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OctoUPDATE: Tree Cutter Registration Bill Introduced!
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CLICK HERE to read the proposed budget action, which is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Sawant and Strauss.
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The Chief Arborist’s authority could include final say over applications to remove exceptional trees (as long as it does not delay the permitting process). The new position, which is found in other cities, is tentatively called “Chief Arborist” and would independently monitor our City’s tree resources. REQUEST TO CREATE “CHIEF ARBORIST” TO ADVOCATE FOR TREES: Councilmember Pedersen formally requested the addition of a new City tree advocate who would be independent of the department that reviews and permit new real estate developments (SDCI).CLICK HERE to read the proposed budget action which is co-sponsored by Councilmembers Herbold and Strauss. While we are expecting the comprehensive tree protection ordinance from the Durkan Administration before the end of this calendar year (2021), we want to ensure the next Mayor delivers it IF the Durkan Administration falls short. BUDGET PROVISO TO REQUIRE DELIVERY OF NEW TREE ORDINANCE: Councilmember Pedersen introduced a budget “proviso” to withhold a portion of its funds from the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) if an updated tree ordinance council bill is not delivered to the Council by early 2022.OctoUPDATE: Introduced Budget “Proviso” to Hold Back of Funds Until Executive branch delivers tree protection ordinance and asked for position of “Chief Arborist” outside of real estate development department (SDCI). Councilmember Dan Strauss, who chairs the relevant Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee, has indicated initial support for this concept of registering “tree service providers” – his support is appreciated and will be vital to secure Council approval. To view a preliminary version of the bill to register tree cutters for better transparency and accountability, CLICK HERE. If adopted by my City Council colleagues, this will be an important small step forward while we wait for the comprehensive tree protection bill from the Durkan Administration.
#Tree it archive update#
We will update this ongoing blog post to provide new information as it becomes available in what seems to be a never-ending story. My staff and I will be carefully monitoring our City government’s efforts on these important environmental and equity issues – and may take legislative action sooner if we continue to see excuses instead of progress. Meanwhile, many constituents have been contacting my office with legitimate concerns about numerous “exceptional trees” being ripped out across our District 4 and our city. We are still waiting for the Durkan Administration’s Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) to deliver an updated tree ordinance to the City Council as required by Resolution 31902. Our city government’s oversight to protect trees is not only fractured, but also weak. As it has boomed with development, Seattle has struggled to prevent continued loss of significant numbers of large trees and reduced tree canopy area. Instead, the City for eleven years has continued to try to make a multi-departmental approach to tree management work. As far back as 2009, our City Auditor determined that fractionalized management of trees and urban forestry issues was a major problem for the City of Seattle and recommended consolidation. As we take a long overdue, serious look at racial injustice issues, we know some communities of color have fewer large trees and are having them removed more often. We call ourselves the “Emerald City” within the “Evergreen State” and yet our City laws have many loopholes that enable the removal of scores of trees each year, including healthy, large conifer trees that city law defines as “Exceptional.” Trees provide numerous benefits including carbon sequestration, absorption of rainwater to reduce harmful runoff into Puget Sound and Lake Washington, shade for cooling during the warmer months, and proven health benefits. Let’s not allow efforts to update Seattle’s Tree ordinance delay into a never-ending story!