INNISFAIL – The recent drive by town leaders to improve community aesthetics continued last week with a proposal to create a bylaw specifically targeting tree maintenance.
The new proposed Tree Maintenance Bylaw, aimed at replacing provisions in the current Traffic Bylaw that deal with trees, will also outline expectations for levels of service for non-town-controlled lands, notably on some private properties where the town has been experiencing neglect of tree maintenance. This includes situations where poorly maintained trees have become problematic in alleys or for adjoining private properties.
Todd Becker, the town’s chief administrative officer, presented a report to town council at its regular meeting on Jan. 8 that lays out the intent of the proposed bylaw, which could also outline the tree maintenance expectations for private property owners. He noted in his report it is not uncommon for town staff to prune problematic trees on private property and in back lanes.
"It is possible that the community has grown accustomed to this level of service and it is important for the town to readjust the level of service where the town attends to trees on public lands and avoids tree maintenance on private lands,” said Becker in his report to council. "Due to the current level of service expectation it is important to go through the service level adjustment process even when reverting back to the original level.”
While expectations of tree maintenance for private property owners, as well as the level of service the town should provide, are important issues for the proposed bylaw, which is expected to come before council next month, there is also a safety component.
Becker noted well pruned trees on private lands would remove threats of injury to property owners frequently caused by heavy winds. He also said a new bylaw that addresses tree maintenance could also better protect private and town-owned vehicles, as well as those operated by contractors.
"It’s multi-fold, but we do need public participation for maintaining their own tree infrastructure,” said Becker, adding the intent of the town is to take a "soft” approach with citizens on tree maintenance expectations if council passes the proposed bylaw.
"I say let’s introduce it and start public education on it and why this needs to happen, do some soft acknowledgment to specific properties and move towards outlining expectations and just go at it, start chunking it off and spend a few years to get to the place where we need to be,” said Becker. "But to ram a new policy or bylaw down to the public will not go over very well and I don’t know if that would be a fair expectation.”
Mayor Jim Romane welcomed Becker’s initiative noting it complements earlier calls by council members, notably Coun. Doug Bos’s suggestion to improve sightlines at town entrances, for improved community aesthetics.
"It probably will. Things can start to look pretty scruffy if you just let it go and get out of hand,” said Romane. "I am all for doing something on our town image and how we present our entranceways and what we do to make people more appreciative of the town, and how welcoming it looks when they come to town.”
Todd Becker, the town's chief administrative officer
"I say let's introduce it and start public education on it and why this needs to happen, do some soft acknowledgment to specific properties and move towards outlining expectations and just go at it, start chunking it off and spend a few years to get to the place where we need to be."
