City arborist: establishment, duties.
Springfield, Ill., City Code § 102.20
in effect§ 102.20. - City arborist: establishment, duties.
(a) Establishment. The position of arborist in the City of Springfield, Illinois is hereby established. The arborist shall be an individual experienced in the profession of forestry or a related field and licensed or certified in forestry by an accredited forestry industry body, e.g. International Society of Arboriculture.
(b) Duties. The arborist shall perform the following duties:
(1) The arborist and/or a city-approved certified arborist or forester, with the assistance of the UFC, shall develop, and each subsequent year, update the urban forestry plan. The plan shall outline urban forestry program activities for a minimum of the next five years. The plan shall describe the urban forestry activities to be undertaken by the city, the reasons for those activities, the means of accomplishing the activities, the possible funding source(s), the alternatives available to the city to fund or accomplish the activity and the projected date of completion. Activities set forth in the plan may include, but are not limited to, street tree inventory, planting, tree removal, beautification projects, and horticultural educational projects or programs.
(2) The arborist, with the assistance of the UFC, shall develop and periodically review and revise, as necessary, the Arboricultural Specifications Manual. This manual shall contain regulations and standards for the planting, maintenance, pruning, species restrictions, and removal of trees, shrubs and other plants upon city-owned property.
(3) The arborist shall cause the urban forestry plan and the Arboricultural Specifications Manual, and all revisions and amendments to it, to be published and promulgated and shall cause three copies of the manual and all revisions and amendments to it, to be available for public inspection at the office of city clerk. Notice that such information is available for public inspection shall be posted at the entrance of the municipal building at least one week day of each of four consecutive weeks immediately following the initial availability of the Arboricultural Specifications Manual, or revisions or amendments thereto. The Arboricultural Specifications Manual, and any revisions and additions thereto shall become effective on the fifth day following the final publication as required under this section.
(4) The arborist shall make available for public inspection a copy of the urban forestry/tree protection ordinance, information about the activities of the UFC, a copy of the Arboricultural Specifications Manual and a copy of the urban forestry plan. Copies may be purchased also at the office of the city clerk.
(5) The arborist shall administer the urban forestry plan, the urban forestry/tree protection ordinance, and the provisions of the Arboricultural Specifications Manual.
(6) The arborist shall perform or direct whatever acts are necessary, including the planting and maintenance of trees, the removal of undesirable trees, shrubs, and other plants to ensure that they conform with the urban forestry plan and the Arboricultural Specifications Manual.
(c) Public utility companies. Nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt any public utility company or their agents from any of the requirements of this chapter or the urban forestry plan or the Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice Manual.
(Ord. No. 285-07-22, § 1(Exh. A), 7-5-22)
Source: City of Springfield, Illinois, Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/il/springfield/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TITIXGERE_CH102URFOTRPR_S102.20CIARESDUFetched: 11/8/2026