The planning commission Sept. 11 had recommended approval of the two amendments.

The first amendment would give the city and the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office more authority to prevent the unpermitted removal of trees. Anyone removing an ordinance-protected tree—an oak tree with a diameter of 10 inches several feet above the ground and any other tree with a diameter of 12 inches—would be required to show a copy of a removal permit to any sheriff's deputy or code enforcement officer. If a permit is not produced, the deputy or officer could halt the tree removal until such a permit is found or approved.

The amendment proposal was the result of meetings between the city and sheriff's department Capt. Dennis Bacon to determine ways of better enforcing the tree removal requirements, which deputies currently feel is hampered without such a provision in the city's code, said community development director Tom Sullivan.

The second amendment would give the community development department or the planning commission the ability to approve the design, color and materials used on any soundwall required to mitigate the noise and other activity from residential areas. The goal is to make sure a wall's appearance conforms to the appearance of the surrounding neighborhood.