Chapter 8.25
TREE BOARD
Sections:
8.25.010 Urban Forest Management Plan.
8.25.050 Open meetings and quorum.
8.25.010 Urban Forest Management Plan.
A community tree inventory completed in 2017 disclosed the town of Highland managed 8,955 trees along its street parkways, parks, schools, and municipal campuses. Another 1,056 trees existing on the banks of its drainage waterways, while not managed by the town, are still important to its overall tree canopy. It further found that there were over 4,200 open planting spaces on street parkways, and many more plantable spaces within school and park areas. The tree inventory culminated in the adoption of an Urban Forest Management Plan (town council Resolution No. 2017-37, adopted November 13, 2017), which detailed how tree resources will be managed for the benefit of the town of Highland over the next 32 years, effective March 1, 2018. [Ord. 1669 § 1, 2018].
8.25.020 Establishment.
(A) There is established a tree board of the town of Highland (hereinafter the “board”). Its functions and duties are limited to those set forth in this chapter and as may be assigned to it and set forth in any other enacted chapter of the Highland Municipal Code.
(B) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as vesting legislative discretion or power in the board, except as provided in HMC 8.20.080, and as may be conferred herein. The board shall:
(1) Serve as the steward of Highland’s Urban Forest Management Plan;
(2) Serve as an advocacy and advisory group to become a catalyst for active urban forest resource management within the community;
(3) Create and periodically update a list of prohibited and approved tree species for property that is located within the jurisdiction or the corporate boundary of the municipality. The list of approved or prohibited species most recently adopted by the tree board are incorporated by reference and made a part of the this code pursuant to IC 36-1-5-4, with two copies on file in the office of the clerk-treasurer. Further, the most recently adopted list of approved or prohibited tree species will inform the administration and enforcement executed under this chapter and Chapter 8.20 HMC.
(C) The board shall review and transmit written comments as may be desirable and as may be authorized in Chapters 18.70 and 18.95 HMC.
(D) In carrying out its purposes, the board will seek guidance from department heads, forestry consultants and contractors and use its own discretion and independent research to formulate recommendations to the town council for updates of the Urban Forest Management Plan. [Ord. 1669 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1704 § 2, 2019].
8.25.030 Composition.
(A) The board will be composed of Highland residents who possess an interest in or knowledge of the urban forestry plan, and can be relied upon to make informed recommendations and reports pertaining to policy and budget decisions affecting the urban forest.
(B) The tree board shall be composed of up to seven members, appointed by the town council president and who shall be nominated by the town council. The members shall serve without pay and shall reside within the town of Highland.
(C) The chairperson of the board shall be selected by the town council president from the membership of the board, serving at the town council president’s pleasure for a term coextensive with the member’s term on the board, subject to HMC 8.25.070. [Ord. 1669 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1678.1669-A § 1, 2018].
8.25.040 Term.
(A) The members of the tree board shall serve for a term of three years expiring on the first Monday in January of the third year after appointment, and until a successor is appointed, subject to the limitation in IC 36-1-8-10.
(B) However, in the year the ordinance codified in this chapter is adopted, three members of the initial board shall serve a term expiring on the first Monday in January 2019; two members of the initial board shall serve a term expiring on the first Monday in January 2020. Two members of the initial board shall serve a term expiring on the first Monday in January 2021.
(C) All members are eligible for reappointment. In the event of a vacancy, the successor appointment shall be for the balance of the unexpired term. [Ord. 1669 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1678.1669-A § 2, 2018].
8.25.050 Open meetings and quorum.
(A) The board is a public body and shall comply with the Indiana Open Meetings Act by providing public notice of its meetings consistent with the Open Meetings Act, and memorializing its meetings by properly composed memoranda or minutes, all pursuant to IC 5-14-1.5. Its records shall be considered public records, governed by IC 5-14-3 et seq.
(B) The parliamentary authority for the commission is the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised. The commission may take no action on any matter unless a quorum of the board is present. A quorum shall be four members of the board. A majority vote shall be four or more persons. [Ord. 1669 § 1, 2018; Ord. 1678.1669-A § 3, 2018].
8.25.060 Rules of procedure.
Subject to HMC 8.25.050, within a reasonable time after members are appointed and upon call of the appointed chairperson, the board shall meet and adopt rules of procedure to fulfill duties imposed upon it by this chapter, including the fixing of meeting times and manner of selecting such other officers as it may deem necessary or desirable. [Ord. 1669 § 1, 2018].
8.25.070 Removal of members.
A member of the board may be removed by the town council president without recourse as members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority. [Ord. 1669 § 1, 2018].
8.25.080 Duties.
(A) The board shall consult with the director of the public works department, the superintendent of the parks and recreation department and/or their designees on any matter pertaining to the Highland Urban Forest Management Plan, Chapter 8.20 HMC (Structures, Maintenance of Trees and Other Plants in Parkways) and the enforcement of these codes.
(B) The topics under which this consultation may be given may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
(1) Amendments to the municipal code dealing with forestry;
(2) Policy and budget concerning selection, planting, maintenance and removal of trees and shrubs within the town;
(3) Establishment of educational and informational programs whereby the public may be notified of any matters pertaining to forestry;
(4) Advising the town council regarding the control of tree and shrub diseases and insect problems on publicly maintained trees within the town; and
(5) Consultation on any topic governed pursuant to this chapter and Chapter 8.20 HMC. [Ord. 1669 § 1, 2018].