Section 1538.60  Eligible Urban and Community Forestry Projects

Grant assistance may be obtained for, but not limited to, the following, which are not necessarily items listed in priority order:

a)         The hiring of urban forestry personnel, consultants, interns or tree care companies to complete a Department-approved Urban and Community Forestry Project Proposal.

b)         The development of a comprehensive Urban and Community Forestry Management Plan.

c)         The establishment of a tree board.

d)         The collection and organization of data, such as site, location and condition of trees along city streets or in parks. (Street Tree Inventory)

e)         The training of unit of local government employees in tree care practices such as pruning, fertilizing, cabling and bracing.

f)         Urban and community forestry educational and appreciation programs for the general public.

g)         The removal of hazardous, nuisance and dead trees from public property.

h)         Tree planting demonstration on public owned or controlled property.

i)          The development of a plan for control of tree insects and disease agents.

j)          The establishment or development of a tree ordinance.

1)         The ordinance must indicate the need for the urban and community forestry program.  For instance, the health, safety and welfare of the community's residents and the economic development of the community are two examples indicating need.

2)         The ordinance must establish the division, department, board or other authority that will have the legal responsibility for the local Urban and Community Forestry Program including the implementation of the Urban and Community Forestry Project Proposal.  The ordinance must specify the duties and responsibilities of the authority.  If the authority is a board or commission, the ordinance must specify the number and qualifications of the members and their term of office.

3)         The ordinance must state that one of the responsibilities of the authority is to develop written standards for tree planting and maintenance pursuant to the National Arborist Association's ANSI A300 Standard for Tree Maintenance, available from the Tree Care Industry Association, 3 Perimeter Road, Unit One, Manchester NH 03103, telephone 603-314-5380.

4)         The ordinance must define who has the authority to plant and maintain trees on public property.

5)         The ordinance should contain a provision for the removal of hazardous or diseased trees from private property.

k)         Tree preservation and tree protection demonstration sites.

l)          Inner-city tree improvement projects.

m)        Tree and utility conflict resolution partnerships.

(Source:  Amended at 27 Ill. Reg. 18977, effective December 4, 2003)