·        Extend protection to:

o   trees of 12"+ in diameter (now 24”+)

o   specified smaller species which never grow to that size (dogwood, etc.)

o   trees saved in a development (by writing into the CC&Rs that such trees require a permit for removal)

o   trees on property  subject to planning approval

o   trees on property in the Chico sphere of influence (to prevent any early action to avoid complying with the ordinance, e.g.. transferring ownership, clearing land before filing development plans, etc.)

·  Bring all park and street trees into the scope of the ordinance.

• Control topping and extreme pruning of trees.
• Require mitigation for all trees removed.
• Require that qualified arborists supervise tree work in the city.
• Amend Section 16.6.110 to require that a qualified arborist prepare the tree protection plan prior to the issuance of demolition, grading, or building permits.
• Amend Section 16.6.110 to require that a Landscape Architect review and inspect development projects and certify that work was done according to plan.
• Require business licenses for tree workers.
• Create approved site-specific lists of trees for street, commercial, multi-family dwelling and parking lots.
• Exempt invasive species and weed trees from ordinance protection, and encourage planting and preservation of California native species.
• Have a section in the ordinance to reinforce the tree element in the US Mayor’s climate protection Agreement.
• Require the city to post a notice on or next to a tree which is slated for removal so that appeals may be made.

Apart from extending the ordinance, we also wish to:

• Create a volunteer organization to raise awareness of the importance of trees, by education, volunteering to help those unable to deal with tree pruning costs or physical cleanup, etc., based on the model of existing organizations like the Bidwell Park Volunteer Committee and Park Watch.
• Establish a trust fund to raise funds for planting and development, a tree nursery and the protection of our urban tree canopy.
• Encourage the Urban Forester to monitor the work of arborists and develop a management system that measures progress.
• Increase the funding and staffing of the Urban Forester’ s department to enable this ordinance to be enforced.
• Propose an urban forest element in the General Plan, to ensure adequate consideration and financing for its care and protection and to quantify and optimize the financial return to the city and its residents in terms of air quality improvements, CO2, SO3 reduction and oxygen augmentation.
• Encourage citizens with important trees on their property to have those trees protected in the community’s interest by entering them on a voluntary city register of Registered Significant Trees, and writing protection for them into their deeds. Thereafter those trees would be protected from unauthorized removal.
• Conduct surveys of the urban forest and set a baseline for key characteristics, using the iTree analysis software package or similar and aim to increase the number and coverage of the tree canopy in parallel with the increase in city population, which is directly related to the outpouring of pollutants.