Does New Orleans need to rethink how it protects its majestic oaks?

How much protection do New Orleans' trees need? It will be discussed Monday afternoon at City Hall.

The majestic live oaks lining St. Charles Avenue and other historic neighborhoods are symbols of the city as much as the streetcars that rumble beneath their canopy. But they can also be a problem when it comes to storms and the power grid.

"In New Orleans, the set back for trimming trees is four feet. In every other parish, it's eight," said City Council Vice-President J.P. Morrell.

Morrell told WWL's Newell Normans that shortly after Hurricane Francine last month, it was clear that the tree canopy was responsible for extending power outages in tree-heavy areas.

"In the parts of the city where power did not get back 'til the end, and that's the Carrollton and Gentilly area, it was because of foliage and trees falling on lines," he said.

Morrell said the city may need to also consider an eight-foot setback for tree trimming.

"We may have to trim that oak tree back an extra four feet to make sure your neighbors have power," he said.

The council's Quality of Life Committee is scheduled to meet at 1 p.m. in the council chamber.