(a) Establishment; Membership. There is hereby established in and for the City a Citizens Tree Commission, which shall consist of the following five voting members: the Municipal Arborist, one member of Council (the Chairperson of the Public Service Committee), and three persons, who for the previous two years, have been registered, qualified electors of the municipality. These citizens and residents of the City shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of Council. The Citizens Tree Commission shall vote on one member to represent the Commission on the Parks and Recreation Commission.
(b) Term of Office. The term of the eight persons to be appointed by the Mayor shall be three years, except that the term of three of the members appointed to the first Commission shall be only one, two and two years, respectively. In the event that a vacancy shall occur during the term of any member, his or her successor shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of Council for the unexpired portion of such term.
(c) Compensation. Members of the Citizens Tree Commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be entitled to reimbursement for any and all necessary expenditures in carrying out the functions of the Commission.
(d) Powers and Duties.
(1) The Citizens Tree Commission shall have the power to study, investigate, plan, advise, report and recommend to Council, the Municipal Arborist, the Planning Commission or the Mayor any action, program, plan or legislation which the Commission shall find or determine to be necessary or advisable for the care, preservation, trimming, planting, replanting, maintaining, protecting, prompting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in public ways, curb strips, streets, alleys and all City property.
(2) The Commission shall choose its own officers, make its own rules and regulations and keep a journal of its proceedings. In the absence of any rule upon the matter of business, the Commission shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order. A majority of the members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business. All plans, findings, advice, reports and recommendations made by the Commission shall be in writing and shall designate by name those members of the Commission approving the same, failing to concur therein or abstaining therefrom. Those who fail to concur or who abstain shall have the right, as a part of such report, to state their reasons for refusing to approve or to concur.
(3) The Commission, when requested by Council, the Mayor or the Municipal Arborist, shall consider, investigate, make findings, report and recommend upon any special matter or question coming within the scope of its work.
(4) The members of the Citizens Tree Commission shall provide website content to Digital Media who maintains the City's website.
(5) It is recommended that members of the Citizens Tree Commission participate in continuing education through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Department of Forestry, and other educational opportunities.
(Ord. 199-94. Passed 10-24-94; Ord. 79-08. Passed 5-19-08; Ord. 21-182. Passed 12-13-21.)