§ 12.16.070. Tree board.

A.

There is established an advisory board to be known as the tree board consisting of six voting members and one public ex officio nonvoting member; also allowing ex officio nonvoting members to be appointed by the board. At least two of the members shall be professionally trained and experienced in a tree-related field. All members of the tree board shall serve without compensation.

B.

Appointments shall be made in the following manner: Each of the five council members shall appoint a member, to be approved by the mayor and a majority of council members. The mayor shall make one appointment, to be approved by a majority of council members. Ex officio members shall be appointed and approved by the majority of the tree board. All of the vacancies occurring during a term shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as appointments are made. During the first term of the board, appointees were designated from Wards 1 and 3 which served three years and appointees were designated from Wards 2 and 4 which served four years. In addition, the appointees by the mayor and the at large appointee served five years. Following the first term of the board, all appointees shall serve three-year terms, not to exceed three consecutive terms. Wards 1 and 3 shall hereinafter be referred to as District 1, seats 1, 2, and 3. Wards 2 and 4 shall hereinafter be referred to as District 2, seats 4 and 5. One appointee shall fill each seat, including three seats in District 1 and two seats in District 2. There shall be no designated appointees at large.

C.

The tree board shall meet at least six times a year, choose its own officers, make its own operating rules and procedures and shall keep minutes of its proceedings. A majority of the members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business. The failure of a member to attend at least one-half of the regularly scheduled meetings shall be grounds for removal from the board by majority vote of the members.

D.

The tree board shall serve in an advisory capacity to the mayor and council on matters relating to the implementation of this chapter and to tree management in the city, including appropriate funding mechanisms.

E.

The tree board shall use its best efforts to inventory the condition and major-maintenance needs of all street trees in the city, making recommendations to mayor and council. Maintenance recommendations shall be in accordance to species-specific standards issued by the International Society of Arboriculture. Recommendations shall include, but need not be limited to: structural pruning as necessary to maintain public safety and to sustain the health, safety and natural growth habit of the tree; routine adjustment and timely removal of stakes, ties, tree guards and tree grates; watering sufficient to assure the establishment and survival of a tree; fertilizing as needed; pest-and disease-management procedures as needed and in a manner consistent with public health and ecological diversity; and replacement of missing or damaged trees.

F.

It is unlawful for any person to prevent, delay or otherwise interfere with the tree board, or any of its agents, while engaging in and about the planting, cultivating, mulching, pruning, spraying or removing of any trees.

(Ord. dated 6-1-96 § 7; Ord. of 4-10-06, §§ 2, 3)