Publicly owned trees in Hailey have been granted immunity from certain kinds of damage.
The Hailey City Council unanimously adopted a tree ordinance Monday, Oct. 30. It precludes damaging or destroying public trees by means of cutting, carving, topping and other practices.
The ordinance further stipulates that permits must be obtained for the removal of public trees, planting of trees on public rights-of-way.
Although everyone who commented spoke in favor of the ordinance, some Hailey residents expressed disappointment that it didn't go far enough.
"The gaping hole in this ordinance is the private trees," Hailey resident Peter Lobb said.
Lobb said many communities across the country have created ordinances regulating tree removal both on public and private property.
"I think you could have done this," he said.
The new tree ordinance also creates a new Community Forest Committee that will be a sub-committee of the Hailey Parks and Land Board. The committee will be an advisory body to the mayor and City Council and will shoulder various responsibilities related to tree protection and monitoring, public outreach and education.
Based on a recommendation by City Council President Rick Davis, the council added to the committee's duties the responsibility to pursue a Tree City USA designation to go along with Hailey's Heritage City designation.
"I think it speaks well for the city when you drive in and see these designations," Davis said.
The tree ordinance also establishes penalties and fines for violating any provision of the new regulations. Violating any of the provisions of the ordinance would be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of no more than $300, imprisonment for up to six months or both.
The impetus for the new tree ordinance came from an incident that took place in May on private property between Walnut and Pine streets on Main Street in Hailey.
The owner of the private property had private contractors cut down five mature spruce trees to make way for possible redevelopment of the site. The incident, which took place over a weekend and was highly visible to passersby, ignited a firestorm of angry protests, both from the public and Hailey city leaders.
