Oh yeah, saw this the other day and was encouraged... but then I read it and it may only be $10 per tree
Still, looks like they are feeling the pressure and we need to keep it on :
(from
http://www.590klbj.com/News/Story.aspx?id=95216)
City to Fine Subcontractor for Cutting Protected Trees
7/11/2008
Newsroom
Outcries from neighbors in west Austin, near the Bee Caves Apartments under construction near Oak Hill, have put some pressure on city hall to fine a subcontractor for demolishing 23 century-old trees at the construction site.
"There have been lots of calls from that area and lots of concerned citizens throughout the city who look at this as the worst violation of tree removals that they've seen," says Pat Murphy, Austin Environmental Officer.
He says the city has been investigating for some time violations that might be filed in municipal court. He says that decision was made and they are now pursuing, in municipal court, 20 violations.
"The maximum fine is $2,000 per violation," Murphy says. At the maximum penalty, that could add up to a total of $40,000 in fines for the subcontractor, Gillingwater Excavation. "Municipal Court has set a fine or fee schedule of $1,500 dollars and $10 per violation," Murphy says. If city hall does not pursue the maximum fine, that would amount to a potential $38,500 break for Gillingwater and whatever other parties which could be named as potentially liable for the razed trees.
Murphy says the city believes the incident was an honest mistake, because of the manner in which the trees were cut down.
"Typically, if someone has done a limit of construction on their site and has basically made that a barrier, we have allowed them not to survey trees in those areas. In this case, unfortunately, that's the very area that they've cleared."
He says the city is now planning to reevaluate its methods of regulating timber-cutting practices for development.
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.. but that would be hurting the neighbors, too.
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