain listed species (local nursery availability), whether the list implied city approval of private-property plantings, and how park-strip width and utilities affect species choice. Milberg said nursery-availability work is underway regionally and that the park-strip guidance will consider rooting habits and salt tolerance.
After discussion a council member moved to table the resolution with direction to: prepare a short, prioritized list of top park-strip trees; draft shrub guidance appropriate for park strips; and define a clear approval process for park-strip or public-land plantings. The motion carried and the item will return to council after staff revision.
