Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 00-08 Creating the Westlake Tree City USA Advisory Committee� n1amyN A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, TEXAS, CREATING THE WESTLAKE TREE CITY USA ADVISORY COMMITTEE; AND DECLARING AN FEFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the citizens of Westlake have long valued trees as a natural and irreplaceable community resource and recognize them as assets for their beauty and service; and WHEREAS, the citizens of Westlake sense an obligation to protect and promote trees as one fulfillment of their civic responsibilities for present as well as future generations. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN OF THE TOWN OF WESTLAKE, TEXAS: (a) The Committee is herein defined as the Westlake Tree City USA Advisory Committee. (b) The Board is herein defined as the Westlake Board of Aldernien. (c) The Town Staff is herein defined as the Town Manager and any Town employee, as well as the professional consultants including the Town's Attorney, Engineer, Planner, Landscape Architect. Water and Waste Water Engineer, Traffic Engineer, and Building Inspector. SECTION 2. Creation. There is hereby created and established a Westlake Tree City USA Advisory Committee for the Town of Westlake, Texas, which shall consist of six members: five citizens and residents of the Town and the Town Manager or his appointee. The Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Aldermen and serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of Aldermen. SECTION 3: Term of Office. There will be five members appointed by the Board of Aldermen who will serve staggered terms as follows: I term of 3 year, 2 teens of 2 years and 2 terms of I year. One of the persons to be appointed to a one year term by the Board of Aldermen shall be a youth member (age 16-18). If a youth member is not available for appointment, this position shall be filled for one year by an adult member. Terms shall be selected based on drawing straws except for the term filled by the youth member. Members are eligible for reappointment for an indefinite number of tem -is and all members will serve three year terms following completion of each of the staggered terms. Unexpired terms and all vacancies will be filled by the Board of Aldermen. SECTION 4: Members of the Westlake Tree City USA Advisory Con-unittee shall serve without compensation. SECTION 5. Duties and Responsibilities. It shall be the responsibility of the Westlake Tree Advisory Committee to recommend and coordinate the study, investigation, counsel, development and/or updating of a Town Tree Plan. The scope of this Plan shall include recommendations for the care, preservation, trimming, planting, replanting, insect/disease control, removal or disposition of trees and shrubs in public ways, streets., alleys, floodplains, and open spaces. As appropriate, the Plan shall include juasterplanning of trees on public properties, and recommendations for project prioritizing, budgeting, and funding. The Plan shall be in accordance with Town ordinances and approved planning documents. The Plan shall be reviewed by the Town's staff for compliance with Town Ordinances and acceptable professional practices. The Westlake Tree Advisory Committee shall present the plan annually to the Board of Aldermen; and upon acceptance and approval of the Board of Aldermen. the plan shall constitute the official Tree City USA Plan for the Town of Westlake. Texas. The Westlake Tree City USA Advisory Committee shall plan, coordinate, and implement activities, announcements, and media publicity related to the Town's annual observance of Arbor Day. The Westlake Tree City U )SA Advisory Committee, when requested by the Board of Aldermen, shall consider, investigate. make findings, report and recommend upon any special matter or question coming within the scope of its work. SECTION 6. Operation. The Committee shall choose its own officers, make its own rules and regulations and conduct all of its meetings in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. A majority of the members shall be a quorum for the transaction of business. SECTION 7: Budget, The Committee shall submit to the Town Manager by May I each year all requests for review and appropriate reimbursement for purchases or payment for resources or services. All funding is subject to the approval of the Board of Aldermen when included in the Town Manager's recommended ani -mal operating budget. SECTION 8: Public Tree Care. The Town shall have the right to plant, trim, spray, preserve and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes, squares and public grounds, as may be necessary to insure safety when servicing Town utilities, to preserve the symmetry and beauty of these public grounds, or to insure compliance with Town ordinances. The Committee may recommend and the Town Staff may coordinate the removal of any tree or part thereof that is located on public property or municipal utility easement, which by reasons of its nature is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines or other public improvements., or is infected with any injurious fungus, insect or other pest, or otherwise does not comply with Town ordinances. SECTION 9: Trimming. The Committee may recommend and the Town Staff may coordinate trimming of any tree or shrub on private property when it does not comply with the Town ordinances and/or it interferes with visibility of any traffic control device or sign. Such trimming is to be confined to the area immediately above the right-of-way, 2 SECTION 10: Severability. The provisions of this Resolution are declared to be severable. If any section, sentence, clause, or phrase of the Resolution shall for any reason be held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a court of competent jurisdiction, that decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining sections, sentences, clauses, and phrases of this Resolution , but they shall remain. in effect; it being the legislative intent that this Resolution shall remain in effect notwithstanding the invalidity of any part. SECTION 11: This Resolution shall. become effective from and after its date of passage as provided by law. ATTEST: Scott Bradley, Mayor Oi dingCrossw-y. Town Aecretary Trent 0. Petty; -"toNvn NJager