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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Deborah Lang, Assistant Corporation Counsel
Alex Voigt, Deputy Chief of Staff
DATE: October 25, 2023
SUBJECT:
Amending Chapter 47 entitled "Trees Shrubs and Weeds" of the Code of Ordinances.
PURPOSE:
To update the section of the code that governs trees, shrubs and weeds.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Aurora's grant writer found a grant opportunity through the 2023 Inflation Reduction Act for Urban and Community Forestry Grants in April of 2023. The grant outlined several areas the city as well as the city's Tree Board had identified as future priorities including:
• Tree inventory
• Increase equitable access to urban tree canopy and associated health, environmental and economic benefits
• Broaden community engagement in local urban forest planning
• Improve tree resilience
DISCUSSION:
The specific requirements of the grant application highlighted a number of deficiencies in the city’s code governing trees as well as an outdated and underutilized Arboricultural Specification Guide. The Tree Board convened and agreed to support the grant application, which would include updating the code and manual and the eventual creation of an Urban Forest Management Plan.
The first two, the code as well as the manual existed, but were outdated. Members of the Tree Board volunteered to work on updates, which were then taken to the board for review. The draft Chapter 47 before the Council today is the result of months of work by these volunteer members as well as the Law Department and Mayor’s Office. Following the approval of the Chapter 47 updates as well as the Arboricultural Manual, the Tree Board will work on the creation of an Urban Forest Management Plan.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The passage of these ordinance updates will have a positive impact on the city.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff respectfully requests passage of this ordinance.
cc: Rules, Administration and Procedures Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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An Ordinance amending Chapter 47 of the City of Aurora Code of Ordinances entitled “Trees, Shrubs and Weeds”.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the current Chapter 47 includes outdated language and is in need of updates; and
WHEREAS, members of the Tree Board who are experts in tree care, maintenance, policy and procedures guided the recommendations; and
WHEREAS, it is in the city’s best interests to adopt these amendments.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that Chapter 47 of the Code of Ordinances shall be and hereby is amended as set forth in Exhibit A; and further
BE IT ORDAINED, that the Corporation Counsel and City Clerk shall be and hereby are authorized and directed to correct any scrivener's or other non-substantive errors in Exhibit A upon codification.