The West Lake Hills City Council spent a second lunch workshop pruning the tree ordinance in an attempt to clarify language, while retaining the strict requirements aimed at protecting the natural look and feel of the city.

The most recent discussion centered on the definition of understory foliage and the need to protect it. Council attempted to define how to ask residents to maintain the low-lying brush used to screen properties from streets and each other, when the only enforceable restoration method they have is the replacement tree inches.

“I just look at the law and make sure it’s something we could defend in court,” City Attorney Alan Bojorquez told council. “Sometimes, I see clients trying to do too much with a law and suggest that they create an additional document for guidance.”

Council members agreed that an additional pamphlet containing photos to give residents a sense of the look they hoped for would go a long way in helping new residents understand the ordinance.

City Inspector Christy Shull, who recently became a certified arborist, sat in on the meeting to offer suggestions to council, such as requiring that citizens lay mulch down before driving construction equipment through the understory areas in hopes of allowing it to grow again.

The city council will continue discussion of the tree ordinance again at a special workshop at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 1, immediately before their regular meeting at 7 p.m.