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Commissioners flag loss of tree canopy and ask staff to explore code revisions
Summary
Commissioners raised concerns about canopy loss along major corridors and asked staff to evaluate tree-code revisions; staff said a full code revamp would require an RFP and budget allocation and described existing tree-preservation incentives and enforcement tools.
Several commissioners pressed staff about recent losses to tree canopy and asked whether the city should pursue a broader revision of its tree-preservation code.
Commissioner Katz said he had noticed "the loss of our canopy" along corridors such as Abbotts Bridge and State Bridge and asked whether the city's consultant arborist could help draft a code revision. "I bring the tree discussion up for our environment," Katz said, urging a multi-part approach to preservation and revision.
Staff replied that the city can call on an arborist through the consultant team for targeted support, but a full ordinance overhaul would likely exceed the consultants hourly contract and require an RFP and budget allocation in a future fiscal year. Staff described how the existing tree-preservation ordinance assigns "units" to specimen trees (for example, a very large specimen can equate to roughly 20 units) and explained that recompense typically requires either planting replacement trees of a specified caliper or paying into the citys tree fund.
Commissioners and staff also discussed enforcement challenges when trees are removed and only stumps remain; staff said they have adopted an approach to estimate size from stumps (referred to in the meeting as an "e-colon" factor) that helps determine whether a removed tree should be treated as a specimen for enforcement. Commissioners asked staff to add the tree-code revision and related enforcement discussion to future work sessions and to coordinate with council for necessary budget planning.
The commission did not take formal action on code changes at the meeting; members asked staff to bring options and potential budget impacts for further consideration.
