(A) The Village of La Grange Park shall have on staff at least two certified arborists. Any urban forestry work completed by a contractor within the village shall be under the direction of a certified arborist. These individuals are responsible for enforcement and compliance of the Urban Forest Management Plan.
(B) The village shall have an urban forest inventory of publicly owned trees and a representative sample of privately owned trees. This inventory shall be maintained in a current state. Re-inventory may be required every five to seven years, unless the inventory is updated with the pruning cycle or is updated as part of routine tree maintenance. This inventory of publicly owned trees was completed in September 2021.
(C) The village shall have an approved Urban Forest Management Plan. This plan shall be the framework for the protection, management and planting of trees within the village, and shall support and clearly define regulations identified in the Tree Preservation Ordinance. This plan shall include the following:
(1) A defined ten-year urban forestry strategy with clearly identified one, five and ten year goals;
(2) Community canopy mapping identifying existing tree canopy and priority locations for planting;
(3) A strategy for completion and maintenance of a tree inventory on public and private property;
(4) Clear guidelines on tree species and age diversity;
(5) Clear identification of replacement value and requirements for tree removal or damage;
(6) A preferred tree list;
(7) Clearly defined specifications for tree planting, pruning and impact reduction;
(8) A risk assessment and management program;
(9) A Legacy Tree preservation and protection program including a Legacy Tree list;
(10) A strategy for management, preservation and protection of naturalized areas;
(11) A strategy for administration and implementation of a volunteer program;
(12) Clear identification of staff qualifications, training, support and needs;
(13) Specifications for contracted labor and consulting;
(14) Clear identification of forestry equipment and resource needs; and
(15) A forestry budget with one, five and ten-year commitments.
(D) The village shall require that any contractor working for the village who may interact or have impact on the village public property urban forest, utilize a certified arborist for all work pertaining to trees, including but not limited to removal, pruning and planting activities. The contractor must provide a certificate of insurance to the village.
(E) Legacy Trees are provided special protection by the Village of La Grange Park. (See the Urban Forest Management Plan for Legacy Trees Program.)
(F) All tree planting, selection and management shall be in compliance with the Village Urban Forest Management Plan.
(G) It is recognized that diverse species and age structure of urban trees throughout the village are critical to the health of the forest structure and protect the village from catastrophic loss and improved longevity. Specifications for species and age diversity, planting and management are contained In the Urban Forest Management Plan.
(H) The village shall not allow tree topping. It recognizes that topping immediately injures the tree, the wounds expose a tree to decay, and invasion from insects and disease. In addition, the loss of foliage starves the tree, weakening the roots and reducing the tree's structural strength.
(Ord. 1178, passed 6-29-22)