[HISTORY: Adopted by The Mayor and Council of New Castle 3-10-2009 by Ord. No. 461; amended in its entirety 2-10-2015 by Ord. No. 500.[1] Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Administrator — See Ch. 5.
Water and Light Commission — See Ch. 81.
Streets and sidewalks — See Ch. 209.
Street trees — See Ch. 210.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 225.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 74, Tree Commission, adopted 1-4-1983 by Ord. No. 149A.
A. 
Creation of Commission; appointments. There is hereby created a Tree Advisory Commission of New Castle. It shall consist of five members. Of the five members, two shall be appointed by the Mayor of New Castle and confirmed by City Council and three shall be appointed by City Council. Members shall be selected on the basis of education, experience, or demonstrated interest in related fields. Members do not need to be City residents. The chair shall be selected by the members annually. All members of the Tree Advisory Commission shall serve without compensation.
B. 
Terms of office. Tree Advisory Commission members shall be appointed to serve for a term of three years. Vacancies shall be filled by nominees of the appropriate nominating group or entity and, if appointed, shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. A member of the Tree Advisory Commission shall hold over and continue to serve as a member until their replacement is appointed. No member may serve more than two consecutive terms. The City Council may remove any appointed member of said Commission from office prior to the expiration of their term, with or without cause by an affirmative vote of City Council.
The powers and duties of the New Castle Tree Advisory Commission are primarily advisory and shall be as follows:
A. 
To serve as a source of advocacy, outreach and education in regard to tree preservation in the City.
B. 
To identify and recommend to the City Administrator locations on public lands where trees should be planted and tree maintenance would be beneficial.
C. 
To make recommendations to the City Administrator for the remediation or removal of trees on private property deemed to endanger public safety, health or welfare.
D. 
To make recommendations to the City Administrator for tree species suitable for streetscape plantings.
E. 
To make recommendations for the "Urban Tree Guidelines."[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 210-15, Urban Street Guidelines.
A. 
The Tree Advisory Commission shall keep minutes of its meetings, which shall be written and made public.
B. 
Three members of the Tree Commission shall constitute a quorum.
C. 
The Tree Advisory Commission will hold a minimum of four public meetings per year at the call of the Chairperson. One of the required meetings will be held in the fall and the second in the spring. Notice of meetings will be publicly displayed so as to inform and encourage the public to attend.