MOTION NO. 29/12

Moved by Councillor D. Holmes

Seconded by Councillor P. Hume

THAT the Rules of Procedure be waived to consider and approve the following Motion:

WHEREAS the Public Works and Services Department will be bringing forward a report dealing with a review of the City of Ottawa’s existing policy for removing healthy street trees from the public right-of-way based upon receipt of a geo-technical study that links foundation damage and the shrinkage of marine clay to nearby trees;

AND WHEREAS this policy review will consider options to tree removals such as mitigation of soil shrinkage by more proactive tree watering and trimming programmes; and a review of current policies regarding litigation and liability issues;

AND WHEREAS the Public Works and Services Department will also be reviewing the ‘best-practices’ of urban forestry management in North America;

AND WHEREAS the policy review will also be considering factors such as the significance of trees as major streetscaping features, the landmark or heritage status of trees, and the role of trees in providing environmental and urban design benefits;

AND WHEREAS the policy review shall re-examine the most recent scientific evidence underlying the assumptions that trees are the primary contributing factors to clay soil shrinkage, by consulting with urban forest experts such as the Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto;

AND WHEREAS the Public Works and Services Department has agreed to defer the removal of healthy street trees located within the Centretown Heritage Conservation District, pending the policy review which is expected in June 2005

THEREFORE be it resolved THAT these removals be deferred until options for tree removals, expected to be contained within the policy review, is considered by the Planning and Environment Committee in June 2005.