Tonight the City of Sacramento Urban Forest Services Committee met to receive and comment on proposed changes to the tree appeals process. The proposed changes would move appealed tree removal hearings from the Parks and Recreation Commission to the Planning Commission.

The meeting was civil but contentious. Representatives from Winn Park Neighborhood Association and Newton Booth Neighborhood Association attended to present letters from their boards opposed to the ordinance change. Committee members expressed mixed views of the change.

This was a "receive and comment" meeting so there were no official votes on actions. But an unofficial vote on whether to recommend the proposed ordinance change to the broader Parks and Recreations Commission split 3 - 2. Cynthia Cooke, Leo Lujan, and Patrick Lynn voted in favor. George Raya and David Tamayo voted against. No matter the outcome of that vote either way the full Commission will discuss the proposed ordinance change.

The proposal would change 12.56.120 and 12.64.060 of The Sacramento City Code relating to appeals of decisions on tree removal and maintenance permits. The process to remove a tree is not simple. If a decision to remove a tree is appealed it currently moves through a review process in the Parks and Recreation Commission. The appeal process would be the same, but under the proposed change the Planning Commission would review the appeal. The criteria used to review would also stay the same.