sa国际传媒 residents who don鈥檛 water boulevard trees next to their property could be ticketed by bylaw officers.听
Many boulevard trees are in rough shape either due to lack of watering or improper modifications made to the ground around their trunk, municipal officials say.听
Their solution is a revision of bylaws to provide more clarity on suitable landscaping materials around boulevard trees, clarify that abutting property owners are responsible for watering the trees, and introduce 鈥渢icketing options for enforcement鈥, per a report going to council on Monday.听
鈥淭he intent of this bylaw update is to address challenges staff have observed in encouraging the care of boulevard areas by abutting landowners. Public complaints have raised concerns about street trees not being watered, rock mulch obstructing sidewalks and roadways or flooding due to unauthorized paving,鈥 the report states.听
A common misperception is that the gravel or small ditches around boulevard trees serve no purpose, the report says. 鈥淭hey have in fact been designed for flood prevention and ground water recharging,鈥 it says.听
鈥淧aving, adding the wrong type of gravel, changing the grade, or filing in these areas may cause flooding on adjacent property and roads,鈥 the report says. 鈥淭his increase in paving increases the risk of a minor rainstorm becoming a flood for abutting properties as the water has nowhere to soak into.鈥
Currently, city crews only prune and replace boulevard trees, with their maintenance left to abutting property owners. The report to council doesn鈥檛 recommend the city take over the responsibility for watering trees and mowing the grass on boulevards.听
鈥淭hese activities are a relatively minor cost to the abutting property owner compared to the potential impact on taxation if a new maintenance service were to be proposed,鈥 the report states.听
Trees are not the only type of vegetation on boulevards; shrubs, flowers, or tall grasses can be used, and are often better because they鈥檙e more attractive, drought-tolerant and provide 鈥渉uge benefits to pollinators and birds鈥, the report states.听
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