A. Establishment: The Village hereby establishes a Tree Board which shall be a recommending body to provide assistance, direction and expertise to the Village regarding the preservation, planting, management and protection of trees. The Tree Board shall develop and recommend implementation of an urban forest management plan for guidance on urban forestry issues.
B. Membership:
1. The Tree Board shall consist of seven members and one alternate member who shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to approval of the Village Board. It is recommended that individuals within the community who have expertise in horticulture, forestry, planning or related fields be sought as members of the Tree Board. At least one member of the Tree Board shall be a certified arborist. The Mayor shall designate one of the members to act as chairman of the Tree Board, subject to the approval of the Village Board. A member of the Village Board shall be assigned to be an ex officio member of said Tree Board without the power to vote. The one alternate member shall attend and participate in all meetings of the Tree Board, but shall only vote in the event one or more of the full members is absent. All members of the Tree Board shall be property owners of the Village, unless no certified arborist is a property owner within the Village.
2. The appointed members shall serve for a period of three years. An alternate member shall be appointed for a term of one year. If a vacancy shall occur in the full membership, the alternate member shall be appointed to fill such vacancy. Vacancies in full and alternate membership shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments. The Tree Board members shall serve without compensation.
C. Procedures:
1. The Tree Board shall meet and adopt, change or alter, rules and regulations of organization and procedure consistent with Village ordinances and Illinois State laws. The Tree Board shall keep written records of its proceedings which shall be open at all times to public inspection. The Tree Board shall file an annual report to the Village Board setting forth its past-year activities and recommendations for future action by the Village.
D. Powers and Duties: The Tree Board shall have the following powers and duties subject to the approval of the Village Board:
1. To provide guidance on the preservation, care, management and protection of trees within the Village in accordance with Urban Forestry Management Plan, regional and local best management practices.
2. To prepare and recommend to the Village Board from time to time recommendations for specific improvements of the preservation, care, management and protection of trees within the Village.
3. To recommend rules and regulations to the Village Board for budget, plans, projects and schedules regarding the preservation, care, management and protection of trees within the Village.
4. To review the Village Urban Forest Management Plan and provide recommendations for improvements to the Village Board.
5. To work collaboratively with Village staff to support the Village ordinances and the Urban Forest Management Plan.
6. Manage and administer all plans, programs, projects and tasks delegated to it by the Village Board as authorized and directed by the Village Board.
7. The Tree Board shall hear any requests for appeal to this Code and make recommendations to be forwarded to the Village Board for a final decision. (Ord. 2023-1365, 5-10-2023)