HELP THE TREES!
Will there still be Green in Seattle?
To make sure, send a greeting to the new Mayor, and the 2-New City Council Members, Sally Bagshaw and Mike Obrien. Tell them who you are, and what you hope for in the coming year, especially your desire in keeping Seattle an Emerald City with Evergreen's everywhere.
Send a special Thank You to Nick Licata for following through on a Forestry Commission. And also send a Thank You to each of the other members of the City Council who have supported the Greening of Seattle over the past year. We have made great progress because these Council Members have been willing to say yes to keeping the trees we have, and adding more trees to our City.
richard.conlin@seattle.gov
sally.bagshaw@seattle.gov
tim.burgess@seattle.gov
sally.clark@seattle.gov
jean.godden@seattle.gov
bruce.harrell@seattle.gov
nick.licata@seattle.gov
mike.obrien@seattle.gov
tom.rasmussen@seattle.gov
Want more information about each council member and their jobs for the next year? Click here: Council Website
Once more the Ingraham Trees need the help of the Activist. Please write to the Mayor and ask for the intervention to keep the Ingraham Trees and move the Project proposed by the School District to another site on campus. It is not to late to have both Education and Trees. It is not to late to have an ecological classroom, living breathing, valuable to both the school and the neighborhood. It is not to late to save an Urban Forest, with uncommon and rare plant habitat. It is time for the City Mayor and the DPD to stand up to the School District and hold the School District accountable to follow City Ordinances, and plans for the future. Ask the Mayor to save the Ingraham Trees. Click here to send a message to Mayor McGinn.
Thank You for your help.
The Ingraham High School has turned out to be a canary-in-the-coal-mine for an issue that will has been revealed as a systemic problem comparable to the snowstorm mess. At the City Council briefing the Seattle city auditor released the audit of the 9-department tree program. It's not pretty.
There are 12 employees working as tree trimmers for the city of Seattle. These workers are formed into 3 person tree crews. 2 tree crews work for SDOT, and 2 tree crews work for Parks. Other tree workers work under contract to City Light & other departments, and horticulturists & other staff work on the lower portion of trees.
Keep in mind that this is a skeleton crew. Park trees in the landscaped portions where people congregate number about 150,000. SDOT trees located in the right-of-way also number at least 150,000 trees. So, how can the Seattle government expect these 300,000 trees to be maintained by a dozen staff?
The solution is to hire more people, but there are already 1,000 parks employees, or 10% of the city workforce. Our priority is simply towards emptying trash cans, and ignoring the valuable tree resource.
On a 35' tall tree in the sidewalk outside a Capitol Hill construction project is a sign stating that its value, if damaged is $10,000 in restitution. FYI, a street light pole is also worth at least $10,000., but we do not question whether this investment is necessary. If this typical 15" diameter tree has such a significant value, how much is the entire 1.3 million tree resource worth in Seattle? The answer is found in the billions of dollars.
I wonder if you know SDOT collects restitution from drivers who damage trees in traffic accidents & puts the money in a special fund. Trees lost in my neighborhood still haven't been replaced, years later. A street tree ordinance proposal has been in draft form for 11 years, but isn't available for review by citizens or city council. DPD refuses to reveal the content of discussions about a new development tree ordinance held with a consultant. Both of the privately managed Zoo & Seattle Center campuses are run without Vegetation Management Plans (VMP). The Department of Neighborhoods routinely gives away trees to fill in vacant spots in the right-of-way, but disqualifies sites on private property adjacent to the streets where the city would benefit.
To be fair, the Office of Sustainability and Environment has been one of the prime obfuscators. This comp plan amendment also requires tracking of work progress, which would have removed one of the main auditor’s criticisms, if it had been implemented promptly last May. The other component of the amendment is new language recognizing the essential nature of the tree root zone.
The issue of variances for excessive lot coverage is probably Seattle’s most pressing tree issue. The code requires a building be placed in the center of a lot, with front, rear and side yard setbacks. This is so neighbors can have a buffer zone. Variances are routinely granted from the 40% lot coverage requirement, which kills trees. The tree root zones are sold off for profitable development in violation of the intent of the Seattle Municipal Code. When you add the appraised value of a tree discussed earlier to the value of the square footage of the real estate of the root zone it sits on, we are talking a massive incentive for developers to lobby the Mayors office to stall the implementation of the tree ordinance being introduced next Friday on the EEMU committee agenda. We are talking big bucks for NOT being green, as the Mayor says he is, while caving in on this issue.
1) The May 18th Council briefing agenda shows a presentation by Seattle City Auditor. The 9 department Urban Forest Coalition staff group lacks
a) tracking of work progress,
b) tree inventory,
c) public outreach
d) coordination between city departments.
2) The May 22nd Seattle City Council Environment Committee agenda shows a council-generated tree ordinance. The Mayor appointed the Emerald City Task Force in 2007, but no legislation addressing the issues has been forthcoming by the executive. The council has realized Nickels has no intention of preparing a draft to replace the interim tree ordinance until after the election. If you are interested, I can tell you what will be in the sweeping tree ordinance.
3) The same EEMU agenda also shows a resolution sponsored by Licata to appoint a Tree Commission. A list of 2 dozen questions has been presented to SDOT, Pasks, and DPD staff for a briefing at the first citizen tree advisory commission meeting.
Councilmember Tom Rasmussen toured the proposed bulldozing site of the grove of 36 Exceptional Trees at Piper Village at 85th St. & Greenwood AV N. He has asked DPD Director Diane Sugimura to explain how these rare Aspen trees could be condemned with no notice to the public, in spite of 3 complaints in the last year.
John Dixon sent out a great reference: the tree ordinance for the City of Lake Forest Park, thanks for doing that legwork. Lake Forest Park has an online 36 page .pdf tree tour that you may find interesting: Lake Forest Park Tree Tour
Heres a great urban forestry toolkit for developing management plans. Management Plans Keep in mind that the State of California funds dozens of urban foresters to produce materials like this.
Washington has a meager funding program that just added 2 staff positions to the existing 2 part time urban forestry people as part of the Evergreen Communities Act of 2008. I attended their meeting in October, with the minutes here: Evergreen Communities Act of 2008 October minutes
Arboreally yours,
Michael Oxman
(206) 949-8733
If you have concerns regarding tree issues please write to any or all of the following City Council Members.
richard.conlin@seattle.gov, sally.clark@seattle.gov, jean.godden@seattle.gov, Tom.Rassmussen@seattle.gov, bruce.harrell@seattle.gov, tim.burgess@seattle.gov, nick.licata@seattle.gov,
An Interim Emergency Tree Ordinance is now in place.
TO TRACE THE JOURNEY OF OUR PETITIONS TO CITY COUNCIL, PLEASE CONTINUE READING. WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER THERE IS PROGRESS. THERE IS STILL MORE TO DO, MORE TO CHANGE--IT IS NEVER EASY, NOR FAST, BUT WE HAVE A GOOD START. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GREAT WRITERS, CALLERS, AND SUPPORTERS.
On April 1, 2009 at midnight the Interim Emergency Tree Ordinance went into effect.
NEWS FROM CITY COUNCIL:
On Monday, December 15, 2008 at 5:30 p.m., the Seattle City Council Environment, Emergency Management, and Utilities Committee will hold a public hearing at Seattle City Hall, 600 4th Ave, on an emergency tree protection ordinance for the City of Seattle. The proposal would provide for interim protection for most trees for a period of six months to a year while Seattle develops a long-range solution to increase the tree canopy and stop the loss of healthy, mature trees. For more information, see the following links:
· Public Notice of Hearing
Your input is vital to helping to pass this interim piece of legislation to protect trees in the City of Seattle. This bill was drafted as the result of our efforts to protect the trees at Ingraham High School from being needlessly cut down when alternatives existed to the proposed construction site. When the Seattle School District withdrew their construction permits in August of 2008, we went to King County Superior Court and got an injunction to stop the trees from being cut down. The Seattle School District’s attempted clear cutting of the trees without further environmental review by the city of Seattle exposed a loophole in Seattle’s tree protection ordinances. Other tree battles like trying to save trees at Waldo Woods in North Seattle also are driving this legislation.
If you cannot attend the Hearing on Monday at 5:30 PM it is critical that you send emails to all the City Council members urging their support for Council bill 116404 to provide interim tree protection until strong permanent protections can be put in place. You can write one e-mail and send copies to all the council members by cutting and pasting the e-mails below.
Emails are: richard.conlin@seattle.gov; tim.burgess@seattle.gov; sally.clark@seattle.gov; jan.drago@seattle.gov; jean.godden@seattle.gov; bruce.harrell@seattle.gov; nick.licata@seattle.gov; richard.mciver@seattle.gov; tom.rasmussem@seattle.gov
This legislation is a first step towards strengthening tree protection laws in the City of Seattle. It is being attacked by so called “property rights advocates” who oppose efforts to protect trees. They are contacting members of the Seattle City Council with their opposition and we need to counter their efforts.
We need you to add your voice in support of the city stepping up and providing stronger protection for both individual trees and tree groves and our green urban habitat. Seattle’s urban tree canopy according to the city had decreased from 40% in 1973 to 18%. Unless we speak out our remaining urban trees are in danger of being lost because Seattle existing tree ordinance only provides protection to 1% total of all the trees through a very limited “exceptional tree” provision. Other cities in the region and in the US have much stronger protection measures.
Urge that the proposed legislation be amended to strengthen SEPA (State Environmental Policy Act) provisions, that permits be required to cut down any tree over 6” in diameter, that tree grove protections are vital to protecting unique urban habitats and that the exemption for “additions to existing buildings” be dropped or clarified as limited to a certain size.
Passing Council bill 116404 is only a first step but we need to take it to protect trees while permanent legislation is being drafted up. We need to generate strong citizen support via e-mails and people attending the hearing on Monday as a show of support for protecting trees in Seattle. Please help. Thanks.
Steve Zemke
Save the Trees – Seattle
206-366-0811
P.S. The Seattle City Council noted the following:
1. “The public hearing on the tree protections is taking place in the Seattle Council Chambers (one floor above the 5th Ave entrance to City Hall) on the second floor. A different hearing will be taking place at the same time in the Bertha Knight Landes room on the first floor of City Hall (one floor below Council Chambers). This hearing is on the Mayor's proposed gun ban and also begins at 5:30. “
2.” The sign up sheet to make public comments will be available at 5:00 pm on the December 15, 2008 right outside of Council Chambers. People will be called in the order in which they sign up.”
3. The City Council also suggests that you provide “your comments in written form either to all Council members via email, in hard copy when you come to the hearing, or via the USPS. This is important because comments are normally limited to two minutes and many people have more than can be said in that time. Submitting your comments in writing will ensure that the Council hears what you have to say.”
For publication in the LUIB and DJC on December 1, 2008
Other Actions
NOTICE OF PROPOSED CODE AMENDMENT
AND CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING
The City Council is proposing code amendments that provide interim controls concerning the protection and retention of trees by amending Sections 25.11.020, 25.11.030, 25.11.040, and 25.11.100 of the Seattle Municipal Code
The proposal is found under Council Bill 116404. The proposal would provide interim controls including changes to existing exemptions to the tree ordinance, further restrictions to tree removal or topping of trees on lots of 5,000 square feet or more in single family zones and to all lots in Lowrise, Midrise and Commercial zones, further limit tree removal on developed lots to no more than 3 trees of 6 inch caliper or greater in one year and expand existing code enforcement authority.
PUBLIC HEARING
The City Council’s Environment, Emergency Management and Utility Committee will hold a public hearing to take comments on the proposal on December 15 2008 at 5:30 p.m. The hearing will be held in Council Chamber, 2nd floor, Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue. The entrances to City Hall are located on the west side of Fifth Avenue, and the east side of Fourth Avenue, between James and Cherry Streets. For those who wish to testify, a sign-up sheet will be available outside the Council Chamber one-half hour before the public hearing.
Questions concerning the public hearing may be directed to Rob Gala in Councilmember Conlin’s office, by calling (206) 684-8805 or via e-mail at: rob.gala@seattle.gov.
Print and communications access is provided on prior request. Please contact Rob Gala at (206) 684-8805 as soon as possible to request accommodations for a disability.
Written Comments
For those unable to attend the public hearing, comments will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. December 15, 2008. Please send comments to Rob Gala or:
Councilmember Richard Conlin
Legislative Department
600 Fourth Avenue, Floor 2
PO Box 34025
Seattle, WA 98124-4025
INFORMATION AVAILABLE
Copies of the proposal, Council Bill 116404, are available from the City Clerk’s Office, 600 4th Avenue, Floor 3, 684-8344. The Clerk’s Office is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The proposal may also be obtained from the City Clerk’s website: http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~public/CBOR1.htm. Search for Council Bill 116404. Questions regarding the proposal or requests for electronic copies may be directed to Michael Jenkins at (206) 615-1674 or via email at michael.jenkins@seattle.gov
PROGRESS! PLEASE TAKE TIME TO REVIEW THE ABOVE CODE AMENDMENT AND MAKE PERTINENT COMMENTS. IF POSSIBLE PLEASE ATTEND ON DECEMBER 15TH.
November 1, 2008 MESSAGE TO CITY COUNCIL and THE MAYOR and DPD: WE ARE STILL WAITING!!!, When is the Interim Emergency Tree Ordinance going to be Passed? It won't be long and the trees will be dead, why are you stalling?
OCTOBER 1, 2008
MESSAGES TO BE SENT TO CITY COUNCIL:
It is important for all of us to realize how together we must pull to succeed in getting an Interim Emergency Tree Ordinance. This is an emotional issue for all of us. Many of us are involved in this because of what is going on in our own neighborhoods. Some of us have been fighting this battle for what may seem an eternity. Right now is a time to strike for a very important INTERIM EMERGENCY TREE ORDINANCE. The reason is simple: Two very important groves of trees are in the news, only an INTERIM EMERGENCY TREE ORDINANCE WILL GURANTEE THEIR EXISTENCE, anything less and we loose one or both of these groves. Time is of the essence. Many trees are falling in neighborhoods. These trees are NOT BEING REPLACED, a joint effort now stops the bleeding. In the Fall the true surgery, therapy and healing can be accomplished.
SEND MESSAGES:
We need to be very on message here. The conversations should *NOT* be
about next year's tree ordinance. They should be about this interim
ordinance to save groves. I know the temptation is to take any oppy to push
the entire pro-tree agenda, but we really need to work in steps on
this one to get it through.
Bottom line message to Council: Ask repeatedly if the bill in front of
them would, no question about it, save Waldo Woods and Ingraham
Forest. If the answer is not an unequivocal 'yes', then they should
keep working on it.
Finally, we need to keep the e-mails coming in to Council letting them
know regular folks want restrictions on cutting tree groves, even on
private property.
richard.conlin@seattle.gov, sally.clark@seattle.gov, jan.drago@seattle.gov, jean.godden@seattle.gov, Tom.Rassmussen@seattle.gov, bruce.harrell@seattle.gov, tim.burgess@seattle.gov, nick.licata@seattle.gov, richard.mciver@seattle.gov
BELOW IS THE LAST MESSAGES SENT TO COUNCIL:
we made progress with these messages. The City Council and Mayors office are working to combine an Interim Emergency Tree Ordinance as of September 22, 2008. A big thank you to our phone callers, writers and emailers. But we can't stop: SEE ABOVE.
City Council
The Seattle City Council voted to establish a clarification and definition to the 6-2001 Directors orders. This is important because the Directive was used to determine if trees are significant enough to keep, thus preserving them from a developers SAW and Urban SPRAWL.
If trees are to be saved in Seattle, then the City Council must take action.
Call the City Council today. Demand a STRONG TREE ORDINANCE that protects our mature tree canopy. We need to stand up and protect the trees than protect us. Call 206-684-8800-8808.
On Friday September 12th the City Council delivered an Ordinance to the DPD for SEPA review.
SAVE SEATTLES TREES ASK FOR THE FOLLOWING MSG TO BE SENT TO THE CITY COUNCIL:
We are happy our letters on a tree grove ordinance have been heard.
Please make sure a meaningful ordinance is passed. The draft sent to
Council via e-mail on August 27 is a good balance between the rights
of homeowners and protecting the environment. At a minimum, any
ordinance must explicitly protect groves and amend both SMC 25.11 and the SEPA code in SMC 25.05
Of course writing and or expanding within your own wisdom and knowledge is always encouraged!
richard.conlin@seattle.gov, sally.clark@seattle.gov, jan.drago@seattle.gov, jean.godden@seattle.gov, Tom.Rassmussen@seattle.gov, bruce.harrell@seattle.gov, tim.burgess@seattle.gov, nick.licata@seattle.gov, richard.mciver@seattle.gov
Council Memeber Jean Gooden sent this to inform me of the current happenings at City Hall :
MEMORANDUM
TO: Councilmember Richard Conlin, Chair
Environment, Emergency Management & Utilities Committee
FROM: Diane M. Sugimura, DPD
Brennon Staley, DPD
DATE: September 23, 2008
RE: Revised Director’s Rule 6-2001 Defining Exceptional Trees
Attached is a revised copy of Director’s Rule 6-2001 which defines the term “Exceptional Tree” for the purposes of Seattle Municipal Code 25.11, Tree Protection. The purpose of this update is to redefine the term “exceptional tree” to include more individual trees with significant canopy, as well as groves of trees. The update would accomplish the following:
- Expand definition to include groves of trees. The updated director’s rule defines a grove of trees as a group of 8 or more trees with a diameter of 12” or more that form a continuous canopy.
- Reduce the threshold for non-native species from an American Forest Association (AFA) rating of 75% of the largest tree in
- Maintain existing thresholds for native trees of significant environmental value while raising threshold diameters to 50% of the largest documented tree in
- Simplify the exceptional tree definition by providing a table that lists threshold diameters for common species.
- Reformat the rule to make the exceptional tree definition more prominent and to condense the discussion of SEPA implications.
The expanded definition of exceptional trees, including groves, is estimated to increase the number of trees regulated both through the interim tree protection proposal and through existing regulations for exceptional trees on sites undergoing development from about 1% to 5% of trees in
DPD will publish notice of the proposal in the Daily Journal of Commerce and the Land Use Information Bulletin and will provide a 14 day comment period prior to adoption of any changes.
The idea of a video is being explored in a personal effort by Kyle Freeman. He is doing updated video of Ingraham Trees.
This is Kyle's Blog, check under protest for Ingraham'svideo's. http://unvain.blogspot.com/2008/08/save-trees-verdict.html
This is Steve Zemke's Blog, check out his articles on Tree Battles, and The City Ordinance. http://www.majorityrules.org/blog/
It is our understanding that there is also being created a video regarding WALDO WOODS. When there is a posting we will place it here.
Chris Clow is helping to Save Trees using many talents: Chris has been involved with PLANT AMNESTY, was Marla Maples at the historic
dedication of the Japanese Maple at the MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND INDUSTRY way back when. He is now working with Save the Trees Seattle to raise awareness about the need for a permanent canopy. Chris Clow has written 2 songs about saving the trees.
If you have an idea to actively support trees please let us know, we can always make a post.
