Fernie council has unanimously approved a new tree removal policy aimed at creating a clearer and more consistent approach to dealing with dangerous or damaged trees on city-owned land.
The city receives about 75 tree-related requests each year, requiring roughly 225 hours of staff time at an estimated annual cost of $10,000, according to a report presented to council.
Director of Parks, Facilities and Recreation Brett Logan said tree-related requests can involve several city departments and have sometimes become a “hot potato” when determining who is responsible.
The new policy is intended to clarify which department handles different types of concerns.
Trees in parks and other green spaces will generally fall under Parks, Facilities and Recreation, while trees near roadways, lanes and other public infrastructure may be handled by other city departments.
The policy covers trees on city-owned land that are dangerous, diseased, damaged or interfering with infrastructure. It also sets out how requests from the public will be assessed and prioritized.
Logan told council there is no set turnaround time for responding to a reported dangerous tree because the city’s response depends on available staff and resources.
Requests will be prioritized based on the level of risk.
“If it’s in a park right next to a bench, there’s a higher likelihood that it would fall and hurt somebody,” Logan said. “And if it’s in the middle of the forest, it wouldn’t be made a priority over that one that’s next to a bench, for example.”
A tree posing an immediate danger, such as one leaning over a home, would be given higher priority, according to Logan.
Logan said the city no longer has staff with current wildlife/danger tree assessor certifications because maintaining the certifications was costly and required assessors to complete enough inspections to maintain their skills.
He said staff were not carrying out enough assessments to remain comfortable doing the specialized work. Instead, the city can bring in a qualified contractor to assess potentially dangerous trees and recommend what action should be taken.
Logan said potential problems can be identified through public requests, city inspections or proactive work by staff.
He also pointed to the city’s work with the Elk River Alliance, which includes efforts to plant and protect trees along the Elk River.
Under the new policy, staff are also expected to consider wildlife habitat and nesting periods and avoid removing trees during active nesting periods when possible.
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