Presenter
Presented by Mr. Ravenstahl
Title
Ordinance amending the Pittsburgh Code, Title Four, Public Places and Property, Article XIII, Trees, Chapter 487, Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission, Sections 487.02 Declaration of Policy, 487.04 Commission Members, 487.05 Meetings and Chair, and 487.06 Powers and Duties of Commission, by making various changes.
Body
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. That the Pittsburgh Code, Title Four, Public Places and Property, Article XIII, Trees, Chapter 487, Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission, Sections 487.02 Declaration of Policy, 487.04 Commission Members, 487.05 Meetings and Chair, and 487.06 Powers and Duties of Commission Members, is hereby amended as follows:
CHAPTER 487: PITTSBURGH SHADE TREE COMMISSION
§ 487.02 DECLARATION OF POLICY.
[ It is the declared policy of the City and the purpose of the Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission to preserve and maintain as many trees within the City as possible by:
(a) Reducing tree loss during development;
(b) Reducing damage to standing trees during construction;
(c) Providing for replacement of trees lost during construction;
(d) Providing for planting trees where none occurred previously;
(e) Providing for the maintenance of preserved trees after construction is completed;
(f) Maintaining the health of trees in our parks, right-of-ways and urban areas;
(g) Increasing public education and support for urban forestry;
(h) Generating funds from the foundation community, the corporate community, the citizens of the City and the private sector to support urban forestry. (Ord. 23-1998, eff. 9-24-98) ]
It is the declared policy of the City and the purpose of the Pittsburgh Shade Tree Commission to insure the many benefits trees provide to current and future inhabitants of the City by:
(a) Maintaining the health and safety of trees in our parks, rights-of-way and other public spaces
(b) Increasing public education and support for urban forestry
(c) Providing for the planting of new and replacement trees to achieve a well stocked urban forest
(d) Protecting trees during construction and development.
(e) Generating funds from the foundation community, the corporate community, the citizens of the City, and the private sector to support urban forestry.
§ 487.04 COMMISSION MEMBERS.
[ (a) The Commission shall consist of eighteen (18) members. A majority of the members of the Commission shall be residents of the City and shall serve for a term of four (4) years. Commission members shall serve without compensation.
(b) The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Council and shall including the following:
(1) A certified arborist;
(2) A representative from a nursery or landscaping company;
(3) A representative from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy;
(4) A representative from a corporate utility;
(5) A representative from a community based organization;
(6) A representative from a neighborhood merchant or business organization;
(7) A representative from the forestry division of the City's Department of Public Works;
(8) A representative from the City's Department of Parks & Recreation;
(9) A representative from the City's Department of Engineering and Construction;
(10) A representative from the Parks Conservancy;
(11) A corporate community leader;
(12) A representative of the philanthropic community;
(13) A representative from the Board of Realtors;
(14) A representative of the Penn State Agricultural Extension Program;
(15) A representative of an environmental advocacy organization;
Three (3) to be appointed from the community at large.
All City Council members shall serve on the Commission in an ex officio capacity. (Ord. 23-1998, eff. 9-24-98) ]
(a) The Commission shall consist of fifteen (15) members. A majority of the members of the Commission shall be residents of the City. Members shall serve for a term of four (4) years. Commission members shall serve without compensation.
(b) The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by Council and shall include the following:
(1) A representative from the Forestry Division of the City's Department of Public Works
(2) A representative with engineering and/or construction background from the City's Department of Public Works
(3) A representative from the City's Department of Planning
(4) A representative from the Mayor's Office
(5) A representative from the Urban Redevelopment Authority
(6) A representative from an electric utility.
(7-13) Representatives from educational institutions, community- based organizations, business organizations, and environmental organizations.
(c) All City Council members shall serve on the Commission in an ex officio capacity.
§ 487.05 MEETINGS AND CHAIR.
[(a) Within sixty (60) days of the confirmation of the appointments of all members of the Commission, the Commission shall convene to elect a chairperson by a roll call vote of the majority of the members of the Commission.
(b) The chairperson so elected shall serve for a term of two (2) years from the date of the chairperson's election. Thereafter Commission members shall elect a new chairperson on the second anniversary of the initial Commission meeting.
(c) A vacancy in the position of chairperson of the Commission shall be filled by a roll call vote of the majority of the members of the Commission.
(d) The Commission shall meet quarterly at a time and place mutually convenient for a majority of Commission members.
(e) Any action to be taken by the Commission shall require the concurrence of a simple majority of the members of the Commission in attendance.
(Ord. 23-1998, eff. 9-24-98) ]
(a) Within sixty (60) days of the confirmation of the appointments of all members of the Commission, the Commission shall convene to elect a chairperson by a roll call vote of the majority of the members of the Commission in attendance. The Chairperson must be a resident of the City of Pittsburgh.
(b) The chairperson so elected shall serve for the remainder of the calendar year, and for the following calendar year. Thereafter, an election shall be held in November of the second year, and the newly elected Chair shall begin serving at the following January meeting, and shall serve for two calendar years.
(c) A vacancy in the position of chairperson of the Commission shall be filled by a roll call vote of the majority of the members of the Commission in attendance. The person so selected shall serve temporarily until the end of the calendar year, with an election held in November, so that a duly-elected Chair will begin to serve on January 1 of the subsequent calendar year for a complete two-year term.
(d) The Commission shall meet quarterly, at a minimum, at a time and place mutually convenient for a majority of Commission members.
(e) Any action to be taken by the Commission shall require the concurrence of a simple majority of the members of the Commission in attendance.
§ 487.06 POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
[ (a)The Commission shall cause to be conducted and shall supervise a comprehensive inventory of shade trees in the City which shall at a minimum include:
(1) Identification of species, numbers, size distributions and locations of trees;
(2) Identification of any unique ecosystems;
(3) Location of large, significant, and/or historic trees.
(b) The Commission shall establish priorities, goals and guidelines for tree preservation in the City in keeping with the policies set forth in § 487.03 of this Chapter.
(c) Promulgate guidelines and/or specific proposals for legislative enactment for a plan review process for new developments in the city.
(d) The Commission shall issue an annual report to Council and the public regarding their activities, plans, goals, and objectives. The Commission shall appear and make a final presentation to City Council as part of Council's annual operating and capital budget proceedings.
(e) Any other activities, not inconsistent with existing laws, which further tree preservation in the city.
(Ord. 23-1998, eff. 9-24-98) ]
(a) The Commission shall cause to be conducted a comprehensive inventory of shade trees in the City, which shall at a minimum include:
(1) Identification of species, condition, numbers, size distributions and locations of trees
(2) Location of large, significant, and/or historic trees
(b) The Commission shall meet at least annually, and preferably twice a year, with the Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh, to establish priorities, goals and guidelines for tree planting and preservation in the City in keeping with the policies set forth in § 487.03 of this Chapter.
(c) The Commission shall work with the Planning Department, and the Department of Public Works, in requiring tree planting, and tree protection, as a part of development and redevelopment projects.
(d) The Commission shall generate funds to support its duties, especially from sources that intend to grant funds for municipal improvement projects.
(e) The Commission shall issue an annual report to Council and the public regarding their activities, plans, goals, and objectives. The Commission shall appear and make a final presentation to the City Council as part of Council's annual operating and capital budget proceedings.
(f) Any other activities, not inconsistent with existing laws, that further tree proliferation and preservation in the City of Pittsburgh.