(A) Creation and establishment of Tree Board; members and terms; administration and operation; quorum.
(1) There is hereby created and established a Tree Board for the city, which shall consist of five members. Such members shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council. The term of each Tree Board member shall be three years. In the event that a vacancy shall occur during the term of any member, a successor shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the City Council for the unexpired term.
(2) The Tree Board shall choose its own officers, make its own rules and regulations and keep a minute book of its proceedings. The rules and regulations, or any revisions or amendments thereto, shall not be effective without approval of the City Council.
(3) A majority of the members of the Tree Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
(B) Compensation. Members of the Tree Board shall serve without compensation.
(C) Duties and responsibilities.
(1) It shall be the responsibility of the Tree Board to study, investigate, counsel and develop and/or update annually and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets and in other public areas. Such plan shall be presented annually to the City Council and, upon its acceptance and approval, shall constitute the official comprehensive city tree plan. The Tree Board, when requested by the Council, shall consider, investigate, make findings, report and recommend upon any special matter of question coming within the scope of its work.
(2) It shall be the responsibility of the Tree Board to review city ordinances pertaining to the city’s urban forest as necessary and present proposed changes to City Council for consideration.
(3) It shall be the responsibility of the Tree Board to grant, review or revoke arborist licenses.
(D) Interference with Tree Board. It shall be unlawful for any person to prevent, delay or interfere with the Tree Board or any of its agents while they are engaging in and about the examining, planting, cultivating, mulching, pruning, spraying, injecting or removing of any street trees, park trees or trees on private grounds, as authorized in this chapter.
(E) Review by City Council. The City Council shall have the right to review the conduct, acts and decisions of the Tree Board. Any person may appeal any ruling or order of the Board to the Council. Such appeal must be in writing and must be filed with the City Clerk, who shall place the appeal on the agenda for the next regular meeting for consideration. The Council shall decide the appeal and such decision shall be final.
(Ord. 790, passed 5-9-2023) Penalty, see § 10.99