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MEMORANDUM <br /> January 14, 1993 <br /> Oli! it <br /> Pi <br /> TO: Mayor and Council <br /> FROM: Tree Commission <br /> SUBJECT: Recommendations For The Future Disposition Of The Tree Commission <br /> In light of the City Council's efforts to evaluate the future direction for <br /> Boards and Commissions the Tree Commission has conducted internal discussions <br /> on how we can best support the Council in this process. While we recognize <br /> the costs associated with staff support to our commission, we feel there is <br /> still an important community need for a place where urban forestry issues can <br /> be addressed without taking the time of the City Council. In the spirit of <br /> recognizing the need to "do things differently" the Tree Commission presents <br /> the following proposal which would both minimize the staff costs and still <br /> provide this needed public forum. <br /> We propose to split the functions of the existing Tree Commission into two en- <br /> tities. First, an ad -hoc group of interested individuals would work to <br /> facilitate volunteer and educational projects such as Arbor Day, the Neighbor - <br /> Wood program, and the Heritage Tree inventory. This would be an informal <br /> group working with and reporting to the Urban Forester instead of the Tree <br /> Commission. This group should be a resource to the Urban Forester rather than <br /> a staff burden. Structured in this manner there would not be a need for <br /> minutes recorders or other costly staff support. Second, a formal Tree <br /> Commission which would regularly meet on a quarterly instead of monthly basis <br /> or more frequently for specific issues required by Council direction. The <br /> Tree Commission would work on issues such as periodic reviews of the Urban <br /> Forest Management Plan, providing a forum for hearing citizen concerns <br /> regarding urban forestry, and addressing related issues as assigned by the <br /> City Council. The Commission would be staffed only by the Urban Forester and <br /> the minutes recorder unless additional staff were required under a specific <br /> agenda item. <br /> Changing the focus and duties of the Tree Commission as outlined above would <br /> require modifications to the ordinance and by -laws which empower the commis- <br /> sion. If this proposal meets with the approval of the City Council we would <br /> ask that the Council direct staff to prepare the modified ordinance and by- <br /> laws language for Council adoption. We believe this proposal would be <br /> supported by staff. <br />