Agenda Item Wording:
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Review of the City of Visalia Oak Tree Ordinance - Presentation on potential modifications regarding the City's Valley Oak Tree Ordinance and request for direction moving forward.
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Prepared by: Zach Huff, Urban Forestry Supervisor 713-4295, zach.huff@visalia.city; Alvin Dias, Parks and Facilities Manager 713-4564, alvin.dias@visalia.city; Jason Glick, Parks and Recreation Director 713-4042, jason.glick@visalia.city
Department Recommendation: That Council receive this overview of the current City of Visalia ordinance pertaining to Valley Oak trees and provide direction to staff on potential modifications to the Ordinance.
Summary:
In a previous discussion on the Valley Oak Tree Ordinance, staff received feedback and suggestions for potential revisions. In response, the ordinance is being brought back to the City Council for a follow-up discussion, with several proposed options intended to address concerns raised by both staff and residents.
Staff would first like to present the following options for revisions to the Ordinance and seek direction from the City Council on how to proceed.
Option 1: Modify Removal Criteria
* Modify ordinance to allow additional findings to include tree removal if the tree, including tree roots, is damaging structures, is too close to structures (within the drip line), has poor form due to safety or pruning by utility companies, or causes substantial inconvenience or financial hardship and property owners who receive an insurance non-renewal notice because of the tree on their property.
Option 2: Partial Deregulation
* Exempt all existing single-family residential properties from needing a permit to remove a Valley Oak tree. New development, multi-family, and commercial properties would still require a permit.
Option 3: Ordinance Elimination
* Remove all permit requirements for Valley Oak tree removal. Property owners would have full control of tree management. The City would no longer overs...
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