ANAHEIM : Tree Ordinance Up for Vote Tuesday

The City Council Tuesday will consider a new street tree ordinance that would make it clear that the city--and not its residents--owns the trees on parkways.

The ordinance has been years in the making but received new attention when the city chopped down about three dozen 70-year-old oak and ash trees on the north side of Broadway a few months ago.

Residents who had lived there for decades were upset and formed a group that managed to save the trees on the south side of the street.

Currently, residents may plant or remove trees with city permission. The new ordinance would leave that to the city.

The proposal allows residents to appeal decisions to the department director, who may consult an outside arborist.

Earlier, residents had recommended that the appeals be made instead through a residents committee, a proposition the council may consider.