Dear Editor:
I attended Commissioner Gabela’s Town Hall meeting on the proposed changes to our Tree Ordinance and Tree Trust Fund this past Friday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. There was an excellent turnout from concerned residents from all of the commission districts, and everyone was provided the opportunity to express their concerns.
The proposed changes would significantly reduce protections for our trees and be detrimental to our tree canopy. They are a gift to developers, and favor short-term development goals over long-term environmental sustainability and public welfare.
The amendments risk reducing Miami’s urban tree canopy, compromising its ability to address pressing climate challenges and depriving residents of the many ecological, health, and economic benefits that trees provide.
Stronger safeguards and enforcement mechanisms are needed to ensure that any ordinance amendments prioritize the preservation and expansion of the city’s invaluable tree canopy.
Throughout the meeting we realized the problem is not with our existing Tree Ordinance or Tree Trust Fund. The problem lies in the inefficiency of the permitting process, lack of training for city staff, code enforcement, lack of adequate funding and education for public works to provide maintenance and care of existing trees on public property and
rights-of-way, and a lack of education for residents on the ordinance itself and on the benefits of trees and how to maintain them.
Therefore, we would like to see this agenda item withdrawn, and the city focus on fixing the root of the problem within management and operations.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sandy Moise
Director of Policy, Urban Paradise Guild
