The Escanaba City Council on Thursday will discuss an ordinance to amend Chapter 29 of the Code of Ordinances to establish the Escanaba Tree Advisory Board.

ESCANABA — The Escanaba City Council will tackle a full agenda at its regular meeting Thursday, with several key issues up for discussion. Among them are a proposed ordinance amendment to establish the Escanaba Tree Advisory Board, the potential purchase of a new ladder truck for Escanaba Public Safety and updates on the city’s ongoing search for a new city manager.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday at City Hall, 410 Ludington St., Room C101.

According to the city’s agenda, the council will discuss an ordinance to amend Chapter 29 of the Code of Ordinances to establish the Escanaba Tree Advisory Board. Chapter 29 — Vegetation details planting, care and protection of trees in the city, certain permits and regulations for trees and more.

City administration is requesting the council to consider the discussion the first reading of Ordinance No. 1319. Council will further schedule the second reading, public hearing and adoption of the ordinance, which administration requests for May 7.

As outlined in the proposed ordinance, the Escanaba Tree Advisory Board will consist of seven voting members and two non-voting ex-officio members.

If the current proposed ordinance is approved, voting members will serve a term of three years and consist of one representative from each of the following: the Department of Public Works, Water/Wastewater Department, Electric Department and Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

Three resident-at-large members would then be appointed by the mayor with the consensus of the city council. Non-voting ex-officio members would consist of one city council liaison and one certified arborist, as designated by city council.

If established, the board aims to act in an advisory capacity to the council, city manager and the Department of Public Works on matters including: Tree City USA compliance, which includes coordinating the annual Tree City USA application; infrastructure protection, such as advising the council on tree management that affects municipal utilities; and more.

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program recognizes cities that meet the program’s standards. One standard states cities that apply to be recognized as a Tree City USA city must have a community tree board, department or position with legal authority and responsibility for public tree care decisions.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation’s website, Escanaba has been recognized as a city in the Tree City USA program for 25 years.

The proposed ordinance further states the board will meet at least quarterly, and all meetings will be conducted in accordance with the Michigan Open Meetings Act.

As for the relationship with the Department of Public Works, the agenda item states, “Nothing in this section shall be construed to diminish the exclusive jurisdiction, authority and control of the Department of Public Works over all trees, plants and shrubs in public places as established in Section 29-1.”

Agenda items, including the proposed ordinance, are subject to change upon review of the council at Thursday’s meeting.

In other business, the council will:

– Consider approval of Escanaba Public Safety’s (EPS) request to purchase a Pierce 100′ Aerial Platform Apparatus, or a ladder truck, prior to price increases beginning May 1. According to EPS Director Darren Smith’s agenda item request, the total estimated cost of the truck is $1,925,000. The request details Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton, Wis., as the manufacturer.

– Discuss Ludington Park food and drink concessions for the 2026 season and consider approval of bids. Kim Peterson, Recreation Director, wrote in her agenda item request that 29 bids were mailed in February, with one bid being received from Frank Destrampe of Sticky Fingers in Gladstone. If Destrampe’s bid is accepted, 2026 will mark his 23rd year serving the public in Ludington Park, according to Destrampe’s bid application.

– Discuss sanitation services for city recreation and park facilities during the 2026-2027 season and consider approval of bids. In Peterson’s agenda item request, she states two bids were mailed in February, with one bid being received from Stenberg Brothers, Inc. of Bark River.

– Consider retaining services of Dixon Engineering of Lake Odessa, Mich., for multiple phases in the required maintenance of the north and south water towers in an amount not to exceed $66,200 for the north tower and $63,675 for the south tower. Money is being requested to be budgeted for this activity in the upcoming 2026-2027 fiscal year.

– Consider retaining services of Oberstar, Inc., of Marquette for the sanitary manhole replacement at the intersection of 7th Ave S and S 15th St for $112,000 including contingencies. Money is available and budgeted for this type of activity in the current fiscal year, according to the agenda item request.

– Consider setting the fourth public hearing on the proposed 2026-27 City Fiscal Year Budget for May 7.

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.