>>> GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE.
GOOD MORNING.
DECEMBER 18, 2019 MEETING OF
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL'S
PLANNING, LAND USE, AND ZONING
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER.
GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY, IT'S
9:32 A.M.
I'M ALEX PEDERSEN.
CURRENT CHAIR OF THE PLANNING,
LAND USE, AND ZONING COMMITTEE.
JOINING ME AT THE TABLE IS
COUNCIL MEMBER-ELECT, DANIEL
STRAUSS.
[ APPLAUSE ] SO, IF THERE'S NO
OBJECTION, THE AGENDA WILL BE
ADOPTED.
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
SO, I WILL GIVE SOME BRIEF
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
WE HAVE LOTS OF PUBLIC COMMENT,
WHICH WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO.
THANKS EVERYBODY FOR COMING
TODAY.
AS MANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE
AUDIENCE KNOW, TREES ARE PART
OF THE SOUL OF SEATTLE AND WE
ARE THE EMERALD CITY.
[ APPLAUSE ] AND TREES PROVIDE
NUMEROUS ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFITS.
THEY IMPACT THE QUALITY OF LIFE
IN ALL OUR COMMUNITIES.
IN FACT, THE PRESENCE OF TREES
IN SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS IS AN
IMPORTANT ASPECT OF SOCIAL AND
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.
AND THE LACK OR LOSS OF TREES
IS HARMFUL TO THE FABRIC OF OUR
CITY.
IN ADDITION, CONSERVATION OF
TREES IS AN EXPLICIT STRATEGY
TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPACTS IN SEATTLE'S GREEN NEW
DEAL RESOLUTION THAT CITY
COUNCIL ADOPTED IN AUGUST.
THAT GREEN NEW DEAL RESOLUTION
STATES THAT THE CITY COMMITS TO
INVESTING IN CLIMATE
PREPAREDNESS AND THESE
STRATEGIES MAY INCLUDE
ENCOURAGING PRESERVATION AND
PLANTING OF TREES CITY WIDE TO
INCREASE THE CITY'S TREE CANOPY
COVER, PRIORITIZING
HISTORICALLY LOW CAN BY AND LOW
INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR
FROM CITY OF SEATTLE OFFICIALS
RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING
THE RESOLUTION 31902.
THAT RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL JUST TWO MONTHS
AGO ESTABLISHES A SCHEDULE FOR
ADOPTION OF A NEW TREE
ORDINANCE NEXT YEAR.
I WANT TO THANK SALLY BAGSHAW
AND DANIEL STRAUSS HERE FOR
THEIR SUPPORT OF TREE
CONSERVATION MOVING THAT
RESOLUTION FORWARD.
ALSO WANT TO THANK COUNCIL
MEMBER LORENA GONZALEZ FOR
ENSURING SOCIAL JUSTICE GOALS
WERE IN THAT RESOLUTION.
RESOLUTION 31902, THE TREE
RESOLUTION DOES NOT REQUIRE
CITY COUNCIL UNTIL THE END OF
JANUARY.
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS
GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO UPDATE US
TODAY AT THIS LAST COMMITTEE OF
2019.
IT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN HALF
WAY TOWARD THAT REPORTING
PERIOD IN JANUARY.
THAT DEADLINE.
SO, WE HAVE SEVERAL ESTEEMED
EXPERTS WHO WILL CONTRIBUTE TO
THE TOPIC BY THE COMPLEXITY OF
POLICY MEASURES NEEDED TO
CONSERVE AND INCREASE TREE
CANOPY.
FIRST, PUBLIC COMMENT, WE'LL
TAKE, WHICH IS STANDARD PER OUR
RULES.
WE'LL TAKE 20 MINUTES OF PUBLIC
COMMENT.
I WAS ASKED TO LIMIT PEOPLE'S
COMMENT TO ONE MINUTE, BUT I'M
NOT GOING DO THAT.
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO
MINUTES.
WE HAVE A PRESENTER WHO NEEDS
TO LEAVE BY 11:00 OR SO, SO WE
HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE SIGNED UP.
WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, UNLESS
I HEAR ANY OBJECTIONS, I WILL
USE MY DISCRETION AS CHAIR AND
UNDER THE CITY COUNCIL RULES TO
EXTEND THE PUBLIC COMMENT TO AS
LONG AS WE NEED AFTER THE
PRESENTATION.
SO, 20 MINUTES TO GET US
STARTED WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THEN WE'LL HEAR THE PRESENTERS
AND CONTINUE WITH PUBLIC
COMMENTS.
YOU CAN ALSO WRITE
ALEX.PEDERSEN@SEATTLE.GOV.
AND WE'LL MAKE SURE WE FORWARD
YOUR COMMENTS TO COUNCIL MEMBER-
ELECT DAN STRAUSS AND THE
OFFICE OF STAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTION.
SO, AT THIS TIME WE'LL BEGIN
PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'LL CALL THREE NAMES AT A
TIME.
WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED,
PLEASE LINE UP TO THE
MICROPHONES AND I'LL ASK EACH
SPEAKER TO START BY STATING
THEIR NAME AND WE'RE GOING TO
HOLD YOU TO THE TWO MINUTES.
WE APPRECIATE THAT.
ALL RIGHT, SO JOHN LUMBARD,
PATRICIA MURPHY, AND MIKE RUBY.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER
PETERSEN, COUNCILMEMBER-ELECT.
I RAN FOR CITY COUNCIL FIVE
THIS YEAR.
I WORK IN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
AND WROTE THE BOOK, SAVING
PUGET SOUND.
I EXPECT YOU HAD THE SAME
EXPERIENCE I HAD CAMPAIGNING
THIS YEAR.
CLIMATE CHANGE WAS BY FAR THE
BIGGEST ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE FOR
SEATTLE VOTERS.
OTHERS TODAY ARE GOING TO SPEAK
TO YOU ABOUT THE MERITS OF THE
PROPOSED TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE.
I WANT TO STRESS THAT THIS HAS
TO BE A PART OF SEATTLE'S
CLIMATE STRATEGY AND WE NEED TO
BE MORE AMBITIOUS ABOUT IT.
SEATTLE'S GOAL FOR TREE CANOPY
COVERAGE IS 30% BY 2037.
THIS IS ESSENTIALLY JUST
HOLDING STEADY FROM WHEN THE
GOAL WAS SET IN 2007.
THE CITY'S OWN ANALYSIS
CONCLUDES WE LIKELY LOST 2%
CANOPY COVERAGE AND WE ARE
ABOUT 28% NOW.
PORTLAND'S GOAL IS 1/3 COVERAGE
WITH 25% COVERAGE IN EVERY
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.
THEIR COVERAGE HAS BEEN
STEADILY RISING SINCE 2000 AND
IT'S ALREADY AT MORE THAN 30%
NOW.
IT'S BEEN RISING FASTEST IN
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
AREAS.
ENFORCED TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE MAKES THE BIGGEST
DIFFERENCE.
PLANTING TREES IS A GOOD THING.
I'VE DONE A LOT OF IT AS A
FOREST STEWARD IN THE NATURAL
AREA.
KEEPING MATURE TREES AND
LETTING THEM CONTINUE TO GROW
IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY AND
EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO CAPTURE
CARBON, CLEAN OUR AIR, MODERATE
OUR STORM WATER AND COOL THE
URBAN HEAT ISLAND.
WE CAN DO IT.
BUT WE HAVE TO BE SERIOUS ABOUT
IT.
THIS ORDINANCE IS THE MOST
CRITICAL STEP.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE
COUNCIL PASS A STRONG VERSION
OF IT IN EARLY 2020.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MR. LUMBARD.
[ APPLAUSE ] PATRICIA MURPHY,
MIKE RUBY, SUZANNE GRANT.
>> GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS PATRICIA MURPHY.
I LIVE IN THE LICTON SPRINGS
NEIGHBORHOOD.
I'M NOT AN EXPERT, BUT I'M JUST
A CONCERNED CITIZEN, TOOK OFF
FROM WORK TO COME.
I HAVE LIVED IN SEATTLE MY
WHOLE LIFE AND I'M SEEING HUGE,
BEAUTIFUL TREES CUT DOWN IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD FOR DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S REALLY DISTURBING AND WE
REALLY NEED A PROTECTION FOR
LARGE TREES NOW, TODAY.
TREES I SEE THAT ARE ON
PROPERTIES THAT ARE BEING
DEVELOPED AND THEY ARE GOING TO
BE CUT DOWN.
DEVELOPERS DON'T CARE AND THEY
ARE NOT FINED ENOUGH.
THEY WILL DO IT AND THEY WILL
PAY THE FINE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE
MONEY TO BE MADE.
I'M JUST HERE TO ASK THAT WE
TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> GOOD MORNING.
I WANT TO RELATE SOME
EXPERIENCES.
A FEW MONTHS AGO, I WAS OUT FOR
MY SATURDAY MORNING WALK AND
CAME UPON A TREE CREW READY TO
GO TO WORK ON A GORGEOUS
EVERGREEN THAT WE HAD
PREVIOUSLY DETERMINED TO BE AN
EXCEPTIONAL TREE.
I TALKED TO A GENTLEMAN THERE
AND SAID WHAT'S GOING ON?
YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE AN
EXCEPTIONAL TREE DOWN DURING A
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT WITHOUT
TALKING TO DCI.
HE SAID OH, I HAD MY ARBORIST
CALL AND EXPLAIN THAT THIS IS A
HAZARDOUS TREE AND THEY SAID
FINE, GO AHEAD.
I WENT BACK A LITTLE LATER
AFTER HAVING GONE HOME TO GET
MY CAMERA AND SAW IT COMING
DOWN.
IT WAS FINE GRAIN TIMBER.
THIS WAS NO DISEASED TREE.
THIS WAS NO DANGEROUS TREE.
LATER IN THE AFTERNOON, THEY
BROUGHT IN A D5 CAT TO PULL OUT
THE TRUNK AND THE STUMP.
IT TOOK THEM OVER 30 MINUTES OF
HUFFING AND PUFFING FOR THAT D5
CAT TO PULL THAT STUMP OUT OF
THE GROUND.
JUST A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I WAS
OUT FOR A WALK TO THE SOUTH OF
MY HOUSE AND CAME UPON ANOTHER
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AND I SAW A
STUMP ABOUT 5-FOOT HIGH
STICKING OUT OF THE GROUND.
SOMEBODY HAD ALREADY DONE SOME
LUMBERING.
I MEASURED IT.
THE CIRCUMFERENCE CALCULATED
INTO 33 INCHES.
I SENT AN E-MAIL TO A COLLEAGUE
AND SAID, GEE, WHAT'S GOING ON
HERE?
HE CAME BACK WITH AN E-MAIL
THAT SAID I CHECKED THE DCI
RECORDS.
IT WAS FILED AS 25 INCHES AND
THEY SAID GO AHEAD.
I WOULD LIKE TO BE SURE THAT
YOU PUT INTO THIS ORDINANCE
SOMETHING THAT PROTECTS US FROM
LIARS AND SCOFF LAWS.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUNE BLUESPRUCE AND ANNIE,
GO AHEAD AND LINE UP.
GO AHEAD, SUZANNE.
>> I'M SUZANNE GRANT, THANK YOU
FOR WORKING ON PASSING ANOTHER
TREE ORDINANCE THAT ACTUALLY IS
SUPPORTING THE EXISTING TREE
CODE THAT WE'VE HAD FOR YEARS
IN THIS CITY.
THE LOOPHOLES THAT HAVE ALLOWED
DEVELOPERS AND SDCI TO IGNORE
THE PROTECTIONS FOR EXCEPTIONAL
TREES MUST BE CLOSED.
WE BROUGHT OUR CASE TO SAVE
THIS EXCEPTIONAL TREE TO THE
HEARING EXAMINER LAST JULY.
BUT WE FAILED IN OUR EFFORTS.
WE ARE NOT EVEN ALLOWED TO SITE
2511, THE ILLEGAL TREE CODE
DURING THE HEARING.
MITIGATIONS INCLUDING
ALTERNATIVE DESIGNS WERE NOT
ALLOWED TO BE DISCUSSED.
THE LAWS PROTECTING EXCEPTIONAL
TREES ARE MOWED DOWN.
IF THE GREEDY DEVELOPERS
CONSPIRE WITH SDCI AND SAY THEY
CANNOT ACHIEVE THEIR QUOTE,
DEVELOPMENT POTENTIAL.
HEARING EXAMINER TOLD ME
PERSONALLY THAT WE WILL NEVER
SAVE EXCEPTIONAL TREES UNLESS
THE LAWS ARE CHANGED.
THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO
DO SO.
TO WRITE [ APPLAUSE ] TO WRITE
AND ENFORCE THESE LAWS, TO SAVE
OUR LAST 6,000, DON'T CLEAR CUT
SEATTLE.
IT'S TOO LATE FOR THIS TREE,
THIS FABULOUS TREE.
THE KILL DATE IS NOW, JANUARY
2. THIS 100-YEAR-OLD 90-FOOT
HIGH 50 FOOD WIDE EXCEPTIONAL
TREE WILL NEVER BE ALLOWED TO
BLOOM LIKE THIS AGAIN.
PASS AND ENFORCE A TREE
ORDINANCE THAT WILL SAVE TREES
LIKE THIS ONE IN THE FUTURE.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] JUNE BLUESPRUCE,
ANNIE, ELIZABETH.
>>> MY NAME IS JUNE, I'M A
MEMBER OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TREE
KEEPERS ALLIANCE AND THE LAST
6,000.
I LIVE IN COLUMBIA CITY, SOUTH
SEATTLE.
AN AREA THAT AS YOU KNOW, HAS A
LOWER PERCENTAGE OF TREE CANOPY
THAN ANY OTHER AREA OF SEATTLE.
I STRONGLY SUPPORT PASSAGE OF
THE TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE
THAT HAS BEEN DRAFTED BY THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION.
IT'S AN URGENT PRIORITY FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AND THE CITY.
WE'RE LOSING SIGNIFICANT AND
EXCEPTIONAL TREES AS WE'VE JUST
HEARD IN HUGE NUMBERS EVERY
DAY.
SO I WANT TO SHOW YOU SOME
PICTURES.
A COUPLE BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE,
THERE WAS A DOUBLE LOT.
IT WAS SUBDIVIDED.
HALF OF IT WAS SOLD TO A
DEVELOPER.
THIS IS WHAT THE TREES LOOK
LIKE ON THAT LOT UNTIL JULY.
HERE'S A CLOSER LOOK.
ALL OF THEM OVER 6 INCHES IN
DIAMETER.
SOME OF THEM OVER 18 INCHES IN
DIAMETER.
THE DEVELOPER COULD HAVE
PRESERVED THEM ALONG THE
PROPERTY LINE, ALONG THE FENCE
LINE.
COULD HAVE BUILT A PERFECTLY
SPACIOUS HOUSE AND MADE THEIR
MONEY WITHOUT CUTTING DOWN ALL
OF THE TREES.
THIS IS THE SCRAPE LOT.
THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE STUMP
OF THE LARGEST TREE.
I DIDN'T MEASURE IT, BUT YOU
CAN SEE BY THE CAN NEXT TO IT,
THAT IT IS PROBABLY ABOUT 20
INCHES IN DIAMETER AT THE BASE,
WHICH IS PROBABLY 16 TO 18.
BEAUTIFUL CONFER, WOULD HAVE
GROWN TO BE AN EXCEPTIONAL TREE
IF IT HAD BEEN ALLOWED TO.
THE NEIGHBORS WERE APPALLED,
BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY
COULD DO ABOUT IT.
IF THE TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE WAS PASSED, IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN ILLEGAL TO DO THIS.
SO, IT'S UP TO YOU.
YOU NEED TO DO YOUR JOB AND
PASS THIS ORDINANCE NOW.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>>> HI, I'M ANNIE AND I'M THE
CHAIR OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD TREE
KEEPERS AND I'M HERE TODAY TO
THANK THE TREES AND THANK ALL
YOU PEOPLE FOR SHOWING UP FOR
TREES.
I STARTED MY ADVOCACY WORK FOR
TREES AFTER A HUGE CLEAR CUT,
WHICH I'LL SHOW IN THIS PHOTO
HERE.
25 TREES IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
WERE CLEAR CUT.
MANY OF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN
SAVED.
THEY WERE ALSO ON THE PERIMETER
OF THE PROPERTY.
MANY OF THESE WERE EXCEPTIONAL
TREES AND I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW
THAT MUCH ABOUT ORDINANCES AND
POLICIES, BUT LET ME TELL YOU,
I'M LEARNING A TON SINCE THEN.
WHAT I'VE LEARNED IS THAT FOR
TEN YEARS, WE REALLY DONE
NOTHING TO STRENGTHEN OUR TREE
ORDINANCE.
TEN YEARS.
NOTHING.
AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE LOST
THOUSANDS OF TREES THAT COULD
HAVE BEEN SAVED WITH BETTER
POLICIES AND WE COULD HAVE
SHAPED HOW WE DO DEVELOPMENT TO
INCLUDE TREES AS WAS JUST
POINTED OUT, SO MANY DEVELOPERS
COULD CHANGE THEIR DESIGN TO
HAVE TREES.
SINCE THAT ONE CLEAR CUT, THERE
WAS ANOTHER CLEAR CUT.
JUST TWO BLOCKS AWAY, JUST A
FEW MONTHS LATER IN MY SAME
NEIGHBORHOOD.
NOW THERE'S ANOTHER, THE SAME
DEVELOPER HAS PURCHASED
PROPERTY WITH 49 TREES AND THE
NEIGHBORS HAD TRIED TO SAVE
THESE TREES.
TEN OF THEM HAD GOTTEN THE
MONEY TOGETHER.
MADE THE OFFER.
A DEVELOPER SWOOPED IN AND
OFFERED CASH AND GOT THE SALE
FOR THE SAME PRICE.
THIS IS THE DEVELOPER THAT
CLEAR CUT ALL THESE TREES.
HE HAS GOTTEN THIS AND IS GOING
TO PUT SIX MINI MANSIONS.
IT'S NOT EVEN AFFORDABLE
HOUSING.
OKAY.
SO, THE CLEAR CUT FOREMAN TOLD
ME.
HE SAID I HATE THIS, TOO.
TAKE AS MANY PICTURES AS YOU
WANT.
THE ONLY WAY TO SAVE OUR TREES
IS THROUGH A STRONGER TREE
ORDINANCE.
I PROPOSE A MORATORIUM ON
EXCEPTIONAL TREES RIGHT NOW.
[ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU.
>> ELIZABETH, COLLEEN, JUDITH.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS ELIZABETH DARRO AND
I BRING YOU NEWS FROM
GREENWOOD.
THE GREENWOOD.
A LAND TO THE NORTH WITH
TOWERING FIR TREES EAGLES,
RAVENS, AND RUNNING STREAMS
FILLED WITH SALMON.
THE GREENWOOD I KNOW, LIKE ALL
OF OLD SEATTLE, ONCE A
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MANY TREES
THAT LED AND INSPIRED SEATTLE
TO CLAIM THE TITLE OF THE
EMERALD CITY.
THOSE DAYS ARE LONG GONE NOW.
NOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE
IMAGINARY PLACE IN THE LAND OF
OZ.
THAT WOULD BE MORE TO THE POINT
TODAY IN DESCRIBING THE CITY OF
SEATTLE AND THE IRONY OF ITS
OFFICIAL NICKNAME.
AND THE CITY'S FUNCTIONAL
EFFECTIVE COMMITMENT TO
RECOGNIZING THE VALUES OF TREES
AND GREEN SPACE AND PRESERVING
IT AS A CRITICAL RESOURCE AND
STAINABILITY, BUT ALSO SOCIAL
JUSTICE IN THESE DIRE DAYS OF
CLIMATE CHANGE.
FOR EXAMPLE, WHY IS IT THAT
POOR NEIGHBORHOODS ARE BEREFFED
OF TREES WHILE WEALTHY ENCLAVES
USE THEIR WEALTH TO PRESERVE
THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE?
SOME OF US, HOWEVER, FOUGHT
BACK AGAINST A SITUATION THAT
THREATENED OUR EXCEPTIONAL
TREE.
I'LL SHOW YOU.
THIS IS ONE OF THE RAREST
SUCCESS STORIES OF THE
GREENWOOD EXCEPTIONAL TREE
GROUP IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE FOUGHT FOR TWO YEARS.
WE ORGANIZED AND FOUGHT FOR TWO
YEARS TAKING OUR INSPIRATION
FROM THE GREAT ACTIVIST, SUSAN
B. ANTHONY, WHO SAID, ORGANIZE,
ADVOCATE, EDUCATE, AND AGITATE.
IT TOOK MANY PEOPLE, COUNTLESS
HOURS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE
WE SCHOOLED OURSELVES ON ALL
THE TREE ORDINANCE RULES AND
THEIR VIOLATIONS.
HIRED LAWYERS.
WE GOT MEDIA ATTENTION.
AND IT COST US OVER $30,000 TO
SAVE OUR ONE TREE.
THIS WAS RAISING MONEY AMONG
ALL OUR NEIGHBORS.
WE HAD YARD SALES.
WE HAD STREET PARTIES AND WE
HAD A WEBSITE.
SO, IF THERE WAS AN EFFECTIVE
TREE ORDINANCE, OUR POLITICAL
ACTIVISM, PERHAPS COULD HAVE
BEEN USED IN MORE PRODUCTIVE
WAYS.
WE'RE PROUD OF SAVING THIS ONE
TREE, BUT ALONG WITH THE OTHER
COMMENTS TODAY, TREES ARE NOT A
LUXURY, BUT A NECESSITY.
THE CITY COUNCIL MUST PASS, BUT
ENFORCE A MODEL TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE AND MAKE IT EFFECTIVE
THROUGHOUT THE FLOOD CODE, BUT
ALSO THAT FAVORS DEVELOPMENT,
FROM LOT LINE TO LOT LINE.
>> THANK YOU.
HAVE TO WRAP IT UP.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
COLLEEN, JUDY, AND STEVE.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCILMEMBERS.
IT'S GOOD TO HAVE FRESH EARS
AND NEW ENERGY BEHIND THIS TREE
ORDINANCE, WHICH IS LONG
OVERDUE.
TODAY I REPRESENT THE COMMUNITY
CLUB AND WE'VE BEEN LONG
SUPPORTERS OF A STRONG TREE
ORDINANCE.
A COUPLE THINGS.
I WON'T REHASH THE GOOD THINGS
IN THERE FROM THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION.
BUT THERE'S A FEW OTHER THINGS
THAT I WANT TO BRING HOME.
ONE, WE'VE HEARD SO MANY
EXAMPLES TODAY ABOUT WHAT DO
YOU DO IF THIS IS HAPPENING?
TWO DAYS AGO, A TROOPER CAME
UP.
PEOPLE MOVED IN THREE WEEKS
AGO.
I HAVE TO GO OUT AND SAVE THAT
TREE.
THERE'S NOWHERE TO GO WITH IT.
A HOT LINE, A MECHANISM, 24
HOURS POSTALLY WIDELY THROUGH
THE CITY COULD HELP SAVE SOME
OF THESE TREES, ESPECIALLY
EXCEPTIONAL TREES.
THE SECOND THING IS, WE DO NEED
TO ESTABLISH AN ELECTRONIC
WEBSITE SO THAT AS A LAYPERSON,
I CAN FIND OUT IF THIS PERSON
WITH THE CHIPPER WAS PRUNING OR
THEY WERE GOING TO TAKE DOWN
THE TREE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE
AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY
AS A PUBLIC SERVICE AND A
PUBLIC ACCESS RESOURCE.
THIRD, WE WOULD REQUEST THAT
THE CITY COUNCIL DO NOT PASS
THE WAIVERS FOR URBAN CENTERS
AND URBAN VILLAGES BECAUSE THEY
ARE GOING TO BE DENSELY
POPULATED AND THEY ARE GOING TO
BE CLEAR CUT IF WE'RE NOT
CAREFUL ABOUT IT.
WHICH GOES TO THE NEXT THING,
FEE IN LIEU FOR TREES THAT ARE
TAKEN DOWN.
SURE, IT'S CHEAP FOR A
DEVELOPER TO GIVE YOU A PERCENT
OR TREE DOWN.
THAT'S EASY.
WHAT ABOUT THE TREES THAT TAKE
20 OR 30 YEARS TO GROW?
WHAT ABOUT AN 85-FOOT COASTAL
REDWOOD THAT SITS ON THE
SHORELINE AND THAT'S THE HOME
OF THE EAGLES?
THEY NEED TO BE NEAR THE
SHORELINE.
THEY CAN'T BE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN
THE CITY BECAUSE THEY FISH IN
THE LAKE.
SO, TREES ARE NOT LIKE HOUSING
UNITS.
THEY CANNOT BE MOVED AROUND THE
CITY.
[ APPLAUSE ] AND SO EVERY
EFFORT NEEDS TO BE KEEPING THE
TREES WHERE THEY ARE, PUT A
MORATORIUM ON EXCEPTIONAL TREES
AND RETAIN OUR QUALITY OF LIFE
ENVIRONMENT.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M JUDITH AND WELCOME TO
THE COUNCIL.
I'M JUST THRILLED TO HAVE BOTH
OF YOU HERE.
AND I WANT TO PICK UP ON SOME
CAMPAIGN TALK THAT ALEX
PEDERSEN GAVE.
HE USED WORDS LIKE
ACCOUNTABILITY, DATA, AND
METRICS.
WE HAVE SEEN SDCI HAVE NONE OF
THOSE.
NONE WHEN IT COMES TO TREES.
[ APPLAUSE ] WE DO NOT KNOW HOW
MANY HAVE BEEN CUT.
WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT KIND OF
TREES HAVE BEEN CUT.
WE DO NOT KNOW ANY PROPOSALS
THAT ARE COMING UP TO CUT THE
TREES.
SO WHAT WE HAVE IS AN ENORMOUS
DEFICIT IN DATA AND DATA
COMPILATION AND DATA RECORDING
THAT IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC
JUST TO PICK UP ON WHAT THE
LAST SPEAKER SAID.
I PUT MY COMMENTS IN LETTERS
ALREADY TO THE COUNCILMEMBERS
THAT SAYS THAT.
BUT I JUST WANT TO STATE AFTER
HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT SDCI, I
DON'T THINK THEY SHOULD EVER BE
IN CHARGE OF DECIDING WHETHER A
TREE IS CUT.
[ APPLAUSE ] A SEPARATE ENTITY
THAT RESPECTS TREES AND WE NEED
TREES.
WE'RE AT OUR DECENT DECREE ON
OUR SEWER SYSTEM.
TREES ARE ONE OF THE LAST
RESOURCES TO HELP STOP THAT.
AND YET WE'RE CUTTING THEM.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A
DIFFERENT ENTITY OR SEPARATE
ENTITY SET UP THAT MUST, MUST
REVIEW EVERY SINGLE DEVELOPMENT
AND FIND OUT WHAT TREES ARE ON
THAT LOT AND MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHETHER OR
NOT THE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS
THAT IS GOING TO BE DEVELOPED
CAN BE CHANGED TO ACCOMMODATE
THOSE EXCEPTIONAL TREES OR
LARGE TREES ON THE LOT.
I SET THIS OUT IN MY LETTER TO
THE COUNCIL.
BUT I WAS KIND OF WISHY WASHY
IN THAT LETTER ABOUT WHETHER
SDCI SHOULD HAVE ANY
RESPONSIBILITY.
I HAVE COME TO CONCLUDE BASED
ON EVERYTHING I READ AND
EVERYTHING I'VE HEARD THAT IT
IS INCAPABLE AND INCOMPETENT TO
DO THAT.
SO, LET'S PUT IN A SYSTEM THAT
WILL WORK AND WE NEED TO DO
THAT RIGHT AWAY.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> STEVE SPEAKS, WE'RE GOING TO
TALK ABOUT HAVING THE SECOND
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD EXTENDED
UNTIL AFTER THE PRESENTERS.
WE HAVE A PRESENTER THAT NEEDS
TO LEAVE.
WE'LL HAVE PRESENTERS AFTER
STEVE.
GO AHEAD.
>> WELL, WE'RE AT IT AGAIN.
HOPEFULLY THIS TIME THIS WILL
BE FOR IMPACT.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO IS TO TAKE
A LOOK AT WHO IS NOT HERE.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT ON THE
CONSULT.
WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT
DOING SOMETHING IMMEDIATELY
BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, WE HAVE
ALLOWED TEN YEARS OF YOU DON'T
REALLY GIVE A DARN.
SO IT'S ABOUT TIME TO FREEZE
THINGS, BECAUSE IF YOU EVER
SEEN A NEED FOR A MORATORIUM,
IT IS REALLY RIGHT HERE, RIGHT
NOW.
AND THESE ARE NOT REPLACEABLE.
SIMPLY NOT REPLACEABLE.
NOW, FIRST THING WOULD BE TO
SAVE THE TREES THAT ARE LARGE.
THAT ARE HERITAGE.
THESE ARE ONES THAT ARE GOOD
CARBON EATERS.
YOU FOLKS ALL CLAIM TO BE
ENVIRONMENTALISTS ON THE CITY
COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, YOU SEEM TO LIKE
CONCRETE AND STEEL CANYONS AND
CHAIN SAWS.
YOU KNOW.
PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO CLAIMS TO
BE A GREAT ENVIRONMENTALIST.
I'M ASKING YOU TO ACTUALLY DO
SOMETHING, YOU KNOW.
NOT CLAIM TO BE GREAT.
NOW, THE COST OF REPLACING
THESE TREES IF YOU GO TO A
NURSERY AND HAVE A CREW TO PUT
ONE IN.
LET'S LOOK AT THE REAL COST.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO ALLOW A
DEVELOPER TO TAKE DOWN A MAJOR
TREE.
THEY AUGHT TO PAY AT LEAST, AT
LEAST WHAT IT REALLY WOULD COST
TO REPLACE.
A MATTER OF FACT, THERE AUGHT
TO BE TRUE REPLACEMENTS.
NOT WITH A SHRUB.
NOT WITH A SPROUT.
NOT WITH TEN LITTLE TREES,
BECAUSE TEN LITTLE TREES DON'T
EAT A LOT OF CARBON.
ONE BIG TREE DOES A HECK OF A
JOB.
ALSO IT HELPS WITH NOISE.
IT HELPS WITH A LOT OF THINGS.
A LOT OF STUDIES BEING DONE
RIGHT NOW TO SHOW THE
HEALTHIEST NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE A
LOT OF TREES AND IT'S NOT JUST
ONE THING.
IT'S TIME TO ACTUALLY DO
SOMETHING.
NOT JUST TALK.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> YOU MENTIONED EARLIER AND AS
ALLOWED BY OUR CITY COUNCIL
RULES, I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD
UNTIL THE END OF ITEM ONE,
WHICH IS OUR PRESENTERS.
THEN WE CAN EXTEND THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD WHERE WE LEFT
OFF ON THE SIGNUP SHEET.
SO HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS HELD
UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF ITEM
ONE.
I ASKED OUR PRESENTERS TO COME
UP AND JOIN US AT THE TABLE.
HI, YOLANDA.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> MOVING ON TO OUR ITEMS OF
BUSINESS.
THIS BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION
THAT WE'RE HAVING, ASK OUR
COMMITTEE CLERK TO READ ITEM
ONE INTO THE RECORD AND THEN
WE'LL INTRODUCE THE PRESENTERS.
GO AHEAD.
>> THE ITEM OF BUSINESS TODAY
IS OFFICE OF STAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT
OF CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
AND OUTSIDE EXPERT BRIEFING ON
NEED FOR AND STATUS OF ACTIVITY
TO IMPLEMENT RESOLUTION 31902
CONCERNING DEVELOPMENT OF AN
UPDATED SEATTLE TREE ORDINANCE
FOR BRIEFING AND DISCUSSION.
>> THANKS EVERYBODY FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
REALLY APPRECIATE ALSO THE
FOLKS FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH
COMING DOWN EARLY TO GIVE US
THIS BRIEFING.
THAT WAS VERY GENEROUS OF YOU.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU
ACCOMMODATING US ON THAT,
BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TECHNICALLY
NEED TO DO THIS UNTIL JANUARY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND WE EACH HAVE ABOUT TEN
MINUTES, APPROXIMATELY, FOR ALL
OF YOU TO SPEAK.
AGAIN, A SPECIAL THANK YOU FOR
COUNCILMEMBER-ELECT DANIEL
STRAUSS.
AS YOU WORK ON THIS RESOLUTION
THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, SO
COUNCIL MEMBER-STRAUSS, IF YOU
WANT TO MAKE ANY INTRODUCTORY
REMARKS.
>> I'VE BEEN EXCITED TO GET TO
WORK ON THE TREE ORDINANCE AND
WORK WITH MANY PEOPLE AROUND
THE TABLE, AS MY ROLE AS STAFF
WITH COUNCILMEMBER BAGSHAW.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBERS
OVER THE LAST DECADE WHO WORKED
ON THIS ORDINANCE.
I WANT TO THANK THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION, DEPUTY
MAYOR MOSLEY, AND ALL OF OUR
FOLKS AT SDCI, THANK YOU FOR
YOUR WORK ON THIS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK OUR CITY
ARBORISTS.
I'VE BEEN IN COMMUNITY WITH A
NUMBER OF THE PEOPLE SITTING IN
THIS ROOM TODAY WITH TAPE
MEASURES, MEASURING DIAMETER
AND ROOTS: ROOTS.
THROUGH MY OWN EXPERIENCE, I
WATCHED DEVELOPERS CHOOSE TO
BOTH PRESERVE TREES AND TO
REQUIRE THE TREES BE CUT BEFORE
BUILDINGS ARE BUILT.
SO I HAVE SEEN IN MY OWN
NEIGHBORHOOD THE DIFFERENCE
THAT A DEVELOPER CAN MAKE IN
OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WE KNOW THAT TREES ADD VALUE
TO NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THE AMOUNT OF VALUE THAT
SOMEBODY MOVING INTO A NEW
BUILDING WILL HAVE FOR A TREE
THAT HAS BEEN PRESERVED FOR 30
OR MORE YEARS.
WE KNOW THAT TREES ADD VALUE TO
OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, TO OUR CITY
AND ENVIRONMENT.
WALKING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS,
I'VE FELT THE HEAT DIFFERENTIAL
BETWEEN LOTS THAT DO HAVE TREES
AND LOTS THAT DO NOT HAVE
TREES.
THE BENEFIT IT PROVIDES
WILDLIFE.
PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THIS AND UNDERSTAND THIS
BENEFIT OF OUR URBAN FORESTS
AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
HAVING STAND ALONE TREES AND
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR OUR
COMMUNITY AND WILDLIFE.
WHEN 30-YEAR-OLD TREES ARE CUT
DOWN, WE CAN'T RECREATE THAT
VALUE IN JUST ONE YEAR OR FIVE
YEARS.
WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PRESERVE
THIS VALUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY SO
THAT WE DO HAVE URBAN FORESTS
THAT ARE HEALTHY AND
SUCCESSFUL.
WE DID SET, AND THANK YOU FOR
YOLANDA AND ALL THE OTHER STAFF
THAT HAVE WORKED AND IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE THAT WORKED ON
THIS RESOLUTION THIS LAST YEAR,
WHEN WE UNDERSTOOD THE
ORDINANCE COULD NOT BE PASSED
BEFORE BUDGET.
WE WERE ABLE TO LAY OUT THE
STEPS THAT NEEDED TO BE
ACCOMPLISHED FOR THIS ORDINANCE
TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND THAT'S WHY WE SET THE FIRST
REPORTING DEADLINE FOR JANUARY.
SO THAT WE COULD GET MOVING
QUICKLY.
I'M EXCITED TO RECEIVE THE
REPORT WITH THE SCOPE,
SCHEDULE, AND BUDGET, SO WE CAN
GET GOING AND SEE THIS
ORDINANCE ACROSS THE FINISH
LINE THIS YEAR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
SO LET'S GO AROUND THE TABLE
AND INTRODUCE OURSELVES AND
THEN AS TRADITION, WE'LL START
WITH OUR OWN CENTRAL STAFF AND
THEN GO AHEAD AND INTRODUCE
YOURSELVES, PLEASE.
>> YOLANDA, COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF.
>> CASEY, THE PERMITTING AND
REGULATION MANAGER AT THE CITY
OF PORTLAND.
>> MIKE, SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS.
>> DAN BROWN, DIRECTOR OF
SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL FOREST
SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON.
>> JOSHUA MORRISON.
>> SEAN, SDCI.
>> SANDRA, URBAN FORESTRY
ADVISORY, I STAFF THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU.
YOLANDA, PLEASE.
>> I WILL JUST PROVIDE SOME
FRAMING COMMENTS AND THEN GET
TO THE PRESENTATIONS OF OUR
GUESTS HERE.
SO, AS COUNCILMEMBER-ELECT
STRAUSS, SPONSORED BY COUNCIL
MEMBER BAGSHAW WAS ADOPTED ON
SEPTEMBER 16 OF THIS YEAR.
IT REPRESENTS A JOINT
COMMITMENT BY THE COUNCIL AND
MAYOR TO WORK ON UPDATING TREE
REGULATIONS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
THIS APPROACH WAS INFORMED BY
PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS TO UPDATE
REGULATIONS AS WELL AS THE CITY
OF PORTLAND'S REGULATIONS,
WHICH WE WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT
SHORTLY.
AND SO THIS WORK IS TO BE
CONDUCTED PRIMARILY BY THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTIONS.
THE CTY DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE
FOR ADMINISTERING AND ENFORCING
THE CITY'S TREE REGULATIONS ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY.
THE OFFICE OF STAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT WILL PROVIDE
SUPPORT.
OVERSEES THE COMMISSION AND IS
CURRENTLY WORKING ON UPDATING
THE CITY'S URBAN FORESTRY
MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH SANDRA
WILL DISCUSS LATER.
WITHIN THE RESOLUTION, THERE
WERE SPECIFIC WORK PLAN ITEMS
THAT WERE TO BE EXPLORED BY
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION INSPECTIONS AND
OFFICE OF STAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT.
SUCH AS ADOPTING A DEFINITION
OF SIGNIFICANT TREES AND
REQUIRING REPLACEMENT FOR THE
REMOVAL.
THESE ALL WERE INCLUDED BASED
ON FEEDBACK FROM THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION.
WE WORKED WITH THEM ON THAT
LIST.
THE RESOLUTION STATES THAT THEY
WILL PROVIDE QUARTERLY REPORTS
AND SO BY THE END OF NEXT
MONTH, WE SHOULD BE SEEING A
KIND OF MORE DETAILED PROJECT
SCOPE AND BUDGET.
WE'LL GET A PREVIEW FROM THE
DEPARTMENTS TODAY AND HAVE MORE
DETAIL ON WHAT UPDATES TO
POLICY PRACTICES AND
REGULATIONS WE MIGHT BE
EXPECTING IN THE NEXT YEAR.
SO, WITH THAT I WILL HAND IT
OVER TO THE NEXT PRESENTER.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, YOLANDA,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN FOR INVITING
THE OFFICE OF STAINABILITY TO
BE AT THE TABLE TODAY.
JUST WANTED TO KIND OF SET THE
TABLE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE
DOING.
WE HAVE NINE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS WORKING ON URBAN
FORESTRY IN THE CITY AND WE
HAVE A CORE TEAM, WHICH
REPRESENTATIVES OF SEVEN
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT WE
CREATED A CORE TEAM TO BE ABLE
TO PROVIDE A RAPID RESPONSE TO
EMERGENT ISSUES AND MOVE
INITIATIVES FORWARD.
THE CORE TEAM IS CURRENTLY
WORKING ON UPDATING THE URBAN
FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN, WHICH
SETS THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE WORK
THAT WE DO IN TERMS OF URBAN
FORESTRY, GOALS, INCLUDING THE
30% CANOPY COVER BY 2037.
SO WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
AND TO PREPARE, TO GET MORE
DATA IN 2016, WE DID A CANOPY
COVER ASSESSMENT.
THE GOAL IS 30% AND WE LEARNED
WE ARE AT 28%.
OVER THE LAST DECADE, WE'VE HAD
SEVERAL ASSETS DONE.
THEY HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT KIND
OF TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE REALLY
NOT APPLES TO APPLES IN TERMS
OF COMPARISON.
WE'RE EXCITED WE NOW HAVE A
BASELINE OF 28% CANOPY COVER.
WITH THIS CANOPY COVER, WE
LEARNED A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE OF THEM WAS THERE TENDS TO
BE FEWER TREES IN AREAS WHERE
PEOPLE OF COLOR AND PEOPLE WITH
LOWER INCOME TEND TO LIVE.
ON AVERAGE, THOSE COMMUNITIES
CANOPY COVER IS 20% ON AVERAGE.
WE ALSO LEARNED THAT 72% OF OUR
CANOPY IS IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
IT REALLY IS SOMETHING WE NEED
TO PARTNER UP WITH THE
COMMUNITY FOR STEWARDSHIP OF
THIS RESOURCE.
BASED ON WHAT WE LEARN, THE
CORE TEAM MADE A COMMITMENT TO
DO INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT
PROPERTY.
TO REACH OUT AND ELEVATE THE
VOICES OF UNDER REPRESENTED
COMMUNITIES.
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.
ISOLATED HOUSEHOLDS.
IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES AND
NATIVE AMERICANS.
WE'RE WORKING TO CREATE
STRONGER CONNECTIONS TO THE
CITY'S CLIMATE AND DENSITY
OBJECTIVES AND ALSO CREATING
STRONGER MEASURES IN
ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO, WORK THAT WE'VE DONE TODAY
INCLUDES INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENTS.
PHASE ONE IS COMPLETE.
WHAT WE DID IS WE PARTNERED
WITH SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES
PROGRAM.
THEY HELPED US WORK WITH
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS
AND COMMUNITILIYSONS TO REALLY
DO A GOOD JOB IN ADDRESSING AND
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES IN
CULTURAL WAYS AND IN LANGUAGE
IN ORDER TO GET THEIR INPUT ON
INITIAL DRAFT PLAN VALUES.
WE DID THIS BEFORE WE STARTED
WRITING ANYTHING ABOUT UPDATED
DRAFT PLAN.
WE WANTED TO START WITH A BLANK
SLATE.
WE ALSO HELD A LISTENING
SESSION WITH PARTNERS WITH A
GOVERNMENT AGENCY TREE
ADVOCATES.
TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS,
VOLUNTEERS, AND OF COURSE THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION.
AND ALL OF THIS INFORMATION IS
READILY AVAILABLE AT THE TREES
FOR SEATTLE WEBSITE AND OUR
INTENTION IS TO BE POSTING
EVERYTHING SO THAT THE PUBLIC
IS AWARE OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE
DOING AND THEY CAN HAVE
FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF ALL THE
INPUT WE'RE RECEIVING.
WE ALSO HIRED A CONSULTANT TO
DO AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF ALL
THE CITIES POLICIES AND
PROGRAMS IN TERMS OF URBAN
FORESTRY.
WE TOOK ALL OF THE INPUT FROM
ALL OF OUR PARTNERS INPUT, THE
URBAN FORESTRY, AND WE PUT
TOGETHER A FIRST DRAFT PLAN.
SO, WE'RE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY.
THIS YEAR WE REENGAGE THE
COMMUNITY CONNECTION TO DO
REPORT BACK.
BY THAT, WE MEAN THAT WE PUT
TOGETHER DRAFT GOALS, DRAFT
STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS AND WE
WANTED THE GROUP TO HELP US
AGAIN IN WAYS TO REENGAGE
COMMUNITY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
HEAR THEM AND THAT WHAT WE ARE
PUTTING ON PAPER IS REFLECTING
THEIR VALUES.
WE ARE ALSO CURRENTLY
INCORPORATING FEEDBACK INTO THE
DRAFT.
NEXT STEPS IS WE'RE PLANNING ON
INCLUSIVE ENGAGEMENT PHASE 2.
TO BRING A REFINE DRAFT TO THE
GENERAL PUBLIC FOR COMMENT NEXT
YEAR.
AND THEN FINAL UPDATE, THE PLAN
TO COUNCIL IN LATE 2020.
AND WITH THAT, I WOULD LIKE TO
PASS IT ON TO MY COLLEAGUE.
>> THANK YOU, SANDRA.
SO, SDCI, PART OF THE CORE
TEAM.
I CAN SAY FOR MYSELF AND MY
COLLEAGUES, WE VIEW OURSELVES
AS ENVIRONMENTALISTS.
WE LOVE THIS CITY.
WE WANT TO DO RIGHT BY THIS
CITY.
WE WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE
UPDATE OF THE FORESTRY PLAN.
I WANTED TO MENTION A COUPLE OF
THINGS THAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED
IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS
THAT HELPED STRENGTHEN TREE
PROTUXES.
I KNOW THAT IN OUR OBSERVATIONS
AS WE HEARD IN THE TESTIMONY
TODAY, IT MIGHT NOT SEEM LIKE
THERE HAVE BEEN IMPROVEMENTS
MADE, BUT THERE ARE SOME.
I WANTED TO EMPHASIZE THAT
THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO
IMPROVE OUR PRACTICES AND OUR
INTERPRETATIONS OF THE EXISTING
CODE THAT CAN HAVE A MEANINGFUL
IMPROVEMENT OR DIFFERENCE IN
THE WAY TREES ARE REGULATED IN
THE CITY.
SO, OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS,
WE'VE INCREASED OUR EDUCATION
AND INFORMATION EFFORTS TO HELP
NEIGHBORS PERMIT APPLICANTS AND
ARBORISTS KNOW MORE ABOUT THE
VALUE OF TREES AND THE
REGULATIONS FOR WHAT CAN AND
CANNOT BE REMOVED AND
REPLANTING REQUIREMENTS.
WE HAVE AN UPDATED WEBSITE THAT
THE HOST TO THIS INFORMATION
AND WE ALSO HAVE INFORMATION
AVAILABLE IN OUR PERMIT CENTER
AND WE CALL THEM TIP SHEETS.
PLAIN LANGUAGE, EXPLANATIONS OF
CODE AND BEST PRACTICES.
THAT'S ONE THING.
WE ALSO IMPROVED OUR
ENFORCEMENT.
IN ADDITION TO CODES, WE HAVE
DIRECTORS RULES WHICH CAN
INTERPRET AND HELP US
ADMINISTER AND ENFORCE THE
CODES.
WE UPDATED ONE IN 2017 THAT
HELPS CLARIFY HOW FEES ARE
CALCULATED WHEN TREES ARE
ILLEGALLY CUT DOWN AND THAT
RESULTED IN INCREASED FINES AND
WE BELIEVE A GREATER DETERANT.
AND FINALLY, WE INCREASED THE
RESOURCES WE PUT TOWARD
REVIEWING APPLICATIONS TO
REMOVE TREES.
A HAZARDOUS OR AS PART OF A
DEVELOPMENT PERMIT REQUEST.
AND THAT HELPS US BE BETTER
CONSUMERS OF INFORMATION FROM
ARBORISTS IF THEY ARE TRYING TO
DEMONSTRATE TO US THAT A TREE
IS HAZARDOUS AND WE THINK IT
HAS IMPROVED OUR SCRUTINY OF
THOSE TYPES OF REQUESTS AND
THESE ARBORISTS WE HIRED ON
STAFF ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO
ASSIST OUR OTHER PERMIT REVIEW
STAFF SO THEY CAN HAVE SOME
MORE INFORMED OPINIONS ABOUT
HOW THEY SHOULD INTERPRET
PERMIT APPLICATIONS.
THOSE ARE THREE ACCOMPLISHMENTS
WE MADE.
WE RECOGNIZE THERE'S MORE TO
DO.
WE WANT TO DO MORE AND I THINK
IN FOCUSING ON THE RESOLUTION
THAT SHANDA WILL TELL YOU
ABOUT, WE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT A
COUPLE OTHER THINGS WE THINK WE
CAN ACCOMPLISH IN THE NEAR TERM
NEXT YEAR FOLLOWED BY
ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
POTENTIAL CODE UPDATES.
>> THANK YOU.
CHANDA.
>> CURRENT EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY
FOR EXECUTIVE ORDER TO INCREASE
TREE PROTECTIONS, INCLUDING
WORK SUCH AS UPDATING A
DIRECTORS ROLE TO CLARIFY
PROTECTION OF EXCEPTIONAL
TREES, INCLUDING PROVISIONS FOR
REPLANTING WHEN THOSE TREES ARE
RMOVED.
ANOTHER THING I WOULD LIKE TO
EMPHASIZE HERE IS WE ARE
CURRENTLY EVALUATING TECHNOLOGY
IMPROVEMENTS TO BETTER TRACK
TREES IN THE CITY THAT ARE
ALLOWED TO BE REMOVEDAND TREES
THAT ARE REQUIRED TO BE PLANTED
TO ALLOW FOR BETTER EVALUATION
OF THOSE TREES ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY.
THE RESOLUTION WOULD HAVE SDCI
AND OSC MAKE QUARTERLY REPORTS
TO THE SUCCESSOR OF THE
COMMITTEE.
THE FIRST REPORT AS DISCUSSED
IS DUE JANUARY 31 OF NEXT YEAR.
INCLUDED IN THAT REPORT WILL BE
THREE THINGS.
THE PROJECT SCOPE, THE
SCHEDULE, AND THE BUDGET.
THE RESOLUTION OUTLINES TOPICS
TO BE EXPLORED INCLUDING
RETAINING AND UPDATING THE
CURRENT APPROACH OF PROTECTIONS
FOR EXCEPTIONAL TREES.
SIMPLIFYING TREE PLANTING AND
REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS AND
ESTABLISHING AN OPTION FOR
PAYING FEE IN LIEU FOR PLANTING
TREES.
SO WE WERE ASKED TO CONSIDER
STRATEGIES THAT INCLUDE NEEDED
HOUSING AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT
AND ALSO TO CONSIDER THE NEEDS
FOR LOW INCOME AND LOW CANOPY
NEIGHBORHOODS WHILE BALANCING
TREE PROTECTION GOALS.
THE CITY, THE COUNCIL AND THE
MAYOR EMPHASIZED AS CHANDRA
SAID PREVIOUSLY, CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE ENGAGEMENT PLAN.
THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT,
BECAUSE WE WOULD LIKE TO
INCLUDE A WIDE RANGE OF
INTEREST IN THIS WORK.
WE FEEL THAT INCLUDING
HISTORICALLY UNDER REPRESENTED
COMMUNITIES, HOME HOMEOWNERS,
RENTERS, NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS,
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS
WORK IS VERY IMPORTANT AS WE
MOVE FORWARD.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THIS FIRST
REPORT IN JANUARY 2020 AND
RIGHT NOW WE'RE HAPPY TO ANSWER
ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM
PROFESSOR DANIEL BROWN.
WE'RE GOING TO GET HIS
PRESENTATION SET UP HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
INVITATION.
>> YES.
>> AS A RELATIVELY NEW RESIDENT
OF SEATTLE AND DISTRICT 4. I'M
PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE A
LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT.
I DON'T HAVE THE DEEP
BACKGROUND ON THE DETAILS OF
THIS CONVERSATION THAT YOU HAVE
BEFORE YOU, BUT HAVE BEEN ASKED
TO PROVIDE A BIT OF CONTEXT
FROM THE SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE
THAT ADDRESSES MANY OF THE
THINGS THAT WE'VE ALREADY HEARD
ADDRESSED SO FAR IN THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS AND IN THE DISCUSSION
TODAY ABOUT THE BENEFITS AND
DISTRIBUTION OF TREE COVER THAT
I'D OFFER AS ISSUES TO CONSIDER
AS THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT
REGULATIONS AND LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND I WANT TO FIRST OF ALL
ACKNOWLEDGE THE DEEP
RELATIONSHIP THAT THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON HAS
WITH THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
WE HAVE AN 85 YEAR PARTNERSHIP
IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE
ARBARETUM.
250-ACRES INSIDE THE CITY OF
SEATTLE WITH A COLLECTION OF
AROUND 46,000 PLANTS.
MANY OF WHICH ARE TREES.
WE PARTNER WITH THE TREES FOR
SEATTLE PROGRAM THROUGH THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
BOTANICAL GARDENS TO DISTRIBUTE
ABOUT 1,000 TREES TO SEATTLE
RESIDENTS EVERY YEAR.
WE HAVE A RELATIVELY NEW
PROGRAM THAT I'LL DRAW ON JUST
A LITTLE BIT TO INVESTIGATE THE
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN NATURE AND
HEALTH, WHICH IS AN ON GOING
AREA OF RESEARCH AND THAT IS A
NETWORK THAT CONNECTS
RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY
OF WASHINGTON TO A VARIETY OF
PRACTITIONERS, INCLUDING IN
MANY DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY.
AND I WAS ABLE TO DRAW A LITTLE
BIT ON GREEN CITIES ALLIANCE
REPORT, WHICH ALSO IS A
PARTNERSHIP WITH A VARIETY OF
GROUPS, INCLUDING UNIVERSITY
AND THE CITY.
JUST A MAP OF THE ARBAREDUM.
LOTS OF TREES TO ENJOY.
SO THE KEY POINTS I WANT TO
MAKE.
FIRST IS TO LIST SEVERAL OF THE
DEMONSTRATED ENVIRONMENTAL
HUMAN BENEFITS OF TREES IN
URBAN AREAS.
AND I WILL DRAW SPECIFICALLY ON
SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE IN WHICH
THOSE BENEFITS HAVE BEEN
DEMONSTRATED SCIENTIFICALLY.
SO, I CAN'T BE A PROFESSOR
WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE INFORMATION THAT WE
HAVE AVAILABLE, WHICH IS TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE COSTS
AND POTENTIAL NEGATIVE EFFECTS
THAT CAN BE MITIGATED AS WE
THINK ABOUT THE URBAN CANOPY
AND MANAGEMENT OF THE URBAN
CANOPY.
AS WE'VE ALREADY HEARD, THE
URBAN CANOPY IS DISTRIBUTED
UNEVENLY.
THIS IS A POINT I WANT TO POINT
TO SPECIFICALLY AND CAN REPORT
TO SOCIAL IMPACTS.
AND FINALLY, I WANT TO
UNDERSCORE IT'S IMPORTANT THAT
WE RECOGNIZE THE SOCIAL AND
ECOLOGICAL CONTEXT OF THE URBAN
CANOPY AS WE THINK ABOUT
MAXIMIZING THE BENEFITS AND
MINIMIZING THE DISPERTIES AND
NEGATIVE OUTCOMES.
SO, ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF
URBAN TREES FROM THE SCIENTIFIC
LITERATURE, WE'VE HEARD
REFERENCE TO CARBON STORAGE AND
SE SEQUESTRATION, WHICH IS AN
IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF TREES IN
ANY ENVIRONMENT.
THE 2012 GREEN CITY RESEARCH
ALLIANCE REPORT REPORTS THAT
CARBON SEQUESTRATION BY TREES
IS ABOUT 2% OF SEATTLE
EMISSIONS.
THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE THE
SILVER BULLET THAT ADDRESSES
SEATTLE'S EMISSIONS.
IT IS A PIECE TO CONSIDER.
PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANTLY ARE
THE MORE APPROXIMATE IMPACTS.
THE AIR QUALITY EFFECTS, LIKE
OZONE, CARBON MONOXIDE, SULFUR
DIOXIDE, AND PARTICLOCAL
MATTER.
TREES HAVE THE EFFECT OF
FILTERING THOSE AND PROCESSING
THOSE POLLUTANTS.
STORM WATER QUALITY AND
REGULATION, WE'VE HEARD
REFERENCE TO THE EFFECT THAT
URBAN GREEN SPACE AND TREES IN
PARTICULAR HAVE ON REDUCING THE
AMOUNT OF WATER THAT FLOWS OVER
LAND AND INTO THE WATER BODIES
AND ALSO IN FILTERING THE WATER
AND REDUCING THE POLLUTANTS
THAT ARE DELIVERED TO OUR
WATERWAYS.
GENERAL AREA OF RESEARCH AND
PRACTICE THAT REFERS TO GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE.
A LOT OF THAT WORK IS FOCUSED
ON GREEN SPACES GENERALLY AND
THE FILTRATION THAT COMES WITH
PRAIRIES OR OTHER KINDS OF
VEGETATION.
THERE IS CERTAINLY AN IMPACT OF
TREES IN CAPTURING THE WATER
BEFORE IT REACHES THE GROUND,
WHICH IS AN ADDED BENEFIT ABOVE
LAWNS AND PRAIRIES AND SO
FORTH.
BUT LESS RESEARCH SPECIFICALLY
ON THE VALUE OF TREES VERSUS
GREEN SPACE IN THE DEPLOYMENT
OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE.
I WILL SAY THOUGH, THAT MANY
CITIES AND I COME FROM MICHIGAN
AND I WAS AWARE OF EFFORTS IN
DETROIT TO DEPLOY GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE AS A STRATEGY TO
REDUCE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
WHAT IS TRADITIONALLY AS GRAY
INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE MAINTENANCE OF THE STORM
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS AN IMPORTANT BENEFIT.
SHADING AND MODERATION OF
TEMPERATURE EXTREMES IS
IMPORTANT.
WE ARE FORTUNATE IN SEATTLE TO
NOT HAVE EXPERIENCED
SIGNIFICANT TEMPERATURE
EXTREMES ON A REGULAR BASIS.
WHAT THIS MEANS THOUGH, IS THAT
SEATTLE IS THE LEAST AIR-
CONDITIONED CITY IN THE
COUNTRY.
AND SO WE RELY ON THOSE
MODERATED TEMPERATURES.
AND TREES PROVIDE FOR IN THE
SUMMER, MODERATION OF
TEMPERATURES, REDUCE COOLING
COSTS AND IN OUR CASE, MUCH OF
THE COOLING THAT WE GET.
NOISE REDUCTION, I LIVE JUST
NEXT TO I-5 AND I VERY MUCH
APPRECIATE THE TREES THAT ARE
AROUND US PROVIDING A BUFFER
FROM THE NOISE COMING FROM I-5.
AND ENHANCING HABITAT ARE
CERTAINLY DEMONSTRATED BENEFITS
OF TREES IN THE URBAN FABRIC.
MY COLLEAGUE HERE FROM THE
SOCIETY WILL TALK MORE ABOUT
THAT.
IN ADDITION TO THE
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS, THERE
ARE A VARIETY OF DEMONSTRATED
SOCIAL BENEFITS THAT INCLUDE
ENHANCEMENTS TO LEISURE AND
RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AND
QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE HAVE MANY CASES OF
DEMONSTRATED IMPACTS OF TREES
ON PROPERTY VALUES, INCREASING
PROPERTY VALUES, AND WITHIN
CITY EXPENSES REDUCTIONS IN
COST FOR STORM WATER
MANAGEMENT, AIR POLLUTION
REMOVAL, HEATING AND COOLING.
WE SEE HEALTH BENEFITS FROM
REDUCED STRESS AND RESPIRATORY
ILLNESS, BOTH PHYSICAL AND
MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS.
I WANT TO UNPACK THE MENTAL
HEALTH BENEFITS.
THIS IS AN ACTIVE AREA OF
RESEARCH IN OUR NATURE FOR
HEALTH PROGRAM.
WE ALSO HAVE VERY CLEARLY
VISUAL AND AESTHETIC BENEFITS.
BOTH IMPROVING THE SCENIC
QUALITY OF NEIGHBORHOODS AND
COMMUNITIES AND ALSO PRIVACY
PROVIDED BY TREES.
WITHIN THE NATURE AND HEALTH
PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON, AND GENERALLY
WITHIN THE SCIENTIFIC
COMMUNITY, AN INTEREST IN
UNDERSTANDING THE WAYS IN WHICH
NATURE AFFECTS HUMAN
INCOGNITION AND MENTAL HEALTH.
WE HAVE EVIDENCE THAT NATURE
EXPOSURE CAN INCREASE ATTENTION
AND MEMORY AND IMPULSE INHI
BAGS AND STRESS.
A LOT OF THAT DOES NOT SEPARATE
OUT TREES, ESPECIALLY FROM
OTHER KINDS OF NATURE.
SO THERE'S AN ON GOING PROGRAM
OF RESEARCH LOOKING AT WHAT
ASPECTS OF NATURAL FEATURES AND
OUR EXPERIENCE WITH THEM ARE
RELEVANT TO MENTAL HEALTH.
WE DO HAVE SOME STUDIES,
THERE'S A STUDY OUT OF
CALIFORNIA LOOKING AT URBAN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS SHOWING
STRONG CORRELATION BETWEEN TREE
AND SHRUB COVER AROUND SCHOOLS
AND SCHOOL TEST SCORES.
SO THERE IS SOME CORRELATION
EVIDENCE LOOKING AT THE
BENEFITS OF TREE COVER IN
PARTICULAR.
TREE AND SHRUB COVER IN
PARTICULAR ON COGNITIVE
BENEFITS.
BUT AGAIN, ON GOING RESEARCH AS
TO THE MECHANISMS ON THOSE AND
HOW THAT WORKS.
NEGATIVE IMPACTS AND COSTS.
MANY ALLERGY SUFFERERS WILL
RECOGNIZE THE CHALLENGES WITH
POLLEN AND IDENTIFYING.
ONE OF THE THINGS, THERE IS
POLLEN ALL YEARLONG.
IN MICHIGAN, WE HAD A RESPITE
IN THE WINTER.
THE INSECT AND ANIMALS THAT ARE
USING TREES AS HABITAT CAN
BECOME NUISANCES WITHIN
NEIGHBORHOODS.
VISUAL AND AESTHETIC IMPACTS.
LIGHTING RELATED SAFETY
CONCERNS WHERE YOU HAVE
DARKNESS ASSOCIATED WITH A
HEAVY TREE CANOPY.
WE MIGHT HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT
SAFETY.
THE BRANCHES AND LEAVES THAT
FALL OFF OF TREES CAN PROVIDE
MESSINESS TO THE ENVIRONMENT
AND OF COURSE, VIEW
OBSTRUCTION.
VIEWS ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE AND TREES CAN
OBSTRUCT VIEWS.
WE HAVE SOME KNOWN
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS.
I'M NOT HERE TO SAY AS
PRESIDENT REAGAN DID, THAT
TREES CAUSE POLLUTION.
THERE ARE TOUR COMPOUNDS PUT
OFF BY TREES THAT CAN INTERACT
WITH POLLUTANTS.
ALTHOUGH AGAIN, THAT ISN'T THE
BIGGEST CONCERN WITH AIR
POLLUTION IN THE CITY.
SIDEWALK CRACKS AND SAFETY
ISSUES ARE CERTAINLY AN ISSUE,
AND REQUIRE MAINTENANCE.
AND SO ALL OF THIS, THERE ARE
úCOSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PLANTING
AND ESTABLISHMENT TREES.
WE HEARD ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF MAINTAINING TREES AND
IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT,
REPAIRING INFRASTRUCTURE AND SO
FORTH.
ALL OF THESE REQUIRE ATTENTION.
SOCIAL DISPERTIES IN TREE
COVERAGE.
THERE'S A WONDERFUL TITLE FOR A
PAPER CALLED TREES GROW ON
MONEY.
WHICH SHOWS A CONSISTENT STRONG
POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN
HOUSEHOLD INCOME AND URBAN TREE
COVER AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT
PARTICULAR STUDY LOOKED AT
CORRELATIONS ACROSS SEVEN
CITIES.
THE STRONGEST CORRELATION WAS
WITH INCOME.
IN SOME CITIES, THERE WAS ALSO
A CORRELATION WITH RACE.
WITH LESS TREE COVER AND
NEIGHBORHOODS WITH MORE PEOPLE
OF COLOR.
AN INTERESTING PARADOX IN THIS
LITERATURE IS THAT EFFORTS TO
INCREASE URBAN GREENING,
BECAUSE TREES INCREASE PROPERTY
VALUES MIGHT BE POTENTIALLY
MECHANISM BY WHICH
GENTRIFICATION IS ACCELERATED.
SOMETHING WE NEED TO THINK
ABOUT THOSE COMPLEXITIES AS WE
MOVE FORWARD.
THIS IS FROM THE 2012 REPORT.
JUST SHOWING ACROSS MANAGEMENT
UNITS IN THE CITY OF SEATTLE,
THE DIFFERENCES IN TREE COVER.
WE DO SEE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE
OF THIS GRAPH, DECLINES IN THE
AMOUNT OF CANOPY COVER FROM
LESS DENSE, SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL HOMES TOWARD MORE
DENSE MULTIFAMILY AND
COMMERCIAL MIXED USE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND THAT'S NOT TOO SURPRISING
GIVEN THAT WE HAVE DIFFERENCES
IN CONFIGURATIONS OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT.
THIS IS SIMPLY TO POINT TO THE
FACTORS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
URBAN TREES, WE'RE OFTEN
TALKING ABOUT AN URBAN FOREST,
A CANOPY ACROSS THE CITY.
WE'RE MAINTAINING AND THINKING
ABOUT INDIVIDUAL TREES SO THE
GOAL THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
AS A CANOPY COVER ACROSS THE
CITY, BUT MAINTAINING THAT
THROUGH DECISIONS ABOUT
INDIVIDUAL TREES.
SO WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE
CONTEXT WITHIN WHICH WE'RE
MANAGING THE FOREST CANOPY
GOING DOWN TO THE INDIVIDUAL
TREE LEVEL.
THIS IS JUST ILLUSTRATING SOME
OF THOSE BENEFITS AT DIFFERENT
SCALES.
AND SO I JUST WANT TO
HIGHLIGHT.
THE INDIVIDUAL TREE, AND FOREST
STRUCTURE AND PHYSIOLOGY
AFFECTS THE OUTCOMES.
WE HEARD REFERENCE OF THE
IMPORTANCE OF BIG TREES.
TREE DENSITY, LEAF AREA, LEAF
BIOMASS, WHETHER IT'S AN
EVERGREEN.
WHETHER THESE FACTORS MIGHT BE
IMPORTANT IN AFFECTING THE
BENEFITS AND THE COST
ASSOCIATED WITH TREES.
THE CHARACTER OF THE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT.
LOT SIZE, STREET CONFIGURATION,
LAND USE ALL MIGHT BE NUANCES
THAT ARE RELEVANT TO THE WAYS
IN WHICH WE THINK ABOUT
MANAGING THE URBAN CANOPY.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
CERTAINLY VISIBILITY, I
MENTIONED.
TEMPERATURE PRECIPITATION,
SOILS, I WOULD BRING IN HERE A
SPECIFIC SLIDE OR REFERENCE TO
CLIMATE CHANGE.
AS WE THINK ABOUT MANAGING A
CANOPY FOR THE NEXT 30 OR 50
YEARS, WE WANT TO BE THINKING
ABOUT THE WAYS IN WHICH THOSE
CONDITIONS WILL BE CHANGING IN
THE NEXT 30 TO 50 YEARS WITH
PERHAPS DRYER AND HOTTER
SUMMERS WITH PERHAPS MORE
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS.
IT'S HARD.
WE WOULD NEED TO LOOK INTO THE
LITERATURE ON WHAT IS PREDICTED
FOR SEATTLE.
SO, AS WE THINK ABOUT PLANNING
AND MANAGEMENT, WE SHOULD
RECOGNIZE THOSE CONTEXTS TO
MAXIMIZE THE BENEFITS.
SUMMARY OF THE KEY POINTS HERE,
TREES HAVE HUMAN BENEFITS.
SOME ASSOCIATED COSTS AND
NEGATIVE IMPACTS.
UNEVEN DISTRIBUTION OF THE
URBAN CANOPIES IMPORTANT
LEADING TO SOCIAL IMPACTS AND
WE WANT TO LOOK AT THE CONTEXT
OF THE URBAN CANOPY.
AND I HAVE PROVIDED SOME
REFERENCES.
>> EXCELLENT.
THANK YOU DOCTOR.
SO, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM
TWO MORE PRESENTERS, JOSH
MORRIS FROM THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION AND SEATTLE AUTOBON
AND WE HAVE A GUEST UP FROM THE
CITY OF PORTLAND AS WELL.
WE'RE GOING TO SWITCH POWER
POINT PRESENTATIONS HERE
QUICKLY.
>> IT'S PROBABLY THIS ONE.
>> WE UNDERSTAND IF YOU NEED TO
GET TO YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER
PEDERSEN FOR ORGANIZING THIS.
THIS IS A PDF.
I'LL SWAP DOWN.
FULL SCREEN.
HOW DO YOU GET TO THAT?
>> VIEW, MAYBE.
>> WINDOW.
>> VIEW.
CONTROL L.
>> THANK YOU.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ORGANIZING
THIS AND COUNCIL MEMBER-ELECT
STRAUSS, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU
HERE AS WELL.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR
DEMONSTRATING YOUR COMMITMENT
TO THE URBAN FOREST.
I THINK THAT'S GREAT.
AGAIN, I'M JOSHUA MORRIS.
I'M WITH THE SEATTLE ODOBON
SOCIETY.
I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF BIRDS AND
PEOPLE.
FOR CONTEXT, ADVOCATING FOR
SEATTLE'S URBAN FOREST SINCE
OUR FOUNDING IN 1916.
ONE OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS FIRST
ADVOCACY EFFORTS WAS AROUND
PROTECTING OUR CITY PARKS AND
OPEN SPACES FROM ILLEGAL
LOGGING.
I FOUND NEWSLETTERS FROM THE
80s THAT WILL PUSHING CITY
COUNCIL FOR STRONGER TREE
PROTECTIONS.
WE HAVE A HISTORY 100 YEARS
PLUS OF ADVOCATING FOR TREES.
HERE I AM STILL WAVING THAT
BANNER.
SEATTLE'S URBAN FORESTRY.
[ APPLAUSE ] SEATTLE'S URBAN
FOREST IS SURPRISINGLY DIVERSE
AND RELATIVELY LUXE COMPARED TO
MANY OTHER CITIES.
WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.
WE ALSO FACE CHALLENGES,
INCLUDING TREE LOSS, TREE
DISTRIBUTION, AND CLIMATE
CHANGE.
I SPEND A LOT OF MY TIME
ADVOCATING FOR TREES.
WE ENVISION PEOPLE AND BIRDS
THRIVING IN OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES AND WE CAN'T
REALIZE THAT WITHOUT A HEALTHY
PROTECTED URBAN FOREST.
AS PROFESSOR BROWN WAS
MENTIONING, OUR URBAN FOREST
PROVIDES BENEFITS TO THE CITY,
ITS RESIDENTS, AND VISITORS.
A LOT OF THOSE SERVICES CAN BE
QUANTITY PHID WITH A DOLLAR
VALUE.
SOME ARE MORE DIFFICULT TO HANG
A DOLLAR SIDE ON.
ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM THE
CULTURAL SERVICES.
AS THAT 2012 REPORT FOUND,
SEATTLE'S URBAN FOREST PROVIDES
APPROXIMATELY 23 MILLION IN
ANNUAL SAVINGS TO THE CITY IN
TERMS OF POLLUTION REMOVAL AND
RESIDENTIAL ENERGY SAVINGS.
THIS SHOULD BE VIEWED AS A
BASEMENT VALUE.
IT DOESN'T INCLUDE VALUES
RECREATION VALUES IN PARKS AND
CULTURAL VALUES.
THE REPORT ALSO FOUND THAT THE
URBAN FOREST REPLACEMENT COST
WOULD BE AROUND $4.9 BILLION.
IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE OUR
URBAN FOREST HAS GROWN INTO AN
ASSET THAT WOULD OUTPRICE THE
SR99 TUNNEL DOWNTOWN.
[ APPLAUSE ] THE BENEFITS OF
THE URBAN FOREST DON'T BEGIN
AND END WITH HUMANS, HOWEVER.
THERE ARE OVER 100 BIRD SPECIES
THAT USE SEATTLE'S TREES.
THIS INCLUDES LOCAL RESIDENT
BIRDS LIKE THE RED BREASTED
NUTHATCH AND SEASONAL MIGRATORY
VISITORS.
THESE FOREST BIRDS WOULD HAVE
ACCESSED 200 YEARS AGO WOULD BE
DIFFERENT FROM OUR URBAN FOREST
TODAY.
THEN BIG OLD CONFERS DOMINATED.
DOUGLAS FIR, WESTWOOD RED
CEDAR.
THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN COASTAL
PRAIRIES AND EXTENSIVE WETLANDS
AROUND THE LAKES.
URBANIZATION OVER THE LAST 170
YEARS DRASTICALLY ALTERED
NATURE IN OUR CITY.
INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION OF
TREES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 54
TREES SPECIES NATIVE TO THE
NORTHWEST THAT INCLUDES FROM
OREGON UP TO VANCOUVER, B.C.
WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND 1,000
TREE TYPES, INCLUDING SUB
SPECIES AND VARIETIES.
THESE CHANGES HAVE BEEN GOOD
FOR SOME BIRDS.
FOR INSTANCE, THE HUMMING BIRD.
THERE'S AN IMAGE OF IT IN THE
CENTER OF THIS SLIDE.
SEATTLE HAS BEEN COUNTING BIRDS
EACH CHRISTMAS FOR THE LAST 90
YEARS.
STARTED IN 1928 AND WE DIDN'T
DOCUMENT A SINGLE HUMMINGBIRD
UNTIL 1965.
IN 1972, WE HAVEN'T STOPPED
SEEING THEM SINCE.
I SUSPECT THIS IS DUE TO NEW
STABLE WINTER FOOD SOURCES
PROVIDED BY WINTER FLOWERING
PLANTS AND TREES AND PEOPLE
HANGING FEEDERS AROUND THEIR
HOMES.
MY TAKE AWAY FROM THIS IS WE
MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE THE
DIVERSITY, WE CAN PROVIDE
STABLE YEAR ROUND RESOURCES FOR
DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF
BIRDS.
THIS BECOMES INDEGREESINGLY
IMPORTANT IN AN ERA OF CLIMATE
CHANGE.
THIS LAST OCTOBER, THE NATIONAL
ODOBON SOCIETY UPDATED CLIMATE
CHANGE VULNERABILITY FOR 604
BIRD SPECIES IN NORTH AMERICA.
THEIR FINDINGS ARE DIRE.
389 SPECIES ARE PROJECTED TO
LOSE OVER 50% OF THEIR BREEDING
HABITAT UNDER A 3-DEGREE
WARMING SCENARIO.
THESE BIRDS WILL BE FORCED TO
FIND SUITABLE NESTING
CONDITIONS ELSEWHERE, AND MAY
NOT SURVIVE.
108 OF THESE CLIMATE THREATENED
BIRDS OCCUR IN OUR OWN
BACKYARD.
SOME ARE EXTREMELY COMMON AND
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS WITHOUT THEM.
OUR URBAN FORESTS CAN HELP.
OUR URBN FOREST, LIKE THE
HUMMING BIRD, OTHER SPECIES MAY
BENEFIT WHEN WE MAINTAIN AND
ADVANCE THE CONNECTIVITY AND
DISTRIBUTION OF OUR TREES.
THE URBAN FOREST MAY BE ABLE TO
PROVIDE RESOURCES AS CLIMATE
CHANGE INTRODUCES ECHO SYSTEMS.
DIVERSITY IS PARTICULARLY
IMPORTANT AND SOMETHING WE CAN
BE RELATIVELY PROUD OF IN
SEATTLE.
I DID SOME CALCULATIONS IN FIVE
DIFFERENT CITIES.
WHERE DATA WERE AVAILABLE.
THE KEY COLUMN IS TO THE RIGHT.
EFFECTIVE NUMBER.
THIS PROVIDES A COMPARABLE
INDICATOR.
SEATTLE'S VALUE IS 23.
THIS COMPARES TO BUFFALOES,
14.6.
57% MORE DIVERSE THAN BUFFALO,
NEW YORK COMMUNITY.
28% MORE DIVERSE THAN NEW YORK
CITY'S.
MORE DIVERSE THAN VANCOUVER.
ONLY PORTLAND SCORES MORE
FAVORABLY.
JUST BY 2% AND THEY HAVE A
BIGGER CITY AREA ANYWAY.
THE DIVERSITY OF OUR URBAN
FOREST IS ENHANCED FURTHER BY
TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY,
PARKS, AND INSTITUTIONS.
YOU CAN MEET TREES FROM EVERY
TREE BEARING CONTINENT ON A
WALK THROUGH SEATTLE.
SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL
PROPERTIES ARE REPORTEDLY
HARBOR THE GREATEST DIVERSITY
AND THE GREATEST NUMBER OF
CONFERS.
WE OFTEN LOSE THESE TREES AS WE
MAKE ROOM FOR MORE NEIGHBORS IN
OUR CITY.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE NOT BEEN
TRACKING HOW MANY OR WHICH
KINDS OF TREES WE'VE BEEN
LOSING FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY IN
A MEANINGFUL WAY.
THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION
RECOMMENDED CAPTURING THAT
INFORMATIN THROUGH A TREE
REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT PERMIT
IN AN ASSOCIATED DATA BASE.
THOSE DATA COULD HELP GUIDE US
IN OUR REPLANTING EFFORTS TO
MAINTAIN AND ENHANCE DIVERSITY.
STRUCTURAL DIVERSITY IS ALSO
IMPORTANT.
DIFFERENT BIRDS HAVE DIFFERENT
NEEDS AND USE FOREST RESOURCES
IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
SPARROWS TEND TO FORAGE ON THE
GROUND.
HUMMINGBIRDS NEST IN THE SHRUB.
CHICKS GET INSECTS HIGHER IN
THE UNDERSTORY AND EAGLES SEEK
GOOD VANTAGE POINTS IN THE TOPS
OF TREES.
TREE GROVES PROVIDE THIS
STRUCTURAL DIVERSITY.
THE LARGELY CONCENTRATED IN
PARKS, GROVES ARE SCATTERED
THROUGHOUT OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
AND INSTITUTIONAL LANDS.
PROTECTIG GROWTH IS SOMETHING
THEY ARE RECOMMENDING IN THEIR
DRAFT ORDINANCE SUBMITTED TO
THE COUNCIL.
REPLACING GROWTH IS EXTREMELY
CHALLENGING IN NEIGHBORHOODS
WHERE PLANTABLE SPACE IS
SCARCE.
SEATTLE HAS BEEN COUNTING BIRDS
IN SEATTLE AREA PARKS FOR
DECADES.
FREQUENCY OF CERTAIN FOREST
DEPENDENT SPECIES, LIKE BROWN
CREEPERS, WOODPECKERS, AND SEE
HOW THAT CORRELATES WITH TREE
CANOPY COVER AT THOSE PARKS.
THE GRAPH ON THE RIGHT SHOWS AN
OBSERVATION FREQUENCY ACCESS.
HOW OFTEN DO WE SEE THESE BIRDS
WHEN WE GO OUT LOOKING?
ON THE BOTTOM, THERE'S CANOPY
COVER INCREASING FROM LEFT TO
RIGHT.
WE PLOTTED SEVEN DIFFERENT
PARKS HERE AND YOU CAN FIND
WHAT WE'D EXPECT AS CANOPY
COVER INCREASES, WE TEND TO SEE
MORE FOREST DEPENDENT SPECIES.
HOWEVER, YOU'LL NOTICE AT THE
VERY TOP, AN EXTREME OUTLIER.
WE SEE BIRDS ALMOST EVERY TIME
WE GO OUT AND LOOK.
DESPITE THE FACT IT HAS A
SIMILAR CANOPY COVER.
IF YOU HAVE EVER BEEN THERE,
YOU MIGHT KNOW THAT IT IS
DOMINATED BY BIG LEAF MAPLES.
WHEREAS DOMINATED BY SOME OF
THE LAST REMAINING OLD GROWTH
CONFERS IN SEATTLE.
THOUGH THIS DATA DOESN'T PROVE
IT, THOSE BIG CONFERS ARE
PROVIDING SUPERIOR HABITAT TO
FOREST DEPENDENT SPECIES THAN
SOME OF THE SPECIES DO.
ANOTHER THING I'D POINT OUT
ABOUT THIS GRAPH IS THAT THE
MODEL TREND IS ARHYTHMIC.
SMALL CHANGES CAN HAVE BIG
IMPACTS ON WHAT HAPPENS TO
OUROBSERVATIONS OF BIRDS.
ONCE WE REACH ABOUT 20% CANOPY
COVER, WE DON'T OBSERVE THESE
BIRDS ANYMORE.
THERE MAY BE THRESHOLDS WHICH
CANOPY COVER DETERMINES WHETHER
THESE BIRDS CAN PERSIST IN OUR
CITY.
THAT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT
AS WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE
CANOPY COVER ACROSS OUR CITY
AND CONNECTIVITY.
CONNECTIVITY WOULD MEAN DENSE
PATHWAYS OF CONNECTED
CONTINUOUS HABITAT ACROSS THE
CITY.
BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS CAN SUPPORT A
DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE OF
BIRDS, TOO.
A WAY OF LOOKING AT THAT, AT
THE 2016 LIGHT OUR CANOPY
ASSESSMENT SCALE.
AT FIRST GLANCE, IT LOOKS
PRETTY GOOD.
SEATTLE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD.
BUT IT'S UNEVENLY DISTRIBUTED.
SO HERE ARE SOME MAPS OF THE
CANOPY COVER BROKEN DOWN BY
NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGHOUT
SEATTLE.
GREEN INDICATES CANOPY COVER IN
EXCESS OF THE THRESHOLD
INDICATED AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH
MAP.
BLUE INDICATES LOWER THAN THE
THRESHOLD INDICATED AT THE
BOTTOM OF THE MAP.
20% IS THE CITY WIDE TOTAL OF
CANOPY COVER ACROSS THE CITY.
MANY OF OUR COMMUNITIES ARE
LACKING THAT LEVEL OF CANOPY
COVER.
OVER A DOZEN HAVE LESS OR EQUAL
TO 20% CANOPY COVER.
FOR CONTEXT, THE CITY OF L.A.
HAS A CANOPY COVER OF 20%.
DOZENS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
HAVE A CANOPY COVER LOWER THAN
LOS ANGELES.
WE WOULDN'T EXPECT TO SEE BIRDS
LIKE THE WOODPUCKER OR BROWN
KEEPER.
THERE ARE SOME REALLY TREE
DEFICIENT NEIGHBORHOODS,
INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL
DISTRICT AND GEORGETOWN,
BELLTOWN, AND OTHER DOWNTOWN
COMMUNITIES.
ADDRESSING THESE EQUITY ISSUES
IS SOMETHING OUR URBAN FORESTRY
IS TACKLING.
IT'S IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY WHEN
MAKING SURE OUR COMMUNITIES ARE
RESILIENT TO CLIMATE CHANGE.
BEFORE I FINISH, I WANT TO MAKE
THE POINT THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING THAT WE CAN DO FOR OUR
URBAN FOREST IS PROTECT THE
TREES WE ALREADY HAVE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
THE URBAN FOREST IS A HIGH
VALUE INVESTMENT THAT HAS BEEN
MATURING FOR DECADES AND CAN
TAKE ONLY A MOMENT TO FALL A
TREE AND LOSE THAT INVESTMENT.
A STRONGER FUNDED ENFORCED TREE
PROTECTION ORDINANCE WILL HELP
PROTECT OUR URBAN FOREST AS
PART OF A STRATEGY THAT NEEDS
FOR BIRDS AND WILDLIFE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] WE'RE REALLY
PLEASED TO HAVE SOMEBODY FROM
THE CITY OF PORTLAND COME UP
HERE THIS MORNING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING
HERE TO SHARE SOME OF THE
WISDOM AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM
THE CITY DOWN SOUTH.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
I APPRECIATE THE INVITE.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS CASEY ON THE
URBAN FORESTRY PERMITTING AND
REGULATION MANAGER WITHIN THE
CITY OF PORTLAND.
SO FIRST, I WANT TO START OFF
AND APPLAUD THE CITY OF SEATTLE
FOR REALLY THINKING ABOUT THIS
AND LOOKING TO FURTHER
STRENGTHEN THEIR TREE ORDINANCE
AND TREE CODES AND REGULATIONS
BECAUSE AS EVERYBODY HAS
MENTIONED, WE ARE IN
ESSENTIALLY A CLIMATE CRISIS.
THE WAY IN WHICH WE MANAGE OUR
TREES NEEDS TO BE MODERNIZED
ALONG WITH THE WAY IN WHICH
WE'RE CHANGING.
SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO
CONTINUE TO THINK ABOUT THAT
AND CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE
INITIATIVES FORWARD.
IT DOES TAKE TIME AND IT SOUNDS
LIKE THE CITY OF SEATTLE HAS
BEEN AT IT FOR SOME TIME.
AND SO KIND OF SHIFTING INTO
THE CITY OF PORTLAND, SPEAK TO
THE SAME COMPONENT IN TERMS OF
THE TIME IT TAKES.
BEFORE I WAS IN THE CITY OF
PORTLAND, I BELIEVE, I DON'T
KNOW THE FULL NUMBER OF YEARS.
IT TOOK A NUMBER OF YEARS TO
GET TO THE UPDATED TREE CODE.
THAT WAS PASSED BY COUNCIL IN
2011.
AND THEN DUE TO FUNDING
COMPONENTS, IT WASN'T
IMPLEMENTED UNTIL 2015.
SO THAT'S QUITE A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF TIME AND IMPORTANT TO
THINK ABOUT AS YOU'RE THINKING
ABOUT CHANGING ORDINANCES AND
THE FUNDING NECESSARY IN ORDER
TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.
SO AS I MENTIONED IN 2015, THE
CITY OF PORTLAND IMPLEMENTED
THEIR NEW TREE CODE AND THE
PURPOSE OF THAT WAS VERY
SIMILAR IN TERMS OF
STRENGTHENING THE REGULATIONS
AROUND TREES AND THEN MORE
SIGNIFICANTLY, IT REALLY
BROUGHT INTO THE REGULATIONS ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY BECAUSE I
THINK I HEARD HERE MENTIONED AS
WELL, THAT IS WHERE A MAJORITY
OF CANOPY EXISTS.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT AN URBAN
CANOPY, IT'S NOT JUST THE CITY
AND STREET TREES THAT ARE ON
CITY PROPERTY OR IN THE RIGHT
OF WAY.
IT'S ALSO THE TREES ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY.
SO AS OF 2015, WITHIN THE CITY
OF PORTLAND, THAT'S WHEN ALL
PRIVATE TREES OVER A CERTAIN
SIZE THRESHOLD BECAME
REGULATED.
THERE WERE SOME THAT WERE
REGULATED IN THE PAST THAT I
WON'T GET INTO THE DETAILS.
IT WAS A SMALL PORTION OF THAT.
AND REALLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS
OF THE TREE CODE, WHICH IN THE
CITY OF PORTLAND IS CALLED
TITLE 11 IS THAT IT WAS
IMPLEMENTED AND SORT OF BROUGHT
ABOUT BY COMMUNITY ADVOCATES
AND CARRIED FORTH THROUGH THE
CITY IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN THE
FACT THAT TREES ARE
INFRASTRUCTURE.
AND IN THE CITY OF PORTLAND, WE
OFTEN TALK ABOUT, YOU HAVE CITY
TRAFFIC ENGINEERS AND ENGUY
NEARS AND THOSE ARE MANAGING
YOUR WATER PIPES AND SEWER
SYSTEMS AS WELL AS YOUR STREET
SYSTEMS AND TRANSPORTATION AND
TREES ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT
COMPONENT OF THAT
INFRASTRUCTURE.
[ APPLAUSE ] THE TREE CODE
WITHIN THE CITY OF PORTLAND
SPOKE TO THAT.
THE CITY FORESTER, I'M GOING TO
GET INTO STRUCTURE AS WELL, IS
AN AUTHORITY OVER A REALLY
IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF THE
CITY'S LIVEABILITY, AS WELL AS
THE AESTHETIC VALUE, MONETARY
VALUE, AND WHAT THAT CITY IS
MADE UP OF.
SO, THINK MORE ABOUT WHAT IS
HAPPENING HERE AND I DON'T KNOW
ALL THE DETAILS.
I'VE HEARD QUITE A BIT TODAY
AND DONE SOME READING MYSELF.
I THINK I HEARD THERE'S NINE
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE
WORKING ON REGULATIONS AND THAT
IS SOMETHING WHEN THE CITY OF
PORTLAND WORKED ON THEIR NEW
TREE CODE, IT WAS REALLY TO
SIMPLIFY FOR THE PUBLIC BECAUSE
THERE'S -- [ APPLAUSE ] THERE
ARE TREES EVERYWHERE, AS WE
MENTIONED, AND DIFFERENT
REGULATIONS THAT OVERLAP WITH
ONE ANOTHER.
AND SO THE ULTIMATE AUTHORITY
TO THE CITY OF FORESTER WITHIN
THE URBAN FORESTRY DIVISION AND
THERE'S COMPONENTS OF THAT CODE
THAT ARE ALSO MANAGED AND
REGULATED THROUGH THE BUREAU OF
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND THAT
IS BECAUSE DEVELOPMENT ALSO HAS
A PRETTY STRONG RELATIONSHIP TO
TREES.
AND SO THAT IS ONE THING THAT I
WOULD SAY IN TERMS OF WHAT I'M
HEARING FROM THE CITY OF
SEATTLE.
UNIFYING THAT AS MUCH AS
POSSIBLE BECAUSE I CAN ONLY
IMAGINE THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU
WOULD BE FACED WITH HAVING NINE
DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TRYING TO
CONSISTENTLY AND CORRECTLY
MANAGE AND ENFORCE TREE
REGULATIONS.
ALSO, THE OUTREACH COMPONENT IN
TERMS OF IMPLEMENTING A NEW
TREE CODE IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT.
WE'RE SIX YEARS OR SO INTO OUR
NEW TREE CODE AND WE STILL HAVE
SOME STRUGGLES WITH THE
COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING WHAT
CHANGED.
HOW IT CHANGED, WHY IT CHANGED.
AND SO WE FIND NUMEROUS
RESIDENTS WITHIN ENFORCEMENT
SITUATIONS JUST DUE TO A LACK
OF OUTREACH.
SO I CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS
INVOLVED, AWARE, AND THAT
THERE'S A BIG CAMPAIGN THAT
GOES OUT IF THERE ARE CHANGES
TO WHAT YOUR TREE CODE IS,
ESPECIALLY AS WE MENTIONED
BECAUSE THOSE TREES ARE ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY ARE A HUGE
COMPONENT TO WHAT THAT URBAN
COMPONENT IS MADE UP OF.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE YOU WANT
TO MAKE SURE UNDERSTANDS WHAT
IS HAPPENING SO THEY CAN REALLY
DO VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT A TREE
CODE, THAT'S THE GOAL.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE COMPONENTS
OF THAT, THAT WE DO NEED TO PUT
INTO PLACE IN TERMS OF MANAGING
THAT, BUT THE GOAL OF THE TREE
CODE IS TO MANAGE VOLUNTARY
COMPLIANCE.
IF PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF IT,
THEN YOU'RE ALREADY PUTTING
YOURSELF DOWN A STEP.
SO I WANT TO TALK A BIT ABOUT
WHAT WE'VE FACED IN TERMS OF
CHALLENGES WITH THE TREE CODE
IN PORTLAND.
IN THE FIRST FEW YEARS AS WELL
AS LESSONS LEARNED.
SO IN TERMS OF STRUCTURE, I
WOULD SAY TREES AND DEVELOPMENT
ARE PROBABLY THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE THAT WE
FACE AT THE MOMENT.
WHICH SEEMS VERY RELATEABLE TO
THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
AND WE DO HAVE, I SHOULD SAY
WHEN THE CODE FIRST CAME OUT,
THERE WAS A FEE IN LIEU THAT
WAS PLACED FOR TREES AND
DEVELOPMENTS.
THAT FEE IN LIEU ISN'T
NECESSARILY, DOESN'T EQUATE
DIRECTLY TO PRESERVATION.
IT IS AN AVENUE TO BUY YOUR WAY
OUT OF PRESERVATION FOR LACK OF
BETTER TERMS.
AND SO FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT
MAYBE FOLLOW THE NEWS IN
PORTLAND.
IN 2016, THERE WAS A
SIGNIFICANT UPROAR IN THE CITY
OF PORTLAND FOR TWO GIANT SE COY
QUIAS.
TOGETHER TO COME UP WITH MONEY
IN ORDER TO SAVE THOSE TREES
AND ESSENTIALLY PURCHASE THE
LOT FROM THE DEVELOPER TO
PREVENT THE TREES FROM BEING
REMOVED.
AND THAT MADE ITS WAY INTO CITY
COUNCIL AND SO THERE WAS AN
EMERGENCY AMENDMENT ESSENTIALLY
MADE TO THE TREE CODE AND THAT
WAS -- [ APPLAUSE ] THAT WAS TO
REQUIRE AN INCH PER INCH FEE IN
LIEU FOR ANY TREES 36 INCHES
AND GREATER.
SO BEFORE THAT, IT WAS A TIERED
APPROACH, DEPENDING UPON THE
SIZE THRESHOLD OF A TREE.
CURRENTLY, AS YOU HIT A 36-INCH
THRESHOLD, IF YOU ARE NOT GOING
TO PRESERVE THAT TREE, WHICH
THAT WOULD BE THE FIRST INTENT,
YOU'LL HAVE TO PAY THE FEE IN
LIEU AND AT THE MOMENT IN THE
CITY OF PORTLAND, THAT'S AT
$450 AN INCH.
SO YOU CAN TAKE THAT BY YOUR 36
INCHES AND THAT'S THE VERY
LOWEST THAT YOU CAN BEGIN TO
PAY IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT A TREE
36 INCHES AND GREATER.
SO THAT WAS A CHALLENGE THAT WE
FACED AND THAT WE ARE STILL
FACING, AND JUST AS OF LAST
WEEK, THIS EMERGENCY AMENDMENT
THAT WAS PUT IN PLACE IN 2016
HAD A SUNSET DATE OF DECEMBER
31 OF THIS YEAR.
SO IT HAS BEEN IN CITY COUNCIL
RIGHT NOW AND HAS DEFINITELY
BROUGHT ABOUT SOME OTHER
CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE FACING.
SO CURRENTLY, THAT SIZE
THRESHOLD AND THIS IS ONE THING
I WOULD SAY IN TERMS OF LESSONS
LEARNED.
YES, 36 INCHES IS A SIGNIFICANT
TREE.
BUT WHERE EXACTLY DOES THAT
NUMBER COME FROM?
TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHEN YOU
ARE DECIDING A FEE IN LIEU IS
BASED ON A SIZE OR I'VE HEARD
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
SIGNIFICANCE OR EXCEPTIONAL
TREES.
IF YOU'RE USING A SIZE, WHY ARE
YOU USING THAT SIZE?
WHAT'S THE RATIONAL FOR THAT
SIZE?
SO CURRENTLY, THERE'S
CONVERSATION GOING ON WITHIN
THE CITY OF PORTLAND AND CITY
COUNCIL ABOUT SHOULD THE
THRESHOLD FOR THE 36-INCH BE
LOWERED TO 20-INCH AND THEN
POTENTIALLY FURTHER IN TERMS OF
WHERE IS THIS NUMBER?
AND IF YOU DO DIVE INTO THE
DETAILS OF CITY OF PORTLAND'S
TREE CODE, 12 INCHES IS A
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER AND THAT IS
WHERE WE START FROM.
SO THERE'S CONVERSATION AS WELL
AS SHOULD IT START AT 12
INCHES.
AND SO WE HAVE A DRAFT
RESOLUTION IN COUNCIL RIGHT NOW
TO LOOK AT THAT.
THE SUNSET DATE WAS EXTENDED.
SO WE HAVE ANOTHER FIVE YEARS
AND I THINK I HEARD SOME PUBLIC
TESTIMONY ABOUT DATA AND THAT
WAS THE REASON THAT WAS
EXTENDED.
IT WAS IN ORDER TO REALLY DO
SOME DATA ANALYSIS BETWEEN BOTH
PORTLAND PARKS RECREATION URBAN
FORESTRY DIVISION.
SINCE WE BOTH HAVE AUTHORITY
OVER CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF THE
TREE CODE AND REALLY UNDERSTAND
WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHY WE'RE
DOING IT AND HAVE THE DATA TO
SUPPORT WHAT PROPOSAL MAY GO
BACK.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT
THE FEE IN LIEU.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS ONE
THAT IS EXISTING RIGHT NOW IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE OR A
PROPOSAL.
IT'S A PROPOSAL.
SO, AGAIN, AS I MENTIONED
ALREADY.
THE FEE IN LIEU IS NOT
NECESSARILY PRESERVATION.
SO TO THINK REALLY CAREFULLY
ABOUT THAT FEE IN LIEU, WHERE
YOU SET IT AT.
WHO IT IS INTENDED FOR.
IN THE CITY OF PORTLAND, WE
EXPERIENCED A SIGNIFICANT
DEVELOPMENT BOOM.
SOMETIMES THE PRICE TAG PUT ON
A FEE IN LIEU IS NOT A
DISINCENTIVE AS WE HOPED IT TO
BE.
AND ALSO I DO WANT TO SPEAK TO
THE BENEFITS OF A FEE IN LIEU
AS WELL BECAUSE THERE ARE
SOMETIMES REASONS WHY A FEE IN
LIEU DOES GET USED.
IN THE CITY OF PORTLAND, IT
GETS PUT INTO A TREE AND
PRESERVATION FUND THAT HAS VERY
STRICT RULES ABOUT WHAT IT CAN
BE USED FOR.
ESSENTIALLY, IT'S USED TO PUT
TREES BACK.
WE'VE DONE A NUMBER OF ANALYSIS
TO UNDERSTAND LOW INCOME, LOW
CANOPY AREAS WITHIN OUR CITY
AND SO WE PRIORITIZE THOSE
LOCATIONS WHEN UTILIZING THE
FUNDS THAT COME OUT OF THE TREE
AND PLANTING PRESERVATION FUND
WHERE THE FEE IN LIEU IS
PLACED.
SOME OTHER CHALLENGES THAT WE
FACED THAT ARE SITTING IN CITY
COUNCIL RIGHT NOW ARE
EXCEPTIONS.
I'M NOT SURE THE DETAILS OF THE
CITY OF SEATTLE'S TREE CODE,
BUT THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS WITHIN
THE CITY OF PORTLAND AND THIS
IS PRIMARILY WITHIN THE
DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER AND IT HAS
TO DO WITH COMMERCIAL AND
INDUSTRIAL ZONES.
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES
TEND TO BE SORT OF A LONG WATER
WAYS AND IN AREAS WHERE THERE
IS HIGH AIR POLLUTION AND
ESSENTIALLY AREAS THAT YOU NEED
THE TREES.
THAT IS ANOTHER COMPONENT OF
THE RESOLUTION THAT WE'RE
LOOKING AT IN THE CITY OF
PORTLAND IS DO THOSE EXEMPTIONS
NEED TO BE THERE?
AND AGAIN, EXEMPT THE
DEVELOPMENT FROM HAVING TO PAY
FEE IN LIEU AS WELL.
SO IT'S NOT JUST PRESERVATION,
IT'S ALSO FEE IN LIEU AND
REPLACEMENT PLANTING.
SO I WOULD SAY THAT HAS BEEN A
LESSON LEARNED.
WHEN THEY WERE FIRST PUT IN
PLACE HAD TO DO WITH THE URBAN
GROWTH BOUNDARY AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR THERE NOT BE
ENOUGH BUILDABLE LAND.
IT IT WAS INTENDED TO ALWAYS BE
LOOKED AT AGAIN AND SO NOW IS
THE TIME WHERE IT'S BEING
BROUGHT FORTH TO REALLY BE
LOOKED AT.
IF YOU DO HAVE EXEMPTIONS, A
TIME FRAME ON THEM.
I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT STRUCTURE THAT I
STARTED WITH BASED ON SOME
THINGS THAT I HEARD AND IT
SOUNDS LIKE WITH NINE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS, REALLY DIFFICULT
TO ENFORCE AND I WANT TO RELATE
THAT TO THE CITY OF PORTLAND.
WHEN THE NEW TREE CODE CAME
AROUND, THE BUREAU OF PLANNING,
OR THE BUREAU OF DEVELOPMENT
SERVICES WHERE PLANNING AND
ZONING DOES HOUSING PERMITS.
THOSE INSPECTORS ARE STILL
PERFORMING THOSE TYPES OF
INSPECTIONS, BUT WE SHIFTED THE
TREE INSPECTIONS TO THE TREE
INSPECTOR STAFF WHO ARE UNDER
THE URBAN FORESTRY DIVISION.
BECAUSE THEY ARE THE EXPERTS.
[ APPLAUSE ] SO, I WON'T SAY IT
DOESN'T CAUSE ITS OWN
CHALLENGES BECAUSE THERE'S TWO
DIFFERENT GROUPS OF PEOPLE
DOING INSPECTIONS, BUT IT DOES
ALLOW FOR THOSE WITH THE
EXPERTISE TO PERFORM THE
INSPECTIONS AND KNOW THAT IT IS
ACCURATE AND INTENDED TO BE
WHAT IT WAS ONCE ON PLANS AS IT
IS THAT IS BUILT OUT INTO THE
CITY.
SO I WOULD URGE FOR YOU TO LOOK
AT THAT IF THERE'S A POTENTIAL.
IT CAN BE VERY CHALLENGING FOR
THOSE WHO ARE PERFORMING SORT
OF ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL,
THOSE ARE ALL TRADE AREAS OF
EXPERTISE AS WELL AND TO ADD ON
TREES, IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING
TO FIND PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE
THAT BROAD SPECTRUM OF
KNOWLEDGE BASE.
I ALSO WANT TO TALK JUST
BRIEFLY ABOUT SPACE WITHIN THE
RIGHT OF WAY.
THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE
THAT THE CITY OF PORTLAND IS
FACING.
I WOULD MAJESTY OF SEATTLE AS
WELL.
I DON'T HAVE ANY MAGICAL
ANSWERS FOR THAT.
BUT AGAIN, IT KIND OF
REITERATING THAT TREES ARE
INFRASTRUCTURE AND EXTREMELY
VALUABLE AND ALL OF THE
UTILITIES AND EVERYTHING THAT
NEED TO BE PLACED IN THE RIGHT
OF WAY.
THERE IS AND CAN BE THE ROOM
FOR TREES AS WELL.
[ APPLAUSE ] THERE ARE CERTAIN
CITIES THAT YOU CAN LOOK UP.
I THINK JOSH HAD PUT THE NEW
YORK CITY UP THERE AND I HAD
WORKED THERE BRIEFLY.
IT'S REFERRED TO OFTEN AS THE
CONCRETE JUNGLE.
AND I'M NOT SURE IF ANYONE IS
FAMILIAR.
THEY PUT A CAMPAIGN ON THE
MILLION TREES CAMPAIGN WHERE
ESSENTIALLY IT WAS A MAYOR
INITIATIVE TO PLANT TREES IN
ALL LOCATIONS WHERE TREES WERE
ABLE TO BE PLANTED.
AND THAT WAS THE RESULT OF NOT
THINKING FORWARD ABOUT PLACING
THE TREES AS DEVELOPMENT WAS ON
GOING UNTIL IT BECAME SO MUCH
CONCRETE THAT THERE HAD TO BE A
SIGNIFICANT INITIATIVE TO PUT
THE GREEN BACK IN.
SO I THINK THE CITY OF PORTLAND
AND THE CITY OF SEATTLE.
A LOT OF US ON THE WEST COAST
NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT,
SO WE DON'T END UP IN THAT
PLACE AND HAVE TO THINK ABOUT
WHERE WE FIND THE FUNDS NOW TO
PUT EVERYTHING BACK THAT WE
HAVE LOST.
[ APPLAUSE ]
I GUESS LASTLY, I SPOKE A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE IN TERMS OF WHERE WE
PLANT TREES.
JUST THINKING ABOUT EQUITY.
AS THE RESEARCH HAS SHOWN US,
TYPICALLY THOSE LOW INCOME
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE THE ONES WITH
LOW CANOPY AND WHATEVER
INITIATIVES THAT ARE PUT FORTH
AND ESPECIALLY PUT INTO CODE
SHOULD HELP TO PROMOTE THAT, OR
NOT PROMOTE THAT, BUT TO FIX
THAT AND PROMOTE THE EQUITY
WITHIN THE URBAN CANOPY.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR YOU
TODAY.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO STICK AROUND
IF THERE ARE ANY SIGNIFICANT
QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.
>> THANK YOU.
C1
>> I'LL EXTEND THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD BUT I DIDN'T
KNOW IF THE EXECUTIVE WANTED TO
MAKE ANY MORE COMMENTS OR
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS HAD ANY
QUESTION OR WHILE WE HAD THE
CITY OF PORTLAND HERE
>> I WANTED TO MAKE A
CLARIFICATION.
WE HAVE 9 DEPARTMENTS THAT DO
URBAN FORESTRY WORK, AND THEY
ARE NOT ALL WORKING ON THESE
SPECIFIC SET OF REGULATIONS.
>> OKAY.
THEY MANAGED TREES OF PARKS IN
THE NATURAL AREAS.
AND I DON'T WANT IF YOU WANT TO
TRY AND --
>> IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I
DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD
EXCEPT THAT MAYBE WE DO OFTEN
TRADE SUCCESS AND LESSONS
LEARNED, STORIES WITH THE CITY
OF PORTLAND AND OTHER LIKE
CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND
WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
THEM MORE IN THE FUTURE.
>> GREAT.
>> I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
THANK THE AUDUBON SITE AND THE
CITY OF PORTLAND FOR COMING UP
OR DOWN.
AND TO ALL THE ADVOCATES IN THE
ROOM AS WELL.
PLEASE KEEP UP YOUR ADVOCACY.
WE NEED TO PASS THIS THIS YEAR,
AND THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO
BE DONE.
THERE IS A LOT OF OUTREACH TO
BE DONE AND FINE-TUNING.
AS WE HEARD FROM THE CITY OF
PORTLAND, THERE WERE A NUMBER
OF YEARS THAT IT TOOK TO SEE
THEIR TREE ORDINANCE PASS,
IMPLEMENTED, AND TO BE
EFFECTIVE FOR ALL THE
RESIDENTS.
WHILE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS FOR 10 YEARS ALREADY IN
FITS AND STARTS, I DON'T
BELIEVE THIS IS APPLE-TO-APPLE
COMPARISON WITH THE CITY OF
PORTLAND.
IT DEMONSTRATES TO US THAT WE
HAVE QUITE A BIT OF WORK TO DO,
AND I'M EXCITED TO GET THIS
WORK DONE.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> AND I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE
FOR DEVELOPMENT OF LEGISLATION
AND POLICY, IT'S SO HELPFUL FOR
US TO HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY, SO
PROFESSOR BROWN FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, IT
WAS GREAT TO LOOK AT HIM AND AT
THE OTHER CITIES WE ARE DOING
SO WE ARE NOT REINVENTING THE
WHEEL, AND WE HAVE SO MUCH ON
THE CENTRAL STAFF AND LOOK
FORWARD TO COLLABORATING AND
WORKING TOGETHER TO MAKE IT A
STRONGER TREE ORDINANCE AND
ENFORCE IT.
NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
ANOTHER 20 MINUTES AT LEAST, 2
MINUTES PER SPEAKER.
THE PRESENTERS CAN TAKE A SEAT.
BUT REALLY APPRECIATE THEM
BEING HERE AND WE'LL READ FROM
THE SIGN IN SHEET.
NEXT TOWN COVER THE MICROPHONE,
STEVE ZEMKE, PATRICIA SILLS,
AND RICHARD ELLISON.
DID I GET THE WRONG THING?
WE WILL GO AHEAD AND DO THAT
AND GET BACK IN THE REGULAR
ORDER.
GO AHEAD.
>> I AM THE CHAIR OF THE
SEATTLE DRIVEN FOREST AND
WORKED WITH THE COALITION FOR
THE CHAIR OF THE STRONGER TREE
ORDINANCE.
ONE NOTE, THERE ARE A LOT OF
PROVISIONS WRITTEN IN THE
ORDINANCE IN 2001.
THE REALITY IS SOME OF THE
PROVISIONS HAVE NOT BEEN
ENFORCED.
THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM.
ONE OF THE PARTICULAR ONES, WE
COMMUNITY GROUPS AND URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION RAISED IS
THE TAX THAT SAID DEVELOPERS
SHOULD REPLACE ALL TREES 24"
AND LARGER AND EXCEPTIONAL
TREES ON SITE OR ON CITY
PROPERTY.
OUR BEST EXPIRATION OF THIS IS
THE CITY HAS NOT BEEN DOING
THIS.
THERE IS NO RECORD OF TREES
LOST.
THERE IS NO RECORD OF TREES
THAT WERE LOST AND REPLACED
ANYWHERE WHERE THEY ARE.
THERE IS NO RECORD OF FUNDS
BEING GIVEN TO THE CITY TO
PLANT THE TREES.
THEY HAVE NOT BEEN REPLANTED.
WE HOPE IN THE DRAFT THAT THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION HAS
COME UP WITH, WE LOOKED AT
PORTLAND.
WE LOOKED@AT OTHER CITIES.
THEY SAID WE NEED A PERMIT
SYSTEM.
WHY?
SO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC KNOW
WHEN THE TREES ARE BEING
REMOVED, AND THAT IS THE SDOT
SYSTEM WHICH REQUIRES A PERMIT
FOR TREE REMOVAL AND
REPLACEMENT AND POSTING FOR THE
TREES.
WANT TO NOTE THAT IN TERMS OF
THE AGE OF TREES WITH PORTLAND
IN TERMS OF THE SIZE OF TREES
THAT DOUGLAS FIR TREES HAVE A
GROWTH FACTOR OF 1" IN FIVE
YEARS.
SO IF YOU LOOK AT A 30" TREE,
THAT WILL BE 150 YEARS OLD.
FROM THE CANOPY STUDY WE HAVE
ONLY 6000 TREES THAT ARE 30"
AND LARGER, SO THAT'S WHAT WE
ARE LOOKING AT.
THOSE PRVIDE THE MOST VALUE
AND PRESERVING OTHER TREES
THERE TO REPLACE THE TREES.
THEY WILL NOT LAST FOREVER.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SUPPORT MOVING FORWARD AND
HOLDING THIS MEETING TODAY.
>> THANK YOU.
SO WE WILL HEAR FROM TRISHA
SILLS AND RICHARD ELLISON AND
BACK TO THE REGULAR ORDER OF
MARIA.
>> HI.
I AM FROM THE MAPLE LEAF
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH MANY TREES
AND THERE IS A NEW DEVELOPER
FROM A COMMON DEVELOPER WE ALL
KNOW, AND A LOT WILL BE LOGGED
OFF, AND THERE WAS AN
ASSESSMENT OF THE TREES ON THE
SPOT.
THREE WERE DETERMINED TO BE
EXCEPTIONAL.
THEY WILL TAKE DOWN ONE HOUSE
AND PUT UP THREE.
THEY DEEMED TWO OF THESE
EXCEPTIONAL TREES DUE TO
PRUNING POWER LINES WILL NOW BE
A THREAT TO THE DEVELOPMENT DUE
TO WIND SO THEY CAN BE TAKEN
DOWN.
THEN THERE WAS ONE OTHER ON THE
PROPERTY LINE THAT WAS DEEMED
EXCEPTIONAL BUT THEY DECIDED
BECAUSE OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THIS PROPERTY THEY WERE GOING
TO IMPOSE ON THE ONE SIDE OF
THE ROOT STRUCTURE THAT WAS
PROBABLY GOING TO DESTROY THE
TREE IN THE LONG RUN ANYWAY.
SO THAT WAS DEEMED OKAY TO TAKE
DOWN.
WE JUST LOST THREE EXCEPTIONAL
TREES ON ONE LOT AND NOT TO
MENTION THE OTHER MORE MINOR
TREES ON THE PROPERTY.
WE NEED THIS MORATORIUM BECAUSE
ALL THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING
RIGHT UNDER OUR EYES, AND IT
NEEDS TO STOP UNTIL SOMETHING
GETS IN PLACE AND THERE IS A
RULE TO STOP THIS.
>> HELLO.
MY NAME IS RICHARD ELLISON.
I LIVE IN THE REGULAR
COMMUNITY.
RECENTLY, THERE WERE TWO LOTS
IN WEDGEWOOD WITH 11 TREES.
SOME OF THEM WERE SIGNIFICANT
TREES.
THE ENTIRE LOT WAS CLEARED AND
REPLACED WITH THREE NEW HOMES.
THERE ARE SMALL TREES THAT WERE
PLANTED BUT THE LOSS OF 11
LARGE TREES ON OUR PARCEL SEEMS
EXCESSIVE.
THE SEATTLE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
CALLS FOR FOUR CORE VALUES, ONE
OF THEM ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP.
BUT WE ARE DRAGGING OUR HEELS
HERE.
EVERYONE SAYING OH, 10 YEARS WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
THAT'S INCORRECT.
WE WORKED ON THIS FOR 20 YEARS.
DAN DRAGO PUT TOGETHER A
WORKFORCE GROUP INCLUDING THE
SEATTLE AUDUBON SOCIETY AND
OTHERS, AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING
ON FOR A LONG TIME.
THIS GAME HAS BEEN KICKED DOWN
THE ROAD FOR TOO LONG.
WE CAN SAY OH, WE NEED MORE
TIME FOR REVIEW.
WE NEED MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS
AND PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE HAD MORE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND
PUBLIC HEARINGS.
THERE WERE WORKSHOPS.
THERE WERE SEATTLE COUNTY
PUBLIC HEARINGS ING 1999 AND
1998.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON TOO
LONG.
THE RECORD TEMPERATURE, 103
DEGREES IN SEATTLE IN THE YEAR
2009.
LAST YEAR WAS -- THIS YEAR,
EXAMINE, EXCUSE ME, WAS THE
HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD.
WE HAD FOREST FIRES MAKING THE
AIR QUALITY TERRIBLE.
WE WERE WONDERING, JEEZ, EVERY
SUMMER WE WILL HAVE THE
TERRIBLE AIR QUALITY IN
SEATTLE.
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
MARIE, DEIDRE CURLY, AND JIM
DAVIS.
>> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I AM GOING TO DO A QUICK ONE ON
THE TREES.
I AM MARIE BASTIOLA.
SO WE REALLY NEED TO INCREASE
THE TREE CANOPY.
WE ARE SURROUNDED BY AIR AND
NOISE POLLUTIN.
120,000 CARS ON I 90, 250,000
ON I-5, AND AIRPLANES EVERY 90
SECONDS FROM 70 TO 90-DECIBELS.
SEA-TAC HAS PROPOSED TO DOUBLE
INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS AND
TRIPLE CARGO AND GO FROM 47 TO
66 MILLION PASSENGERS.
WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, 70 TO
80% PEOPLE OF COLOR AND 40%
IMMIGRANTS, SO WITH THAT, I
WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SWITCH TO
ANOTHER TOPIC WHICH IS SO KEY
IN LIFE, AND THAT IS
COUNCILWOMAN HERBOLD'S ANTI-
DISGRACEMENT PROPOSAL.
ON BEHALF OF RUBY HOLLINS,
REVEREND HARRIET WALDRON, AND
THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY JOHN
FOX, SEATTLE DISPLACEMENT
COALITION, REVEREND DAVID
BLOOM, AND THE FOUNDER OF
INTERFAITH TASK FORCE AND HOME
LITTLENESS, AND THE SEATTLE
COALITION FOR LIVABLE AND
EQUITY, AND MYSELF ON BEACON
HILL, WE APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL
FOCUSING ON HOMELESSNESS AND
FOCUSING ON LOW INCOME HOUSING
BUT THE OTHER FACTORS IS
REGULARRING FIGURING OUT WHAT
THE DISPLACEMENT IS SO WE AS
THE PUBLIC CAN WEIGH IN WITH
OUR LIVING EXPERIENCE AND
IMPROVE THAT.
THIS IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
FOR US, AND YOU ARE LITERALLY
THE GATE KEEPER ON THIS ITEM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
JIM DAVIS, BARBARA BERNARD, IS
DEIDRE STILL HERE?
HOW ABOUT JIM DAVIS?
AND THEN BARBARA BERNARD, CATHY
KIRKOFF, SUSAN ZEIMAN.
>> I AM ALSO WITH THE BEACON
HILL COUNCIL AND A RESIDENT OF
BEACON HILL.
I AM HERE TO ADVOCATE FOR MY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY
IMPACTED BY AIR NOISE AND AIR
POLLUTION FROM BOTH I-90, I-5
AND BEING RIGHT UNDER THE
FLIGHT PATH OF SEA-TAC AIRPORT.
WE REALLY NEED GOOD TREES IN
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO HELP
PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT.
WE ARE ALSO A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
IS -- HAS LOWER C FS AND A HIGH
PROPORTION OF PEOPLE OF COLOR
AND WHO DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH.
WE ARE JUST HERE TO ASK FOR A
STRONGER TREE CANOPY TO
PROTECT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
JIM DAVIS, BARBARA BERNARD AND
CATHY KIRKOFF.
>> I AM JIM DAVIS AND A
VOLUNTEER WITH THE LAST 6000
CAMPAIGN, A CIVIC CAMPAIGN TO
LOCATE THE LAST TREES IN
SEATTLE, 30" GREATER IN TRUNK
DIAMETER.
I HAVE TO SAY THAT WE STARTED
THE CAMPAIGN LAST APRIL.
WE HAVE HAD NEARLY 1200 TREES
SUBMITTED BY THE PEOPLE OF
SEATTLE THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN.
THEY'RE COMING IN FROM EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD, AND I HAVE TO
SAY, THIS IS THE FIRST VOLUME
OF OUR FIRST BOOK FOR OUR
MAJESTIC TREES.
ACTUALLY, AFTER LISTENING TO
JOSH, I WANT TO SEE HOW MANY
EUCALYPTUS TREES ARE THERE.
HUNDREDS HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
HAVE SUBMITTED TREES THROUGH
THIS CAMPAIGN, AND I WOULD SAY
THEY DEFINITELY VOTED WITH
THEIR FEET AND CAMERAS THAT
LARGE TREES ARE IMPORTANT TO
THEM, AND I HOPE YOU TAKE THIS
INTO CONSIDERATION IN
PROCEEDING IN WHAT WE CAN DO TO
PROTECT LARGE TREES.
THANK YOU.
>> BARBARA BERNARD, CATHY
KIRKOFF, SUSAN ZIEMAN
>> HI.
I'M BARBARA BERNARD, CONCERNED
SEATTLE CITIZEN.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING TO US AND EXTENDING
THE COMMENT PERIOD TATE..
I WANT TO NOTE THAT I AM
PRIVILEGED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE
TIME FROM WORK AND COME HERE TO
COMMENT.
AND OTHERS ARE EQUALLY
PASSIONATE AND CONCERNED AND
DON'T HAVE THE PRIVILEGE TO
TAKE TIME AWAY FROM WORK.
SEATTLE NEEDS TO BE MORE
FORWARD THINKING WHEN IT COMES
TO PRESERVING OUR URBAN CANOPY.
DEVELOPMENT AND DENSITY MUST BE
APPROACHED WITH A SMART DESIGN
THAT CONSIDERS THE EXISTING
CONNECTIVE ENVIRONMENT AND
EXISTING FOOTPRINT.
IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE IN THE
PAST FOUR YEARS, I HAVE SEEN
TWO HOUSES DEMOLISHED, THE LOTS
SCRAPED BARE AS MANY HAVE SAID
TODAY AND TAKING DOWN SEVERAL
MATURE TREES AND CANOPIES.
THEY WERE JUST UNDER THE
REQUIREMENT TO BE EXCEPTIONAL,
28, 29" AND DOUGLAS FIRS HAD TO
BE CONSIDERED 30" TO BE
EXCEPTIONAL BUT IN 1 OR TWO
MORE YEARS THEY WOULD HAVE MET
THE THRESHOLD.
OUR OWN HOME WE ARE SEEING
WHERE IT WAS BUILT, THE
ADJACENT LOT IS SHOWING EROSION
BECAUSE OF TAKING DOWN THE
NEIGHBORING TREES ON OUR BLOCK,
SOMETHING THAT WE HAD NOT
PLANNED FOR WITH THE STORMWATER
RUNOFF.
THUS, THE RESULT IS THE MISSING
CANOPY.
OUR NEIGHBOR ACROSS FROM OUR
SOLD THEIR HOME, AND NOW, THEY
ARE PUTTING ON 6 UNITS AND
SCRAPING A LOT THAT IS A 37%
CANOPY WITH OVER A 70-FOOT DOUG
FIR.
THAT WILL ALSO BE LOST.
THIS IS HOME TO SQUIRRELS,
URBAN WOOD ANIMALS AND THE
OCCASIONAL GREAT BLUE HERON
THAT COMES IN AND VISITS
BETWEEN ELLIOT BAY.
I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT
THERE IF A MORATORIUM CAN BE
ENACTED, A GOOD TIME WOULD BE
NOW.
WE KNOW IN 2016, THE TREE
CANOPY AUDIT WAS AT 28%.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CATHY KIRKOFF, SUSAN Z-
IIMAN, ROBERT KIRBY
>> I AM CATHY KIRKOFF.
I LIVE IN BALLARD IN THE URBAN
VILLAGE.
I HAVE TOLD PEOPLE THAT I NEVER
WANTED TO LIVE IN NEW YORK.
I DIDN'T EXPECT NEW YORK TO
COME TO ME.
ON MY ONE BLOCK, WE LOST A 6-
STORY BLACK WALNUT TREE THAT
WAS A MINIMUM OF 75 YEARS OLD.
ANOTHER DECIDUOUS TREE THAT WAS
4 STORIES TALL, AND A FIR TREE
THAT WAS PROBABLY 20" IN
DIAMETER.
THAT IS JUST ON ONE BLOCK.
WHAT'S CREATED IS EVERYTHING IS
LIKE YOU HAVE 3 BUILDINGS THAT
ARE TOTALLY FILLING UP THE LOT.
AND WHEN YOU HAVE THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE BLOCK DEVELOPED
WITH THE SAME THING, ALL YOU
HAVE IS HARDSCAPE.
THAT IS NOT MAKING FOR US A
SUSTAINABLE CITY.
DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A CITY THAT
IS ALL CONCRETE, IS ONLY
INHABITED BY PEOPLE AND THEIR
CATS AND DOGS?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE
HEADING TOWARDS UNLESS WE SAY
JUST A MINUTE.
I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF -- I
HAVE SEEN A TREMENDOUS IMPACT
ON THE BIRDS IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
YOU HARDLY HEAR BIRDS ANYMORE.
I USED TO LET CHINESE MUSTARD
GROW THROUGH THE WINTER AND GO
TO SEED AND GROW 4 FEET TALL
WITH 4-FEET BRANCHES AND FULL
OF SEEDS.
AND I HAVEN'T SEEN A HOUSE
THRUSH IN TWO YEARS.
THE PLANTS ARE UNTOUCHED.
THERE IS A FOOD SOURCE AND NO
ANIMALS, NO BIRDS TO FEED ON
IT.
NOT EVEN THE RATS.
BALLARD'S GREAT FOR THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
SUSAN ZIEMAN, ROBERT KIRBY, AND
I THINK MARTHA BASKIN IS NO
LONGER SPEAKING.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE
TODAY.
I HAVE WRITTEN A BUNCH OF NOTES
WITH A LOT OF IMPORTANT
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT
TREES AND WHY WE NEED THEM BUT
I DON'T NEED TO SAY ANY OF
THAT.
WE HAVE HEARD SO MUCH FROM
SPEAKERS AND THE PEOPLE AT THE
TABLE SO I AM WIPING THAT ALL
OFF MY CHART.
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I AM A
NURSE AND A MOTHER AND A
VOLUNTEER STEWARD WITH THE CITY
PARKS DEPARTMENT.
AND I AM A RESIDENT OF NEW
CONSTRUCTION, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, AND ONE OF OUR TRANSIT
ORIENTED URBAN VILLAGES.
SO I AM NOT ANTI-DEVELOPMENT.
I AM AWARE BY PROMOTING URBAN
DENSITY, WE ARE REDUCING URBAN
DENSITY AND THE TREE CUTTING
AND CLIMATE CHANGE THAT COMES
ALONG WITH THAT.
HOWEVER, WE ARE SEATTLE.
WE ARE A SMART CITY.
WE CAN HAVE DEVELOPMENT AND
TREES.
AND WE NEED TO HAVE BOTH OF
THOSE FOR ALL THE REASONS THAT
WE HEARD HERE TODAY.
WE NEED MORE TREES.
WE NEED TO STOP CUTTING DOWN
THE TREES THAT WE HAVE RIGHT
NOW.
WE NEED TO HAVE TREE-SAFE AREAS
LIKE THIS LOVELY WOMAN FROM
PORTLAND WAS TALKING ABOUT IN
TERMS OF STREET TREES AND
STREET INFRASTRUCTURE AND
SIDEWALKS THAT ACCOMMODATE TREE
ROOTS.
ALL THESE EXCUSES THAT WE HEAR
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEVELOPMENT ALL THE TIME ABOUT
WHY THIS TREE AND THAT TREE HAS
TO GO, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER
JOB ABOUT SAVING THE TREES THAT
WE HAVE.
I WILL JUST LEAVE IT THERE.
YOU GOT THE GIST OF IT.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
MARTHA BASKIN NO LONGER
SPEAKING.
>> HELLO.
THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US TODAY.
MY NAME IS ROBERT KIRBY.
I REPRESENT EVERY HOMEOWNER,
EVERY CITIZEN, EVERY APARTMENT
RENTER IN THE CITY, AND EVERY
VISITOR TO THE CITY.
I HAVE PLANTED MANY TREES IN MY
YARD.
I'VE LIVED IN MY HOUSE FOR 40
YEARS.
I DON'T HAVE ANY EXCEPTIONAL
TREES.
I HAVE TREES THAT HAVE BEEN
PLANTED 10 YEARS AGO.
ONE OF THEM IS -- WELL, I'VE
TRIED MANY NATIVE TREES.
SOME GROW FAST.
SOME GROW SLOW.
THE FASTER GROWING ONES TEND TO
LIVE FOR A SHORTER PERIOD OF
TIME.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT EXCEPTIONAL
TREES OR REPLACING TREES, THERE
WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO SPOKE ABOUT
THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES TO
BECOME AN EXCEPTIONAL TREE.
I THINK LOOKING AT HOW TREES
GROW, THE TASFKFLORA THAT I
PLANT BODY 10 YEARS AGO IS THIS
TALL, AND IT'S A NATIVE
SPECIES.
TELL PROBABLY TAKE HUNDREDS OF
YEARS IF ANYONE LETS IT GROW
THAT LONG.
IN CLOSING, I WANT TO SAY I'M A
TEACHER.
I'M A RETIRED TEACHER.
I SPENT MY LIFE, 10 YEARS,
TEACHING BACK.
WE LEARNED IT TAKES HUNDREDS OF
REPETITIONS BEFORE PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO MATH.
IT TAKES HUNDREDS OF
REPETITIONS BEFORE PEOPLE
UNDERSTAND THINGS.
WE NEED TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY
WITH EDUCATION BOTH FOR ADULTS
AND YOUNGER PEOPLE.
FINALLY, DON'T GET OLD.
IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER THINGS.
I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE ONE
LAST THING AND TRY AND DO IT
REALLY QUICK BECAUSE MY TIME IS
DONE.
I WOULD LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE
ALSO THINK OF A PAYMENT FOR
KEEPING TREES, PERHAPS --
THE OTHER SPEAK. AP UP AND LET
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MARGUERITE RICHARD.
>> YES.
GOOD DAY, EVERYONE.
I AM HERE ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE I
KNOW THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO
HAVE TREES.
THE LADY ASKED ME ABOUT THE
TREES.
DO I KNOW ABOUT TREES?
I SAID, YEAH.
THE TREE OF LIFE.
TREES DON'T WANT TO BE
MOUNTAINS.
THEY JUST PRAISE THE LORD, AND
I PRAISE THE LORD, TOO.
BUT ON A SERIOUS NOTE, BECAUSE
YOU'RE OVER PLANNING, PLANNING,
LAND USE, AND ZONING COMMITTEE,
AND I HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS
WITH YOUR COMMITTEE THAT MR.
JOHNSON LEFT UNDONE.
SO I HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT
HOW WE CAN HAVE SIT HERE BEYOND
PUBLIC COMMENT, INTERCEPT IT.
EVERY PLACE I GO, THEY DON'T
INTERCEPT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THEY GIVE US OUR TIME, AND WE
ARE OUT OF THERE.
AND I THOUGHT, MAYBE THESE
PEOPLE HAVE DIFFICULT
IMPAIRMENTS AND AILMENTS, AND
THEY CAN'T SIT ALL THIS TIME.
WHY DO WE HAVE TO HAVE IT
CHOPPED UP?
WELL, THIS CITY LIKES TO CHOP
OTHER PEOPLE UP, TOO.
GIVE THEM TRESPASSES, AND THEN
YOU HAVE A PERSON SUCH AS MS.
GONZALEZ -- WHAT WAS IT, 5
TIMES VIOLATING THE OATH ON
OMISSION?
AND THEN WE CAN COME DOWN HERE
AND HAVE OUR TIME INTERRUPTED,
AND GET TRESPASSERS AND GET
PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THEY ARE
INTIMIDATED TO HAVE THEIR FREE
SPEECH WHEN YOU DIDN'T EVEN
WRITE THE CONSTITUTION
YOURSELF.
LOOK LIKE ALL OF US IN THE ROOM
CAME AFTER THE CONSTITUTION WAS
WRITTEN.
SO I WAS WONDERING WHAT PEOPLE
ARE DOING NOW WITH PEOPLE'S
RIGHTS NOW IF WE WENT THERE
WHEN IT ALL BEGAN?
WE HAVE A PROBLEM WE NEED TO
FIX.
I HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO ENGAGE
WITH THE CONSTITUENTS TO COME
DOWN HERE.
LIKE YOU SAID, PORTLAND, THAT'S
A LONG WAY TO HAVE TO TRAVEL TO
HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.
SO I HAVE MY LITTLE TREE LIT UP
TODAY.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU.
>> HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
THANK YOU.
DREW FOSTER, WOODY WHEELER.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING THIS
MEETING.
MY NAME IS DREW FOSTER.
I AM A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT 3,
AND WE HEARD ABOUT THE BENEFITS
OF THE TREES AND URBAN FORESTS.
I WON'T BELABOR THAT.
BUT THE EVERYWHERE OUT THERE AS
WE CLEARLY TALKED ABOUT EARLIER
BUT THE FACT IS THAT WE'RE
LOSING TREES EVERY DAY, AND WE
NEED TO START PLANTING MORE.
BY LOSING TREES AND GREEN
SPACES, WE ARE LOSING THE
BENEFITS THAT MAKE THIS CITY
GREAT AND ALL THE BENEFITS THAT
COME WITH URBAN FORESTS.
THERE ARE GREAT THINGS
HAPPENING AROUND TREES IN THE
CITY RIGHT NOW AS WE HAVE HEARD
ABOUT.
BUT WE STILL NEED A VISIONARY
TREE ORDINANCE.
WE NEED A TRUE VALUATION OF
TREES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
THIS IS AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT
IMPROVES OVER TIME.
THIS IS AN ASSET TO THE CITY.
BUT THE CITY ONLY SEES IT AS AN
EXPENSE ON THE BOOKS.
THIS IS A REAL PROBLEM.
WE NEED AN AGGRESSIVE TREE
PLANTING PROGRAM THAT IS
EQUITABLE AND ACCOUNTS FOR
CROWN VOLUME, NOT JUST CANOPY
COVER BUT ATTRITION AND
MAINTENANCE.
WE NEED TO HOLD PEOPLE
ACCOUNTABLE.
I HAVE A CALL TO ACTION.
I CHALLENGE THIS CITY COUNCIL
AND THE MAYOR TO SET THE BAR
HIGH AND SET THE STANDARD FOR
THE CITIES AROUND THE WORLD.
LOTS OF CITIES AROUND THE WORLD
ARE DOING GREAT THINGS.
SEATTLE CAN, TOO.
I CHALLENGE DEVELOPERS,
CONTRACTORS, BUILDERS,
LANDSCAPE PLANNERS, AND TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO THINK
OUTSIDE THE BOX TO PROTECT AND
SAVE TREES AND ENHANCE HABITAT.
WE NEED TO CONSOLIDATE OUR
URBAN FORESTRY OPERATIONS INTO
ONE UNIT IN THE CITY AND
CONTINUE TO UNIFY EFFORTS TO
PROTECT, MANAGE, AND PLANT
TREES.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WOODY WHEELER, ANNE THROW.
>> THANK YOU, AND I WANT TO
THANK THE COUNCILMEMBERS FOR
YOUR LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY.
WE NEED THAT, PEOPLE WHO WILL
CARE AND LEAD US.
IT WAS NICE TO HEAR YOUR
REMARKS.
SO FAR, THE BEST AVAILABLE
TECHNOLOGY FOR PULLING CARBON
DIOXIDE FROM THE AIR IS
SOMETHING CALLED A TREE.
THAT WAS FROM AL GORE.
I WOULD ADD TO THAT NOT ONLY
DOES IT PULL THE CARBON DIOXIDE
OUT BUT IT PUTS OXYGEN IN ITS
PLACE.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF
TECHNOLOGY EVERY TREE IS.
THEY ARE SACRED.
WE SHOULD NOT BE PULLING TREES
OUT OF THE GROUND.
IN THE SO-CALLED EMERALD CITY
IN THE EVERGREEN STATE AND YET
WE ARE AT AN ALARMING RATE.
FOR 10 YEARS OR MORE, SEATTLE
HAS BEEN DELAYING
IMPLEMENTATION OF A STRONGER
TREE ORDINANCE.
THIS IS WAY TOO LONG.
I AM GOING TO CALL IT FOOT
DRAGGING, TOO.
I THINK IT'S BUREAUCRATIC FOOT
DRAGGING AND THE DEVELOPERS
LOVE IT.
THEY CAN KEEP LOGGING.
MEANWHILE, PORTLAND, LIKE
CAMBRIDGE, LIKE CLEVELAND OHIO
ARE MOVING FORWARD.
CLEVELAND, OHIO IS RUNNING
CIRCLES AROUND SEATTLE NOW.
WHILE THE TREES CONTINUE TO
FALL DESPITE OUR CITY'S GOAL OF
HAVING A 30% TREE CANOPY.
WE NEED A TREE ORDINANCE NOW.
WE NEED TO MONITOR AND
REINFORCE IT.
I AM IN FAVOR OF A MORATORIUM.
THE SPEAKER A MOMENT AGO HAS A
NOTEBOOK OF THE TREES THAT
COULD BE IN THE MORATORIUM.
HE IS DOING THE WORK FOR THE
CITY, WONDERFUL.
BLESS HIM.
I HAVE CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 20
OF THE TREES IN HIS NOTEBOOK,
AND I WANT TO ADDRESS SOMETHING
THAT IS LIKE THE ELEPHANT IN
THE ROOM THAT NO ONE TALKS
ABOUT.
THERE IS A NOTION IN SEATTLE
IT'S ONE OR THE OTHER, TREES OR
DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S NOT.
AND WE HAD THE UNIVERSITY OF
WASHINGTON TODAY TALK ABOUT AIR
CONDITIONING.
WE ARE BUILDING THE HEAT
ISLANDS, CONCRETE AND STEEL AND
PUTTING PEOPLE IN THOSE AND
ESPECIALLY LOW INCOME PEOPLE,
WILL THEY BE ABLE TO AFFORD AIR
CONDITIONING?
I THINK NOT.
WE ARE NOT MAKING A SUSTAINABLE
AND LIVABLE SPACE WITHOUT
TREES.
THEY NEED TREES MORE THAN
ANYTHING OF US.
THAT SHOULD BE PART OF THE
PLANNING
>> THANK YOU
>> AND I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE
FORWARD AND SEE A DEADLINE SO
WE DON'T GO ANOTHER 10 YEARS
>> THANK YOU.
ANNIE THROW, CLARK KLIESBOLT,
PEG STAHELI.
MICHAEL FOSTER.
JESSICA DIXON?
HI.
>> HI.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
THIS MEETING TODAY.
CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU
ON YOUR APPOINTMENT.
I AM WITH A COMMUNITY COUNCIL,
ON THE BOARD OF THE DISTRICT
FOR THE GREEN LAKE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
A FEW WEEKS AGO, A A FRIEND
CALLED TO SAY THAT A NEIGHBORS
TREE WAS CUT DOWN.
A MAJESTIC REDWOOD, AND CLIMBED
TO THE TOP OF THIS 100-YEAR-OLD
TREE, AND PIECE BY PIECE, IT
WAS FED INTO THE CHIPPER.
THE TRUCK WAS UNMARKED.
LATER WHEN THEY WERE GONE, IT
WAS MEASURED 40" IN DIAMETER,
AND MY FRIEND LEARNED THAT THE
NEIGHBOR WAS GOING TO SELL HIS
PROPERTY, AND THE DEVELOPER
ASSURED HIM HE WOULD NOT GET
TOP DOLLAR IF THE TREE WAS NOT
CUT DOWN.
THE DEVELOPER KNEW WHAT
EXCEPTIONAL MEANT AND WANTED IT
OUT OF THE WAY AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEY WERE
GOING TO DEMOLISH THE HOUSE AND
BUILD A LARGER HOUSE ON THE
SITE.
SO NO ONE WAS AWARE OF THAT WE
HAD LOST THE ENVIRONMENTAL
BENEFITS OF A TREE OF THIS
SIZE, AND THE GALLONS OF
RAINWATER THAT IT INTERCEPTED,
THE PARTICULATES IT ABSORBED
BECAUSE IT WAS CLOSE AURORA
WHICH IS OUR POLLUTING CORRIDOR
AND NOT TO ACCOUNT FOR THE
BIRDS AND WILDLIFE THAT LIVE
AND FEED TO THE TREES THAT WERE
DISPLACED.
SO WITH THE TREE ORDINANCE,
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE END OF
THE STORY, PROHIBITING THE
HOMEOWNERS FOR CUTTING DOWN AN
EXCEPTIONAL TREE WITHOUT A
PERMIT BUT I HAVE YET TO MEET
ANYONE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WHO
UNDERSTANDS.
IT'S NEVER ENFORCED.
THE CCI ARE GOOD GUYS BUT THEY
ARE STRETCHED TOO THIN.
WE NEED AN ORDINANCE LIKE WHAT
GRETA THUNBERG IS CALLING FOR
TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND WE
MUST PROTECT AND RESTORE AND
FUND A ROBUST ORDINANCE THAT
RESTORES --
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
PEG STAHALE, MICHAEL FOSTER.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR TAKING TIME
AND GIVING US TIME TODAY.
I'M PEG STAHALE FROM SOUTHWEST
SEATTLE AND I VOLUNTEERED ON
THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION.
I'M A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.
SO, TOO MUCH TIME HAS PASSED.
IT'S WELL MORE THAN 10 YEARS.
WE ARE PUSHING ON 20 YEARS.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED FOR THAT
LENGTH OF TIME.
MY KIDS ARE GROWN UP AND
WORKING.
THE CITY COUNCIL'S RESPONSIBLE
FOR THIS.
IT HAS -- WE HAVE TO HAVE AN
EFFECTIVE TREE ORDINANCE.
IT HAS SADDENED ME OVER AND
OVER.
PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME UNDERSTAND
THAT I AM VERY SAD THAT
ORDINANCE HAVE BEEN INEFFECTIVE
AND CAPABLE OF ENFORCING THE
TREE ORDINANCE.
WE NEED TO TIGHTEN THE
SCHEDULE.
I NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE YEAR.
IT TAKES TIME.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE KNEW
BUT THOSE OF US WORKING HERE,
THERE IS A LOT OF GRAY HAIR IN
THIS ROOM.
DON'T LET IT HAPPEN.
WE HAVE CHILDREN.
DON'T LET THEM GET INTO COLLEGE
BEFORE YOU PASS AN ORDINANCE.
I AM NOT JOKING.
I AM REALLY SAD ABOUT THIS.
SO BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN
PASSED, YOU ARE NEW, AND I AM
ASKING PUT A MORATORIUM IN
PLACE.
THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
TAKE IT ON.
SHOW US IN OUR CITY AND OUR
STAE AND IMPORTANTLY IN THE
COUNTRY THAT WE HAVE LEADERS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE KNOW THE BEST TIME TO
PLANT A TREE.
IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.
DECLARE AN EMERGENCY
MORATORIUM.
I FAILED AS AN ORGANIZER FOR
YOUTH PLANTING TREES.
KIDS PRESENTED TO CITY HALL
THAT THEY NEED 1.2 TRILLION NEW
TREES AS FORESTS AND TOWNS
BURN.
TO REPLACE THE TRILLION WE
KILLED IN 1 CENTURY, MOST IN
THE LAST 20 YEARS.
AS FORESTS BURN, URBAN TREES
BECOME MORE PRECIOUS.
SEATTLE, THE CITY AMONG THE
TREES I CAME TO CALL HOME 20
YEARS AGO STINKS.
IT HURTS MY LUNGS BIKING TO
CITY HALL.
CONSTRUCTION DUST BURNS MY EYES
AMONG STEEL BUILDINGS, SO I
THANK THE ORIGINAL PEOPLE OF
THIS UNTEMPERATE FOREST LIVING
AMONG THE TREES FOR 30,000
YEARS ON THIS CONCRETE AND
STEEL SPOT.
DUWAMISH UNDERSTOOD OUR
RELATIONS.
WE DON'T GET TO BE HERE WITHOUT
TREES.
BLAME WHOEVER YOU WANT WINNING
THE WAR AGAINST TREES BUT DON'T
EXPECT MORE OF THE SAME
PROTECTIONS TO SAVE OUR TREES.
A MORATORIUM ON BUILDING,
REMODELERS, DECLARING TREES
DISEASED, UTILITIES, UNTIL YOU
FINISH THIS ORDINANCE.
RESTRICT NEW DEVELOPMENT OR
REQUIRE OWNERS TO SET ASIDE
DOUBLE ACRE KNOWLEDGE.
DENSE OR LOW INCOME
UNSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTS
WITHOUT REAL TREES, COMMIT NEW
RESIDENTS TO SHORTER ANDnd
HEALTHIER LIVES.
11,000 PER RESIDENT LIVING ON A
STREET WITH TREES IN HEALTHCARE
BENEFITS.
PEOPLE LEAVE THE HOSPITAL
FASTER IF THEY SEE A TREE
OUTSIDE THEIR WINDOW.
>> THANK YOU, MR. FOSTER.
>> I WILL FINISH UP VERY
QUICKLY.
>> WE ACTUALLY NEED TO MOVE ON
TO THE NEXT PURPOSE.
THANK FOR YOUR TIME
>> A MORATORIUM AS THE PORTLAND
PERSON SAID ON 12" TREES.
>> MR. WESTERMAN.
MR. OXMAN.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE,
MR. WESTERMAN
>> THANK YOU FOR YOURS, AND
WELCOME TO THE COUNCIL AND
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS, WELCOME.
WE HAVE SUPPORTED THE TREE
PLANT AMNESTY FOR YEARS.
WE TRIED TO GET A VALUE
STATEMENT AND INCORPORATE IT
INTO MOVING FORWARD.
THE OPEN GREEN SPACE AND
TANGIBLE ASSETS, URBAN
RESILIENCE AND EQUITABLE
SUSTAIN ABILITY.
AND THEREFORE MEET THE NEEDS OF
THE COMMUNITIES AND THE CITY.
THE COUNCIL HAS REFUSED TO
INCORPORATE THIS VALUE
STATEMENT IN ANY LEGISLATION IT
HAS PASSED.
SO WHAT WE HAVE GOT, OF COURSE
S RAMPANT DEVELOPMENT AND IT'S
MOVING THE GREEN SPACE ASIDE.
I RECALL DIANE SAYING WE WILL
NOT LET THE TREES STAND IN THE
WAY OF DEVELOPMENT.
HOPEFULLY WE WILL CHANGE THAT.
THE COALITION NOTES THAT WE NOW
HAVE THE TRAFFIC CONGESTION AND
WORST POLLUTION IN THE NATION,
ONE OF THE 10 WORST HEAT
ISLANDS IN THE NATION.
WE SUPPORT A MORATORIUM AND THE
CITY OF SEATTLE BALANCING WHAT
BRINGS US LIFE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
WE JUST HAVE THREE MORE
SPEAKERS, MICHAEL OXMAN, CARRIE
WILL LAFFERTY AND DON CAVE
>> HI, FRIENDS.
I AM MICHAEL OX MAN..
I AM AN ARBORIST.
I AM WEARING THE HAT OF THE
SEATTLE GREENSPAN COALITION.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT MY JOB AS
AN ARBORIST WHERE I DON'T TAKE
CARE OF TREES.
I TAKE CARE OF PROBLEMS FOR
TREE OWNERS.
IT'S MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY
CLIENT THAT IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING, NOT THE TREE
UNFORTUNATELY.
SO THAT HAS CAUSED ME OVER THE
YEARS TO HAVE CUT DOWN TREES
THAT POSSIBLY COULD HAVE BEEN
PRESERVED, NOT WITHOUT AN
EFFORT ON MY PART.
BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT YOU GUYS
ARE GOING TO NEED A GREEN THUMB
IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS WITH THE
OTHER 7 COUNCILMEMBERS WHO
AREN'T HERE, AND I WILL GIVE
YOU THE FIVE STEPS TO A
SYSTEMATIC TREE INSPECTION
PROTOCOL.
ONE, THE ROOTS AND THE BASE OF
THE TREE IS THE FIRST THING
THAT WE LOOK AT.
OKAY.
THEN YOU LOOK AT THE TRUNK.
THEN YOU LOOK AT THE BRANCHES.
THEN YOU LOOK AT THE TWIGS.
THEN YOU LOOK AT THE LEAVES.
SO STARTING AT THE TOP YOU LOOK
AT THE LEAVES, THE TWIGS, THE
BRANCHES, THE TRUNK, AND THE
ROOTS.
NOW YOU HAVE YOUR GREEN THUMB
YOU ARE EQUIPPED TO GO OUT
THERE AND DO BATTLE WITH THE
PEOPLE THAT SAY TREES DON'T
MATTER.
HOWEVER, IN SUPPORT OF THE
NATURAL ASSESSMENT THAT THE
CITY COUNCIL HAS DECIDED TO
UNDERTAKE IN THE 2020 BUDGET WE
ARE DOING A TREE CENSUS ON
EARTH DAY AND WE WANT THE
RECORDS AVAILABLE TO YOU.
UNFORTUNATELY, PUBLIC
DISCLOSURE REQUESTS OF THE CITY
DEPARTMENTS HAVE REVEALED THAT
THE RECORDS ARE UNAVAILABLE.
SO THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
CARRIE LAFFERTY AND DON CAVE.
MIGHT HAVE GONE.
OH, MR. CAVE.
>> I AM DON CAVE, WALLINGFORD.
I AM GOING TO START WITH A
PHILISOPHICAL OBSERVATION THAT
MAY BE DES PAIR FOR THE
LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT RULES
TAKE A BACK SEAT.
WHERE WE WANT MORE TREES, THERE
WILL BE A WAY TO HAVE BIGGER
TREES AND MORE TREES.
AND YOU MIGHT SAY, OH, WELL.
WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE,
THE PROBLEM IS CAUSING OUR CITY
TO BE DE-POPULATED OF TREES,
AND THERE IS STRAIGHT NEED FOR
BETTER RULES.
AND THERE IS.
BUT THAT JUST SHIFTS THE
PRIORITY TO THE DEPARTMENT THAT
ENFORCES THE RULES WHICH, IF
THEY WANT MORE TREES, WE'LL
HAVE THEM.
BUT THERE IS SOME QUESTION AS
ANYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE
PROCESSES AS TO WHERE THE
BALANCE OF PRIORITIES LIES ONCE
YOU GET TO THAT FORESTRY
DEPARTMENT.
AND THE SECOND THING IS IN
RESPECT OF THESE DESPERATELY
NEEDED RULES, THEY
UNFORTUNATELY APPLY IN THE
PROCESS OF THE DEVELOPMENT
PERMIT.
AND THAT LEAVES, AS WE HEARD A
COUPLE OF SPEAKERS AGO THAT,
LEAVES OUT A NUMBER OF TREES
THAT GET TAKEN OUT BECAUSE OF
REALTOR'S OBSERVATIONS THAT
WILL HELP THE SALE.
I WAS THINKING IT MIGHT BE GOOD
TO THINK ABOUT EXTENDING THE
WINDOW OF INSPECTION OVER THE
PRECEDING COUPLE OF YEARS AND
MAKING US LIABLE FOR TREES CUT
DOWN PRIOR TO ACQUIRING THE
PROPERTY.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN DO IT.
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU
>> THANKS EVERYBODY FOR COMING
OUT AND SHARING YOUR TIME WITH
US AND YOUR WISDOM WITH US.
WE ARE GLAD TO GET A WIDE ARRAY
OF PRESENTERS FROM THE
SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY, THE
AUDUBON SOCIETY AND THE
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, AND WE
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING ON A
STRONGER TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE.
THANK YOU.
AND HEARING NO FURTHER BUSINESS
TO COME BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE,
WE ARE ADJOURNED.