Franklin City tree advisory committee sets June 3 special meeting to approve revised tree ordinance and manual

The Franklin City Tree Advisory Committee on Tuesday set a special meeting for 5 p.m. June 3 to consider approving a revised Franklin City tree ordinance and the accompanying tree care manual for forwarding to the Franklin City Council.

Committee members said the draft manual currently has missing pages and incorrect pagination and that the ordinance and manual do not clearly show fees or the list of prohibited or approved species. "Since a lot of the stuff was marked out, there's several pages that are, like, completely gone now," Committee member Joanne Cummings said, describing missing pages and incorrect page numbers in the current draft.

The committee said the manual also still uses the older phrase "tree board" and that language should be changed to the current designation, "tree advisory committee." Members noted there are no per-tree permit fees shown in the manual and that fees may instead be in the ordinance. The planning department, members said, maintains a positive list of approved trees; the draft manual and ordinance present species guidance inconsistently, sometimes by listing prohibited species and elsewhere by listing desirable or approved species.

Committee members discussed citing the state's terrestrial plant rule as a source for lists of banned species and other planting guidance. "We could refer to the terrestrial plant rule, the state's list of banned species," Cummings said when the committee discussed how to handle species that are invasive or regulated at the state level. Members cited examples of commonly planted shrubs and trees—such as burning bush and Bradford pear—used historically and noted officials are watching whether other species, like Japanese tree lilac, may become invasive.

The committee also discussed timeline and administrative review before the ordinance goes to council. Committee members were told that if the committee approves the ordinance at the special meeting, staff expect the earliest city council consideration would be the council meeting on June 16; if it misses that agenda it could appear on the first July council agenda. Staff reviewers named during the meeting included Lynn and Brett; committee members said those staff would likely review the material in the two weeks before a council meeting.

The committee approved minutes from the March 20 meeting by voice motion; Kathy Thomas moved to accept the minutes and Joanne Cummings seconded, and the motion was carried on an affirmative voice vote.

As a next step, the committee directed city staff to schedule and advertise the special meeting. Committee member Chip asked Brooke, a city staff member, to arrange the room and post the meeting: "Brooke, if you will set it up and advertise for a special meeting on Tuesday, June 3 at 5PM," he said. The committee also identified a backup date of Wednesday, June 4, if the room is unavailable; members said the meeting must be held in that room to ensure the meeting is recorded on video.

What the committee discussed and did not decide: members debated how to present species guidance (a "do-not-plant" list versus a positive list of approved species) and whether to add links to state resources. They did not adopt a final prohibited-species list at the meeting; members directed staff and the planning department to clarify where approved and prohibited lists will live in the ordinance and manual before the committee's scheduled special meeting.

The committee will reconvene at the advertised special meeting to consider the final draft and, if approved, forward the ordinance and manual to the Franklin City Council for its consideration.