Last year, Langley adopted rules governing the removal of old trees.

This year, the Langley Community Planning Department has three requests to bring down some tall timber. There’s one problem: the rules call for the evaluation of a “city forester,” a position that doesn’t exist at City Hall.

“The regulations require us to go through the city forester, and we don’t have one,” said Planning Director Michael Davolio.

Davolio said he will use one previously hired by the city in the short term, and will look to tap one on a contract basis going forward.