📣☀️Miami Town Hall On Trees 🌴🏡

​Hello!
Commissioner Pardo’s Sunshine Meeting on the Tree Ordinance item is Tuesday, January 14 at 12:00 pm. Although it is not his item to WITHDRAW, he can  OPPOSE it. If you are not able to attend the Sunshine Meeting, please submit your public comment online here:
https://cityofmiami.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dil619lmAoQyMTQ

There are approximately 30 changes that will be extremely detrimental to our tree canopy, and maybe 2 that are beneficial. Although there is a revised version of the proposed ordinance, the “revisions” were just reworded and moved to a different section of the proposed ordinance.

The City of Miami had an urban forestation plan in 2006 that indicated a goal of 30% canopy coverage by 2020. We are currently n 2025 and only at 17-19% canopy coverage. Planting trees is the most cost-effective thing we can to address the impacts of climate change here in Miami, where we experience excessive flooding and rank 3rd in the nation for urban heat island effect.

This item should be WITHDRAWN. It was crafted by the Building Department with the help of the developer community, and is nothing more than a gift to developers. The problem is not the existing Tree Ordinance, and the city should be focusing on solving the real problems - inefficiencies in permitting, training, education, adequate funding for public works for tree maintenance, and removing onerous appeal fees. The city should also provide assistance with applying for the hardship exemption for fees and fines for residents who qualify. The proposed ordinance, deceptively named Tree Preservation and Protection, will not only wipe out the trees, it will wipe out the Tree Trust Fund.

It is most effective to show up in person and speak, but we understand 12:00 p.m. on a weekday is difficult. If you cannot attend in person, please submit your comment online. Your voice/comment makes a difference!

The item is scheduled to be on the City Commission Agenda on  Thursday, January 23, 2025.  Please mark your calendar and join us in requesting that this item be WITHDRAWN.

​You can find more information about the ordinance here: https://urbanparadiseguild.org/save-our-tree-canopy/
Speak for the trees! Spread the word and forward to your neighbors and friends!

​Respectfully,

​Sandy Moise

​Director of Policy

​Urban Paradise Guild

​www.urbanparadiseguild.org