City council updates local laws, tree management plan

Oxford City Council updated their tree management plan and the city’s codified ordinances during its April 21 meeting.

Art community engagement survey presentation

Seven students in Policy and Advocacy in the Arts (CCA 338) presented the results of a survey conducted in collaboration with the Public Arts Committee of Oxford. The survey collected responses from 175 Oxford community members about their perceptions of public art. A majority of participants said public art in Oxford had a positive impact but arts events in Oxford had not challenged their beliefs. The presenters said the arts are valued but are not being fully utilized, and there is an opportunity to create new art in Oxford.

Tree management plan updated

Reena Murphy, Oxford’s sustainability coordinator, presented a resolution to update the list of trees in Oxford’s urban tree management plan. The tree list recommends specific species of trees to use when planting public trees.

Tree species were selected for their tolerance for projected climate change, tolerance for urban environments, deer resistance and fruit litter. While native species are preferred, non-native species are still included on the list.

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“Not every single species on that list is native … Truthfully, that’s because a tree’s native environment is not surrounded by concrete in front of a Graeter’s,” Murphy said. “In order to have good, sturdy, urban trees, sometimes we have to go non-native just to make sure [they’ll] survive, particularly in our business district, but none of the trees on this list are labeled invasive in our neighboring states.”

The tree list does not restrict what species can be planted on private property.

Codified ordinances updated

Council approved an ordinance to update Oxford’s codified ordinances. Existing sections in the traffic, fire and general offenses code were amended and new sections were added. Updates to the traffic and general offenses code were necessary to comply with state law.

City council will meet again at 7:30 p.m., May 5 at the Oxford Courthouse.

pfennikp@miamioh.edu