Ord 2018-004/amending various sections of the San Marcos City Code for consistency with, or to complement concurrent adoption of the new San Marcos Development Code (“CodeSMTX”);

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with power lines can cause power outages that interrupt service. This can create potential danger for you and your property. But,that danger can be avoided by not planting tall-growing trees under or near electric lines and by routine tree trimming. The following are answers to the most commonly asked questions concerning SMEU tree trimming policy. (1) Safety. Overgrown trees or limbs near power lines can pose a serious danger to unsuspecting children or adults who could come in contact with a live power line while climbing a tree.Appropriate vegetation clearance on the power lines allows for much safer access by personnel during any restoration effort. By maintaining this clearance, we can restore customer power much more safely and efficiently. Power lines can carry up to 14400 volts and can be deadly. Never touch an electrical wire; always assume it is conducting electricity and is dangerous. If you are planning to trim or remove a tree near any power or service line, please contact the San Marcos Electric Utility. Trained personnel can identify potential reliability or safety threats and advise you what can be done. (2) Reliability. Storms and high winds are the leading cause of power outages.Trees that are too close to power lines can interrupt electric service, damage our infrastructure, and create dangerous situations when the lines go down. A single tree-to-wire contact may interrupt electric service to hundreds of homes and businesses. If electric service is lost to medical facilities, water systems, traffic lights, or emergency service providers, the results can seriously impact the community. One of the best ways to reduce interruption to electric service is by maintaining adequate clearance between power lines and trees by trimming or removing trees that are too close to the power lines. SMEU performs only the work needed to maintain reliable electric service. (3) Tree Trimming. We appreciate the environmental benefits and natural beauty of trees as much as our customers do. We trim trees only when necessary,and we go to extra effort to preserve the health of the trees to the degree possible. To do this, we follow specifications developed by the International Society of Arboriculture and industry-consensus standard known as ANSI A300. This standard, created in accordance with the American National Standards Institute, is often used to direct future tree growth away from power lines by trimming limbs that are growing