>>> GOOD MORNING, THE FEBRUARY
12th MEETING OF THE LAND USE
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE WILL
GET TO ORDER.
I'M DAN STRAUSS JOINED BY
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND
COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS.
HEAR NOTHING OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
>>> I WOULD LIKE TOACKNOWLEDGE
THE FIRST PEOPLE OF THE SEATTLE
PEOPLE, PAST AND PRESENT, AND I
WANT TO HONOR THEM IN EVERY WAY
POSSIBLE THIS IS OUR FIRST
MEETING.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY HOW GLAD I
AM TO BE THE CHAIR OF THE
COMMITTEE, CONSIDERING BIG
ISSUES ABOUT HOW WE GROW AS A
CITY AND WE KEEP WHAT IS UNIQUE
TO THE CITY.
WE WILL TOUCH ON EVERYTHING
FROM AFFORDING HOUSEBILITY TO
CLIMATE CRISISES.
WE ARE LOOKING AT BACKYARD
COTTAGES, AND USING THE LAND
USE CODE FOR CHILD CARE MORE
SUCCESSFUL, CONSIDERING
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN CHANGES, AND
SO MUCH MORE.
TODAY WE HAVE TWO GREAT ITEMS
ON THE AGENDA, A BRIEFING AND
POSSIBLE REVOTE ON THE 4600
UNION BAY PLACE, AND A BRIEFING
FROM THE SEATTLE ZONE AND
INSPECTIONS ON RESPONSE TO
RESOLUTION 31902, CALLING FOR
AN UPDATE TO THE FREE
PROTECTION ORDINANCE, IN ORDER
TO HEAR MORE TIME FROM THE
PUBLIC TODAY, AS I SAID WE ARE
POSTPONING THE REAPPOINTMENT OF
DR. TORTELSON ON THE NEXT
PUBLIC MEETING, ON WEDNESDAY,
FEBRUARY 26th STARTING AT 9:30
A.M.
HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
WITH WE WILL BE TAKING PUBLIC
COMMENT ON ITEMS THAT APPEAR ON
AGENDA.
IT'S MY FIRST COMMITTEE
MEETING, AND FROM HERE I WOULD
LIKE THE RECORD TO REFLECT FROM
HERE UNTIL THROUGHOUT MY
TENURE, I'M GOING TO BE VERY
STRICT ABOUT PUBLIC COMMENT,
AND IT MEANS WHEN I AM CHAIR T
WILL ONLY BE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA, AND I WILL BE VERY
STRICT ABOUT THE 2 MINUTES OR 1
MINUTE PERTAINING TO TODAY.
IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A
REFLECTION THE PARTICIPANTS IN
THE AUDIENCE TODAY.
IT'S HOW WE SET THE STANDARDS
MOVING FORWARD ALL THROUGHOUT
THE YEAR, ALL THROUGHOUT THE 4
YEARS, AND SO I DO SEE A LOT OF
PEOPLE I AM FAMILIAR WITH AND
I'M FRIENDS WITH AND I ENJOY
SPEAKING WITH, AND PUBLIC
COMMENT IS A GREAT WAY TO
EXPRESS YOUR OPINIONS ON WHAT
IS BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TODAY
AND ALSO KNOW THAT I WOULD BE
HAPPY TO MEET WITH ANYONE AND
EVERYONE AT A LATER DATE AND
TME WHEN IT IS NOT DURING
COMMITTEE AND PUBLIC COMMENT,
AND PLEASE TAKE NO PERSONAL
OFFENSE TO THE VERY STRICT
RULES AROUND PUBLIC COMMENT,
AND TODAY, THE MICS WILL BE
TURNED OFF AFTER THE TIME THAT
YOU HAVE BEEN ALLOTTED.
SO PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOT
ALLOWED ON ITEM ONE, WHICH IS
THE CONTRACT REZONE OF UNION
BAY PLACE BECAUSE IT'S A QUASI
JUDICIAL ITEM, AND THE COUNCIL
RULES FOR EX PARTE
COMMUNICATION RULES DO APPLY
HERE.
I INVITE EVERYONE TO SPEAK TO
ITEM NUMBER 2 THAT THE MAJORITY
OF FOLKS ARE HERE TO TALK
ABOUT.
I WILL CALL UP THREE NAMES AT A
TIME BECAUSE WE HAVE 31 PEOPLE
SIGNED UP.
IF THEY GOT 2 MINUTES THAT
WOULD BE AN HOUR BEFORE THE
BUSINESS OF THE COMMITTEE.
WE ARE LIMITING IT TO 1 MINUTE,
GROUPS OF THREE OR MORE CAN
HAVE 3 MINUTES, AND IF YOU ARE
PARTICIPATING IN A GROUP, JUST
KNOW YOU ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO
PARTICIPATE IN ONE GROUP.
THESE ARE THE RULES WE ARE
SETTING THE STANDARDS FOR THE
REST OF THE YEAR.
THERE'S NO INTENTION AGAINST
ANY ONE GROUP IN PARTICULAR.
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIR.
WE WILL BE ON TOWN OUT OF THE
26th AND CAME SPECIFICALLY TO
TALK ABOUT THE DIRECTOR.
--
>> I'M SORRY, THIS IS --
>> MA'AM, THIS IS OUT OF ORDER,
MA'AM.
I AM HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU AT
ANY TIME.
>> THANK YOU, THAT IS THE
APPROPRIATE WAY.
>> WHAT JUST OCCURRED A
DISRUPTION.
THAT'S A WARNING.
I'M SIMPLY STATING FOR THE
RECORD FOR FURTHER COUNCIL
MEETINGS IN THE COMMUNITY.
I AM EXCITED TO GET INTO PUBLIC
COMMENT HERE, AND THE COMMITTEE
HAS DEDICATED UP TO 20 MINUTES
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND IT
SEEMS WE WILL EXTEND THAT.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM AS MANY
SPEAKERS AS POSSIBLE.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND CLAPPING
AND CHEERING OR BOOING OR OTHER
DISRUPTIONS WILL TAKE AWAY FROM
THE 20 MINUTES, AND THIS IS
YOUR TIME, AND WE WANT TO HEAR
FROM YOU.
SPEAKERS ARE, AGAIN, LIMITED TO
1 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, 3
MINUTES FOR GROUPS AND THE
MICROPHONES WILL BE TURNED OFF
AS A REMINDER.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO
THE ITEMS ON THE AGENDA, AGAIN,
I'M EXCITED TO HAVE EVERYONE
UP, SO I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE
FIRST THREE NAMES, AND PLEASE
USE BOTH MICROPHONES.
THE FIRST COMING UP JIM DAVIS,
JULIA SCHETLER, AND FRANK
BACUS.
GREAT TO SEE YOU, JIM.
>> IS THAT ON?
>> I AM JIM DAVIS, I LIVE IN
EAST MAGNOLIA, AND YESTERDAY AN
OUT OF TOWN TREE SERVICES
COMPANY FINISHED CUTTING DOWN
AN EXCEPTIONAL THEODORE CEDAR
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE TREE WAS IN A LANDSLIDE
PRONE ZONE HERE AN ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL.
WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THE TREE
BEING EXCEPTIONAL, THE CREW
DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THE
DEFINITION.
I DO WANT TO GIVE COMPLIMENTS
TO THE SDCI INSPECTORS WHO CAME
OUT IN A TIMELY MANNER TO
ASSESS THE SITUATION.
WE NEED TO LICENSE TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS NOW WHO ARE IN
SEATTLE, JUST LIKE OTHER CITIES
DO, OR THIS WILL CONTINUE TO
HAPPEN.
PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THE RULES
WHEN THEY COME TO DO TREE WORK
IN OUR CITY.
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU, JIM.
>> IT'S MY TO WORK WITH YOU ON
PROTECTING THE TREES IN THE
COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
JULIA.
>> HI, I'M JULIA SCHETLER, AND
I'M A CURRENT STUDENT AT THE
UDUB.
I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO PASS THE
TREE ORDINANCE TO PROTECT THE
EXISTING TREES AND PLANT MORE
FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION.
I WAS BORN HERE AND GREW UP IN
A DUPLEX WITH MY FAMILY IN A
GREEN LAKE NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR ALLEY IS ZONED FOR
MULTIFAMILY AND HAS BEEN
GRADUALLY DEVELOPED.
OVER THE YEARS ALMOST EVERY
TREE IN THE ALLEY HAS BEEN
REMOVED, EVEN THE ONES ON THE
EDGE OF THE PROPERTY LINES THAT
COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED WHEN NEW
BUILDINGS WENT UP.
WE LIKE HAVING MORE DENSITY AND
BEING ABLE TO WALK TO STORES
AND CAFES, SAYING WE MUST
CHOOSE BETWEEN DENSITY OR TREES
IS A FALSE DICHOTOMY.
CREATIVE APPROACHES TO
DEVELOPMENT AND WITH PROGRAMS
FOR NEW TREES, WE CAN TRULY
HAVE BOTH.
PLEASE PASS THE ORDINANCE
EXACTLY AS PROPOSED BY THE
URBAN FORESTTY COMMISSION.
YOU WILL BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE
OF HISTORY, AND FUTURE
GENERATIONS WILL THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS ]
>> AGAIN, I DO REQUEST IF THE
MORE CLAPPING WE HAVE, THE
FEWER PEOPLE WHO CAN SPEAK, AND
AGAIN, IF FOLKS WANT TO COME UP
IN GROUPS, IT'S MORE THAN
WELCOMED.
AFTER FRANK, SUSAN GRANT, MEGAN
COOMS, BUT IT SEEMS TO SPEAKING
TO THE STCI AND THEN JOSHUA
MORRIS, AND JULIE --
>> THAT'S THE ONE, THANK YOU!
>> I'M FRANK BACCHUS.
I HAVE LIVE IN THE SEATTLE AREA
FOR -- IN SEATTLE, ACTUALLY FOR
THE LAST 59 YEARS OF MY 83
YEARS, AND I LIKE WHAT THE CITY
HAS DONE FOR THE CREEK BASIN.
THERE'S LESS FLOODING AND NOW
BECAUSE OF THE ACTIONS OF THE
CITY, AND I SUPPORT THAT.
THE TREES ARE REALLY IMPORTANT,
AND I WOULD STRONGLY RECOMMEND
YOU DO WHAT THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION HAS RECOMMENDED.
OTHER PLACES ARE WAY AHEAD OF
US.
I THINK PORTLAND PASSED
SOMETHING LIKE THIS PROBABLY 5
YEARS AGO, AND IT IS IMPORTANT
TO FOLLOW UP AND MAKE SURE THAT
WHAT YOU'REWANTING DONE IS
DONE.
I SUPPORT THAT, THAT'S ALL.
>> THANK YOU.
SUSAN, CAROLYN, JOSHUA?
>> I'M SUSAN GRANT, AND I HAVE
A GROUP OF THREE.
THIS IS FOR THE --
>> ARE THE OTHER MEMBERS IN
YOUR GROUP, DID THEY ALREADY
SIGN UP?
>> I REQUESTED A 2-MINUTE TIME,
AND THEY ARE JOINING ME.
♪ A DEVELOPER BEING GREEDY.
THERE'S A HOLE IN THE SKY WHERE
THE TREE ONCE STOOD.
♪SUCH A LACK OF LIFE AND SOUND
♪ ALL THAT'S LEFT IS BARE
MUDDY GROUND.
A MAGNIFICENT TREE WAS
MURDERED.
♪ THE MIGHTY DOLLAR CUT IT
DOWN
♪ THERE'S A HOLE IN THE SKY
WHERE THE TREE ONCE WAS,
SOMEBODY IS MAKING MONEY. ♪
♪ MUST PROTECT EXCEPTIONAL
TREES, BUT THE CITY GRANT
EXEMPTS THESE, INSTEAD
REWARDING THE DEVELOPER'S GREED
AND SANCTION THE MURDERER'S
DEEDS ♪ THERE'S A HOLE IN THE
SKY WHERE THE TREE ONCE WAS,
SOMETHING'S MAKING MONEY
♪ THERE'S A HOLE IN THE SKY
WHERE THE TREES ONCE WAS,
SOMEBODY'S MAKING MONEY.
SNOW MORE GENTLE SHEDDING OF
RAINS, NOR TOOL OF BLOSSOMS
RUSTLING IN THE WIND ♪ THE
HOLE IN THE SKY WHERE THE TREE
ONCE WAS, SOMEBODY'S MAKING
MONEY -- ♪ THERE'S A HOLE IN
THE SKY WHERE THE TREE ONCE
WAS, SOMEBODY'S MAKING MONEY ♪
THERE'S A HOLE IN THE SKY, IN
THE SKY, INSTEAD OF A SPREADING
CANOPY ♪ THERE'S A HOLE IN THE
SKY INSTEAD OF A 90-YEAR-OLD
TREE -- ♪ THERE'S A HOLE IN
THE SKY, WHERE THE TREE SHOULD
BE
♪
>> PASS THE TREE ORDINANCE NOW,
AND STOP CUTTING DOWN THE
EXCEPTIONAL TREES NOW.
>> THANK YOU, SUSAN!
THAT WAS A VERY WONDERFUL
PRESENTATION.
I WILL -- I DO HAVE TO MAKE FOR
THE RECORD TO REFLECT, THAT'S
SECOND WARNING FOR DISTURBANCE
BECAUSE OF GROUP PARTICIPATION,
AND I REALLY LOVED THE SONG.
I AM SAYING FOR FUTURE -- I
HAVE TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT
BOUNDARIES FOREVER, AND THANK
YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
MEGAN --
>> MR. CHAIR, IF I MAY ALSO
ADD, VERY PROUD TO HAVE SUSAN
AS A CONSTITUENT, THANK YOU FOR
THAT PRESENTATION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR
CONVERSATION LATER ABOUT THE
TREE ORDINANCE.
>> OKAY, GREAT.
>> IF CAROLYN IS PRESENT,
JOSHUA MORRIS, AND JUNE?
CAROLYN, HELLO.
>> HI.
IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE TODAY.
I LIVE ON QUEEN ANN HILL, AND I
REALLY APPRECIATE SUSAN'S SONG
BECAUSE THAT TREE WAS SPECIAL
TO ME AS WELL.
I'M HERE TO SAY THAT WE NEED TO
LICENSE, REGISTER, AND CERTIFY
OUR TREE CUTTERS IN THE CITY SO
THAT THEY FOLLOW THE RULES THAT
WE HAVE.
I HAVE AN ADVERTISEMENT FROM
ANGIE'S LIST, AND IT SAYS IT'S
FINALLY TIME TO GET RID OF THE
NUISANCE TREES.
HAVE PROBLEM TREES IN YOUR
YARD?
HIRE THE BEST TO HAVE THEM
REMOVED.
SAY GOOD-BYE TO THE TROUBLE
TREES.
WE NEED TO STOP THIS KIND OF
ADVERTISING, AND WE NEED TO
LICENSE PEOPLE SO THAT THEY
UNDERSTAND, AND THIS IS AN
EXCEPTIONAL TREE IN THE PHOTO,
AND WE NEED THIS STOPPED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUSAN OR
CAROLINE, EXCUSE ME.
SORRY, CAROLINE!
>> AND JOSHUA MORRIS, AND THEN
JUNE, BARBARA BERNARD, AND
ANNIE.
>> I'M HERE ON BEHALF OF
SEATTLE AUDIBON, THANK YOU FOR
THE TIME AND RESOURCES THAT
HAVE BEEN COMMITTED FOR
STRENGTHENING RESOURCES FOR THE
TREES IN SEATTLE.
MY VISION FOR SEATTLE IS A
PLACE WHERE BIRDS AND PEOPLE
THRIVE, AND THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE
WITHOUT A HEALTHY PROTECTED
URBAN GROWING FOREST.
100 SPECIES OF BIRDS RELY ON
TREES AS TO VISITORS AND
CITIZENS TO OUR CITY.
WE ARE LOSING TREES.
IF THE LOSS IS ACCURATE, IT'S
100 ACRES PER YEAR FROM OUR
NEIGHBORHOODS.
THERE'S TREMENDOUS PUBLIC
SUPPORT TO TURN IT AROUND AND A
NUMBER OF GOOD REASONS TO DO
SO.
QUESTION BE DEBSER, MORE
AFFORDABLE, MORE RESILIENT TO
CLIMATE CHANGE AND STAY LEAFY,
TOO.
I CONTINUE TO URGE YOU TO WORK
WITH THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION, INCORPORATING THEIR
RECOMMENDATIONS INTO A TREE
ORDINANCE, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JOSHUA, AND NOW
IS THE TALLER MICROPHONE NOT
WORKING?
IT SHOULD BE ON?
THERE IT IS.
COLUMBIA SPRUCE, SEATTLE, AND
THIS MAP, THIS IS THE CANOPY AS
OF 2016, 4 YEARS AGO.
IN IS A MAP OF SURFACE
TEMPERATURE.
YOU CAN SEE WHERE SEATTLE IS
THE MOST DEFORESTED, IT'S THE
HOTTEST, AND THAT'S OBVIOUS.
THAT HAPPENS TO BE IN THE PART
WHERE I LIVE.
SOUTHEAST SEATTLE, CENTRAL
SEATTLE.
IF WE WAIT UNTIL DECEMBER TO
PASS THIS ORDINANCE, IT WON'T
TAKE EFFECT FOR OVER A YEAR.
HOW MANY TREES WILL WE LOSE IN
THE MEANTIME?
TREES ARE PART OF OUR PUBLIC
HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE, THEY
PROVIDE OXYGEN, FILTER AIR AND
WATER, STABILIZE SOIL, AND FOR
HUMANS, THEY HAVE MULTIPLE
HEALTH EFFECTS.
A DEVELOPER WOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED TO BREACH A SEWER LINE
OR WATER LINE TO BUILD A HOUSE,
WHY ARE THEY ALLOWED TO
DECIMATE TREES?
THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS ]
>> THANK YOU, AND THEN RUTH
DANNER, ALTHOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE
RUTH AND GEORGE WERE HERE TO
SPEAK ON -- IF YOU'RE HERE,
YOU'RE ABLE TO SPEAK.
BARBARA?
>> I'M BARBARA.
>> HI I'M BARBARA BERNARD,
CONCERNED SEATTLE CITIZEN.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US
TODAY.
I WANT TO MENTION AGAIN, I DID
IT ON THE DECEMBER 18th
MEETING, I'M PRIVILEGED TO TAKE
TIME OFF WORK TO COME SPEAK TO
YOU, AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I
KNOW THAT ARE JUST AS
CONCERNED, EVEN MORE DEEPLY,
THEY DON'T HAVE THE TIME AND
PRIVILEGE TO TAKE TIME AWAY
FROM WORK.
SEATTLE NEEDS TO BE MORE
FORWARD THINKING WHEN IT COMES
TO PRESERVING THE URBAN CANOPY.
DEVELOPMENT AND DENSITY HAS TO
BE APPROACHED WITH SMARTER
DESIGNS CONSIDERING THE
CONNECTIVE ENVIRONMENT.
ON MY BLOCK, PARTICULARLY A
LANDSLIDE AREA IN THE ECA AND
FOUR OF THE LOTS HAVE BEEN
SCRAPED AND DEVELOPED.
I DON'T THINK WHEN THEY ARE
APPROVING THE PERMITS THEY LOOK
AT WHAT DID WE DO THE YEAR
BEFORE?
THAT'S A CONCERN.
I WANT TO LIVE IN A CITY WHERE
I'M PROUD TO KNOW EVERYONE IS
DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO PRESERVE
THE TREE CANOPY BECAUSE OF THE
CLIMATE CRISIS, AND I WANT TO
ENCOURAGE WE PASS THAT STRONGER
TREE ORDINANCE TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, BARBARA.
>> ANNIE?
>> GOOD MORNING, MY NAME IS
ANNIE FAUX.
I'M A CHAIRPERSON FOR A
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP CALLED
NEIGHBORHOOD TREE KEEPERS.
WE ARE TRYING HARD TO GET THIS
ORDINANCE PASSED.
ONE THING I WANT TO SAY, FROM
MY STUDY ABOUT TREES, IT TAKES
5 YEARS TO GET A TREE
ESTABLISHED.
AT THE RATE WE ARE CLEAR
CUTTING, CLEAR CUTTING THE
TREES IN SEATTLE, HOW CAN WE
POSSIBLY REPLANT AND GROW AN 80-
100-YEAR-OLD TREE?
SO I AM ASKING CAN WE THINK
OUTSIDE OF THE BOX?
IF WE ARE NOT EVEN GOING TO
CONSIDER THIS URBAN FORESTRY
DRAFT UNTIL NEXT DECEMBER, AND
IT MAY NOT EVEN GET PASSED AT
THAT POINT, THIS IS 11 YEARS WE
HAVE BEEN WATCHING GET TREES
CLEAR CUT HERE.
WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING NOW.
THERE MAY BE EXECUTIVE ORDERS
DEPARTMENTS COULD BE DOING.
THERE MAY BE MORATORIUMS ON
EXCEPTIONAL TREES THAT CAN BE
DONE NOW.
LET'S THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
[ CHEERS ]
IS RUTH DANKER, DID I SKIP
ANNIE?
NO.
LEFT.
GREAT, OKAY, JUDY BENDICH, AND
JANET WAYE AND ROBERT
SEETHEMAN.
>> GOOD MORNING, I HAVE ALREADY
SENT YOU TWO LETTERS, FAIRLY
COMPREHENSIVE LETTERS ON WHY
YOU SHOULD PASS THE LEGISLATION
NOW, AND I HAVE TWO EXCEPTIONS
TO THE URBAN FORESTRY
ORDINANCE, ONE WOULD BE THAT
YOU HAVE AN INDEPENDENT
FORESTER POSITION.
IT'S DEPLORABLE THE WAY IT'S
BEING ENFORCED NOW, SECONDLY,
YOU ALSO ADOPT PORTLAND'S
SUGGESTION THAT THERE BE 12
INCHES, NOT MEASURING SOME
TREES THAT HAVE TO BE 2 FEET IN
DIAMETER, FOR EXCEPTIONAL
TREES, AND I ALSO WANT TO
COMPLIMENT COUNCILMEMBER ON
MEETING AND ACTING LEGISLATION
YESTERDAY REGARDING EVICTIONS,
AND THAT HAPPENED LIKE THAT, A
SNAP.
WE HAVE BEEN SITTING HERE,
WAITING FOR THIS FOR 11 YEARS,
SO THAT IS THE TOTALITY OF WHAT
HAPPENED TO OUR TREES THAT HAVE
BEEN DECIMATED.
YOU ARE SEEING THE HEAT
FLOWCHARTS, AND IT'S TIME TO DO
IT NOW --
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> PLEASE DO IT NOW.
>> SO WE HAVE JANET ROBERT,
STEVE AFTER THAT.
>> GOOD MORNING, COUNCIL.
MY NAME IS JANET WAYE.
I'M ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS
OF PORTLAND CREEK ALLIANCE, AND
I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THE
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL HAS MANY
TIMES DECLARED ITS CONCERNS
ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND
ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS IT WITH
LEGISLATION, BUT IN FACT, THE
FACT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY
TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IS TO
PRESERVE THE EXISTING TREES,
ESPCIALLY CONFERS AND ALLOW
THE CARE SCRUBBERS, WHICH SUCK
UP CARBON TO REMAIN AND GROW.
THESE TREES ALSO PERFORM MANY
OTHER ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS
PROVIDING OXYGEN, WATER
QUALITY, FUNCTIONS, WILDLIFE
HABITAT FOR BIRDS, AND SHADE
THAT PROTECTS SEATTLE FROM THE
HEAT ISLAND EFFECT.
THIS IMAGE IS AN ILLUSTRATION
THAT SHOWS THE IMPACT OF THE
HEAT ISLAND AFFECT, AND IT DOES
NOT JUST AFFECT SEATTLE.
IT AFFECTS THE PUGET SOUND AND
THE WHOLE SURROUNDING AREA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IT'S VERY DAMAGING.
I'M GOING TO SEND YOU.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MEET
WITH YOU FURTHER.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, MA'AM.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> HOW ARE YOU?
>> OKAY.
I'M GOING TO QUOTE FROM AN OPED
PIECE FROM THE SEATTLE TIMES OF
JULY 10, 2019, AND IT'S STILL
TIMELY, WRITTEN BY MELINDA
MUELLER WHO MAY BE HERE.
EVEN IF SHE'S NOT I WILL
RECRUIT HER WORDS.
ACCORDING TO THE SEATTLE
SOCIETY 1200 ACRES OF CANOPY
COVER HAS BEEN CUT DOWN BY
DEVELOPERS SINCE 2009.
SHE GOES ON TO SAY THE CITY OF
SEATTLE IS NOT ENFORCING ITS
TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE, AND
THAT REQUIRES THE DEVELOPERS TO
REPLACE ON SIGHT OR OFF ALL
LARGE EXCEPTIONAL TREES THEY
REMOVE.
ALSO GOING ON TO SAY THE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND
DEVELOPMENT MAKES NO MENTION OF
THIS ORDINANCE IN ITS
INSTRUCTION TO DEVELOPERS.
WHAT I REALLY WANT TO SAY ABOUT
THE CANOPY IS THAT WE ARE
SACRIFICING OUR CURRENT ASSETS.
>> THANK YOU, ROBERT.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR
WRITTEN COMMENTS AS WELL, AND
FOR ANYONE ELSE IN THE AUDIENCE
F YOU HAVE PREPARED WRITTEN
COMMENTS YOU WERE NOT ABLE TO
FULLY SHARE WITH US TODAY, I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE THEM, FOR THE
RECORD.
STEVE, WOODY WHEELER, JOHN,
BILL WOODMAN.
STEVE?
>> STEVE ZEMKE.
ALREADY HEARD, 11 YEARS AND
COUNTING, LOOKING AT ANOTHER
YEAR.
THE REALITY, IN THE CURRENT
ORDINANCE, IT SAYS THE DIRECTOR
SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO
ISSUE -- AND GUIDELINES, AND
CONDUCT INSPECTIONS AND PREPARE
THE FORMS NECESSARY FOR THE
PROVISION OF THE CHAPTER YOU.
DO A LOT RIGHT NOW, IT'S UP TO
YOU TO URGE THEM TO DO THAT.
AS ALREADY MENTIONED ON
DEVELOPERS REPLACING
EXCEPTIONAL TREES AND TREES
OVER 24-INCHES INIZE THAT HAS
NOT BEEN OCCURRING FOR
BASICALLY 21 YEARS, AND IT WAS
IN THE 2001 ORDINANCE.
DCI HAS NO RECORD OF TREE
REPLACEMENT, AND WHO OVERSEES
THE PROTECTION IN DCI?
NO URBAN FORESTRY DIVISION.
SUCH THERE IS SEEMINGLY NO ONE
ACCOUNTABLE, AND IT'S TIME TO
MOVE THE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE
OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND
ENVIRONMENT.
DCI HAS --
>> STEVE, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, STEVE.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> WOODY, HOW ARE YOU?
>> WELL, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THIS BALL
ROLLING.
WE WOULD LIKE IT TO ROLL
FASTER.
I'M GOING TO ENVOKE CLEVELAND,
OHIO, WHICH I HAVE DONE BEFORE.
CALLED BEFORE THE MISTAKE ON
THE LAKE, AND NOW CALL IT THE
GREEN CITY ON THE BLUE LAKE.
THERE'S AN AMBITIOUS TREE PLAN.
TOGETHER WE ARE MAKING
CLEVELAND THE FOREST CITY ONCE
AGAIN, AND WE ALREADY ARE ONE.
LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY.
THERE'S A THREE MAJOR GOALS A
SHIFT IN THINKING ABOUT TREES,
THE REVERSING OF THE CANOPY
DECLINE, AND ACCEPTING FULL
STEWARDSHIP FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WHY CAN'T WE IN SEATTLE, THE
EMERALD CITY IN THE EVERGREEN
STATE SHIFT OUR THINKING
THINKING OF THEM AS ESSENTIAL
RATHER THAN EXPENDABLE?
I WILL ONE THAT SENDS YOU THIS
LATER.
>> THAT'S GREAT.
>> I DID INVENTORY ONE ZONE AND
FOUND 12 ACRES OF TREES COMING
OUT NEAR MY NEIGHBORHOOD, TIMES
26, THAT'S SHOCKING HOW MANY
TREES ARE --
>> THANK YOU.
>> I WOULD RECOMMEND DOING IT
ON EARTH DAY.
>> WOODY, WE WILL BE HAPPY --
>> I LOVE IT, THANK YOU.
>> IF YOU WOULD LEAVE YOUR
COMMENTS, WE WOULD LOVE TO TAKE
THEM.
>> JOHN, BILL, COLLEEN.
>> HI.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO US,
AND WE ARE ALL SAYING THE SAME
THING, AND I HAVE LIVED IN
VICTORIA HEIGHTS FOR 30 YEARS,
AND IN THE LAST 10 MONTHS, I
HAVE SEEN ONE DEVELOPER GAME
MET 360 COME IN AND MOW DOWN
TREES, MATURE TREES, AND HE'S
NOW SET TO MOW DOWN A 300-FOOT
DEEP DOUBLE LOT THAT IS 150
FEET WIDE, AND THE CITY HAS
INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN
MAKING SWELLS TO PREVENT THE
EROSION, AND THIS NEW SITE HE'S
GOING TO BE MOWING DOWN IN THE
NEXT MONTH OR TWO IS JUST GOING
TO EXACERBATE THE FLOODS THAT
ARE GOING INTO LAKE CITY.
I GOT 10 SECONDS LEFT, AND
THIS, HE HAS ALREADY MOWED DOWN
12 FEET THAT ARE 150 FEET WIDE.
EVERYONE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD
KNOWS --
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE HAVE NOW REACHED THE
CONCLUSION OF THE 20 MINUTES
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
I WOULD LIKE TO CONFER WITH MY
FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS F
THERE'S NO OBJECTIONS, I WOULD
LIKE TO EXTEND FOR ANOTHER 20
MINUTES.
>> NO OBJECTIONS.
>> HEARING NO OBJECTIONS, THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WILL BE
EXTENDED UNTIL 10:20 FOR AN
ADDITIONAL 20 MINUTES.
THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING.
JOHN?
>> BILL.
>> DID WE JUST HEAR FROM JOHN?
>> I'M JOHN.
>> YOU'RE JOHN, OKAY, THANK
YOU, SORRY.
THANK YOU, BILL.
>> OKAY, I AM QUITE SURE THAT
THE DEVELOPERS AND THOSE
RESPONSIBLE AT LEAST IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD WHO HAVE BUILT THE
MILLION DOLLAR TOWNHOUSES AND
LARGER APARTMENT BUILDINGS AND
PLANTED THE $5 TREE IN THE $1
HOLES, THEY ARE, THEMSELVES
LIVING IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH
VERY NICE TREES.
JUST DO IT, AND DO IT NOW.
WHY WAIT?
>> THANK YOU, BILL.
>> COLLEEN, HOW ARE YOU?
>> GOOD MORNING.
I'M REPRESENTING LAW HURST
COMMUNITY CLUB TODAY.
WE HAVE OVER 2,000 RESIDENTS,
AND A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I RESPECT A LOT OF THE COMMENTS
FROM MY COLLEAGUES, AND I WILL
NOT REPEAT THEM.
A FEW THINGS I WOULD LIKE TO
POINT OUT.
IN SOME OF THE LEGISLATION, I
NOTICED WHEN THE PERSON FROM
PORTLAND CAME IN DECEMBER, SHE
TALKED ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT
POT, AND HOW THAT IS REALLY NOT
WORKING SO WELL, SO I THINK WE
NEED TO PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION
TO THAT AS WE DEVELOP
LEGISLATION AND RULES, AND THE
ROBINHOOD APPROACH FROM TAKING
VERY EXCEPTIONAL TREES AND
REPLACING THEM AS OUR COLLEAGUE
SAID WITH YOU KNOW $2 TREES OR
SOMETHING IS NOT EQUITABLE, AND
IT TAKES 50 YEARS TO GROW A
GOOD TREE, MAYBE 20, AND THEY
CAN PUT UP A HOUSE IN A YEAR
AND A HALF.
THAT'S NOT EQUITABLE.
WE NEED TO FIX THAT.
SECONDLY A LOT OF TALK ABOUT
BAD TREE CUTTERS, A HOT LINE 24
HOURS.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY SHOW UP ON
THE WEEKENDS, SUNDAY MORNING,
WHAT HAPPENED?
THE TREE IS DOWN, AND IT'S
GONE.
I THINK THAT SHOULD BE PART OF
THE LEGISLATION AND
ENFORCEMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> UP NEXT, KIM McCORMICK,
JOHN LUMBOLD, AND ANNIE SEAMS
APOLOGIES IF I MISPRONOUNCE
YOUR NAME.
>> I'M CORMICK.
WE STUDY MERLINS.
. TO DATE WE HAVE IDENTIFIED 11
DISTINCT TERRITORIES WITHIN THE
SEATTLE CITY LIMITS, AND THEY
NEST IN CONFIRS AND THE
RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
THE AVERAGE NEST TREE HEIGHT IS
120 FEET, BIG TREES.
A FEW YEARS AGO A NEST IN OUR
STUDY FAILED AND THEY PERISHED
BECAUSE IT WAS REMOVED DURING
NESTING SEASON.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE SEE
THE URBAN RAPTOR CONSERVANCY
RAPTOR WEBSITE.
>> THANK YOU AND THANK YOU FOR
ALL YOU'RE DOING.
COLLEEN, HOW ARE YOU?
>> WELL, THANK YOU.
>> GOOD MORNING I'M COLLEEN
WINESTEIN, AND I'M A RESIDENT
OF D5.
THE LACK OF THE UPDATED TREE
ORDINANCE REPRESENT MISSED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SEATTLE
CITIZENS, TIRE SWINGS, TREE
CLIMBING, PLAYING WITH STICKS,
COOL SPOTS TO SET A BLANKET,
SEEK SHELTER DURING A
RAINSTORM, AND SPECTACULAR FALL
COLOR, ALL MISSED.
YOU GET MY POINT.
THERE'S SIGNIFICANTLY MORE
VALUE IN A TREE THAN THE LAND
IT GROWS ON.
WE ARE LOSING THE CANOPY THAT
HAS TAKEN DECADES TO GROW.
WE ARE REPLACING THE TREES AND
ASKING THEM TO GROW VIGOROUSLY
IN LESS THAN IDEAL CONDITIONS.
EDUCATION, INCENTIVES TO PLANT
MORE TREES FOR DEVELOPERS AND
PROPERTY OWNERS WILL FURTHER
IMPROVE THE PROPOSED TREE
ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> JOHN, GREAT TO SEE YOU
AGAIN.
>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, DAN.
GOOD MORNING, COUNCILMEMBER.
I'M JOHN LONGBURG.
I HAVE BEEN A LEADER OF THE
THORNTON CREEK ALLIANCE IN
DISTRICT 5. SEATTLEWAS
PROMISED A NEW TREE ORDINANCE
11 YEARS AGO, AND IT HAS NOT
HAPPENED YET.
I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THE
OFFICIAL SCHEDULE FOR A NEW
PROPOSAL IS TO HAVE ONE
PRESENTED TO THE MAYOR AND
COUNCIL AT BEST, BY THE END OF
THIS YEAR.
THIS, DESPITE THE FACTS THAT
THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION
HAS DRAFTED A FULL PROPOSAL,
AND OUTREACH HAS BEEN DONE TO
THE UNDERREPRESENTED
COMMUNITIES, FINDING STRONG
SUPPORT FOR THE PROTECTION.
AS COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS AND
LEWIS HEARD, PORTLAND DOES NOT
SHARE OUR APPROACH.
LET'S GET SERIOUS.
I HOPE THE COUNCIL PUTS THE
PRESSURE ON STAFF TO SPEED UP
THE PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU, JOHN.
>>> ANN, GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> I AM A MAGNIFICENT TREE.
I AM A BOWER TREE, AND I HAVE
SEEN SO MANY OF MY BROTHERS AND
SISTERS IN SEATTLE, AND
ESPECIALLY IN BALLARD FALL.
IT'S IN YOUR POWER.
YOU NEED ME.
I DON'T NEED YOU.
YOU NEED ME.
YOUR CHILDREN NEED ME.
YOUR NEIGHBORS NEED ME.
THE CITY NEEDS ME.
THE STATE NEEDS ME.
IT'S IN YOUR POWER, DO THE
RIGHT THING.
DON'T DELAY.
THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS ON RIGHT
NOW.
WE HAVE NO F-ING TIME TO LOSE.
THIS IS YOUR YOUTH, YOUR
FUTURE, AND EVERY TREE COUNTS,
ESPECIALLY US MATURE TREES
PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR HEART, DO
WHAT IS RIGHT, LISTEN TO YOUR
GUT.
THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO,
AND IT'S NOW.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ] [ CHEERS ]
>> ANETTA SHELLTON, ANDREW
HOUSTON, AND PEG STAHUE?
MY APOLOGIES FOR
MISPRONOUNCING.
>> I'M ANETTA SHELLTON.
I'M A RESIDENT OF D6, AND TREES
ARE THE ANSWER.
DO YOUR JOB.
PASS THE TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE AS WRITTEN BY THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION NOW.
THANK YOU.
>> ANDREW, PEG, AND CHRIS
TIFFANY UP AFTER THAT.
>> GOOD MORNING, I'M ANDREW
GRANT HOUSTON ALSO KNOWN AS AC
ARCHITECT.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY AS SOMEONE
WHO WENT TO SCHOOL IN AUSTIN
AND AS WELL AS WORKED IN
AUSTIN, I WOULD RECOMMEND
LOOKING AT THE TREE ORDINANCE
THERE, SOMETHING THAT IS VERY
CLEAR FOR BOTH ARCHITECTS LIKE
TO WHAT THE EXPECTATIONS ARE AS
PARTICULARLY SINCE IT'S A CITY
ON AN AQUAFIR.
AS WE LOOK AT THE TREE
ORDINANCE, LOOK THAT IT FITS
INTO OUR CLIMATE GOALS HOW IT
ADDRESSES THE PAST OF CLEARING
FORESTS AND OUR FUTURE.
WE RELY ON THE TREES FOR MANY
THINGS, MAINLY ABSORBING CARBON
IN THE PUGET SOUND REGION.
REDUCING ENERGY EXPANDED MEANS
WE TAX THE CANOPY LOSS.
WE ALLOW PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THE
CITY AT ALL LEVELS TO BE ABLE
TO LIVE IN THE CITY AND NOT
DRIVE CARS.
WE RECOMMEND, LASTLY TO LOOK AT
THE WORK OF THE MAJOR IN PARIS
AND HER 15-MINUTE
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
ANDREW.
PEG, CHRIS, AND JESSICA AFTER.
>> PEG STALEY, FORMER CHAIR OF
THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION.
I REQUEST YOU THINK OUT OF THE
BOX, INCREASE STAFF ON THIS,
REQUIRE A MULTIDEPARTMENTAL
APPROACH, AND BRING IN EXPERTS
BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
THIS PASSED IN OCTOBER AT THE
LATEST, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> JESSICA AND MICHAEL.
>> I'M CHRIS TIFFANY.
I LIVE IN WOODIER HEIGHTS.
WHEN I FIRST MOVED IN, THERE
WAS A BIG TREE IN THE
NEIGHBOR'S BACKYARD I COULD
VIEW OUT OF MY KITCHEN WINDOW.
OVER THE YEARS I SAW THE
FALLING BIRDS, AND AWOKE TREE
SWALLOWS, JAYS, CROWS, ROBIN,
AND YELLOW WOBLER, AND STAR
BEAM, AND SAVANNAH SPARROW,
HERMIT THRUSH, SPOTTED TOHE,
BLACK HEADED GROSSBEAK, PACIFIC
SLOPE FLY CATCHER, ORANGE CROWN
WOBLER, AND BLACK-THROATED GRAY
WOBLER.
SINCE MY NEIGHBORHOODS HAVE HAD
THE TREE CUT DOWN, I HAVE ONLY
SEEN A TENTH OF THOSE TREES.
I ASK YOU TO PASS THIS AS SOON
AS POSSIBLE.
>> JESSICA AND MICHAEL.
>> HI, GOOD MORNING.
I AM HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF
PLANET AMNESTY.
THE NUMBERS FOR 30 YEARS, THE
MISSION HAS BEEN TO PROMOTE THE
HEALTH OF TREES IN OUR CITY.
OUR FOUNDER WAS VERY AWARE
UNLESS WE DID SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, UNLESS WE
RECOGNIZED, PROTECTED, AND YES,
ULTIMATELY INCORPORATED OUR BIG
TREES INTO OUR DENSER, TALLER
CITY, THE TIME WOULD COME WHEN
WE ONLY FOUND THEM IN PARKS.
JUST IMAGINE, THE REST OF OUR
CITY WOULD BECOME A HOT PLACE.
WE SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS
FROM THE URBAN FORESTRY
PROPOSAL REQUIRING THE POSTED
NOTICE OF TREE REMOVAL, TREE
REPLACEMENT BASED ON THE SIZE
OF THE TREE REMOVED.
PROHIBITING THE CUTTING OF
EXCEPTIONAL TREES.
TRACK ALL TREE LOSS AND
REPLACEMENT, AND ADEQUATE FUNDS
TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE.
WE --
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JESSICA.
MICHAEL FOSTER, AND AFTER
MICHAEL, IT WILL BE STEVE
RUBSTELI, RICHARD ELLIOTT, AND
MICHAEL OXMAN.
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS TO
PLANT A TRILLION TREES, AND I
WILL NOT MAKE THE ECONOMIC CASE
FOR PLANTING TREES TODAY.
I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WE ARE IN
AN EMERGENCY THAT DOUGHFIRS
WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE BABIES
IN WESTERN WASHINGTON IN 60
YEARS.
WE ARE COMPLETING THE MILLION
TREE CAMPAIGN IN KING COUNTY,
AND THE SEATTLE METRO
POPULATION, OUR FAIR SHARE OF 1
TRILLION TREES WOULD BE 600
MILLION TREES.
PASS THE ORDINANCE YOU HAVE GOT
IMMEDIATELY.
IF YOU CAN'T DO THAT, PUT A
MORATORIUM ON NEIGHBORS AND
DEVELOPERS TORTURING THE
EXISTING MATURE TREES.
OUR POLLUTION LEVELS ARE
HURTING PEOPLE.
PEOPLE IN THIS CITY ARE MORE
AND MORE UNHEALTHY IN EVERY
NEIGHBORHOOD.
OUR AIR TRAFFIC HAS GONE UP 40%
IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
WE ARE ALL BREATHING THAT.
THIS IS AN EMERGENCY.
TAKE ACTION LIKE IT IS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> STEVE?
HI, STEVE.
>> STEVE WORBOSELO, AND I'M ONE
OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS, I HOPE
YOU DON'T GO THE WAY OF MICHAEL
BRYANT.
IN THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS HE
SPOKE TO ME ONCE AND TRIED TO
COMPARE ME TO MR. ZIMMERMAN.
I DO NOT CARRY HIS SHIELD.
>> ARE YOU SPEAKING TO AN ICE
TESTIMONY ON THE AGENDA?
>> I WILL GO TO THE ITEM ON THE
AGENDA.
THE TREE ORDINANCE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT
IN SEATTLE, AN ARBORIST APPEARS
TO BE ANYONE WITH A CHAINSAW,
ANY SICK TREE IS IN THE WAY OF
MAKING A PENNY OR SLOW DOWN A
DEVELOPMENT.
AND THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE.
ALSO I WILL SEVERELY PROTEST
YOUR IDEA WE CANNOT TALK ABOUT
THE AGENDA OF THE ENTIRE
COMMITTEE BECAUSE THAT IS
LIMITING FOLKS SO MUCH.
IT'S VERY TRUMPONIAN.
DIFFERENT HANDLERS, SAME IDEA.
>> GREAT, GLAD TO SEE RICHARD,
AND THEN MICHAEL OXMAN IS THE
FINAL PERSON ON THE LIST.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M RICHARD ELLISON.
>> I'M SORRY.
>> I'M LOSING MY MINUTE HERE.
IT'S TIME, THE TREES IN SEATTLE
HAVE A VOICE IN THE LAND USE.
CRITERIA FOR ASSIGNING VALUES
TO TREE, AND IT'S A SEATTLE
TIMES ARTICLE FROM 1999, AND I
WAS A MEMBER OF THE URBAN
FOREST WORK GROUP UNDER JAN
DRAGAL THEN, AND WE SPENT 2
YEARS WORKING ON THE NEW
UPDATED ORDINANCE, AND HERE WE
ARE 20 ODD YEARS LATER.
THE CHERISHED TREES LIKE LARGE
EXCEPTIONAL TREES, LANDMARK
TREES HAVE NO PRESCRIPTION.
THEY HAVE NO PROTECTION UNDER
THE NEW PROPOSALS, AND
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE SO THAT
IT IS NOT AN OPTION TO A
DEVELOPER TO SAVE A HERITAGE
TREE.
CURRENT CITY CODES DO NOT
PROTECT THE TREES, DEVELOPERS
DO NOT PROTECT TREES.
THEY ARE -- YOU KNOW, WHO
KNOWS.
I AM RUNNING OUT OF TIME
ALREADY, AND WE --
>> WE WOULD LOVE TO TAKE YOUR
WRITTEN COMMENTS IF YOU HAVE
IT, AND AGAIN, HAPPY TO MEET
WITH ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO
MEET.
MICHAEL?
>> HOWDY!
I'M MICHAEL OXMAN, I'M AN
ARBORIST.
AND WE JUST LOST ONE OF OUR
CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT TWO
THE TWO NEW COUNCILMEMBERS AT
THE DESK, I SAY THIS, KEEPING
IN MIND FOUR COUNCILMEMBERS
RETIRED RATHER THAN FACE THE
CRITICISM THEY FAILED TO UPDATE
THE ORDINANCE FOR OVER 10
YEARS.
I HAVE AN 8-POINT LETTER, I'M
ABOUT TO SUBMIT TO YOU.
WE ASKED ON DECEMBER 18th, WHAT
ABOUT OUR DEMAND FOR A
MORATORIUM ON ISSUING PERMITS
FOR REMOVAL OF EXCEPTIONAL
TREES.
CITIZENS STOOD HERE FOR 2
MINUTES AT THE PODIUM DURING
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD,
ASKING THE LAND USE COMMITTEE
TO -- AND POINTING OUT THE CITY
HAS STALLED ON PASSING
MEANINGFUL TREE PROTECTION
REGULATION BECAUSE, GET THIS,
THE REAL ESTATE VALUE EXCEEDS
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL
VALUES.
THAT WAS WHY WE ARE HERE TODAY.
THAT'S WHY THIS HAS BEEN
STALLED.
>> THANK YOU, MICHAEL.
WE ARE HAPPY TO TAKE YOUR
WRITTEN COMMENTS.
THANK YOU!
>>> WOULD ANYONE WHO DID NOT
SIGN UP TO SPEAK LIKE TO SPEAK?
SIR, IF YOU COULD SIGN IN.
>> YEAH, PLEASE.
>> I HAVE ANOTHER --
>> MY NAME IS LEA HALL.
I LIVE IN RAINIER BEACH.
I TOOK WORK OFF TODAY TO TELL
THE STORY ABOUT THE 4 ACRES
BEHIND MY HOUSE FULL OF MATURE
TREES, AND IT WAS A HABITAT FOR
MANY BIRDS AND ALL KINDS OF
WILDLIFE, AND MANY OF THE
NEIGHBOR KIDS WOULD GO AND PLAY
IN THERE AND LIKE BUILD THINGS
WITH STICKS, AND I FEEL LIKE
NOW, IT'S A DESERT.
IT WAS CLEAR CUT, AND THERE ARE
30 HOMES TO BE BUILT, MANY
MANSIONS THAT ARE OVER $650,000
A PIECE, AND MY NEIGHBORS
CANNOT AFFORD HOUSES LIKE THAT,
THEPEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO
MOVE IN ARE NOT CONNECTED TO
THIS PLACE LIKE WE ARE.
I JUST ASK YOU TO CONSIDER THAT
WE NEED TO GIVE A VOICE TO
THESE PLACES AND TO THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE HERE THAT DON'T HAVE
TIME TO COME HERE TODAY AND
SPEAK, THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> NOW DID THEY SIGN IN?
GREAT.
>> I'M KATHLEEN KERKOFF.
I'M IN DISTRICT 6, LIVED IN
SEATTLE ALL MY LIFE.
I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THE NEED
FOR A MORATORIUM.
I REVIEWED A STUDY THE CITY HAD
DONE, COMPLETED IN MARCH 2017,
WHICH VERY CLEARLY STATED WE
ARE LOSING TREES ALL THE TIME,
AND THINGS ARE HAPPENING, AND
THAT OUR TREE ORDINANCE IS NOT
BEING ENFORCED, AND IF WE CAN'T
HAVE ENFORCEMENT, WE CAN'T
AFFORD TO LOSE MORE TREES, AND
I SAY PUT THE MORATORIUM ON IT
NOW SO WE CAN FIND OUT -- IF
YOU NEED TO FIND OUT WHERE WE
ARE, AND DO YOUR DATA AND ALL
OF THAT STUFF, WHY LET THEM
KEEP CLEAR CUTTING EVERYTHING
WITHOUT ANY REPERCUSSIONS OR
WITHOUT PAYING ANY FEES THEY
ARE SUPPOSED TO PAY?
WITHOUT REPLANTING.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> HI, MY NAME IS PATRICIA
HALL.
I WROTE YOU A LETTER.
I AM THE OWNER OF AN
EXCEPTIONAL TREE IN THE
FREEMONT NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR THE
LENNON STATUE.
IT'S 60% ON MY PROPERTY, AND IT
STRADDLES THE PROPERTY LINE.
THE OTHER 40% BELONGS TO A
DEVELOPER WHO WISHES TO DEVELOP
THE PARKING LOT.
BACK IN 2008, THE TREE WAS
DECLARED A HERITAGE TREE, AND 2
DAYS LATER, A PREVIOUS
DEVELOPER, IN A FIT OF PEAK
THEN BUTCHED THE TREE.
IT'S MANAGED TO RECOVER
SOMEWHAT, AND NOW IT IS
HEALTHY.
WE HAVE HAD SCIENTIFIC TESTS
SHOWING IT'S HEALTHY, AND IT
DOES QUALIFY AS AN EXCEPTIONAL
TREE.
THE DEVELOPER IS STILL HOPING
TO REMOVE IT.
WE ARE ON BORROWED TIME, ABOUT
TO LOSE AN EXCEPTIONAL TIME.
I JUST WANTED TO CALL YOUR
ATTENTION TO THAT.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, AND MAKE SURE WE
HAVE OR KNOW A CONNECTION TO
CONNECT AFTER THE MEETING.
THANK YOU.
>> HELLO, I'M FRED WASTE, AND I
JUST WANT TO TELL YOU THAT I
MOVED INTO A PROPERTY, MAPLE
LEAF, IN 1991, AND IT WAS
ADJACENT TO A WOODED LOT, AND
THAT WOODED LOT HAD HUGE
WESTERN CEDARS ON IT, DOUGLAS
FIR, OWLS, A WHOLE CANOPY
ADJACENT TO THE PARK.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IT WAS
BOUGHT, AND THERE'S HARDLY A
TREE LEFT ON IT THE WORLD'S
LARGEST HOUSE ON IT, AND
THERE'S NO MORE WILDLIFE THERE.
WHAT I HAVE OBSERVED, THE LARGE
MATURE TREES NEED TO STAND
TOGETHER.
OTHERWISE THEY WILL BLOW DOWN,
AND THERE'S AN INTERLOCKING
RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR COMMUNITY
AND THE WORLD OF ARBORISTS.
ONE OF THE COMMENTS IN THE
SUMMER, WHEN IT'S HOT, WHERE DO
YOU WANT TO PARK?
DO YOU LOOK FOR A SHADY FOR
YOUR CAR TO SIT?
WE NEED THE TREES.
THANK YOU, COUNCIL.
>> WE HAVE REACHED THE
CONCLUSION OF THE ADDITIONAL 20
MINUTES, DO I SEE ANYONE ELSE
WHO HAS NOT SPOKEN WHO WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK?
WONDERFUL, SEEING NONE, WE WILL
CLOSE -- WE WILL HAVE MORE
OFFICIAL SPEAKERS, NEXT AGENDA
ITEM.
I BELIEVE THE FIRST WILL BE
QUICK, AND I WILL RESERVE MY
COMMENTS ON THE TREE ORDINANCE
FOR JUST A MOMENT.
PLEASE, OUR FIRST ITEM OF
BUSINESS IS A BRIEFING AND
POSSIBLE VOTE ON CF314434 CON
TRACT OF THE REZONE OF UNION
PLACE.
WILL EVERYONE JOIN US AT THE
RECORD.
>> CLERK FILE 314434.
APPLICATION OF BARRIENTOSRYAN
LLC, TO REZONE AN APPROXIMATELY
20,000 SQUARE FOOT PARCEL
LOCATED AT 4544, 4550, AND 460
UNION BAY PLACE NE FROM
COMMERCIAL 2 WITH A 55-FOOT
HEIGHT LIMIT AND M1 TO A 66-
FOOT HEIGHT LIMIT.
>> YOLANDO IS JOINING US.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET US
STARTED?
>> TODAY WE WILL BE -- EXCUSE
ME, PROVIDING AN OVERVIEW OF
THE CONTRACTOR REDESIGN
APPLICATION AT 4600 UNION BAY
NORTH PLACE.
DESCRIBING THE PROCESS MOVING
FORWARD.
AS A REMINDER THIS IS A QUASI-
JUDICIAL HEARING, PROHIBITING
EX PARTE COMMUNICATION.
COUNCIL IS ACTING LIKE JUDGES
RATHER THAN LEGISLATORS, AND
THE DECISION THAT YOU WILL BE
MAKING IS RESTRICTED TO
CONSIDERING INFORMATION THAT
WITHIN THE RECORD THAT IS
COMPILED BY THE HEARING
EXAMINER.
IT WAS COMPILED IN AN OPENING
HEARING RECORD ON DECEMBER 23,
2019.
THE FIRST SLIDE PROVIDES THE
OFFICIAL NAME OF THE CLERK
FILE, THE APPLICATION OF
BARRIENTOSRYAN LLC FOR THE
PARCEL AND ADDRESS, AND THE
INTENT IS TO REZONE THIS SITE
FROM COMMERCIAL 255 WITH THE M
SUFFIX TO 65, MANY 1 SUFFIX.
THAT'S QUICK DEVELOPMENT.
98-UNIT APARTMENT BUILDING WITH
2,000 SQUARE FEET OF GRAND
RETAIL.
6 FLOORS, APPROXIMATELY 65 FEET
ABOVE GRADE.
THEY ARE ALSO PLANNING ON A
1700 SQUARE FOOT PUBLICALLY
ABOUTS ISABLE GRAD COURTYARD,
AND STRUCTURED PARKING FOR 63
CARS, 92 BICYCLES, AND THE PLAN
IS FOR 20% OF THE UNITS TO BE
AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS
BETWEEN 65% AND 85% OF MEDIAN
INCOME THROUGH THE PUT FAMILY
PROPERTY TAX EXCEPTION PROGRAM.
SO JUST SHOWING YOU WHERE THE
SITE IS LOCATED, AS I
MENTIONED, JUST TO THE EAST OF
UNIVERSITY VILLAGE, AND
CURRENTLY THE SITE IS OCCUPIED
BY TWO ONE-STORY CONCRETE
STRUCTURES AND A SURFACE
PARKING LOT, AND YOU CAN SEE
WITH THE ELEMENTARY RUNNING
KIND OF NORTHEAST OF THE SITE
THERE.
LET'S SEE.
YEAH, HAVE TO MOVE ON TO THE
ACTUAL IMAGE OF THE SITE AS IT
IS CURRENTLY.
THERE'S TWO BUILDINGS, AND ONE
IS HIDDEN BY THE TREE THERE, TO
THE FAR RIGHT, AND THEY ARE
KIND OF LIGHT, CURRENTLY LIGHT
INDUSTRIAL WITH COMMERCIAL
TENANTS, AND THE PARKING LOT
WAS PREVIOUSLY OCCUPIED BY THE
LAUREL HURST OIL COMPANY, AND
IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF
ECOLOGY TO BE SUFFICIENTLY
CLEANED UP FOR STATE STANDARDS,
AND IT'S READY FOR
REDEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S A MIX OF WAREHOUSES,
PARKING LOTS, AND A COUPLE OF
NEW MIXED USE DEVELOPMENTS
ALONG THE STREET.
AGAIN, YOU SEE, IT'S KIND OF UP
ABOVE THE SITE THERE, TO THE
LEFT OF THE LABEL.
SO THIS IMAGE SHOWS THE CURRENT
ZONING, WHERE THE SITE IS
LOCATED NORTH OF NORTHEAST 45th
STREET AGAIN, THE DOTTED LINE
THERE IS THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT URBAN OR URBAN CENTER,
OUR.
NOT THE VILLAGE, IT'S A
BOUNDARY, JUST OUTSIDE OF THE
URBAN CENTER BOUNDARY.
THIS SITE WAS, WELL THE WHOLE
BLOCK THERE WAS REZONED UNDER
THE CITYWIDE MANDATORY HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY LEGISLATION
PASSED LAST YEAR.
THAT PRECEDES THE STANDARD BUMP
AS WE CALL IT.
IT WAS BUMPED TO THE M. YOU CAN
SEE TO THE WEST, 275 WITH THE
M, AND THEN TO THE EAST, IT'S A
SINGLE FAMILY 5,000 ZONING.
THIS ILLUSTRATION IS A VIEW
LOOKING NORTHWEST- ISH, SHOWING
THE GREEN PORTION OF THE
BUILDING, WITH THE 10-FOOT
INCREASE, HEIGHT INCREASE, AND
HOW IT WILL FIT IN THE CONTEXT
IF ALL OTHER PROPERTIES WERE
DEVELOPED TO THEIR FULL
POTENTIAL.
AND, THIS ILLUSTRATION SHOWS
THE GRAY CHANGE FROM THE
VILLAGE TO THE WEST THROUGH THE
SITE TO THE SINGLE FAMILY
ZONING TO THE EAST, AND HERE
YOU CAN SEE THAT THE SINGLE
FAMILY ZONE IS LOCATED
APPROXIMATELY 125 LINEAR FEET
AWAY, AND THERE'S ABOUT A 30 TO
40-FOOT INCREASE IN THE
ELEVATIONS, SO SHOWING KIND OF
THAT THE INCREASE IN HEIGHT IS,
YOU KNOW, THE IMPACT IS NOT
NECESSARILY -- THERE'S A
VEGETATION BUFFER, AND WITH THE
HEIGHT INCREASE, MINIMIZING THE
IMPACT OF THE HEIGHT INCREASE.
>> YES.
COUNCILMEMBER?
>> THANK YOU.
IS IT OKAY IF WE ASK QUESTIONS
DURING?
>> SURE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THIS PROJECT IS IN MY
DISTRICT, DISTRICT 4, AND JUST
TO CLARIFY FOR THE VIEWING
PUBLIC, BECAUSE IT'S UNDER A
SPECIAL QUASI JUDICIAL PROCESS,
WHILE COUNCILMEMBERS LIKE MY
COLLEAGUES AND I WANT TO ENGAGE
IN THE COMMUNITY AND GET INPUT
FROM THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S PART
OF OUR JOBS, AND THE QUASI
JUDICIAL WE ARE NOT ABLE TO DO
THAT.
WE ARE ABLE TO ASK QUESTIONS
NOW, AND NOW QUESTIONS
PERTAINING TO WHAT IS IN THE
CLERK FILE FROM THE HEARING
EXAMINER IN, CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> FIRST QUESTION, I'M SURE
MORE AT THE END.
YOU KNOW, JUST TO BE AWARE OF
THE 100 PEOPLE WE JUST HEARD
FROM, ARE ANY TREES GOING TO BE
RIPPED OUT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT
THAT WE KNOW OF?
>> NO, SO IF WE -- I'M HAPPY TO
FLIP BACK QUICKLY.
THERE'S ACTUALLY NO TREES ON
THIS SITE, AND THE TREES ARE
BEYOND THE PROPERTY LINE.
>> THANK YOU.
I WILL BE DISCUSSING THE
ADDITIONAL TREES IN THE PROJECT
WHERE THERE ARE NONE CURRENTLY.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN,
ANYTHING?
>> LEWIS?
ANYTHING.
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK IF
THERE'S TREES INSTALLED, BUT
SPOILER ALERT, LOOKING AHEAD,
IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE.
>> WE CAN MOVE ON TO THAT.
>> IF WE COULD SWITCH BACK.
>> OAK, THANK YOU.
I FIND THIS SLIDE TO BE VERY
INFORMATIVE FOR ME TO EXPLAIN
WHAT MY LIMITED EXPERIENCE IN
THE SPACE IS WITH THE TRAIL
REGULARLY.
THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT SETBACK
FROM THE PROPERTY TO THE SINGLE
FAMILY ZONE AS COMPARED TO WHAT
IT COULD LOOK LIKE ON A MAP,
AND IT'S JUST A LINE, AS WELL
AS THE GRADE AND ELEVATION
CHANGE WHERE THIS SITE WOULD
BECOME AT THE SAME HEIGHT AS
THE PROPERTIES TO THE LEFT OR
TO THE SOUTH OF THIS, AND JUST
KEEPING IT AT A CONSISTENT
RATE.
I FOUND THIS SLIDE TO BE VERY
INFORMATIVE DEMONSTRATING WHILE
ON PAPER, IT MAY SEEM LIKE A
LARGE CHANGE, IT'S IN KEEPING
WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THE
ENVIRONMENT THERE.
>> SURE.
>> MOVING ON, THIS IMAGE SHOWS
THE PROPOSED BUILDING AND
STREET SCAPE, AND THE
PUBLICALLY PLAZA I MENTIONED
AROUND THE RETAIL, TO THE LEFT
OF THE BUILDING THERE, AND THE
BUILDING KIND OF IS SET BACK
FURTHER ALONG THAT AREA, AND SO
TO ALLOW FOR THIS MORE PLAZA
SPACE ON THE PRIVATE PROPERTY,
AND AS MENTIONED, ALTHOUGH THEY
ARE A BIT GHOSTED OUT TO ALLOW
FOR THE VIEWER TO SEE THE
ACTUAL BUILDING THERE WILL BE
STREET TREES AND TREATMENTS
INCLUDING BIORETENTION DESIGNS
THAT ARE ON THE PRIVATE
PROPERTY, AND THEN ADDITIONAL
VEGETATION, AND ADDITIONAL
PLANTINGS ALONG WITH THE TREES
WITHIN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY, AND
THERE WILL BE -- SO CURRENTLY
THERE IS NOT MUCH OF A SIDEWALK
CONDITION ALONG THIS BLOCK, AND
IT WILL ACTUALLY CREATE A MORE
WALKABLE SPACE WITH THE NEW
DEVELOPMENT.
>> GREAT.
AND THIS IS JUST AN IMAGE
SHOWING THE STREET LEVEL AND
PROPOSED STREETSCAPE
IMPROVEMENTS INCLUDING THE
SIDEWALK AND TREES AND
PLANTINGS AND ALSO THAT THERE
IS ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT
IS HAPPENING ALONG THE STREET,
SO ALLOCK THE LEFT SIDE OF THE
IMAGE, WE CAN SEE THE FUTURE
BUILDING AT THE FULL 75-FEET
HEIGHT, AND THEN THAT, JUST
BEYOND, IS ANOTHER BUILDING
UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
WHAT THIS WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE
FUTURE , IT IT WILL BE QUITE
DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IT IS NOW.
>> AS THE CITY GROWS AND
CHANGES.
I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON
BLAKELY AVENUE, AND IT'S VERY
DIFFERENT.
VERY DIFFERENT.
>> JUST TO FINISH UP ON THE
PRESENTATION, I WANT TO NOTE
BOTH THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTIONS AND THE HEARING
EXAMINER IN RECOMMENDED
APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT SUBJECT
TO TWO CONDITIONS.
IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE MASTER
USE PERMIT 3030 OR 253 AND ALSO
THAT IT MEET THE MANDATORY
HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
REQUIREMENTS, AND THAT'S
INDICATED BY THE ZONE.
NONE OF THESE DECISIONS WERE
APPEALED AFTER THEIR
PUBLICATION.
>> THANK YOU, YOLANDA, MAY I
ASK ONE QUESTION?
>> SURE, YEAH.
>> CAN YOU REMIND US OF THE
PROCESS FOR THE CONTRACT
REZONE, AND WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE
IT GETS TO THIS STEP AT COUNCIL
COMMITTEE IN THE PROCESS?
>> SURE, WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT
THE APPLICANT FILES WITH THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS,
AND THEY GO THROUGH THE REGULAR
PERMIT REVIEW, AND GETTING THE
DRAWINGS IN, AND THERE'S ALSO
THE DESIGN REVIEW BOARD WILL
WEIGH IN.
THAT WAS PART OF THE PROCESS AS
WELL, AND SO THERE'S KIND --
IT'S A PROCESS FOR THE
DEVELOPER, AND ONCE IT'S FINAL
-- ONCE THAT PROCESS IS
COMPLETE TO THE SATISFACTION OF
SDCI, THEY WILL THEN MOVE ON TO
THE NEXT PROCESS FOR THE
HEARING EXAMINER TO -- SO SDCI
WILL ISSUE ITS DECISION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS, AND ALSO DO
THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
THROUGH CPA, AND THEN ONCE THEY
HAVE COMPLETED ALL OF THOSE
ASPECTS, THAT GETS PACKAGED UP,
AND EVERYTHING MOVES ON TO THE
HEARING EXAMINER IN WHO THEN
CONSIDERS THE UNIT, LOOKS AT
ALL INFORMATION IN THE FILE,
AND CONSIDERS THAT AND ISSUES A
DECISION, A RECOMMENDATION TO
THE COUNCIL, WHICH IS WHERE WE
ARE NOW, SO THAT'S -- IN THIS
CASE, THE COUNCIL HAS DELEGATED
TO THE HEARING EXAMINER IN TO
PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR AN
OPEN HEARING ON THE MATTER
WHICH NO ONE FROM THE PUBLIC
ACTUALLY SPOKE AT THAT
OPPORTUNITY, AND SO, THEN THE
COUNCIL THEN CONSIDERS WHAT IS
IN THE RECORD TO MAKE ITS
DECISION ON IT, AND SHOULD
THERE BE ADDITIONAL APPEALS OR
ANYTHING AT THAT POINT, WE WILL
DEAL WITH THAT, BUT WE DID NOT
RECEIVE ANY FOR THIS PARTICULAR
INSTANCE.
>> IS THERE A DEADLINE FOR
COUNCIL ACTION?
>> GIVEN NO APPEALS TO
HEARINGS, THE COUNCIL IS
REQUIRED TO TAKE ACTION WITHIN
90 DAYS, AND THAT WOULD GET US
TO MARCH 9th, I THINK.
>> VERY GOOD.
WE WILL KEEP MOVING ON WITH
THIS.
>> YEAH, AND THAT'S WHERE WE
SEEM TO BE, WELL WITHIN THE
TIME PERIOD OF TAKING ACTION.
>> I HAVE A NUMBER OF OTHER
QUESTIONS THAT YOUR
PRESENTATION ANSWERED, SO THANK
YOU FOR A VERY COMPREHENSIVE
PRESENTATION.
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> QUESTION ABOUT THE MANDATORY
AFFORDING HOUSING.
ANY HOUSING UNITS ON SITE?
>> THEY ARE ELECTING TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE MULTIFAMILY
PROPERTY TAX EXCEPTION PROGRAM,
AND IT'S VOLUNTARY.
THEY ARE ELECTING TO PROVIDE
20% AFFORDABLE UNITS AT THE 65%
TO 85%.
THEY WILL NOT BE PERFORMING OR
BUILDING UNITS UNDER THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM.
THEY ARE ELECTING TO PAY
INSTEAD, AND THAT I CAN PROVIDE
YOU WITH THE AMOUNT IF YOU ARE
INTERESTED.
>> IF YOU HAVE IT HANDY.
>> BASED ON, THEY -- YEAH, THE
INFORMATION THEY PROVIDED WAS
SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I
AM GOING TO PROVIDE IN THAT
THEY INITIALLY ASSUMED THE
CONTRACT REZONE WOULD BE JUST
THE M SUFFIX, NOT M1, THEY WILL
BE PAYING 1.8 OR 1.9 MILLION.
>> THAT'S IN EXCHANGE FOR AN
EXTRA 10 FEET ESSENTIAL?
>> CORRECT.
>> 10 FEET IN HEIGHT, AND IN
TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT, YOU TALKED A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE PROCESS IN
ADVANCE, AND IS THERE ANYTHING
YOU CAN TELL US ABOUT WHAT THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS?
DID THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER
GO OUT TO THE COMMUNITY?
ASKING THEIR INPUT?
>> BASED ON THE RECORD, IT
LOOKS LIKE THEY HELD FOUR
MEETINGS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION, BEGINNING IN 2017,
AND SO QUITE AWHILE NOW, AND
ALSO WITH THE LAUREL HURST
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, AND THEY
HELD A NUMBER OF COFFEE
MEETINGS WITH HOMEOWNERS, AND
EAST OF THE SITE, THE SINGLE
FAMILY AREA WE WERE DISCUSSING
BEFORE, AND YOU KNOW, THEY
RESPONDED TO THE FEEDBACK
AROUND SOME OF THE CONCERNS OF
SHADING OF THE BURKE GILMAN,
AND THEY ADOPTED THE DESIGN TO
REDUCE THE SHADING AND NARROWED
THE FOOTPRINT OF THE BUILDING A
BIT AND ADDED PARKING A CONCERN
AS WELL FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND
IN THE RECORD, 38 LETTERS OF
SUPPORT FOR THE REZONE AS WELL
FROM INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS IN
THE AREA.
>> OKAY.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MENTIONED
THEY ADDED SOME PARKING ON
SITE, AND IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE
THERE IS PLENTY OF TRANSIT
NEARBY, AND SO ON SAN POINT
WAY, 35th AVENUE, 25th AVENUE
ALSO.
IT'S GREAT THAT THE DENSITY IS
BEING PUT WHERE THERE IS
RELIABLE TRANSIT, AND IT'S
PROBABLY PREMATURE TO ASK THIS
QUESTION, BUT A LOT OF US ARE
INTERESTED IN SEEING MORE
CHILDCARE FACILITIES AVAILABLE
THROUGHOUT THE CITY , IN THE
GROUND FLOOR RETAIL SPACE, IT
USUALLY TAKES LONGER TO FILL
UP.
WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF CHILD
CARE FACILITIES, AND MAKE A
CONVERSATION FOR LATER, BUT IS
IT POSSIBLE TO PUT A CHILDCARE
FACILITY IN THE GROUND FLOOR
THERE?
>> SO THERE'S 2,000 SQUARE
FEET, APPROXIMATELY PLANNED FOR
A RETAIL SPACE, AND BASED ON
THE PLANS LOOKING LIKE TWO.
TWO 1,000 SQUARE FOOT SPACES.
I'M NOT EXPERT ON CHILDCARE.
I HAVE A CHILD IN CHILDCARE,
BUT IT LOOKS A LOT BIGGER THAN
1,000 SQUARE FEET MAY BE NEEDED
FOR SUCH A FACILITY, BUT I ALSO
WOULD NEED TO LOOK INTO THAT
MORE, BUT MY SUSPICION IS THAT
THEY -- THEIR INTENT IS FOR IT
TO BE RETAIL, LIKE A CAFE OR
RESTAURANT, AND THAT'S WITH THE
SIDEWALK CAFE KIND OF LOOK TO
IT, BUT THAT'S NOT PRECLUDING
THE POSSIBILITY OF HAVING CHILD
CARE FACILITIES THERE, BUT I
WOULD NEED TO HAVE MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT SPACE
REQUIREMENTS FOR CHILDCARE
FACILITIES.
>> TWO MORE QUESTIONS.
>> CAN I JUST PIGGYBACK ON
THAT, WITHIN THE COMMUNITY WE
WILL BE TAKING UP A NUMBER OF
INITIATIVES TO INCREASE THE
AFFORDABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
IN SPACES LIKE THIS, GROUND
FLOOR IN NEW BUILDINGS, I HAVE
FOUND IT TO BE DIFFICULT FOR
LOCAL BUSINESSES, SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND CHILDCARE
FACILITIES TO BE PLACED, OFTEN
TIMES DUE TO THE RENOVATION
COSTS FOR CHILD CARE CODE.
CAFE TURKO AN EXAMPLE OF A
GREAT PLACE THAT MADE WHAT CAN
BE A SPACE A HOMEY SPACE.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO MAKING
SURE PLACES LIKE THIS INCLUDE
CHILD CARE.
>> I NOW THAT'S A COMMON GROUND
WITH COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA, A
BIG ISSUE FOR HER AS WELL.
YOU MENTIONED SUPPORT LETTERS,
AND NO APPEAL.
THAT'S SORT OF A GOOD SIGN
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
SUPPORT.
ANY LETTERS OF OPPOSITION WE
KNOW OF?
>> THERE WERE SOME E-MAILS, I
THINK, AND THAT'S A COUPLE OF E-
MAILS.
I THINK THOSE MAY HAVE BEEN
EARLY IN THE PROCESS.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY THERE WAS
ANYTHING UNIFORMLY AGAINST IT,
BUT IT SEEMED LIKE THE
DEVELOPER HAD RESPONDED TO A
LOT OF THE COMMUNITY CONCERN
THROUGHOUT THE DESIGN REVIEW
PROCESS AND JUST MEETING WITH
FOLKS AND THUS NO APPEALS.
>> OKAY.
ACTUALLY THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
>> GREAT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS?
>> JUST SO I'M CLEAR A FOLLOW
UP QUESTION FOR OUR DISCUSSION
ON THE PAYMENT OF THE MANDATORY
FEE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND
MY UNDERSTANDING, THE BUILDING
WILL HAVE 20% AFFORDABLE UNITS
THROUGH THE MULTIFAMILY TAX
EXEMPTION ON SITE, IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> THOSE WILL BE PART OF THE
BUILDING OF HAVING THOSE
AFFORDABLE UNITS THERE,
CORRECT.
>> AT 65% TO 85%?
>> CORRECT.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE
MULTIFAMILY TAX EXEMPTION
UNITS, THE CITY WILL ALSO GET
1.8 TO 1.9 MILLION THROUGH THE
MHA?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> OKAY, THANK YOU, THAT'S ALL.
>> WONDERFUL.
ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS AT THE
TABLE?
>> ALL RIGHT, SO, SHALL I
DESCRIBE WHAT WE SHOULD DO NOW?
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT!
I DO HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING
HERE, BUT YEAH.
>> WE CAN WORK TOGETHER.
>> SO IF THE COMMITTEE SUPPORTS
THIS PROPOSED REZONE, THERE'S
TWO DOCUMENTS THAT THE COUNCIL
WILL BE CONSIDERING.
THE -- SO IN THE MEMO ATTACH TO
THE AGENDA, THERE'S A DRAFT
FINDINGS CONCLUSIONS AND
DECISION DOCUMENT, ATTACHMENT
TO THE MEMO, AND IT GRANTS THE
REZONE SUBJECT TO THE
CONDITIONS I SPOKE TO EARLIER,
THAT THE APPLICANT EXECUTE A
PROPERTY USE AND DEVELOPMENT
AGREEMENT THAT IMPLEMENTS THE
PROVISIONS OF THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE 28.58A AND
28.58C WHICH ARE MANDATORY
AFORDABLE HOUSING, AND IT'S IN
THE FINAL APPROVED PLANS.
SHOULD THE COMMITTEE SUPPORT
THAT, WE WILL THEN HAVE A
COUNCIL BILL THAT WILL BE
INTRODUCED TO THE FULL COUNCIL,
GOING DIRECTLY TO THE FULL
COUNCIL THAT WILL AMEND THE
OFFICIAL ZONING MAP AND
APPROVES THE PROPERTY USE AND
DEVELOPMENT.
I WILL BE WORKING TO ATTACH
THAT TO THE ORDINANCE, AND
GIVEN THAT, THERE ARE A FEW
STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN.
MY INTENT WOULD BE TO GET THAT
COUNCIL BILL ON TO THE
INTRODUCTION REFERRAL CALENDAR
FOR FEBRUARY 24th SO THAT THE
COUNCIL CAN BE READY FOR A VOTE
ON MARCH 2nd.
>> ALTHOUGH, IS THAT NOT AFTER
THE 90-DAY PERIOD IN WHICH YOU
DESCRIBED?
>> YOU'RE STILL WITHIN.
>> WONDERFUL.
>> SO I AM NOT SEEING ANY
APPELLANTS TO THE APPLICANTS OR
AMENDMENTS TO CONSIDER.
I WOULD REFER TO COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN.
>> I WILL SO MOVE IT.
>> SECOND.
>> SO MOVING THE GRANT, MOVING
TO GRANT THE APPLICATION AND
CLERK FILE 314434.
>> YES, SECOND.
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> THOSE IN FAVOR, VOTE AY, AND
RAISE YOUR HAND.
>> AYE.
>> THOSE OPPOSED?
>> THIS MOTION PASSES.
YOLANDA, YOU DESCRIBED THE NEXT
STEPS, AND I BELIEVE THAT
CONCLUDES THIS COUNCIL ITEM,
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO TAKING
IT UP ON MARCH 2nd.
THANK YOU.
>>> OUR NEXT ITEM, ITEM NUMBER
2, SDCI'S UPDATE ON THE WORK TO
STRENGTHEN THE TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE, AND WILL THE
PRESENTERS PLEASE JOIN US AT
THE TABLE.
>> AGENDA
>>> THE TOWN HOMES WERE BUILT
AROUND AN EXISTING TREE, AND IT
PROVIDES VALUE TO THE TOWN
HOMES, AND IT'S IN A WAY THAT
CANNOT BE RECREATED IN THE
AMOUNT OF TIME THE TOWN HOMES
ARE REBUILT.
THERE'S A WAY WE ARE ABLE TO
CONTINUALLY GROW AND CREATE
DENSITY IN OUR CITY AND
PRESERVE THE TREES THAT MAKE
OUR CITY UNIQUE.
I UNDERSTAND GROVES OR SCHOOLS
AS WE CALL THEM IN FORESTRY,
AND THE IMPORTANCE THAT THE
NATURAL HABITAT PROVIDES FOR
EACH OTHER TREE WITHIN THAT
GROVE.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE VERY
PERSONAL TO ME IN MY WORK, AND
THAT'S WHY WHEN COUNCIL TOOK
THE WORK UP, I GOT -- IT WAS
VERY PERSONAL I TOOK IT ON, AND
OVER THE LAST YEAR, WE HAVE
DONE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT WORK
TO MAKE SURE THE WHOLE CITY
FAMILY HAS BUYIN IN THE
PROCESS, TO MAKE SURE THE
EXECUTIVE'S OFFICES BOUGHT IN,
TO MAKE SURE SDCI, YOU'RE
BROUGHT INTO THE PROCESS.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR US TO DO MOVING
FORWARD, AND FOR ANYONE IN THE
CROWD TODAY THAT IS FEELING
LIKE WE MIGHT BE TAKING TOO
LONG OR THAT WE SHOULD JUST
PASS SOMETHING THIS VERY
MOMENT, PLEASE REST ASSURED,
THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING OF
THE LAND USE COMMITTEE, AND
WHILE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE
FIRST ITEM, IT'S THE SECOND
ITEM THE LAND USE COMMITTEE IS
TAKING UP.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND I
BOTH SHARE A DEEP PASSION, AND
WE WILL WORK ON COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS.
I KNOW YOU SUPPORT IT.
WE HAVE GOT 4 YEARS, AND WE
HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TOOLS
TO USE, AND I THINK THE MOST
IMPORTANT WAY TO MOVE FORWARD
IS THROUGH COLLECTIVELY WORKING
TOGETHER THROUGH THE CITY
FAMILY.
I WANT TO THANK COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSON FOR HOSTING THE
MEETING FOCUSED ON THE PORTLAND
MODEL.
I HAVE ALL OF PORTLAND'S
INFORMATION HERE, AND WE WILL
DISCUSS IT A LITTLE LATER, AND
I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCE AND
CONTACTS IN PORTLAND, AND WE
WILL PROBABLY BE BRINGING THEM
BACK, AND JUST WANT TO THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSON.
THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS, AND
PLEASE IF ANYONE DIDN'T FEEL
LIKE THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK AT PUBLIC COMMENT, I'M
HAPPY TO MEET WITH FOLKS, AND
FOR A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO
SPOKE THIS MORNING, I KNOW YOU
FROM MEETING AT THE QUEEN ANN
TULIP TREE WE TRIED TO SAVE,
AND THE ELMS ON THE WEST SIDE
OF QUEEN ANN AND TREES IN
BOWARD.
THANK YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO
MEET THE INITIAL DEADLINE
WITHIN THE TREE RESOLUTION.
THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED REPORT
WAS SOME TIME IN MARCH, AND WE
MOVED IT UP TO THE END OF
JANUARY SO AT THE FIRST
MEETING, WE COULD GET TO WORK
ON THE TREES.
I JUST THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
YOUR FAST WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE OUR WORK
WITH YOU.
TODAY WE WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE
A BIT OF BACKGROUND.
>> MY APOLOGIES, YOU ALREADY
INTRODUCED YOURSELVES, EXCUSE
ME.
>> RIGHT.
I WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE
BACKGROUND FOR THE
CONVERSATION, TALKING A LITTLE
BIT ABOUT THE PROGRESS THAT THE
CITY IS DOING ON UPDATING THE
URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN,
AND THEN DIVE INTO PROGRESS ON
THE TREE REGULATIONS AND
SPECIFIC RESOLUTION 3, AND
SPECIFICALLY THE FIRST
QUARTERLY REPORT, AND WE WILL
BE SHARING WITH YOU SCOPE,
SCHEDULE, AND BUDGET AS WELL.
SO SEATTLE TREES ARE
FUNDAMENTAL TO SEATTLE.
WE PRIDE OURSELVES TO BEING ONE
OF THE GREENEST CITIES IN THE
COUNTRY.
THE TREES ARE IMPORTANT AS WE
CONTINUE TO GROW.
THERE'S NINE DIFFERENT
DEPARTMENTS IN URBAN FORESTRY.
EACH HAS IMPORTANT EXPERTISE,
ASPECTS, AND RESOURCES TO THE
COMMITMENT, AND WE ALSO KNOW
THAT COORDINATION AND
COLLABORATION IS KEY, AND TO
THAT EFFECT, THE EXECUTIVE
CREATED THE CITY'S URBAN FOREST
COURT, AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM
ALL THE DEPARTMENTS, AND WE
MEET OFTEN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
ARE PROACTIVELY COMMUNICATING
AND COORDINATING OUR WORK, AND
ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING
IS UPDATING THE URBAN FOREST
MANAGEMENT PLAN, AND I WILL
TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, AND WE
ALSO HAVE BEEN WORKING, AND
SPECIFICALLY ON THE TREE
RELATIONS, AND WE HAVE ALSO
TAPPED THE EXPERTISE AND
BOUNCED IDEAS OFF OF THEM, AND
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
THE URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT
PLAN SETTING THE POLICIES THAT
GUIDE OUR PROGRAMS TO
ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS, AND THIS
WORK IS BEING FORMED BY
INFORMATION WE GLEAM FROM THE
2016 CANOPY COVER ASSESSMENT,
AND WE LEARN A COUPLE OF
THINGS, AND ONE IS THAT AT THE
TIME, WE WERE 28% CANOPY COVER.
THE GOAL THAT THE PLAN HAS
ESTABLISHED IS 30% BY 2037, AND
WE ARE AT 28%.
WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THERE
TENDS TO BE FEWER TREES IN
AREAS OF THE CITY WHERE THERE'S
A MAJORITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR
OR LOW-INCOME LIVING THESE
AREAS HAVE 20% CANOPY COVERAGE
COMPARED TO 28% CITYWIDE.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE ARE KEEPING
IN MIND.
WE LEARNED 72% OF THE CANOPY IS
IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS, AND IT'S
VERY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, TO
REALIZE THAT THE CITY NEEDS TO
WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY ON THE
STEWARDSHIP OF THE TREES, AND
THE UPDATE HAS BEEN WORKING AND
FOCUSING ON INCLUSIVE
ENGAGEMENT.
IT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT DONE
PROPERLY IN THE PAST.
THIS TIME WE ARE MAKING SURE WE
ARE REACHING TO HISTORICALLY
UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES,
COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, LOW
INCOME POPULATION, AND
BASICALLY ISOLATED HOUSEHOLDS,
IMMIGRANTS, REF YOU REFUGEES
AND NATIVE AMERICANS.
WE ARE WORKING ON THE CLIMATE
CHANGE OBJECTIVES FOR STRONGER
ACCOUNTABILITY.
I FORGOT TO SAY, PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO ASK QUESTIONS AS WE GO
ALONG.
WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER AT ANY
TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I JUST WANT TO SHARE WHERE
WE ARE IN TERMS OF THE FOREST
MANAGEMENT PLAN WORK.
BEFORE WE BEGAN DRAFTING THE
PLAN, WE REALLY WANTED TO MAKE
SURE WE GOT INPUT, AND SO WE
PARTNERED WITH SPU'S COMMUNE
CONNECTIONS PROGRAM, PART OF
THE SPU'S ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
AND SERVICE EQUITY GROUP, AND
THE IDEA WAS FOR THEM TO WORK
WITH COMMUNITY-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY
LIAISONS TO REACH OUT TO THE
UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY IN
CULTURALLY ADEQUATE AND
APPROPRIATE WAYS IN ANY
LANGUAGE.
WE HELD MISSION SESSIONS WITH
PARTNERS WITH TREE ADVOCATES,
AND TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS,
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, VOLUNTEERS
AND THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION, AND WE DID AN
INITIAL ASSESSMENT ON THE
CITY'S PROGRAMS AND POLICIES.
WE TOOK ALL THIS INFORMATION,
AND WE PRODUCED THE FIRST
DRAFT.
WHAT WE ARE DOING NOW, WE
REENGAGED THE COMMUNITY
CONNECTIONS TO HAVE THEM SHARE
WITH THE COMMUNITY OUR DRAFT
GOALS, AND THE STRATEGIES AND
ACTIONS TO MAKE SURE WE ARE
PROPERLY REPRESENTING AND
REFLECTING THE PRIORITIES THEY
SHARE WITH US.
THIS WORK IS GOING TO BE
WRAPPING UP THIS MONTH.
WE HAVE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON
INCORPORATING THE DEPARTMENTAL
INPUT INTO THE DRAFT PLAN.
IN THE NEXT STEPS AS WE
UNDERTAKE ENGAGEMENT WE ARE
GOING TO BE PREPARING A DRAFT,
SHARING WITH THE PUBLIC FOR
PUBLIC INPUT IN THIS REPORTER,
AND THEY ARE GOING TO
INCORPORATE THE INPUT AND SHARE
A FINAL DRAFT WITH COUNCIL IN
LATE 2020.
WITH THAT, SOMEHOW SHANDRA WILL
BE SHARING PROTECTIONS FOR TREE
REGULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST MENTION
THE PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE SO
FAR, AND WE HAVE INCREASED
EDUCATION INFORMATION AND
IMPROVED ENFORCEMENT AND
INCREASED RESOURCES AND STAFF.
AS FAR AS EDUCATION, WE HAVE
UPDATED THE SDCI WEBSITE FOR
NEW ADVICE ON THE TIP SHEETS
AND NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE
VALUE OF TREES AND WAYS TO
INCLUDE PLAIN LANGUAGE IN THE
WEBSITE FOR UNDERSTANDING WHAT
THE EXISTING REGULATIONS SAY.
AS FAR AS ENFORCEMENT, WE HAVE
UPDATED OR RECENTLY ADOPTED A
NEW DIRECTOR'S ROLE, AND IN THE
NEW DIRECTOR'S ROLE, IT
CLARIFIES HOW FEES ARE
CALCULATED WHEN TREES ARE CUT
DOWN ILLEGALLY.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND IT
ALSO GIVES US THE ABILITY TO --
IT GAVE US THE ABILITY TO
INCREASE THE FEES AS A GREATER
DETERRENT FOR ILLEGAL TREE
CUTTING, AND SDCI HAS HIRED TWO
ARBORISTS TO HELP US WITH PLAN
REVIEWS, AND THEY ARE ALSO
HELPING WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT
CASES AND AS WELL AS CONDUCTING
TRAININGS FOR OUR STAFF AT
SDCI.
>> COUNCILMEMBER?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH MR. CHAIR.
GOING BACK TO TALK ABOUT THE
NEW DIRECTOR'S ROLE, AND I -- I
DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A SUMMARY
OF THE CLARIFICATION OF THE
FEES SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE
PRESENTATION OR NOT, BUT ONE OF
MY TAKEAWAYS FROM AN EXTENSIVE
MEETING WITH SDCI EARLIER THIS
MONTH I HAD, IT WAS THAT THE
CURRENT SCHEDULE AND FORMULA
FOR ASSESSING THE FEES IS
FAIRLY DISTEEN AND A LITTLE
CONVOLUTED BASED ON A BUNCH OF
FACTORS.
ONE THING I TOOK AWAY FROM
THAT, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE
TO SEE, EVEN MORE OF A KIND OF
CLARIFYING OR STREAM LINED
PIECE OF THE ORDINANCE THAT
THIS COMMITTEE WILL ULTIMATELY
PASS.
IT PROVIDES MORE CLARITY ON
THAT.
I WAS JUST
>> JUST THIS PAST YEAR WE WERE
ABLE TO ASSESS A FINE OF
$33,000 FOR A TREE THAT WAS
REMOVED WITH THIS RULE.
THAT WAS JUST ONE TREE.
>> A JOB WELL DONE.
>> THANKS.
>> I WOULD JUST MENTION, TOO
THAT IN RESPONSE TO COUNCIL
MEMBER LEWIS'S QUESTION, WE
HAVE MADE IMPROVEMENTS WITH
THIS ROLE AND RECOGNIZE THERE
ARE STILL SOME -- THERE IS
STILL SOME MORE WORK TO DO WITH
ENFORCEMENT SO WE WOULD
CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS EASY TO
USE AND TO MAKE SURE IT IS THE
STRONGEST DETERRENT THAT IT CAN
BE.
>> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.
I APPRECIATE THE CLARIFICATION.
PART OF MY CONCERN IS THAT
WHILE WE ARE IN A POSITION TO
LET THE APPROPRIATE FINDS,
GIVEN THE EXACT SPECIFICATION
OF THE TREE THAT IS BEING
REMOVED AND THAT CAN BETTER
QUANTIFY USING THAT TREE, PART
OF MY CONCERN IS THAT IF WE
HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT METHOD THAT
IS SORT OF BASED ON A FORMULA
OR BASED ON -- LIKE I, I WORRY
THAT THIS SCALE CAN BE
MINIMIZED BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW
THAT THE OWNER OF THE $33,000
TREE NECESSARILY WAS WHERE THAT
THAT WAS POTENTIALLY WHAT THE
PENALTY WOULD HAVE BEEN.
SO IN ORDER FOR IT TO BE A
DETERRENCE, THE IMPACT, WE ARE
SPEAKING TO SOMEONE WHO IS A
PROSECUTOR BEFORE I CAME TO THE
COUNCIL, THE DETERRENT HAS TO
BE A AND AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY
AND THE PENALTY HAS TO BE A
DETERRENT TO THE PERSON WHO IS
CONSIDERING THE CONDUCT.
SO, I MEAN, I AM ALL FOR HAVING
HIGHER, YOU KNOW, STATUTORILY
DELINEATED PENALTIES IF THAT IS
WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO BUT IT IS
SOMETHING THAT I WOULD LIKE THE
DEPARTMENTS GUIDANCE ON TO KNOW
WHAT THAT WOULD BE AND HOW IT
WOULD BE SET OR MAYBE IF THERE
WOULD BE LIKE DIFFERET TIERS
OF PENALTY, KIND OF BASED ON
BROAD CATEGORIES OF THE TREE,
EVEN IF THAT LEADS TO A REGIME
WHERE PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE
PENALIZED UNDER THE CURRENT
REGIME MIGHT END UP PAYING A
LITTLE MORE THAN THEY WOULD
HAVE UNDER WE -- WHAT WE ARE
NOW AND SOME WOOD END UP PAYING
A LITTLE LESS SO THE CLARITY
MIGHT BE WORTH IT IS A TRADE-
OFF IN TERMS OF THE POWER OF
THE DETERRENT.
>> WE WILL WORK ON THAT AND PUT
IT BACK INTO A FUTURE
COMMITTEE.
>> GOOD.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND WHEN WE DO, WHEN YOU
MEET WITH US FURTHER, IF THERE
IS ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO HELP
TO PROVIDE GREATER RESOURCES
FOR ENFORCEMENT, WE WOULD LOVE
TO KNOW WHAT THOSE AREN'T DO
YOU KNOW THEM RIGHT THIS
MOMENT?
I WOULD LOVE TO FOLLOW UP WITH
YOU THAN ACTUALLY, THANK YOU .
>> THANK YOU.
SO CURRENTLY, WE ARE WORKING ON
A NUMBER OF ISSUES RIGHT NOW
AND SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS THAT
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU
TODAY IS THAT WE ARE EXPECTING
TO ISSUE A NEW DRAFT REQUISITE
SHORTLY AND OUR HOPE IS TO
STRENGTHEN THE TREE GROWTH
DEFINITION, ADD CLARITY AND
STRENGTHEN TREE PROTECTION
MEASURES FOR BOTH SIGNIFICANT
AND EXCEPTIONAL TREES AND THEN
REQUIRE MITIGATION FOR TREE
REMOVAL INCLUDING AN AFFIDAVIT
FOR TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS THAT
WE WILL NEED TO PROVIDE A
SIGNATURE PRIOR TO DOING
BUSINESS IN THE CITY.
THIS WOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGING
THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF OUR
CURRENT TREE REGULATIONS.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT THIS
NEW DIRECTORS RULE, WE ARE
LOOKING TO PROVIDE GREATER
PROTECTIONS FOR LARGE AND
MATURE TREES THESE WHICH WE
HAVE HEARD.
ANOTHER THING WE ARE WORKING ON
IS TREE TRACKING.
WE ARE LOOKING WITH SDC I AS
PER SEATTLE'S I.T.
TO DEVELOP NEW BUSINESS
PRACTICES INCLUDING TECHNOLOGY
UPDATES TO TRACK TREES ON THE
SITE PLANT. THIS WILL INCLUDE
PRESERVED TREES, EXISTING
TREES, PLANTED TREES, TREES
PARTED IN MITIGATION.
THIS WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS AS NEEDED AND THEN
MONITOR THE PROGRESS.
ANOTHER THING THAT WE ARE DOING
RIGHT NOW WITH SCDI AND OSC IS
WORKING TOWARDS PUBLIC OUTREACH
AND WE HAVE HEARD THAT PUBLIC
OUTREACH NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A
CULTURALLY -- GO AHEAD.
>> SORRY, I WANTED TO ASK
SOMETHING REALLY QUICK BEFORE
WE LEFT FROM THE WORK UNDERWAY
SLIDE.
>> OKAY.
>> I WANT TO GO BACK AND MAYBE
ASK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE
CONVERSATION ON THE UPDATED
MITIGATION FOR TREE REMOVAL.
>> YES.
>> BEFORE WE MOVE FURTHER.
I AM KIND OF CURIOUS -- I KNOW,
THAT IS GOING TO BE FOR ME, AT
LEAST, ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS I
AM LOOKING FOR IN DESIGNING
THIS ORDINANCE AND PART OF THE
REASON BEING, YOU KNOW, WE ARE
A MAJOR CITY, ONE OF THE
FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE
COUNTRY.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE --
MORE HOUSING, WE NEED TO ADD
MORE HOUSING, WE HAVE A HOUSING
CRISIS, INEVITABLY SOME TREES
ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REMOVED
TO MAKE WAY FOR THAT GROWTH AND
THAT THE RELEVANT.
SO INEVITABLY, WE ARE GOING TO
HAVE TO EXPLORE MEANINGFUL
MITIGATION THAT CAN COMPENSATE
FOR THE LOSS OF THOSE TREES
THAT DO ULTIMATELY HAVE TO BE
REMOVED FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE
ESSENTIAL.
SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, AS
FAR AS WE CAN SHAPE IT EARLY, I
WOULD KIND OF LIKE TO KNOW
WHERE THEIR CONVERSATION IS
NOW, IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE
SHARING A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> THE ORDINANCE AS IT STANDS
DOES NOT ALLOW FOR TREES TO BE
REMOVED WHEN THAT WOULD NOT
ALLOW THE DEVELOPMENT IN THE
ANTICIPATED ZONES GO FORWARD.
MOST OFTEN WE SEE THAT IN
SINGLE AND MULTIFAMILY ZONES.
CURRENT MITIGATION IS --
EXCEPTIONAL TREES BE REMOVED
WHEN THERE IN THE MULTI FAMILY
AND -- ZONES AND THE CODE GIVES
THE DIRECTOR AUTHORITY TO
DEFINE THE EXCEPTIONAL TREES
AND SET FORTH THE MITIGATION
PROVISIONS IN THIS RULE AND SO
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE LOOKING AT
THE ROLE NOW.
IT IS A WAY TO ENHANCE THE
PROTECTIONS OF TREES WITH THOSE
TWO AS KIND OF THE DILEMMAS AT
PLAY IN THE RULE.
WE HAVE A LIST OF SPECIES OF
TREES AND SIZES OF THE TRUNKS
THAT HELPS TO DEFINE THEM AS
EXCEPTIONAL AND WE ARE DOING
SOME ANALYSIS NOW TO SEE IF WE
MIGHT INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
TREES, REDUCE THE SIZE OF THE
TRUNKS THAT WOULD QUALIFY US --
AS PROTECTED THAT WOULD LEAD TO
ENHANCED MITIGATION OF SOME OF
THOSE TREES SHOULD BE ALLOWED
TO BE REMOVED AS PART OF THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS AS WELL AS
THE LOOKING TO MODEL SUCH AS
IMPORTANT FROM WHAT THEY
REQUIRE AND WE DO ALLOW
PROTECTED TREES TO BE REMOVED.
THAT COULD ALSO BE SOMETHING
THAT WOULD BE HOUSED IN THIS
RULE.
>> ORBIT SOME OF THE MITIGATION
STRATEGIES BE SO LIKE IN-KIND
REPLACEMENT, OF TREES, LIKE IN
LIEU FEES, I WOULD IMAGINE
WOULD BE ONE?
I'M JUST KIND OF CURIOUS LIKE
HOW THE CONVERSATION IS
EVOLVING NOW AND WHAT SOME OF
THOSE STRATEGIES MIGHT BE.
>> THE CODE NOW SUPPORTS A
MITIGATION PROGRAM THAT WOULD
INCORPORATE REPLACEMENT
REQUIREMENTS AT CERTAIN LEVELS
IN THE PORTLAND MODEL, CERTAIN
WINDS OF TREES, THERE IS A ONE-
TO-ONE REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENT
AND SPECIES COMPATIBILITY AND
FOR LARGER TREES, IT IS MORE OF
AN IN-KIND REPLACEMENT.
THEY DO ALLOW FOR PAYMENT IN
LIEU OF -- IN PORTLAND THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE BEEN
ASKED TO EXPLORE IN RESOLUTION
THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE
BEGINNING OF THE MEETING.
THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE
SOMETHING WE CAN ACCOMPLISH IN
THIS ROLE BUT IT IS ON THAT
TABLE FOR US TO TAKE A LOOK AT.
>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT
RESPONSE AND I WILL SHARE THAT
I HAVE RIGHT HERE, VOLUME
NUMBER 1 OF MULTIPLE VOLUMES OF
WHAT THE CITY OF PORTLAND DID
TO STUDY AND IMPLEMENT THEIR
TREE ORDINANCE AND RIGHT NOW,
WE WILL BE HAVING QUARTERLY
BRIEFINGS ABOUT THE TREE
ORDINANCE AND THE PROGRESS THAT
WE ARE MAKING TOWARD THIS FIRST
BRIEFING -- FOCUSED ON THE
CURRENT SCHEDULE AND BUDGET OF
LAMENTING AND CREATING THE TREE
ORDINANCE AND SO WE WILL TALK
MORE ABOUT PORTLAND.
THOSE QUESTIONS YOU JUST RAISED
ARE EXACTLY THE QUESTIONS WE
NEED TO HAVE ANSWERED THIS
YEAR.
>> RIGHT AND I'M TRYING TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE COMMITTEE TO
GIVE A LITTLE FEEDBACK TO THE
DEPARTMENTS IN TERMS OF
FLAGGING THINGS OF FUTURE
INTEREST TO MYSELF SO I
APPRECIATE YOUR INDULGING THAT.
I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A FOLLOW-
UP WITH THAT, TOO, IN MIND.
ONE THING I HAVE BEEN DOING A
LOT OF RECENTLY IS RESEARCHING
POTENTIAL METHODS TO
INCORPORATE THE PUBLIC HEALTH
AND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPACTS THE TREES HAVE WITH
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES OR URBAN
DESIGN PRACTICES.
ONE THINGS I FOUND INTERESTING
IS THE START OF DEVELOPMENTS OF
THESE THINGS COAL CITY TREES
THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED IN
SOME WESTERN EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES, A GERMAN STARTUP
COMPANY CALLED GREEN CITY
SOLUTIONS IS PUSHING AN ARTICLE
REPORTED TO BE ABOUT $20,000
PER TREE SO AN AMALGAMATION OF
MOSS PANELS THAT HAVE THE
EFFECT, WHEN PUT TOGETHER OF
ABOUT 275 INDIVIDUAL
TRADITIONAL TREES IN TERMS OF
HAVING AN EFFECT ON THE HEAT
ISLAND EFFECT AND IMPROVED AIR
QUALITY.
IF THERE ARE WAYS TO CREATE
INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO DESIGN
AND REVIEW OR INCENTIVES FOR
DEVELOPERS TO INCORPORATE THESE
KINDS OF THINGS INTO THEIR
STRUCTURE, REALLY EARLY IN THE
PROCESS, AS A POTENTIAL
MITIGATION STRATEGY, IT WOULD
BE SOMETHING I WOULD BE
INTERESTED IN.
LOOKING AT IT, I UNDERSTAND
THAT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL
AESTHETIC CONSIDERATIONS AS
WELL AS EROSION CONTROL
CONSIDERATIONS OF TREES THAT
WOULD BE SEPARATE FROM THOSE
BUT, YOU KNOW, I AM, I WANT TO
MAKE SURE THAT IN DESIGNING
THIS ORDINANCE WE ARE TRULY
DESIGNING AN ORDINANCE AROUND
PROTECTING ESSENTIAL TREES
RATHER THAN SOMETHING THAT
COULD BE USED TO PREVENT
UNWANTED DEVELOPMENT, PURELY TO
PREVENT UNWANTED DEVELOPMENT SO
THAT IS GOING TO BE SOMETHING
THAT I AM INTERESTED IN LOOKING
INTO AND SEEING IF WE CAN START
THE PROJECT EASTMAN PUBLISHED
EVEN EARLIER TO INCORPORATE --
WITH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AS
WELL AS WELL AS.
TOOK PROTECTING HISTORICALLY
SIGNIFICANT ESSENTIAL TREES
THAT ARE IRREPLACEABLE.
>> WE ARE HAPPY TO WORK WITH
YOU ON THOSE INTERESTS AND WE
WILL WORK WITH YOUR STAFF SO
THAT WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT THAT
EVOLUTION AND HELP YOU OUT WITH
THAT.
>> THANK YOU.
SO SCDI AND OSC ARE DEDICATED
TO COMMITTING RESOURCES TO
ENGAGE IN A CULTURALLY
APPROPRIATE WAY FOR
HISTORICALLY UNDERREPRESENTED
COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY AREAS OF
THE CITY THAT ARE LOW INCOME
AND HAVE LOW TREE CANOPY
COVERAGE RIGHT NOW.
IT MAY BE A GOOD FIT FOR US TO
WORK WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS OR SBU'S
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS TO DO
THIS THE RIGHT WAY.
WE HAVE HEARD AND WE WOULD LIKE
THE PUBLIC OUTREACH EFFORTS
INCLUDING MANY PEOPLE INCLUDING
HOMEOWNERS, RENTERS,
DEVELOPERS, BUILDERS, REALTORS,
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS AND
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE ORGANIZATIONS 2 NAME A
FEW.
RESERVATIONS I-190 TO WAS
ISSUED BY CITY COUNCIL AND
IDENTIFIES STRATEGIES TO
EXPLORE AND PROTECT TREES IN
SEATTLE, INCLUDING STRATEGIES
FOR RETAINING UP SECTIONAL TREES
EXCEPTIONAL TREES INCLUDING THE
DEFINITION OF EXCEPTIONAL
TREES, ADOPTING A DEFINITION OF
SIGNIFICANT TREES AT A
REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR
SIGNIFICANT TREE REMOVAL AND
SIMPLE THING THE TREE PLANTING
AND REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS
INCLUDING MITIGATION AND IT
ALSO DIRECTS SCDI TO LOOK INTO
ESTABLISHING A PAYMENT OR
PAYMENT IN LIEU OF OPTION FOR
TREEPLANTING THAT COULD
POTENTIALLY BE IN SITUATIONS
WHERE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SPACE
TO PLANT TREES IN THE CITY.
THEN AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY,
TREE TRACKING REMOVALS AND
REPLACEMENT AND REQUIRING ALL
TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO MEET
MEMBER REQUIREMENTS.
ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO POINT
OUT HERE IS WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT
THE RIGHT THRESHOLD IS AT THIS
POINT FOR DEFINING SIGNIFICANT
TREES IN THAT BUT WE ARE
EXPLORING A WIDE RANGE OF
OPTIONS RIGHT NOW.
MANY OF THESE TASKS DESCRIBED
HERE DO REQUIRE A GREAT DEAL OF
COMPLEXITY AND EXPLORATION AND
JUST THE FACT THAT THIS IS A
TREE, A LIVING THING IN AN
URBAN ENVIRONMENT --
>> CAN I ASK ONE QUESTION
REALLY QUICK?
>> ABSOLUTELY .
>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO TALKING
ABOUT THE EXPLORATION OF THE IN
LIEU FEE.
JUST A FLAG THAT AT THIS EARLY
STAGE WHILE WE ARE STILL
LOOKING INTO IT, JUST TO MAKE
SURE THAT EQUITY IS A BIG
CONSIDERATION FOR THE
DEPARTMENT IN EXPLORING IT IN
THE SENSE OF, AS WE ARE
REMOVING TREES, ONE THING I
WOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT IS IF
WE ARE REMOVING A WHOLE BUNCH
OF TREES FOR LIKE TOWNHOUSE
DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTH END OR
SOMEHING, IF DEVELOPERS ARE IN
LIEU OF PLACING THEM, SO WE ARE
SORT OF D4 STING ONE PART OF
THE CITY TO FORCE ANOTHER PART,
THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING I'M
CONCERNED ABOUT.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE
CONSIDERATIONS ARE SHAPING HOW
WE ARE EXPLORING IN WAYS WE
COULD INCORPORATE EQUITY LIKE
IN-KIND REPLACEMENT WITHIN THE
SAME NEIGHBORHOOD OR AT LEAST
MAKING SURE THAT SOME OF THE
REPLACEMENT REMAINS IN THE SAME
NEIGHBORHOOD .
>> COUNCIL MEMBER, ONE THING WE
ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS WORKING
WITH A UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
GRADUATE STUDENT ON HER THESIS
AND SHE IS DOING A THE IN LIEU
STUDY NATIONWIDE INCLUDING
WORLDWIDE OF OTHER
JURISDICTIONS THAT ARE USING
THE FEE IN LIEU SUCCESSFULLY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> YES.
SO THIS IS THE PROPOSED
SCHEDULE WHICH SHOWS, I
BELIEVE, SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS
ON TREE PROTECTION UPDATES THAT
HAVE ACCOMPLISHED VARIOUS
MILESTONES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AS YOU STATED PREVIOUSLY, THE
WORK DOES INCLUDE REPORTING
QUARTERLY.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE IN MARCH,
SCDI WILL BE COMPLETING THE
WORK ON EXCEPTIONAL TREE
DIRECTORS RULE AND WE ARE GOING
TO BE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE
TREE TRACKING EFFORTS . IN
APRIL AND MAY, WE WILL BE
DEVELOPING THE OUTREACH
MATERIALS AND IN MAY AND JUNE,
CONDUCTING PUBLIC OUTREACH.
AND SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, SCDI
EXPECTS TO BE AT THE POINT
WHERE WE CAN SUMMARIZE AND
RESPOND BACK TO THE PUBLIC
OUTREACH FEEDBACK, CONDUCT A
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS AND BE
PREPARED TO DRAFT TREE
PROTECTION UPDATES OR DRAFT
LEGISLATION AS WARRANTED
INCLUDING THE -- REVIEW.
AND THEN IN OCTOBER WE WILL BE
DRAFTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO
THE MAYOR WITH ISSUING A --
DECISION IN MAYER.
THE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO
THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL WOULD
OCCUR IN DECEMBER.
AS FAR AS BUDGET, -- YES?
>> I APPRECIATE THE SCHEDULE
AND I KNOW IN THE LAST ATTEMPT
TO PASS A TREE ORDINANCE, EVEN
BEFORE I WORKED ON IT SO
APOLOGIES TO ANYONE IN THE
CROWD WHO MAY HAVE MORE
DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT --
IT IS MY INFORMATION THAT A --
APPEARED APPEAL DID APPEAR AND
IT TOOK THAT OFF TRACK. IS THAT
CORRECT IN MY UNDERSTANDING?
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT YOUR
PROPOSED SCHEDULE WHICH I FIND
TO BE APPROPRIATELY AGGRESSIVE
IS DEPENDENT UPON THE FACT THAT
THERE IS NOT A -- APPEAL.
IS THAT A CORRECT
UNDERSTANDING?
>> IF THERE WERE A SEP A APPEAL
IT COULD STRETCH THE TIMELINE
FURTHER APPROXIMATELY ABOUT 6
MONTHS.
>> THIS WOULD TEND TO EMPHASIZE
THAT WE HAVE TALKED IN
COMMITTEE TODAY THAT THERE ARE
A NUMBER OF TREE ENHANCEMENTS
THAT CAN OCCUR THAT DON'T
NECESSARILY INCLUDE A TRENCH
ONE EVALUATION AS PART OF THE
RESOURCES BEING BROUGHT TO
BEAR.
THIS IS PRACTICE, UPDATES,
TECHNOLOGY UPDATES AND RULES
ARE EXAMPLES OF THOSE.
WE DO INTEND TO COME TO
COMMITTEE WITH PROGRESS REPORTS
ON VARIOUS STEPS LIKE THAT ON
THE WAY.
THANK YOU.
>> SO AS FAR AS THE BUDGET,
SCDI EXPECTS TO COMPLETE THE
TREE PROTECTION UPDATES USING
EXISTING STAFF RESOURCES FROM
CODE DEVELOPMENT, LAND-USE
SERVICES, ENGINEERING SERVICES
AND COLD -- CODE COMPLIANCE
WORKERS ON THE TECHNOLOGY WORK
FOR TREE TRACKING IS ALREADY IN
THE EXISTING I.T.
BUDGET .
>> GREAT AND IF YOU COULD
FOLLOW UP WITH ME AFTER THIS
COMMITTEE, WHETHER BACK OF THE
ENVELOPE OR DETAILED ANALYSIS
OF WHAT THAT REAL COST IS TO
YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR USING YOUR
EXISTING RESOURCES AND ALSO,
WHAT PROJECTIONS YOU MAY HAVE
BEYOND THIS FISCAL YEAR AS TO
WHAT FISCAL RESOURCES YOU WILL
NEED TO IMPLEMENT THIS WORK.
>> THANK YOU .
>> ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING IF
THERE IS A SEPA APPEAL THAT
THIS SCHEDULE WOULD TAKE
LONGER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE AN ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING
OF THE RESOURCES THAT ARE
NEEDED.
>> THANK YOU.
MAKE SURE.
PLEASE?
>> THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING
HERE TODAY.
I JUST WANTED TO SIGNIFY SOME
OF THE THINGS THAT WERE
IMPORTANT. A LOT OF THIS IS
EXACTLY WHAT WE HEARD TODAY AND
WHAT WE HAVE HEARD -- I HAVE
HEARD THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS
ON THIS.
PIGGYBACKING OFF OF WHAT
COUNCIL MEMBER LEWIS SAID,
VIEWING IT THROUGH THE RACE AND
SOCIAL JUSTICE LENS, THE HEAT
MAP WE WERE SHOWN TODAY SHOWS
HOW IMPORTANT THAT IS . THERE
ARE HEALTH BENEFITS FOR TREES
IN ADDITION TO CLIMATE BENEFITS
SO WE WANT THOSE TO BE IN THE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE
CURRENTLY LACKING TREES.
ALSO, I WANT TO FLAG A CONCERN
ABOUT THE IN LIEU FUND AS A
SOLUTION BECAUSE WHAT I HAVE
REALLY HEARD FROM PORTLAND IS
THAT THAT IS NOT A WORKING
SOLUTION FOR THEM AND CERTAINLY
IT IS ARGUABLE, WE COULD ARGUE
WHETHER IT IS WORKING FOR
MANDATORY HOUSING AFFORDABILITY
PROGRAM, TOO.
WE NEED TO HAVE THE FEES HIGH
ENOUGH SO THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING
TO TRY TO PRESERVE THE TREES
BECAUSE PRESERVING THE TREES IS
MORE IMPORTANT, I THINK, FOR
THE HEALTH BENEFITS AND THE
CLIMATE BENEFITS THAN PLANTING
SMALLER TREES. THE IDEA OF THE
24 HOUR HOTLINE THAT WE HEARD
TODAY, PROVIDING MORE NOTICE,
TWO WEEKS OF NOTICE, HAVING, I
THINK YOU ALREADY REFERENCED
HAVING ARBORISTS WHO ARE
ALLOWED TO CUT DOWN A TREE THAT
THEY ARE REGISTERED WITH THE
CITY. THEN HAVING -- I THINK WE
NEED TO TALK ABOUT AT A NEXT
MEETING PERHAPS, PUTTING MORE
EMPHASIS ON THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY ENVIRONMENT TO
OVERSEE THE ENFORCEMENT. THERE
WAS MENTION OF HAVING AN
INDEPENDENT FORSTER WHOSE JOB
AND MISSION IT IS TO PROTECT
TREES SO THEY HAVE AN EQUAL
VOICE AT THE TABLE WHEN
DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE AND
PLICIES BEING ENFORCED.
BECAUSE SCDI ALREADY HAS A LOT
TO CONSIDER IN THEIR SCOPE OF
WORK FOR HELPING MANAGE GROWTH
IN THE CITY SO I WOULD LIKE TO
SEE MORE EMPHASIS ON --
ENVIRONMENTAL EMPHASIS TO
ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE.
THEN THIS TIMELINE, AT FIRST
GLANCE, IT APPEARS TOO SLOW TO
ME. I THINK MAYBE I AM NOT
UNDERSTANDING -- THE FINAL
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MAYOR
AND COUNCIL, WHAT I WOULD BE
HOPING TO SEE IS AN ORDINANCE
THAT IS ACTUALLY DELIVERED WITH
THE COUNCIL BEFORE -- WILL BE
FOR THE END-OF-THE-YEAR.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET IT
BEFORE THE BUDGET BUT I JUST
WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT -- I
KNOW YOU ARE DOING
ADMINISTRATIVE WORK LIKE
DIRECTORS RULE WHICH IS HELPFUL
TO DO STUFF WHILE YOU CAN DO IT
BUT IN TERMS OF THE
LEGISLATION, I THINK IN THE
RESOLUTION, THAT WAS PASSED BY
THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL AND SO
FORTH, SAYING, PLEASE SEND US
AN ORDINANCE SO I AM HOPING WE
ARE GOING TO GET AN ORDINANCE
BY THE END-OF-THE-YEAR.
>> I UNDERSTAND YOUR INTEREST
IN THAT AND CERTAINLY, HAVE
LISTENED TO THE TESTIMONY AS
WELL SO WE WILL REPORT THAT
BACK TO THE DIRECTOR AND THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE AND TALK TO YOU
SOME MORE ABOUT THE SCHEDULE.
>> OKAY.
>> I APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS,
COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN BECAUSE
I SHARE A STRONG INTEREST IN
HAVING AS AGGRESSIVE OF AN
APPROACH AS POSSIBLE WITH THIS.
WHEN I LOOKED INTO THE TREE
ORDINANCE AND WE HAVE, I
BELIEVE, FOR THE PUBLIC COPY AS
WELL, THIS VOLUME 1 OF THE
RECOMMENDED DRAFT REPORT TO
THEIR CITY COUNCIL IN DECEMBER
2010 SETS OUT VERY SIMILAR
SETUP OF WHAT LSE AND SCDI HAVE
PRESENTED TO US AS FAR AS
PROJECT RAMP-UP, OUTREACH
MANUALS, TITLE CHANGES, HIRES
FOR A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS
SEEKING FUNDING AND SO I WILL
KIND OF WALK THROUGH WHAT
PORTLAND'S APPROACH WAS BECAUSE
THEIR APPROACH TOOK 9 YEARS.
AND WHAT SCDI AND OSC ARE
PREVENTING -- PRESENTING TO US
WOULD TAKE 1 YEAR SO I JUST
WANT TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE
THAT.
IT IS MY STRONG DESIRE TO HAVE
AS AGGRESSIVE OF A SCHEDULE AS
POSSIBLE AND SO FOR PORTLAND IN
FALL OF 2007 AND WINTER OF
2008, THEY HIRED ADDITIONAL
STAFF AS COMPARED TO USING
EXISTING STAFF TO BRING
TOGETHER ALL OF THEIR
DEPARTMENTS, CONDUCT CASE
STUDIES AND BEGIN COLLECTING
FEEDBACK AND SOME OF THAT WORK
HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE BECAUSE
IN SEATTLE, WE HAVE, AS WE HAVE
HEARD, SOME FOLKS HAVE BEEN
WORKING ON THIS FOR A DECADE,
SOME HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THIS
FOR TWO DECADES AND SO THERE IS
NOW A DIRECT ALIGNMENT OF OUR
TWO PROCESSES BECAUSE WE HAVE
SET DOUBLED HIS HAVE HAD SO
MANY COUNCIL MEMBERS START AND
STOP AND START AND STOP ON THIS
WORK.
WHAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH THE
PUBLIC IS THIS IS THIS IS THE
FIRST MEETING BEFORE THE LAND
USE & NEIGHBORHOODS SO REST
ASSURED IN FALL OF 2007, WE
BEGAN THIS WORK AND IN SPRING,
WE COMMITTED A DECISION GROUP,
MEMBERS REPRESENTED FROM
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS,
ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS,
BUILDERS, FORESTRY COMMISSION
AND COUNTY DRAINAGE DISTRICT
MEMBERS PROVIDED ADVICE BUT
WERE NOT EXPECTED TO GENERATE
CONSENSUS.
IN WINTER OF 2008, TO THE
WINTER OF 2010, THE WORK GROUP
SUMMARIZED KEY ISSUES AND
FEEDBACK, DRAFTED PROPOSED
RESOLUTION AND PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATIONS BASED ON
FEEDBACK RECEIVED SO AGAIN,
THAT IS A PERIOD OF 3 YEARS
THAT YOU ARE LOOKING TO
CONDENSE 10 YEARS OF FITS AND
STARTS WORK TO BE DONE IN A
YEAR SO AGAIN I'M TRYING TO
MIRROR AND COMPARE TWO
DIFFERENT PROCESSES FOR
PORTLAND AND WINTER OF 2010 TO
SPRING OF 2011, THERE WERE AT
LEAST PROPOSALS TO THE PUBLIC
HOSTED AT OPEN HOUSES.
THE URBAN FORESTRY AND PLANNING
COMMISSIONS HELPED HELD WORK
SESSIONS AND ENGAGE WITH THE
DIRECTORS OF DEPARTMENTS THAT
WOULD BE IMPACTED AND THE
LEGISLATION WAS REVISED TO
REFLECT THE FEEDBACK THAT HAD
BEEN RECEIVED.
THEN THE COUNCIL ADOPTED THEIR
TRUE REGULATIONS IN 2011 SOAP
FROM 2007 TWO TWO -- FROM 2007
TWO 2011 YOU ARE LOOKING TO
ACCOMPLISH IN 1 YOUR AND THEN
THE IMPLEMENTATION WAS SUPPOSED
TO OCCUR IN FEBRUARY 2013 AND
DUE TO BUDGET CONSTRAINTS WAS
PUSHED TO 2015 AND THAT IS WHY
I ASK, WHAT ARE THE RESOURCES
YOU NEED TO MOVE FORWARD SO
THAT I KNOW NOW SO THAT WE ARE
NOT CAUGHT FLAT FOOTED BECAUSE
IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING -- AND
AGAIN A QUESTION I WOULD LOVE
TO KNOW IS, LOOKING AT THIS
PAGE 6 ON THE VOLUME 1 THAT
THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THE FISCAL
YEAR 2010 TO FISCAL YEAR 2015
REPRESENTED IN THIS CHART. WHAT
OTHER STARTUP COSTS THAT WOULD
BE NEEDED TO GET THIS PROGRAM
RUNNING?
BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND THAT ONCE
THE PROGRAM IS RUNNING, THERE
WILL BE FEW RECOVERY THAT WE
WILL HAVE TO RELY ON TO OPERATE
THE PROGRAM AND IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR ME TO KNOW EARLY
ON HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE
REQUIRED TO GET THIS PROGRAM
STARTED SO THAT WE DON'T END UP
IN A SITUATION LIKE PORTLAND
WHERE THERE ARE THINGS THAT ARE
NOT WORKING AS WELL.
I THINK THAT THERE IS -- WE HAD
GREAT BENEFIT IN SEEING PORTLAND
NOW HAVING THEIR TREE ORDINANCE
AND LAMENTED FOR 5 YEARS TO
UNDERSTAND BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT
IT TAKES POLICY 4 YEARS TO
REALLY START WORKING THE WAY IT
WAS DESIGNED TO WORK AND SO WE
HAVE THAT BENEFIT TO SEE HOW
THEIR PROCESS DID AND DID NOT
WORK SO FOR ALL OF THESE
REASONS, WE ARE -- WE HAVE 10
TO 20 YEARS DEPENDING ON HOW
LONG YOU HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN
THIS PROCESS -- 4 TO 10 COUNCIL
MEMBERS I WOULD SAY WHO HAVE
TAKEN THIS UP, AN EFFORT WHERE
THIS IS THE SECOND COUNCIL
MEETING AND WE HAVE 4 STRAIGHT
YEARS AND -- COUNCIL MEMBER
LEWIS, CAN I ALLOW YOU TO THE
WISDOM TO WITH THE COUNCIL
MEMBERS TO GET THIS DONE?
>> SO 3 COUNCIL MEMBERS IS A
QUORUM ON THE COMMITTEE.
>> -- COMMISSION SO --
COMMISSION INVOLVED FOR 10 YEARS
SINCE IT WAS CREATED IN 2009.
>> EXACTLY SO I JUST WANT TO
TAKE THIS MOMENT TO SHARE THAT
A PROCESS THAT TOOK A DECADE IN
PORTLAND, YOU ARE LOOKING TO
ACCOMPLISH IN 1 YEAR.
SO I -- THAT, THAT IS A
SCHEDULE THAT I CAN GET BEHIND
AND I AGREE WITH YOU, COUNCIL
MEMBER PEDERSEN.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
ORDINANCE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE IT IS
GOOD POLICY.
THERE WAS A PUBLIC COMMENT
EARLIER REFERENCING POLICY THAT
WAS QUICKLY PASSED JUST THIS
YEAR AND THERE ARE MANY POLICY
IMPLICATIONS.
THERE ARE GOING TO BE A LOT OF
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES WITH
LEGISLATION THAT IS RUSHED AND
THAT IS WHY I AM VERY DEDICATED
TO SEE IT GO AS FAST AS
POSSIBLE AND DEVELOPED AS
PROPERLY AS POSSIBLE.
>> RIGHT AND SOMETHING THAT WE
DID NOT MENTION IS ACTUALLY
SCDI HAS BEEN WORKING WITH A
GROUP OF INTERNAL EXPERTS AND
ALSO MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS TO
GRAPPLE WITH ISSUES JOINTLY AND
TO HEAR THEIR POSITION AND KIND
OF CONTINUE THAT PARTNERSHIP AS
WELL.
>> GREAT .
>> GREAT, THANK YOU.
>> ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS?
SO I JUST WANTED, AGAIN, DO YOU
HAVE ANY FURTHER THOUGHTS ON
THIS PRESENTATION?
SO I WANT TO THANK ANYONE HERE,
SCOPE, SCHEDULE IS APPROPRIATE.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
NEXT QUARTERLY REPORT I WILL BE
WORKING TOGETHER THROUGHOUT --
BEFORE THEN, AND FOR THE
GENERAL PUBLIC AND FOR THE
RECORD, ONE OF MY FIRST
MEETINGS THAT I TOOK AS COUNCIL
MEMBER WAS MEETING WITH
ARBORISTS, VERY SKILLED
ARBORISTS WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT
-- WHERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES
AWARE.
BALLS MAYBE WITH THIS
LEGISLATION.
I UNDERSTAND THE PARAMETERS FOR
ME WHEN THE LEGISLATION IS ABLE
VENTED, IT NEEDS TO BE EASILY
UNDERSTAND FOR A LAYPERSON,
EASY TO COMPLY WITH, SO THAT
PEOPLE ARE COMPLYING, THE FEE
NEEDS TO BE LOW ENOUGH SO THAT
PEOPLE USE THE FEE AND IT NEEDS
TO BE HIGH ENOUGH TO COVER COST
-- FOR THE PROGRAM.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAY THE
TREES THAT WE HAVE AND CREATE
THE DENSITY WE MEET NEED THAT
MAY MEET KNEE MEAN WE PROVIDE
EXTRA HEIGHT FOR AN AREA TO
ENSURE THERE IS ENOUGH SOIL AND
PLACES FOR TREES TO PROPERLY
GROW AND WE ABSOLUTELY MUST
RETREAT HISTORICALLY
MARGINALIZED AND LOW INCOME
COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE SEE
HEALTH BENEFITS TIED TO THESE
TREES.
WE SEE INDUSTRIAL AREAS AND
INDUSTRIAL AND ADJACENT
INDUSTRIAL AREAS WITH
HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED
COMMUNITIES ARE LIVING AS
COMPARED TO THE RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE
HISTORICALLY LARGE AMOUNTS OF
TREES THAT ARE NOT NEAR THE
MANUFACTURING AND PRODUCTION
THAT EVERYONE USES SO WE NEED
TO MAKE SURE THIS IS AN
EQUITABLE APPROACH. GROWING UP
IN THE CITY, I REMEMBER THE
EFFORTS SUCH AS RETRIEVE BALLOT
AND ONCE PREVIOUS TO THAT SO I
AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
RETRIEVING OUR CITY.
>> THANK YOU .
>> IF THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER
-- ANYTHING I CAN HELP YOU
WITH?
>> NO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO
CONTINUING WORK WITH YOU IN
STRENGTHENING OUR TREE
PROTECTIONS.
YOUR PROJECT PRESENTATION WAS
VERY WELL DONE AND I APPRECIATE
ALL THE WORK YOU DID SO QUICKLY
TO GET THIS DONE FOR THE FIRST
COMMITTEE HEARING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER BUSINESS?
GREAT.
THIS CONCLUDES OUR FEBRUARY --
MEETING OF THE LAND USE &
NEIGHBORHOODS COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED
COMMITTEE MEETING WILL BE ON
FAVRE 26 STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
HERE IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING AND WE
ARE ADJOURNED.