Save Your Trees    

When it comes to the proposed trimming or removal of trees by Austin Energy contractors, as a resident-- owner or tenant--you have rights, including, but not limited to, the list below:

YOU HAVE RIGHTS

• You have the right to refuse removal of mature trees from your property.
• You have the right to an on-site meeting with the Asplundh arborist to review the proposed treatment of your trees.
• You have the right to have any third party present at this meeting—professional arborist, neighbors, attorney, elected representative, others.
• You have the right to review plans for the trimming of trees at your home, cut by cut, limb by limb, BEFORE any trimming occurs.
• You have the right to request modifications to these plans.
• You have the right to a written work order memorializing these decisions.
• You have the right to be present at the time trees are trimmed, also with the Asplundh arborist present, as well as any other third party, and to review the work to be done, tree by tree, with the arborist and crew leader.
• You have the right to due process in opposing or supporting a permit issued by the City of Austin to remove or excessively trim a mature tree.
• You have the right to work with your neighbors in formulating alternatives to the proposed trimming/removal of trees on a block-wide, neighborhood and city basis.
• You have the right to join with your neighbors in demanding that the importance of our trees to the value of our property, to the character of our homes and neighborhoods, to our quality of life be given every due consideration in the formulation of an approach that will bring credit to our entire city and ensure its continuing attraction as a special place to live and work.
• You have the right and are encouraged to make your expectations for a fair, balanced resolution of this issue known-- to the Austin City Council, Austin Energy, the Austin Urban Forestry Board and others.

*Generally with a trunk diameter of greater than eight inches, measured 48” from the ground.

Joint Hyde Park-Hancock-Eastwoods
Neighborhood Association Tree Task Force
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPNATreeTaskForce/

(This was originally an article from the February 2006 Pecan Press. See the February 2006 issue for additional information about the Tree Trimming in Hyde Park.)