REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
March 22, 2018
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: ANDREW J. BENELLI, PE City Engineer/Assistant Director
Public Works Department
AARON A. AGUIRRE, Public Works Manager
Public Works Department, Landscape Maintenance Division
SUBJECT
Title
Action pertaining to Fresno Municipal Code Chapter 13, Article 3, relating to street trees
1. ***BILL NO. B-11 - (Intro. 3/22/2018) (For adoption) - Amending Sections 13-305 and 13-306 and adding Sections 13-310 and 13-311 of the Fresno Municipal Code, relating to street trees (Subject to Mayor's veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends City Council consider for introduction an ordinance amending sections 13-305 and 13-306 and adding sections 13-310 and 13-311 of the Fresno Municipal Code, relating to street trees and adoption the 541st Amendment to the Master Fee Schedule Resolution No. 80-420 adding a Street Tree Replanting Fee.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno's Street Tree and Parkway Ordinance (Article 3) requires that the Public Works Department maintain a program for the planting and preservation of trees within the public street right-of-way. Street trees create improved walking environments, provide shade to residents, reduce the heat island effect, provide aesthetic benefits, help improve air quality and often enhance the character of neighborhoods and streetscapes. Currently the Fresno Municipal Code only allows for the removal of street trees which are dead, dying, in a dangerous condition, unsafe, a public nuisance, or likely to damage public property.
The recommended revisions to section 13-305 would allow more flexibility to the property owners when a tree in good health becomes unwanted or burdensome. The update to these sections would allow a street tree to be removed and replaced with an appropriate tree species at the property owner's expense or alternatively to pay an in-lieu fee into a Tree Trust F...
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