Ordinance No. 2021-9-21: To repeal Section 15-118, Same - On private property; notice of noncompliance; abatement; hearing; review board; lien for unpaid charges, etc., and amend Section 15-119, Breaking, injuring, etc., trees, shrubs on public property, of Article VI, Planting, Maintaining Trees, Shrubs on Public Property, of Chapter 15, Parks and Recreation, and amend Section 6-3(c)(1), Building Standards Commission organization and authority, of Division 2, Building Standards Commission of Article I, In General, of Chapter 6, Buildings and Building Regulations, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Plano, Texas to establish a process for the Building Standards Commission to enforce vegetation safety standards; and providing a penalty clause, a repealer clause, a severability clause, a publication clause and an effective date. Adopted

Plano experienced a severe cold wave on February 13–17, 2021 when Winter Storm Uri, damaged homes and businesses throughout the city.  Trees and vegetation were also affected creating health and safety concerns.  City staff including Parks, Neighborhood Services, Building Inspections and Legal have recently discussed processes to address removal of vegetation for public and private property. 

In 1989, Ch. 15 Sec 118, the Parks & Recreation ordinance, established a Tree Board to review appeals from citizens in the event the Parks Director mandated that a dead/diseased tree be removed from private property.  However, staff was not in place to address tree issues until 1998. Parks never used the process. 

As a result of this review,  a revised ordinance recommendation is being proposed and the Parks ordinance is being repealed.  The revised recommendation includes a Neighborhood Services vegetation review of trees on private property and when necessary a consultation with the Parks Urban Forester on any proposed tree removal for private property.  In addition, the Building Standards Commission will oversee any challenging issues achieving compliance.  The proposed ordinance would amend abatement of dangerous vegetation and establish a process for the Building Standards Commission relating to vegetation, landscape, trees, bushes, shrubs, vines, brush, ground-cover plants or other similar matter that may cause a public safety hazard and require enforcement/removal per vegetation safety standards.

This item may impact revenue collected from fines due to violation of the vegetation ordinance.  The exact change in revenue is indeterminable and will have minimal impact on the General Fund budget.

Approval of this item will support the City's Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor of Excellent, Innovative, and Accountable City Government. 

This item may impact revenue collected from fines due to violation of the vegetation ordinance.  The exact change in revenue is indeterminable and will have minimal impact on the General Fund budget.

Approval of this item will support the City's Strategic Plan Critical Success Factor of Excellent, Innovative, and Accountable City Government.