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REPORT <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From the City Manager <br /> <br />August 8, 2016 <br /> <br />SUBJECT <br />Discuss Possible Amendments to Chapter 35 Tree Preservation <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Receive report and by motion direct staff to proceed with drafting certain amendments <br />to Chapter 35 relating to tree preservation <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />The City’s tree preservation ordinance is located in Chapter 35 (Tree Preservation) <br />while some provisions relating to trees are also contained in Chapter 29 (Streets, <br />Sidewalks and Work in or Use of City Right-of-Way), making the regulations difficult to <br />understand. City staff has been working on draft ordinance changes in order to allow the <br />City’s expectations and regulations related to tree preservation to be more easily <br />understood. <br />In addition to this administrative clean-up, there are also several policy considerations <br />that the Council may wish to address. Potential policy changes are the subject of this <br />report. Based on direction received at the Council meeting, staff will draft a revised <br />ordinance for final Council consideration. Depending on the scope of Council <br />comments, and other items on upcoming Council agendas, staff expects to return to <br />Council with a revised ordinance within 2-4 months. <br />ANALYSIS <br />City staff has been working on a revised draft ordinance that addresses all tree <br />preservation regulations in Chapter 35, Tree Preservation. In addition to administrative <br />changes, staff is also proposing that several policy updates be considered in the revised <br />ordinance. The following section outlines the potential policy changes for Council <br />consideration. <br />Policy Options <br />· Permit Requirement (Size of Tree): Currently, any tree on private property that is <br />12” in diameter or more requires a permit to remove. Furthermore, a street tree of <br />any size requires a permit for removal. <br /> Council Consideration: The Council may consider lowering the permit <br />threshold, and require a property owner obtain permit prior to removing any tree <br />8.A. - Page 1