>>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA IS
ON ATTENDEE. SO I'M GOING TO
SLOW ROLL THE FEBRUARY 22 --
>> COPY THAT.
>> 2023 MEETING OF THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE WILL COME TO ORDER. I
IS 2:00 P.M. I'M DAN STRAUSS,
CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE. WE'RE
GOING TO GIVE IT JUST ONE SECON
FOR THE CLERK TO CALL THE ROLL.
ERIC, TELL US WHEN WE'RE READY.
WE ARE READY, GREAT. CLERK, WIL
YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> COME BACK TO COUNCIL MEMBER
NELSON.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> HERE.
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES?
>> HERE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT.
>> I AM PRESENT, SARA NELSON.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE QUORUM. JUST BEFORE
WE GET STARTED, WE LEARNED THIS
MORNING OF THE UNTIMELY --
EXCUSE ME, LET ME ESTART. WE
LEARNED THIS MORNING OF THE
UNTIMELY PASSING OF ONE OF OUR
COLLEAGUES HERE IN THE
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT. THIS IS
SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED NEWS. ALL
I CAN SAY ABOUT THIS RIGHT NOW
IS THAT OUR FRIEND TRULY KNEW
WHO THEY WERE AS A PERSON, WHIC
IS RARE IN THIS WORLD. THEY WIL
BE DEEPLY MISSED BY EVERYONE
THEY MET IN THIS WORLD, AND ON
BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIV
DEPARTMENT, WE SEND OUR
CONDOLENCES TO THEIR FAMILY.
WHILE I'M SLOWLY BEGINNING TO
PROCESS THIS AND GRIEVE. IF ANY
OF US ON STAFF SEEM MUTED OR
QUIET, IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS
TRAGIC NEWS. SO BEFORE WE BEGIN
IF WE COULD HOLD A MOMENT OF
SILENCE FOR OUR FRIEND.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE ONE ITEM ON
TODAY'S AGENDA. A BRIEFING
DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON
COUNCIL BILL 120509. AT THIS
TIME, WE WILL OPEN THE HYBRID
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR ITEMS
ON TODAY'S AGENDA. CLERK, WILL
YOU PLEASE PLAY THE VIDEO?
>> HELLO, SEATTLE. WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY. THE CITY OF
FLOWERS AND THE CITY OF
GOODWILL, BUILT ON INDIGENOUS
LAND, THE TRADITIONAL TERRITORY
OF THE PEOPLE. THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WELCOMES REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT AND IS EAGER TO HEAR
FROM RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY. IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A SPEAKER
AND PROVIDE A VERBAL PUBLIC
COMMENT, YOU MAY REGISTER TWO
HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING VIA
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WEBSITE. HERE'S SOME INFORMATIO
ABOUT THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PROCEEDINGS. SPEAKERS ARE CALLE
UPON IN THE ORDER IN WHICH THEY
REGISTERED ON THE COUNCIL'S
WEBSITE. EACH SPEAKER MUST CALL
IN FROM THE PHONE NUMBER
PROVIDED WHEN THEY REGISTERED
ONLINE AND USED THE MEETING I.D
AND PASS CODE THAT WAS E-MAILED
UPON CONFIRMATION. IF YOU DID
NOT RECEIVE AN E-MAIL
CONFIRMATION, PLEASE CHECK YOUR
SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS. A
REMINDER, THE SPEAKER MEETING
I.D. IS DIFFERENT FROM THE
GENERAL LISTEN LINE MEETING I.D
PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA. ONCE TH
SPEAKER'S NAME IS CALLED, THE
SPEAKER'S MICROPHONE WILL BE
UNMUTED AND AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT
WILL SAY THE HOST WOULD LIKE YO
TO UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE. THAT
IS YOUR CUE, YOUR TURN TO SPEAK
AT THAT TIME, YOU MUST PRESS
STAR SIX. YOU WILL THEN HEAR A
PROMPT OF YOU ARE UNMUTED. BE
SURE YOUR PHONE IS UNMUTED ON
YOUR END, SO THAT YOU WILL BE
HEARD. AS A SPEAKER, YOU SHOULD
BEGIN BY STATING YOUR NAME AND
THE ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING. A
CHIME WILL SOUND WHEN TEN
SECONDS ARE LEFT IN YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME. AS A GENTLE
REMINDER TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC
COMMENTS. AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME, YOUR MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTED AND THE NEXT
SPEAKER REGISTERED WILL BE
CALLED. ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE
COMPLETED PROVIDING PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLEASE DISCONNECT FROM
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINE AND JOI
US BY FOLLOWING THE MEETING VIA
SEATTLE CHANNEL BROADCAST OR
THROUGH THE LISTENING LINE
OPTION LISTED ON THE AGENDA. TH
COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
LIMIT PUBLIC COMMENT IF THE
SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR IF TH
PROCESS IMPEDES THE PROCESS
ABILITY TO CONDUCT ITS BUSINESS
ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY. ANY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE
THAT IS DISRUPTIVE TO THESE
PROCEEDINGS OR THAT IS NOT
FOCUSED ON AN APPROPRIATE TOPIC
AS SPECIFIED AND COUNCIL RULES
MAY LEAD TO THE SPEAKER BEING
MUTED BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
OUR HOPE IS TO PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PRODUCTIVE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL ASSIST OU
ORDERLY CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES
BEFORE THE COUNCIL. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE
WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST. PLEASE
REMEMBER TO PRESS STAR SIX AFTE
YOU HEAR THE PROMPT OF YOU HAVE
BEEN UNMUTED. THANK YOU,
SEATTLE.
>> AND THANK YOU FOR COMING TO
TESTIFY AT THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE, THIS 22nd DAY OF
FEBRUARY, 2023. WE HAVE ONE
PERSON HERE IN CHAMBERS AND TEN
ONLINE. CONNOR MCDERMOTT, YOU
ARE NOT PRESENT, SO IF YOU WANT
TO COMMENT, NOW IS THE TIME TO
CALL IN. YOU ARE NOW PRESENT. S
WE WILL HAVE STEVE, THE
BENEVOLENT LEADER OF GREEN LAKE
TESTIFY IN PERSON FIRST FOLLOWE
BY COLIN MCCLEER, JESSICA
DICKSON, ETHAN CHILDS, TRISTAN
FIELDS, LEYLAH SUDAN, AND CONNO
MCDERMOTT. MY APOLOGIES IF I
MISPRONOUNCED YOUR NAMES. GOOD
MORNING, STEVE. WHEN YOU'RE
READY. GOOD AFTERNOON, STEVE, M
APOLOGIES.
>> TREES HAVE BEEN IN AN
INTEREST FOR A WHILE. I THINK
THE THREE-DAY PERIOD IS NICE,
BUT IT SHOULD BE A LITTLE BIT
LONGER ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT REMOVAL OF TREES.
SIX DAYS IS BETTER THAN THREE,
BUT YOU KNOW, AT LEAST A WEEK O
SO. YOU'VE GOT TO ALSO REMEMBER
WHEN WE HAVE SICK TREES, MY HOP
IS YOU WILL SAVE THE EVIDENCE.
MANY SICK TREES THAT HAVE BEEN
DETERMINED BY PEOPLE IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD DIDN'T LOOK SICK T
ANYBODY ELSE. THEY'RE DOING A
MUCH BETTER JOB NOW. IT USED TO
BE THEY CUT THEM DOWN LOW. NOW
THEY PULL THE ROOTS AND STUFF
OUT, SO THE EVIDENCE IS PRETTY
ZERO THERE. THE THREE-DAY NOTIC
IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAY, MUCH
BETTER THAN NOTHING. BUT WE HAV
TO WORRY ABOUT THE FACT MORE
TIME WOULD BE NECESSARY. THERE
IS SOME AREAS WHERE PEOPLE DON'
USE CERTAIN DAYS AS MUCH. PEOPL
GO THROUGH IN PATTERNS. I THINK
AT LEAST A WEEK IN MOST CASES
WOULD BE MORE REASONABLE FOR
PUBLIC NOTICE, SO PEOPLE WILL
HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE WHAT'S
GOING ON AND WHAT'S NOT GOING
ON. THERE'S A FEW PLACES UP FOR
ME. THERE'S A RATHER NEW
APARTMENT HOUSE THAT HAS NEW
TREES. NOW THEY HAD NICE OLDER
TREES THERE BEFORE THEY WERE
BUILDING AND THEY JUST SUDDENLY
DISAPPEARED IN THE BUILDING
PROCESS BECAUSE IT MADE IT SO
MUCH EASIER FOR THEM TO WORK. I
DON'T CONSIDER THAT A
REPLACEMENT. I HOPE WE STAY AWA
FROM THE WORD CANOPY BECAUSE
CANOPY IS CODE FOR DESTROYING
TREES AND PUTTING SHRUBS. NOW
SHRUBS DO NOT PICK UP NEAR THE
AIR POLLUTION OF OLDER TREES DO
NOT BEING A LEPRECHAUN, THEY
DON'T PROVIDE ME WITH ANY
SHADES. SO I WOULD HOPE WE WOUL
PURSUE MAKING THIS WIDER AND BE
VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE CUTTING THE TREES.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE. UP NEXT WE
HAVE COLLEEN MCCLEER, CRAIG
BACHMAN, AND STEVE. COLLEEN,
GOOD AFTERNOON. I SEE YOU THERE
COLLEEN, PRESS STAR SIX AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE.
>> OKAY. HI, GOOD AFTERNOON
COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS
COLLEEN, PRESIDENT OF OUR
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY COUNCIL.
WE ARE LONG ADVOCATES OF COUNCI
BILL 120509 REGARDING TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS. AS YOU ALL
KNOW, TREES BUFFER THE IMPACTS
OF CLIMATE CHANGE ACROSS EVERY
SOCIOECONOMIC GROUP IN THE CITY
WHERE THEY WORK, LIVE, AND PLAY
BY SUCKING THE CARBON AND
BIOHAZARDS OUT OF THE AIR. THAN
YOU TO THIS LAND USE COMMITTEE
FOR FINALLY GETTING IT GOING AN
ADDING THE CLARIFICATIONS ON TH
SUBSTITUTE BILL ON THE DOCKETED
TO, WHICH WE SUPPORT. HOWEVER,
ONE CHANGE IN THIS IS DROPPING
THE PHYSICAL POSTING OF THE
PRINTED PUBLIC NOTICE AT THE
SITE. WE BELIEVE THIS PROVIDES
ANOTHER LOOPHOLE, WHICH IMPACTS
DISADVANTAGED RESIDENTS WHO ARE
NOT AS SAVVY AS TRACKING PUBLIC
LAND USE NOTICES ONLINE. WHILE
IT SOUNDS LESS BURDENSOME FOR
TREE CUTTERS, IT'S TOO LATE FOR
THOSE PROPPED UP IN THE VEHICLE
AT THE MOMENT WHEN THE BUZZ SAW
START UP WITH NO TIME TO DO
ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, IF
FTCI INVENTS A NEW SYSTEM TO
ALERT THESE FOLKS THREE DAYS
AHEAD, THAT WOULD WORK TOO. BUT
REMOVING THE PHYSICAL SIGN IN
ADVANCE, WE CAN SEE THIS HARD
FOUGHT LEGISLATION. WE ALSO
OPPOSE AMENDMENT B, AND THAT
ALLOWS FTCI DIRECTOR TO WAIVE
THE EXISTING RULE OF REQUIRING
TWO INDEPENDENT TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS TO ASSESS THE HEALTH
OF EXCEPTIONAL TREES, BEFORE
ALLOWING THEM TO BE CUT DOWN.
THE DIRECTORS, AND THERE ARE
MANY, THAT ARE NOT HARBORRISTS
AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN BACKLOG
OF WORK ALREADY. REMOVING
ANOTHER QUALIFIED TREE SERVICE
PROVIDER ALLOWS A DEVELOPER TO
REMOVE EXCEPTIONAL TREES BY THE
OPINION OF ONLY ONE PROVIDER
WHOM THEY HAVE HIRED. SO WE URG
COUNCIL TODAY OR SUBCOMMITTEE T
PASS THE SUBSTITUTE BILL, ADDIN
BACK THE PRINTED NOTICE
REQUIREMENT, AND NOT ADOPTING
AMENDMENT B. LET'S KEEP OUR
TREE, EXCEPTIONAL TREES THERE
FOR THE CLEANING OF THE AIR IN
EVERY PART OF THE CITY. THANK
YOU FOR YOUR WORK TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, COLLEEN. UP NEXT
IS CRAIG BACHMAN, FOLLOWED BY
STEVE AND THEN JESSICA DICKSON.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CRAIG.
>> Reporter: MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL AND THE COMMITTEE. THAN
YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEA
TODAY. I'M A PROFESSIONAL
ARBORIST WITH MORE THAN A DECAD
OF EXPERIENCE. THE COMPANY
FOCUSES ON TREE PREZZERRATION,
AND ALSO LIVE AND WORK HERE IN
THE CITY OF SEATTLE. I AM 100%
IN FAVOR OF IMPROVING THE
QUALITY OF TREE CARE AND
RETAINING TREES. I AM NOT IN
FAVOR OF INCREASING THE BURDEN
ON SMALL COMPANIES AND FACTUALL
INCREASING THE COST OF TREE CAR
TO OUR COMMUNITY. REGULATION I
BELIEVE IS GOOD FOR ALL OF US
WHO WANT TO FOLLOW THE RULE, WH
WANT TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
PROTECT TREES, AND PROTECT OUR
COMMUNITY. UNFORTUNATELY AND
WITH RESPECT TO THE PRIOR
SPEAKERS, I BELIEVE THE PUBLIC
NOTICE REQUIREMENT, WHICH IS NO
A PERMIT, WHICH IS NOT
PREVENTIVE. THE PUBLIC NOTICE
REQUIREMENT HAS NO CLEAR VALUE.
I STRUGGLE TO EXPLAIN TO MY
CLIENTS THE VALUE OF A PUBLIC
NOTICE WHEN IT PREVENTS NOTHING
I AM IN FAVOR OF COMPANY NAMES
BEING LISTED ON THEIR VEHICLES.
OF HAVING THEIR FTCI
REGISTRATION NUMBER PUBLICLY
AVAILABLE AND VISIBLE ON
VEHICLES AS WELL AS CONTACT
INFORMATION. WHETHER THAT IS
PHONE OR E-MAIL. THOSE ARE
POSITIVE AND PROFESSIONAL STEPS
THE FACT IS GOOD ARBORISTS IN
THE CITY ARE STRIVING TO PROTEC
TREES AND PERFORMANCE WORK IN A
ETHICAL AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
RESPONSIBLE WAY. THE PUBLIC
PREVENTS NOTHING. IT DOES NOT
STOP UNETHICAL WORK OR
BEHAVIORALS. WITHOUT
ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS A HUGE
CONCERN FOR US, THIS WILL NEARL
BE A BURDEN ON THOSE COMPANIES
THAT ARE TRYING TO FOLLOW THE
RULES AND SOMETHING THAT IS
IGNORED BY THOSE WHO HAVE NOT
HISTORICALLY FOLLOWED EXISTING
REGULATION. LET'S BE SMART ABOU
WHAT WE DO. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO
MODIFY THE REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENT, SO ALL ARE
REGISTERED, BUT THE NOTICE,
WHICH IS NEARLY A BURDEN DOES
NOT CONTINUE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CRAIG. UP NEXT IS
STEVE, FOLLOWED BY JESSICA
DICKSON AND ETHAN CHILDS. STEVE
WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON. YOU
JUST WENT BACK. STAR SIX ONE
MORE TIME, STEVE. THERE YOU ARE
YOU'RE OFF MUTE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THIS IS STEV
ZEMSKY. I'M SPEAKING FOR FRIEND
OF SEATTLE URBAN FOREST. I WANT
TO SAY WE SUPPORT AMENDMENT ONE
AND AMENDMENT TWO. I THINK THE
IDEA OF GETTING A LITTLE BIT
MORE FLEXIBILITY TO THE DIRECTO
IN TERMS OF EXCEPTIONAL TREES
MAKES SENSE. LET'S GIVE IT A
TRY. IF IT DOESN'T WORK WELL, I
COULD BE MODIFIED IN THE FUTURE
IN TERMS OF THE NOTICE GIVEN,
YES, IT'S NOT A PERMIT, BUT IT
DOES DO TWO THINGS. IT ALLOWS
DATA COLLECTION FROM WHAT'S
HAPPENING TO THE TREES IN
SEATTLE. IT ALSO ALLOWS A CHECK
ON ILLEGAL TREE REMOVAL. I DID
SAY THERE ARE TWO AMENDMENTS
HERE TO CONSIDER. ONE IS VERY
SIMPLE. IT'S NOTING IN THE
ADDITIONAL STRUCTURES IS A PART
OF AN ISSUE OF BUILDING OR
PERMIT PERMIT, PROVIDED IN
SECTION 25-11-06 AND WOULD ADD
THE WORDS EXCEPT COMMERCIAL TRE
WORK MUST COMPLY WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION
25.11.025. THAT WOULD MAKE IT
CONSISTENT WITH THE OTHER
PROVISION MEASURES AND
25.11.030. AND ALSO I WANTED TO
NOTE YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH THE
ISSUE OF TOPPING. TOPPING
CREATES HAZARD TREES. 25.11.040
SAYS ONE OF THE EXEMPTIONS IS
TREE REMOVAL WHERE TOPPING IS
PROHIBITED IN THE FOLLOWING
CASES EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN
SECTION 25.11.030. BUT IT'S
MAKING IT UNCLEAR TO ARBORISTS
AND OTHERS THAT ARE SORT OF
INDICATING TOPPING IS OKAY. IT
IS NOT OKAY, AND WE URGE YOU TO
CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT. I SENT
THE LANGUAGE TO YOU IN AN
E-MAIL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE. UP NEXT IS
JESSICA FOLLOWED BY ETHAN CHILD
AND THEN TRISTAN FIELDS.
JESSICA, WELCOME.
>> Reporter: HELLO COUNCIL
MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JESSICA
DICKSON, I REPRESENT THE LAST
6000, A CAMPAIGN TO HELP THE
CITIZENS ALL OVER SEATTLE FIND
AND DOCUMENT OUR REMAINING BIG
TREES. THE MODIFICATIONS TO
COUNCIL BILL 120509. IT IS
HEALTHY MATURE TREES FALL IN
SEATTLE. DOES ANYONE HEAR IT?
TYPICALLY IT'S NEIGHBORS WHO DO
AND THIS IS OUR CURRENT SYSTEM,
ONE THAT RELIES ON CITIZENS TO
OBSERVE AND REPORT ILLEGAL TREE
WORK. THIS RESULTS IN AWKWARD
TIME SENSITIVE, AND UNSAFE
ENCOUNTERS BETWEEN CITIZENS AND
TREE COMPANIES. IT'S SUSPICIOUS
TO WORK WITH WHAT'S REPORTED.
THE CODE VIOLATION INSPECTOR MA
OR MAY NOT HAVE TRAINING IN WHA
TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN THESE
SITUATIONS ESPECIALLY IF BY THE
TIME THEY ARRIVE, THE TREE
CUTTING CREW IS LONG GONE. I
WANT TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER
JOHNSON AND PETERSON FOR WORKIN
TO ADVANCE LEGISLATION INTENDED
TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY AND
THE STANDARD OF PRACTICE. WE
SUPPORT THE MODIFICATIONS TO
COUNCIL BILL 120509 FOR YOU TO
THE NOTICE TIME FRAME. POSTING
NOTICE OF TREE WORK AT LEAST SI
DAYS PRIOR TO SCHEDULED TREE
REMOVAL. AND THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO
POST THE SIGN OR NOTICE ON SITE
AS WE SET UP FOR THE JOB, WHICH
WILL STAY IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL
DAYS AFTER THE TREE REMOVAL. WE
ALSO SUPPORT THE ADDED AMENDMEN
CLARIFYING COMMERCIAL TREE WORK
IN THE ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL
AREAS BE CONDUCTED PER SECTION
25.11.095. THANK YOU AGAIN FOR
YOUR EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF THE
FOREST AND THE EFFORTS TO
RECOGNIZE AND COLLABORATE WITH
CITIZENS AND TREE SERVICE
PROFESSIONALS THAT SUPPORT AND
MAINTAIN OUR URBAN FOREST. WE
HOPE THE CITY WILL BEGIN THE
PROCESS OF STRENGTHENING OUR
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR
MANAGING SEATTLE URBAN FOREST
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> UP NEXT IS ETHAN CHILDS
FOLLOWED BY TRISTAN FIELDS AND
THEN KASHDUB DIYO. MY APOLOGIES
ETHAN, WELCOME.
>> HELLO COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK
YOU FOR GIVING ME THE TIME TO
SPEAK TODAY. MY NAME IS ETHAN
CHILDS. I AM A CERTIFIED
ARBORIST. I HAVE A BACHELOR'S
DEGREE IN BIOLOGY. I'VE BEEN
WORKING AS A PROFESSIONAL
ARBORIST IN THE SEATTLE AREA FO
SIX YEARS. WE SPEAK ON THESE
REGULATIONS FROM THE WELL
INFORMED POSITION. I CAN CONFIR
THESE NEW REGULATIONS AND THE
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THEM ARE
CAUSING MORE HARM TO THE
COMMUNITY THAN GOOD. THE
REGULATION ON THE TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND HOMEOWNERS ALIKE.
THESE REGULATIONS ARE LEADING T
LESS HEALTHY URBAN FORESTRY
AROUND THE CITY AND ESPECIALLY
IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE
REGULATIONS WILL AND ARE LEADIN
TO INCREASED COSTS FOR
HOMEOWNERS, REDUCE COMPETITION
AMONG THE TREE PROVIDERS, AND
LESS URBAN HEALTHY FOREST. THE
GENERAL PUBLIC HAS LOST THE
TRUST IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND
FEARS SO MUCH SO THEY REFUSE TO
PLANT OUR LARGE NATIVE TREES BY
RESORTING TO SMALL ORIENTAL
TREES INSTEAD. THIS WILL LEAD T
THE OVERALL REDUCTION IN THE
EARLY CANOPY COVER IN QUALITY.
URGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO AND
WORK WITH MEMBERS OF THE
PROFESSIONAL ARBORIST COMMUNITY
GOING FORWARD TO COME TO A
RESOLUTION THAT WILL PROTECT OU
ENVIRONMENT, URBAN FOREST, AND
COMMUNITIES ALIKE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS TRISTA
FIELDS FOLLOWED BY KASHDU DIYO,
AND LEYLAH. TRISTAN, WELCOME.
>> HI, THANKS FOR HAVING ME. I'
TRISTAN FIELDS, A LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECT AND CERTIFIED
ARBORIST. I WORK IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE, AND I PREDOMINANTLY
WORK TOWARDS THE PRESERVATION O
TREES. I WRITE REPORTS AND I
SERVE ON THE BOARD. I'M HERE TO
COMMENT ON THE BILL 120509. I
THINK MY COMMENT IS
PREDOMINANTLY -- I WANT TO JUST
PUT A PAUSE ON THINGS AND GIVE
US TIME TO LOOK AT HOW MUCH THE
COSTS ARE GOING TO COME DOWN TO
THE HOMEOWNERS ESPECIALLY THE
DISADVANTAGED HOMEOWNERS. I'M
REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. I
THINK THIS IS A BILL THAT
DOESN'T ADDRESS EQUITY. SO I'M
ASKING FOR A PAUSE. ALL RIGHT,
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS KASHDU
DIYO, LEYLAH, AND FOLLOWED BY
CONNOR MCDERMOTT. MY APOLOGIES
IF I HAVE BEEN GETTING YOUR NAM
TOTALLY WRONG THIS ENTIRE TIME.
>> NO PROBLEM, IT'S A GOOD
EFFORT. I RUN BLUE MUD TREE
EXPERTS, A COMMERCIAL TREE
SERVICE PROVIDER IN SEATTLE. I
LIVE IN BALLARD, AND WE OPERATE
OUT OF HOWARD LAKE. 85% OF OUR
BUSINESS IS IN SEATTLE. 70% OF
OUR BUSINESS IS PRUNING. AND SO
WE'RE COMMITTED TO HELPING
SUSTAIN THE URBAN FOREST OF
SEATTLE. WE'RE THE ONES ALONG
WITH OTHER FOLKS ON THE CALL WH
ARE ACTIVELY WORKINGTOWARDS IT.
WE HAVE 15 EMPLOYEES IN THE
FIELD EVERY DAY. DOING DANGEROU
WORK TO KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE
AND PROTECT OUR TREES. WE HAVE
NOT SEEN ANY IMPROVEMENTS DUE T
THIS BILL IN TERMS OF THE LEGAL
CUTTING OR LEGAL COMPANIES BEIN
IN THE CITY. ALL WE HAVE SEEN I
INCREASED OPERATIONAL COSTS FOR
OURSELVES. THE NUMBER OF E-MAIL
AND POSTINGS AND LOGISTICS FOR
US TO STAY COMPLIANT INCREASED
OUR COST, MAKING IT HARDER FOR
US TO COMPETE WITH COMPANIES
THAT ARE NON-COMPLIANT. AS MR.
BACHMAN NOTED WITHOUT ANY
REGULATION ENFORCEMENT, THIS
BASICALLY PUTS US ON A
DISADVANTAGE AGAINST ILLEGAL
COMPANIES, AND MAKES IT LESS
LIKELY TO SUCCEED IN THE LONG
RUN. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND MY APOLOGIES
AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR
WORK IN OUR CITY. LEYLAH SUDAN
AND THEN CONNOR MCDERMOTT.
>> HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES, WE CAN.
>> OKAY, GREAT. THANKS FOR
HAVING ME. I HAVEN'T HAD TIME T
REHEARSE, SO I WILL JUST SPEAK
FROM MY HEART HERE. I'M AN
ARBORIST ON THE PROVIDER LIST.
MY COMPANY IS CALLED NOURISH
ROOTS. I ALSO TEACH TREE CARE.
HAVE YET TO SPEAK WITH A SKILLE
PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGEABLE
ARBORIST IN THE CITY NOR A
SKILLED TRUST WHO THINKS THIS
BILL IN ITS CURRENT FORM IS
MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION O
CARING FOR OUR CANOPY. SO I
WOULD REALLY LIKE TO EMPHASIZE
INCORPORATING THE INDUSTRY WOUL
BE REALLY HELPFUL IN TERMS OF
IMPROVING THIS. IT'S BEEN REALL
THROWN UPON US. THE MAIN POINT
WANT TO SPEAK TO IS THE
THRESHOLD FOR MAJOR PRUNING,
WHICH IS CURRENTLY SET AT TWO
INCHES AND 15%. BIOLOGICALLY,
SOCIALLY, AND LOGISTICALLY,
THAT'S A THRESHOLD THAT IS
ACCEPTABLY CONSERVATIVE DOES NO
MAKE MUCH SENSE. A THRESHOLD
SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE ON THE
PROVIDER LIST, AND A THRESHOLD
IN WHICH A NOTICE REQUIREMENT I
KICKING IN. I SUPPORT WHAT
OTHERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE
NOTICE REQUIREMENTS AND I DON'T
WANT TO USE MY TIME UP ON THAT.
I'VE BEEN A PART OF THE GROUP O
ARBORISTS WHO HAVE BEEN
ADVOCATING TO RAISE THAT
THRESHOLD FROM MAJOR PRUNING OF
4 INCHES AND 25%, WITH A LITTLE
MORE IMPACT ON THE TREE
BIOLOGICALLY, A LITTLE MORE
LOGISTICS REQUIRED IN TERMS OF
THE TOOLS. I JUST WANT TO SAY
WHEN I SHARED THE NOTICE OF THI
LEGISLATION WITH MY STUDENTS WH
HAVE BEEN BECOMING PASSIONATE
ABOUT TREE CARE AND REALLY
EXCITED TO ENTER THE FIELD, MAN
THROUGH THE LANDSCAPE SECTOR,
THEIR SPIRITS WERE SQUASHED. ON
OF THEM SAID TO ME, IT SOUNDS
LIKE THEY'RE REALLY TRYING TO
MAKE ALL TREE CARE ONLY GO TO A
FEW OF THE LARGEST COMPANIES. S
THE ACCESSIBILITY AND THE LACK
OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT MOST TRE
CARES ARE HAPPENING, MOST SMALL
TREE CARE HAPPENING FROM THE
LANDSCAPERS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND LAST IS CONNO
MCDERMOTT. LEYLAH, IF YOU WERE
STILL LISTENING, WE TRIED TO
SOLVE THE PROBLEM YOU JUST
IDENTIFIED AND COULD NOT FIND A
ELEGANT SOLUTION. IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO REACH OUT TO NAOMI
LEWIS, MY COMMITTEE CLERK, WE
WOULD LOVE TO CONTINUE THAT
CONVERSATION. CONNOR, WELCOME.
>> HI, THERE. THANK YOU FOR YOU
TIME. I MOSTLY JUST WANT TO
PIGGYBACK OFF OF -- A LOT OF MY
COMMENTS WERE PIGGYBACKED OFF O
WHAT WAS ALREADY STATED. THE
SCHEDULED POINT OF SAYING YEAH,
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE IDEA O
INCREASING THE THRESHOLDS FROM
TWO INCHES TO FOUR INCHES. I
DIDN'T INTRODUCE MYSELF, I'M
CONNOR MCDERMOTT ON THE BOARD O
PLANT AND SEED. CONSULTING
ARBORIST. I DON'T HAVE A HUGE
SKIN IN THE GAME IN TERMS OF
POSTING EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT IN
TERMS OF INFORMING MY CLIENTS
AND TALKING TO LANDSCAPERS, FIN
PRUNERS IN GENERAL, I THINK
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION
FOR SOMEONE LIKE ME, MYSELF WHO
IS PAID TO UNDERSTAND THE CODE
AND TREE CODE IN A PARTICULAR
WAY, AND PEOPLE HAVE COME TO ME
ASKING FOR CLARIFICATION.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION
RATHER WITH CLARITY ON THIS
ISSUE. AS LEYLAH SAID, HAVING
TWO TO FOUR INCHES WOULD CLEAR
LOT OF THINGS UP. ADDITIONALLY
FROM WORKING ON A LOT OF
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WITH
THIS IN TERMS OF WE'RE NOT --
WE'RE CONSIDERING MOSTLY THE
CHIPPER TRUCKS OR ARBORISTS AND
CHIPPER TRUCKS AND USING CHAIN
SAWS WHERE IT IS VERY VISIBLE.
BUT IT IS ALL ON WHOEVER IS
DOING THIS WORK. SO IF THEY'RE
DOING PRUNING ON -- DOING FINE
PRUNING ON A JAPANESE MAPLE AND
HAVE OVER TWO INCHES, OR IF IT'
TRUE TREE PRUNING, WHICH WILL B
OVER TWO INCHES. PEOPLE IN THE
WINTER -- OR REQUIRE POSTING.
YEAH.
>> THANK YOU, CONNOR. AND THE
SAME OFFER GOES TO YOU. PLEASE
DO REACH OUT TO NAOMI LEWIS, MY
COMMITTEE CLERK. WE TRIED TO
FIND AN ELEGANT SOLUTION AND IT
WAS OUT OF REACH. IT DOESN'T
MEAN WE ARE NOT -- LET ME PUT I
IN THE POSITIVE. WE ARE STILL
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT YOU
MENTIONED. THAT BEING SAID, IT
SEEMS AS IF WE HAVE EXHAUSTED
OUR PUBLIC COMMENT LIST. SEEING
WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS
REMOTELY OR PHYSICALLY PRESENT,
WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
AGENDA ITEM. OUR FIRST AND FINA
ITEM IS A BRIEFING DISCUSSION
AND POSSIBLE VOTE ON COUNCIL
BILL 120509, WHICH WOULD AMEND
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE
REGISTERED TREE SERVICE
PROVIDER. PLEASE READ THE SHORT
TITLE INTO RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120509, AN
ORDINANCE RELATING TO LAND USE
AND URBAN FORESTRY AMENDING
REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTERED TRE
SERVICE PROVIDERS, AMENDING THE
SECTION AND POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. FOR THIS
DISCUSSION, WE ARE JOINED BY
LISH WHITSON, FROM COUNCIL
CENTRAL STAFF. I BELIEVE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSIONERS -- JOSH
MORRISON, BECCA NEWMAN. LOOKING
HERE TO SEE IF -- I'M NOT SEEIN
THEM. CLERK, CAN YOU CONFIRM?
>> THEY ARE NOT PRESENT.
>> OKAY. IF THEY DO JOIN US,
PLEASE LET US KNOW. WE ALSO HAV
OUR HIGH ROAD ARBORIST
STAKEHOLDERS THAT JOINED US LAS
WEEK, TAYLOR, KELSEY, ALLAN, AN
ANDREA. I AM SEEING ALL OF YOU
HERE. WONDERFUL. BEFORE WE BEGI
THIS DISCUSSION, LISH, CAN YOU
PLEASE GO THROUGH THE CHANGES,
THE SUBSTITUTE BILL MADE AND
THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE
AMENDMENT SEPARATELY. IF I CALL
CORRECTLY, THE ORIGINAL BILL
RENAMES MAJOR PRUNING TO
PORTABLE WORK, INCLUDING ECAs.
IT MOVES POSTING REQUIREMENTS
FROM PHYSICAL TO ONLINE WITH A
MAP INCLUDED AND REQUIRED, AND
REQUIRES TSPs TO HAVE CONTACT
INFORMATION ON THEIR TRUCK. THE
SUBSTITUTE BILL ALLOWS ARBORIST
TO REMOVE DEAD BRANCHES AND
ROOTS, CHANGES TO POSTING
REQUIREMENTS TO AT LEAST THREE
BUSINESS DAYS IN ADVANCE OF
PORTABLE WORK, AND SIX BUSINESS
DAYS IN ADVANCE OF TREE REMOVAL
AND PUTS A REQUIREMENT FOR TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE
PUBLIC NOTICES AT OR NEAR THE
WORK SITE WHILE WORK IS
UNDERWAY. AND RECOMMENDS
STRONGLY, PLEASE, THAT NOTICES
BE LEFT IN PLACE FOR FIVE DAYS
AFTER THE WORK IS COMPLETED.
LISH, I'M GOING TO PASS IT TO
YOU IS AND SEE IF I GOT THAT AL
RIGHT.
>> THAT'S CORRECT. I'LL ADJUST
COUPLE OF OTHER THINGS THAT THE
SUBSTITUTE WOULD DO. PROVIDES A
EXEMPTION FROM SOME OF THE
REQUIREMENTS DURING AN
EMERGENCY. IT REPLACES THE TERM
NORMAL AND ROUTINE PRUNING
OPERATIONS WITH NORMAL PRUNING
AND MAINTENANCE. REMOVAL OF AN
EXCEPTIONAL TREE WOULD REQUIRE
SECOND OPINION. AND TREE SERVIC
PROVIDERS VEHICLES WOULD HAVE
CITY REGISTRATION NUMBERS, NAME
AND PHONE NUMBER OR E-MAIL ON
THE LEFT, RIGHT, AND REAR OF TH
VEHICLE AS APPLICABLE.
>> THANK YOU, LISH. I THINK THA
TAKES CARE OF THE CHIP TRUCK,
WHERE WE SEE AS APPLICABLE. I
WOULD JUST WANT TO THANK KELSEY
ALLAN, ANDREA FOR JOINING US
AGAIN. YOU TOOK TIME OUT OF YOU
DAY TO COME JOIN US AT THE LAST
COMMITTEE MEETING. YOU'RE HERE
TODAY TO MAKE SURE IF ANY OF MY
COLLEAGUES HAVE QUESTIONS THAT
YOU'RE ABLE TO ANSWER THEM. I'M
GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO THE
COLLEAGUES, AND THEN PASS IT UP
TO THE ARBORISTS IF YOU HAVE AN
FINAL COMMENT BEFORE WE TAKE UP
THE SUBSTITUTE OF THIS BILL.
COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS?
>> I HAVE NONE.
>> I AM SEEING NO QUESTIONS,
COMMENTS, OR CONCERNS. I THINK
THAT LETS YOU OFF THE HOOK,
ANDREA, KELSEY, ALLAN. ALLAN, I
SEE YOU'RE AT A JOB SITE RIGHT
NOW. DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL
COMMENTS ON THIS SUBSTITUTE --
AND TAYLOR, GREAT TO SEE YOU AS
WELL. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS
AT THIS TIME?
>> I'LL LEAD OFF IF THAT'S OKAY
JUST TO THE NOTE ABOUT THE URBA
FORESTRY COMMISSION FOLKS. JOSH
IS TRAVELING. AND I'VE BEEN IN
TOUCH WITH STUART WHO HAD A
FAMILY THING COME UP. SO WE'VE
ACTUALLY BEEN UNABLE TO GO OVER
THE PROPOSED CHANGES WITH THEM,
JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA THERE.
BUT BASICALLY I THINK OUR TAKE
ON EVERYTHING IS WE'RE MOVING I
THE RIGHT DIRECTION, ABSOLUTELY
ON A NUMBER OF THESE ISSUES. BU
UNFORTUNATELY THE LEGISLATION I
FEELING A BIT RUSHED. I FEEL WE
CAN FLUSH OUT A BIT MORE. I
DON'T KNOW IF TABLING AND COMIN
BACK IS AT ALL A POSSIBILITY.
BUT ANY WAY I THINK THERE'S
REALLY GOOD THINGS IN HERE
ESPECIALLY THE AMENDMENT TOO,
MAKING AN ALLOWANCE FOR THE
DIRECTORS TO REQUIRE A THIRD
PARTY REVIEW WHEN THEY FEEL
NECESSARY RATHER THAN IN EVERY
INSTANCE. AND THEN CERTAINLY
DIALING BACK SOME OF THESE
REQUIREMENTS FOR PORTABLE WORK
AND WITH A NOTICE REQUIREMENT
IS. THOSE ARE ALL POSITIVE STEP
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. BUT I'D
LIKE TO THANK ALL MY COLLEAGUES
FOR THEIR EXCELLENT COMMENT, YO
KNOW, ESPECIALLY TO LEYLAH'S
COMMENT. WE'RE STILL CATCHING A
LOT OF THINGS IN THAT, FORMERLY
MAJOR PRUNING AND PORTABLE WORK
ANY WAY I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE, YOU KNOW, DAN, NAOMI,
FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON ALL OF
THIS. I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF
POSITIVE STEPS HERE TODAY, BUT
THINK THIS DOESN'T NECESSARILY
ADDRESS EVERYTHING WE'RE HOPING
FOR. AND HOPEFULLY THIS COULD B
THE FIRST STEP OF MANY AND NOT
THE LAST STEP.
>> THANK YOU, ALLAN. I THINK
WHAT YOU REALLY PINPOINTED AND
FOCUSED FOR US THAT IN
LEGISLATIVE WORK, NEW AREAS THA
ARE NOT REGULATED PREVIOUSLY
THAT RULE MAKING AND LAW MAKING
IS A PROCESS. AD SO THAT IS
WHAT THIS BILL AND THE
SUBSTITUTE TO THIS BILL DOES.
THIS IS A PRECURSOR TO THE
OVERALL TREE ORDINANCE THAT
SHOULD BE COMING OUR WAY THIS
NEXT MONTH. AND SO I THINK THER
WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES. AS I
MENTIONED, I WOULD LOVE TO TRY
TO FIND OUT THAT SOLUTION, BUT
WE HAVEN'T GOTTEN THERE YET. AN
WHY IT'S FEELING RUSHED, I THIN
FROM OUR STANDPOINT, WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE THESE RULES WORK WELL
NOW. AND AS BEST AS POSSIBLE
NOW. SO MORE REITERATIONS TO
COME IF NEED BE. COLLEAGUES, OR
KELSEY, ANDREA, TAYLOR,
ANYTHING? TAYLOR, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> YEAH, I DIDN'T GET A CHANCE
TO INTRODUCE MYSELF A FEW WEEKS
AGO. I'M TAYLOR. I HAVE BEEN AN
ARBORIST FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. I
HAVE A DEGREE IN URBAN FORESTRY
AND AGRICULTURE AND HAVE BEEN
WORKING IN SEATTLE FOR ABOUT
FIVE YEARS. I JUST REALLY
STRONGLY ENCOURAGE THAT ALL
FUTURE URBAN FORESTRY POLICY FO
THE CITY HAVE URBAN FORESTRY
PROFESSIONALS BE A PART OF THE
DECISION MAKING PROCESS OR THE
SHAPING OF THAT PROCESS. THIS
CODE IS INCREASING COSTS OF TRE
CARE SERVICES TO HOMEOWNERS. AN
THAT INCREASED COST
DISINCENTIVIZES TREES. PEOPLE
WILL SPEND LESS MONEY TAKING
CARE OF THEIR TREES. THEY ARE
NOT INCENTIVIZED TO PLANT TREES
BY THE TREE CODE. IT HAS MADE
TREES MORE OF A LIABILITY AS A
RESULT. SO I THINK WE SHOULD
CONSIDER THAT IN MOVING FORWARD
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, TAYLOR. IT SEEMS
LIKE YOU'RE WELL INVOLVED IN TH
CONVERSATION NOW AND AS WE
CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION. GLA
TO HAVE YOU WITH US.
>> THANK YOU.
>> JUST CHECKING ONE LAST TIME.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS BEFORE I
VOTE ON THE SUBSTITUTE? SEEING
NONE, I MOVE TO AMEND COUNCIL
BILL 120509 BY SUBSTITUTING
VERSION TWO FOR VERSION 1.H. IS
THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED
TO SUBSTITUTE THE BILL. ARE
THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS O
THE SUBSTITUTE? NOT SEEING ANY.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ON THE ADOPTION OF THE
SUBSTITUTE?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE. COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN
>> AYE.
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES? CHAIR
STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES
COUNCIL BILL 120509 HAS BEEN
AMENDED BY SUBSTITUTING VERSION
TWO FOR VERSION 1.H. MOVING ON
TO AMENDMENT 2. LISH, I'LL DO M
-- I'LL PLAY COUNCIL CENTRAL
STAFF ON TV FOR A MOMENT AND
THEN PASS IT TO THE REAL DEAL.
THIS AMENDMENT WOULD ALLOW SDCI
TO DETERMINE IF A THIRD PARTY
ASSESSMENT ON A HAZARDOUS TREE
REMOVAL IS NECESSARY. THAT'S TH
AMENDMENT. I'LL SAY IN A PERFEC
WORLD, WE WOULD EITHER HAVE A
VOUCHER TO PAY FOR THE THIRD
PARTY ASSESSMENT BY A THIRD
PARTY ARBORIST OR HAVE SDCI HIR
AND HAVE ARBORISTS ON STAFF TO
REVIEW THESE REPORTS THEMSELVES
THIS AMENDMENT IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE WE NEED BOTH TO ENSURE
REPORTS ARE ACCURATE AND AVOID
UNNECESSARILY RAISING THE COST
TO TREE OWNERS. AS I SAID IN A
PERFECT WORLD, WE WOULD
INTERNALIZE REPORTS AND ENSURE
THEY'RE ACCURATE. AS THE
ARBORISTS HIGHLIGHTED, IT DRIVE
UP THE COST OF TREES, WHICH
CAUSES PEOPLE TO NOT WANT TO
PLANT TREES AS TAYLOR JUST
MENTIONED. AND ALSO CREATING
COMMON SENSE LEGISLATION TO MAK
IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE BAD
ARBORISTS TO CONTINUE WORKING.
LISH, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO YOU
TO REPORT ON THE AMENDMENT IF
YOU WILL.
>> YES, THE ONLY THING I WOULD
ADD IS THIS REQUIREMENT FOR A
SECOND OPINION ONLY APPLIES WHE
THE PROPOSAL IS TO REMOVE AN
EXCEPTIONAL TREE. OTHER TYPES O
TREE WORK ARE NOT REQUIRED TO
HAVE A SECOND OPINION.
>> ALL RIGHT, BEFORE I MOVE OVE
TO YOU, ALLAN, I'M GOING TO
CHECK WITH MY COLLEAGUES.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS?
NOT SEEING ANY. TAYLOR, THAT'S
AN OLD HAND. I'LL GO TO ALLAN
AND THEN ANDREA.
>> SO JUST REAL BRIEFLY. WE ARE
VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS
ONE. I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS IN
THE TREE ADVOCACY COMMUNITY ARE
WORRIED ABOUT FUNNY BUSINESS ON
THE PART OF TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS AND POTENTIALLY
REMOVING TREES THAT DON'T HAVE
THINGS WRONG WITH THEM. THE
WHOLE IDEA HERE IS IF YOU HAVE
DEAD TREE OR AN OBVIOUSLY
HAZARDOUS TREE THAT CAN BE WELL
DOCUMENTED THROUGH PHOTOS, THER
IS A PRESSURE RELEASE VALVE THA
WILL ALLOW IT TO BE A MUCH MORE
AFFORDABLE UNDERTAKING FOR OUR
CLIENTS BECAUSE IN HOUSE WE
WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP THEM OUT
WITH THAT. WE THINK THEY SHOULD
BE STRICT WHEN THERE ARE
QUESTIONABLE TREE REMOVALS OR
CONDITIONS THAT ARE HARD TO
DOCUMENT. AND SDOT HAS DONE A
REALLY GOOD JOBIN THE PAST OF
REQUIRING ADVANCED ASSESSMENTS.
SOMETIMES INVOLVING DESTRUCTIVE
TESTING OR ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC
EQUIPMENT IN CASES WHERE THEY
THOUGHT THINGS WERE FISHY. SO W
ARE 100% IN SUPPORT OF THIS
AMENDMENT, AND WE THINK IT WILL
DO REALLY GOOD THINGS, JUST
GIVING DISCRETION TO SDCI. SO
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ALLAN. ANDREA?
GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US HERE
I'M DEALING WITH A BIT OF A
VOICE ISSUE. I JUST WANTED TO
ECHO ALLAN. WE DO DEFINITELY
SUPPORT THIS, IT'S IN LINE WITH
THE WAY OTHER MUNICIPALITIES
HANDLE TREE REMOVALS. I CAN SAY
THAT THEY ALL ALLOW
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY TO
REQUIRE THIRD PARTY REVIEW WHEN
REQUIRED. I WANTED TO POINT OUT
WHILE THEY DO NOT HAVE MANY ON
STAFF, IT DOES HAVE THOSE ON
STAFF WHO ARE REVIEWING THESE.
AND NOT EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS
REVIEWING THIS AND THERE ARE AT
LEAST TWO CERTIFIED ARBORISTS,
BUT I BELIEVE THERE MIGHT BE
FOUR WHO ARE ON STAFF AND WHO
ARE ACTUALLY REVIEWING THESE
REPORTS. AND TO ALLAN'S POINT,
WHEN TREES ARE OBVIOUSLY DEAD O
HAZARDOUS, THIS DOES ALLOW FOR
COMMON SENSE APPROACHES AND
REDUCES THE COST FOR TREE CARE
OR TREE OWNERS AND TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS. SO FULL SUPPORT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, ANDREA. ERIC, IT
SEEMS COUNCIL MEMBER MORALES
MIGHT HAVE BEEN BUMPED OUT AND
IS IN THE WAITING ROOM AGAIN
JUST FOR AWARENESS. THANK YOU,
ALLAN AND ANDREA FOR SHARING
THOSE THOUGHTS. COLLEAGUES, ANY
LAST QUESTIONS BEFORE WE VOTE O
THE AMENDMENT TWO? WITH THAT, I
MOVE IT TO AMEND COUNCIL BILL
120509 AS SHOWN IN AMENDMENT 2.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. IT HAS BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO AMEND COUNCIL
BILL 120509. ARE THERE ANY FINA
COMMENTS?
>> I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
SORRY. I APOLOGIZE COUNCIL
MEMBER STRAUSS.
>> SURE, LET'S GO FOR IT. I
HAVEN'T CALLED FOR THE ROLL YET
ACTUALLY LET'S GET THROUGH THIS
SECTION AND THEN WE'LL COME
BACK. THANK YOU. ANY FINAL
COMMENTS? WILL THE CLERK PLEASE
CALL THE ROLL. IT'S BEEN MOVED
AND SECONDED TO AMEND COUNCIL
BILL 120509 ON AMENDMENT 2.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> ABSTAIN.
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES? CHAIR
STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR. SORRY, THREE
IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION CARRIE
COUNCIL BILL 120509 HAS BEEN
AMENDED AS SHOWN IN AMENDMENT 2
ANDREA, YOU HAVE SOMETHING MORE
TO SHARE, PLEASE?
>> I MEANT TO ASK THIS BEFORE I
WAS AMENDED. IN VERSION TWO, IT
STILL INCLUDES THE LANGUAGE FOR
MAJOR PRUNING OF EXCEPTIONAL
HAZARDOUS TREES. AND THIS SAN
OPERATIONS CORRECTION, I
SUPPOSE, SINCE THE FIRST VERSIO
WAS ADOPTED TO THAT LANGUAGE,
GETTING RID OF THE MAJOR PERMIT
REQUIREMENT BECAUSE THERE IS NO
PERMIT REQUIRED FOR TREES. AND
IT STILL INCLUDES THAT LANGUAGE
>> THIS IS THE BEST I'VE GOTTEN
ALL DAY. IT LEADS ME TO THE NEX
SECTION OF DISCUSSING. WHICH IS
THE PRECURSOR OF LARGER TREES.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SOM
STEPS HERE, WHICH THAT LANGUAGE
IS SET UP FOR THE LARGER TREE
ORDINANCE BILL, SO WE DON'T HAV
TO COME BACK TO AMEND THE BILL.
WITH THAT SAID, AS I MENTIONED
EARLIER, THIS IS ALL AN
INTERTIVE PROCESS. IF MORE CLEA
UP NEEDS TO BE MADE, IT WILL BE
MADE. WE'RE TRYING TO GET AHEAD
OF OURSELVES, SO WE DON'T HAVE
TO COME BACK TO THIS IN THE
FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> YEAH, FAIR ENOUGH. AND I WAN
TO THANK COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSE
AND TOBEY IN HIS OFFICE
SPECIFICALLY FOR THE GOOD WORK
ON THIS BILL. TOBEY MAY HAVE
WRITTEN IT HIMSELF. AND I WANT
TO COMMEND YOU BOTH COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN AND TOBEY FOR
YOUR WONDERFUL WORK. YOU KNOW,
WE RECEIVED MANY E-MAILS AND
COMMENTS THAT WILL BE BEST
ADDRESSED WHEN WE TAKE UP THE
LARGER TREE BILL. THIS IS NOT
THE LAST OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE
ON TREES. IN FACT IT IS THE
PRECURSOR, THE PREMISE IF YOU
WILL. COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
FURTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS O
THE UNDERLINING BILL BEFORE WE
GO TO A VOTE? SEEING NONE AT
THIS TIME. I MOVE TO ADOPT
COUNCIL BILL 120509 AS AMENDED.
IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. CLERK, WILL YOU
PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER MOSQUEDA?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON?
>> AYE.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES.
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES? CHAIR
STRAUSS?
>> YES.
>> FOUR IN FAVOR.
>> THANK YOU, MOTION PASSES
COUNCIL BILL 120509 IS AMENDED.
IT PASSES AS AMENDED. THIS ITEM
WILL BE BEFORE THE FULL COUNCIL
ON FEBRUARY 28 FOR A FINAL VOTE
AGAIN, WE WANT TO THANK TOBEY
FOR YOUR HARD, WHO. THANK YOU,
ALLAN, ANDREA, TAYLOR, AS WELL
AS JOSH AND STUART FOR YOUR HAR
WORK ON THIS. WE'LL HAVE MANY
OPPORTUNITIES OVER THE NEXT FEW
MONTHS TO ENGAGE. WITH THAT,
UNLESS THERE IS ANYTHING FOR TH
GOOD OF THE ORDER, I'M SEEING
NO. WE WANT TO END THIS, COPY.
THIS DOES INCLUDE THE WEDNESDAY
FEBRUARY 22, 2023 MEETING OF TH
LAND USE COMMITTEE. THE NEXT
REGULI SCHEDULED MEETING WILL B
ON MARCH 8, 2023 AT 2:00 P.M.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING. WE ARE
ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.