Think spring

Though we had plenty of snow this winter, the warmer than usual temperatures seemed to make it pass more quickly. We were blessed with the presence of large flocks of squawking tundra swans right into the new year due to the late freeze. I hope you were able to see and hear those magnificent creatures. It’s early March as I write this and there have already been sightings of Sandhill cranes flying over our neighborhoods. 

Alder Grant Foster (District 15) and I have been working with staff from Streets, Parking Utility, Traffic Engineering and Police to re-work our winter alternate side parking ordinance. This past season alternate side parking was abolished in some near west and near east neighborhoods, which have been included into the snow emergency zone. We are working with staff to figure out a way to do this for the whole city so that alternate side parking will be in force only after a snow when plows need cars to move for snow removal purposes. Stay tuned for updates.

City Forestry crews will soon begin pruning operations throughout District 18. They will be performing “all tree pruning.” which entails pruning every tree in the right of way that needs maintenance.

If a tree encountered during these operations is deemed hazardous or showing significant signs of decline, it will be removed. The stump information will be recorded for later removal. It may be several months before a stump is removed, depending on the time of year and staff availability. 

If a terrace tree needs to be removed, the property owner adjacent to the terrace will be notified via door tag. The exception to this is if a tree is considered an emergency, i.e. split, severely damaged, or otherwise posing an immediate and substantial threat to public safety.