Jeff Bachey, assistant parks and recreation director, opened the presentation and introduced David Madden as the city's urban forester and certified arborist. "Good evening, commissioners. I'm Jeff Bachey, assistant parks and recreation director. And I've got David Madden here. He's our tree expert despite the fact that I'm dressed like a tree tonight," Bachey said. The proposed ordinance updates the parks chapter of the municipal code to reflect department staffing, clarify tree maintenance responsibilities and outline enforcement and prohibited actions.

Key changes include new or clarified definitions (including a definition for urban forester), shifting routine administrative tasks (such as Tree City USA annual reporting) from the Tree Care Advisory Committee to the urban forester, and adding contractor certification requirements for hazardous tree work. The update also expands acceptable uses of the public tree fund beyond planting to include soil improvements, pest and disease management and other measures intended to sustain urban canopy health.

Commissioners asked how the revisions will apply along rights‑of‑way, inside homeowner associations and when private trees overhang public sidewalks. Staff said the code focuses on protecting public trees and on trees that present public safety or public‑space impacts; property owners are responsible for trees on their lots when those trees affect sidewalks or rights‑of‑way, but staff emphasized education and warnings before enforcement. Dave Madden noted the department routinely partners with the Parks Foundation and community groups on tree‑planting events.

The commission voted to recommend the updated tree code to City Council. Staff said the changes reflect both national arboriculture standards and the capabilities of the city's urban‑forestry program; the update is intended to improve long‑term canopy health and enforcement clarity rather than to add new burdens on residents.