Refer the City Private Tree By-law 02-2020 implementation update report RPF-07-21 back to staff; and
Direct the Director of Roads, Parks and Forestry to prepare a supplemental report, which could include a workshop or special meeting of Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee, to address how the below listed proposed amendments may be incorporated into a new City Private Tree By-law so that Council will have the necessary information to accept final recommendations (SD-20-21):
Adopt a simplified, on-line, tree residential removal permit issuance that requires no mandatory inspection; and
Tree permits will be required to remove any tree greater than 20cm’s in diameter other than one that has physically fallen, irrespective of species or state of health, unless the city or its agents require that tree(s) be removed; and
Trees less than 20cms in diameter do not require a permit; and
A tree permit will be sufficient for a single project, whether for one or several trees as identified in the application form; and
A tree permit fee will be $300; and
The applicant is responsible to provide two (2) acceptable replacement trees for each individual tree removed; and
In the event that a property, which is subject to a tree removal application, is sold then the responsibility to plant outstanding replacement trees or pay cash-in-lieu remains the responsibility of the seller; and
Replacement trees may be planted by the applicant on their own property or by written agreement on another person’s private property. Costs to be born as agreed between the parties; and
If the applicant is unable to plant replacement trees, then they will pay cash in lieu of $400 per tree to the city; and
All cash in lieu replacement fees will be used entirely for planting trees, not administration costs; and
Enforcement of the City Private Tree Bylaw shall be the responsibility of building and bylaw department; and
All other fees and fines will be reviewed in alignment with the principles identified and approved by Council and recommendations brought back for approval; and
City Arborist will make available a consultative service to residential permit applicants, should they wish to receive them. Such service should be provided within 5 days of application being received and may provide recommendations to the applicant. Applicant is under no obligation to accept such recommendations. There will be no regulatory role for forestry staff with respect to private homes, renovations, extensions, swimming pools, decks, hot tubs, sheds or any other such property improvements; and
All other aspects of City Private Tree By-law 02-2020 will be reviewed by city staff, including legal services, in alignment with amendments identified and approved by Council and a revised version brought back for approval; and
Amended City Private Tree By-law 02-2020 again be brought back for review of effectiveness and process efficiency, one year after its implementation date.