City weighs shifting park strip tree care to residents and hiring a forester
October 5, 2021, 4:00 p.m. · City Administration Office Conference Room, 51 E. Main St.
American Fork leaders discussed a draft ordinance that would make residents responsible for basic trimming of park strip trees, require permits for planting, and remove unapproved species over time, with a new city forester inventorying trees. Staff said unenforced rules have left the city liable for damage from overgrown trees and sidewalk heaving; council members worried about cost, including a roughly $59,000 truck. The Communities That Care coalition reported on a $100,000 county anti-vaping grant that paid for 46 vape sensors in schools.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Communities That Care program report | Discussed |
| Park strip tree policy | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 1 · Public safety
Communities That Care program report
Discussed
Coordinator Janelle Paulin and Police Lt. Cameron Paul described the youth prevention coalition. It received Utah County's $100,000 e-cigarette and anti-vaping grant, $53,000 of which is installing 46 vaping sensors (which also detect THC) in Alpine School District high and junior high schools. Programs include Guiding Good Choices parent classes with Pleasant Grove, Project Towards No Drug Abuse, videos and a proposed Family Week. A part-time assistant coordinator is funded in the grant.
- Grant$100,000
- Grant: $100,000 from Utah County
- Vape sensors: 46, about $53,000
Item 2 · City code
Park strip tree policy
Discussed
Community Services Director Camden Bird said the city owns park strip trees and is liable for damage but has not enforced its approved-species list, and three-fourths of a modest tree budget goes to park strips. Legal Counsel Cherylyn Egner's draft would make abutting residents handle basic trimming (not removal) of all park strip plants, require planting permits, create a forester position to inventory trees, and prioritize unhealthy trees, sidewalk-damaging trees, then unapproved species. Ideas included park-strip HOAs, a special service district, and fees on developers. Councilmembers Barnes and Hunter raised funding concerns; Bird cited a first-year truck cost of about $59,000. Mayor Frost suggested refining it for February.
- Truck for forester: about $59,000