Miami City Council "Tentatively" Acts on Tree Cutting Issue

The revised rules would make removing the local "nuisance" tree, the black olive, easier.

To cut a tree in Miami, you need a permit from the city landscape architect, Jeffrey Siegel. Not all residents, however, have been granted such a requested permit and want an arbiter for such decisions.

After meetings and discussions over the last year, the Miami City Council on Oct. 27, 2004 "tentatively" voted 4-1 to create an appeals committee for tree-cutting decisions by the landscape architect. The committee would comprise three city residents appointed by elected officials and meet as needed. The committee's decisions would be appealed to the council.

The revised rules would also make removing the local nuisance tree species easier-black olive trees, whose inedible fruit litters sidewalks.

The city council is scheduled for a final vote on the new rules on Dec. 1, 2004.