Leaders rethink tree trimming requirements

Height specifications removed from ordinance

The Mentor city administration has decided less is more when it comes to updating its ordinance related to tree trimming.

Officials for months had been reviewing a code amendment that would have set standards for how high property owners must trim their trees over public rights of way.

The initial proposal was to require that the lowest branches have a minimum clearance of 14 feet above the roadway and 7 feet above any sidewalk.

“After some reconsideration of the original changed language that we submitted to you, we have agreed to come back to you with a much more modest change, which simply changes the person in charge of making determinations as to hazards in the public right-of-way,” City Manager Ken Filipiak told City Council at the July 3 meeting.

The code currently states that the parks and recreation director has discretion over intruding branches. The public works director now will officially be authorized to make the call.

“We did originally look at specifying some height tolerances within those rights of way, but after further reflection … because of the differences in the ages of

trees and their growth rates, we didn’t really want to prescribe something that would be difficult to enforce,” Filipiak said. “So leaving that discretion to the director is still the preferred option.”

Existing language that will remain says: If the property owner neglects or refuses to trim such trees upon being notified in writing by the director to do so, the director may after the expiration of the date specified in the notice, cause such trimming to be done at the owner’s expense based on actual cost to the city, plus a 25 percent field inspection fee, shall be added to the owner’s property taxes.

Per city code, trees on both the right of way and private property are the responsibility of the property owner, Public Works Director Matt Schweikert said.

“The issue does not come up with a great frequency,” he said.

The item had been tabled on the agenda since March.

“Congrats to the administration and council for finally getting that off our agenda,” said Councilman at large Scott Marn, eliciting laughter from other members.

The ordinance amendment is similar to one adopted by Mentor-onthe-Lake City Council in April.