Tree permits is a minefield. Municipal, City Local or State Government should open the system & train up tree contractors to be permit issuers allowing them to survey customer trees under the lands permit law control methodology. The Approved Contractor can then assess and decide if tree can go - stay or be hazard amenity pruned.
But that Dracula in the blood bank! you say,,, not so the city only has to regulate a handful of tree contractors not watch over its thousands of yards. The approved contractors would be required to take pictures and submit site details in an open web forum for each removal or tree task that triggers permit and the City & others can easily look over them and act if they see the system being breached or abused and if remove the contractor issuing permit licence .
simple win win, fast lower costs , lowers conflict, customer does not need to make application, the approved contractors will watch out for illegal tree works & the City does not need to employ many arborists admin to run a tree permit bureaucracy..