HomeMy WebLinkAbout10245-06-2019 - 2019-06-18 - Informal ReportINFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10245
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council June 18, 2019
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SUBJECT: URBAN FORESTRY POLICY, PROCEDURES AND ORDINANCE
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The purpose of this Informal Report is to describe recent and proposed changes in urban forestry policy,
procedures and fees in response to City Council requests and to describe ordinance topics to be
reviewed with community stakeholders.
Expenditure of Tree Fund Collections
The June 18 City Council agenda contains a resolution to adopt a policy on the expenditure of tree fund
collections. The tree fund is administered by the Park and Recreation Department and is used to support
the Community Tree Program. Funds collected from urban forestry ordinance penalty revenue and
mitigation fees will be allocated for tree planting within the park district where the violation occurred
(Central, North, South, East, and West). The mitigation fees may also be spent on land or conservation
easement acquisition to preserve native tree stands. Tree plantings will require species that are native
to the geographic setting.
Settlement Agreements
When a property owner removes trees without a permit or in violation of a permit, the owner pays a
penalty per the urban forestry ordinance or negotiates a settlement agreement, which may include
planting new trees or a combination of tree mitigation and penalties. If the amount of the settlement
agreement exceeds $100,000 (inclusive of the value of the trees to be planted), then staff will prepare
an M&C authorizing the settlement agreement for City Council consideration.
Penalties and Fees
Staff recommends that tree removal penalties, mitigation fees, and after -the -fact permit fees be
increased, and anticipates having ordinance amendments to the City Council by September 2019.
Urban Forestry Ordinance Update
The ordinance was last updated in 2009, and amendments proposed in 2015 were not adopted by City
Council. Staff plans to discuss the ordinance with community stakeholders to address the topics below.
Following stakeholder input, staff will brief the City Council on proposed ordinance changes.
• Preservation requirements for sites with few existing trees
• Calculation of tree planting credit (canopy area and tree spacing)
• Incentives to install drought tolerant and native trees and to increase diversity
• Best practices for protecting, planting, and maintaining trees
• Clarification and streamlining of various ordinance requirements
Waiver Process
Applicants may apply for a waiver of one or more urban forestry ordinance requirements, and waivers
are decided by the Urban Design Commission. Decisions of the Urban Design Commission can be
appealed to district court. Staff is not proposing any changes to the waiver process.
Should you have any questions about this report, please contact Randle Harwood, Director of Planning
and Development Department at (817) 392-6101.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER
FORT WORTH, TEXAS