ANAHEIM : Council Approves New Tree Ordinance

After years of discussion and debate, City Council members approved a new tree ordinance this week, setting up procedures for trimming and removing trees on city streets.

The new ordinance, which takes effect in 30 days, holds the city responsible for trimming trees located on city-owned parkways and gives the city control over removing trees and planting replacements. That replaces the old system, which allowed residents to do those tasks, if they first received city permission.

The council passed the plan on a 3-1 vote, with Councilwoman Miriam Kaywood absent.

Councilman Tom Daly, who voted for the ordinance, lauded the parks department for updating its existing tree program.

“Some street trees don’t look very good. We need to fix that,” Daly said. “And I think this is a good first step.”

Councilman William D. Ehrle cast the only vote against the plan. “I think it’s not enforceable and really a contradiction,” Ehrle said.

Some of the residents who met with parks department officials drafting the ordinance expressed their own displeasure with the final product, which they said concentrates too much authority over trees in the city’s hands.

“It doesn’t answer any questions, and it doesn’t please anyone who went to those meetings,” said Joe White, who lives on Broadway, where about three dozen 70-year-old oak and ash trees were razed earlier this year. “There’s a need to change the ordinance; however, I don’t think this ordinance is the one.”

White was one of a few residents who spoke against the ordinance at the City Council meeting this week. Those opposed were primarily concerned that the city did not create a special board to handle appeals of city staff decisions regarding trees.

The residents had instead lobbied for a group of citizens and city officials to have the last word in cases where residents disagreed with the staff about its plans for certain trees.