The Programs and Services Committee voted to approve the following (see Report and watch video on NewTV):
- Appointment of Petr Chovanec to the Commission on Disability
- Appointment of Shawn Fitzgibbons as a Commissioner of the Board of Licensing Commissioners
The Committee voted against the request to revise and amend Chapter 21 to extend tree protection to all trees 6 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) and greater within the City, and no exempt lots, and to suspend tree removal permits effective immediately, for one year, unless sooner repealed or amended by the City Council. The moratorium shall not apply to emergency removal of trees determined by the tree warden to be dead or hazardous, or causing significant disruption of public utility service. Reported here.
The Committee held the following items, with a request from the Chair for the presenters of the two competing ordinances to work together to create one document showing where they agree and where they disagree, in order to help frame the Committee’s future discussion:
- Request to revise and amend Chapter 21, Art. III Trees (sec. 21-60 through 21-89) to extend tree protection to all trees 6 inches DBH (diameter at breast height) and greater within the City (with no exempt lots); to update tree removal permits, fees, and compensation; and to strengthen protection for existing and replacement trees (filed by City Councilors) — See Supporting documents.
- Request to review and amend Chapter 21, Art. III, Division 3, Tree Preservation to increase replacement requirements for larger trees, add protections for smaller trees, limit removal of trees without replacement, enhance procedures for protecting trees, increase payment required for trees cut without replacement, protect trees on lots adjacent to construction, provide Tree Warden with additional professional input on trees on private properties (filed by Mayor/Marc Welch) — See Comparison Chart by Mayor/Welch.
