>> IT IS 2:00 P.M.
I AM DAN STRAUSS.
CAN CLERK LEASE CALL THE ROLE?
>> PETERSON.
>> PRESENT.
>> COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA.
>> PRESENT.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> PRESENT.
>> THREE PRESENT.
>> AS MORE COUNCILMEMBERS
ATTEND I WILL LET FOLKS KNOW.
WE HAVE THREE ITEMS ON THE
AGENDA TODAY.
-- ALLOWS FOR TRANSFERABLE
RIGHTS AND NEIGHBORHOOD
COMMERCIALS ON THE FIRST BILL.
WE HAVE A BRIEFING DISCUSSION
ON COUNSEL BILL 120-265.
WHICH EXTENDS LEGISLATION FOR
SIX MONTHS.
AND A QUARTERLY REPORT FROM S
DCI.
I WILL BE THE PRESENTER, AS
FREEMAN IS ON LEAVE AT THE
MOMENT.
YOU WILL HAVE TO BEAR WITH ME.
WE ARE NOT VOTING ON THE BILL
TODAY.
I SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER NELSON
HAS JOINED THE MEETING.
WE ARE DOING THE INITIAL
BRIEFING TODAY FOR BRINGING
BUSINESS HOME BECAUSE I WILL
NEED, IN THE FUTURE, ASKING TO
SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD THE
BILL VOTED ON THE SAME DAY
THERE IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE AS MUCH
INFORMATION IS PRESENTED AS
POSSIBLE.
WE ALSO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY J. MORALES JOINING US
NOW.
I JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT
FOR YOU.
I WILL BE YOUR PRESENTER AND WE
WILL HAVE MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO
TALK ABOUT THIS.
BEFORE WE BEGIN, IF THERE IS NO
OBJECTION, I'M HEARING NO
OBJECTION.
THE AGENDA IS ADOPTED.
A COUPLE OF ITEMS OF
HOUSEKEEPING BEFORE WE GET
UNDERWAY.
FIRST, UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE
IS A PROCLAMATION NEXT WEEK FOR
AIDS AND HIV AWARENESS DAY.
I WANT TO STRESS MY SUPPORT FOR
THIS.
SHE HAS BEEN A LONGTIME MEMBER
OF THIS COMMITTEE AND IS NO
LONGER, UNFORTUNATELY.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE THIS MOMENT
TO EXPRESS MY SUPPORT.
ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS?
COUNCILMEMBER TERESA MOSQUEDA.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH . I ECHO
YOUR SUPPORT FOR THIS.
IF I MIGHT BE ABLE TO USE THIS
PUBLIC FORUM TO DISCUSS MY
OFFICIAL DESIRE TO BE ADDED TO
THAT PROCLAMATION NEXT MONDAY.
I AM ASSUMING THAT THE COUNCIL
PRESIDENT WILL CALL FOR A ROLL
ON THAT.
I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS HERE,
SINCE I WILL BE ABSENT ON
MONDAY AND TUESDAY AT THE
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES.
I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN THOSE MEETINGS.
ASK FOR BRINGING THAT UP AND I
WOULD LIKE TO USE THIS PUBLIC
FORUM TO DESIRE -- THAT
PROCLAMATION.
>> WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA.
THE CLERKS ARE LISTENING.
IT IS NOT LISTED AT THE TIME.
ANY OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS?
I SEE NONE.
>> TERESA MOSQUEDA, IF YOU
WOULDN'T MIND REQUESTING A
SIGNATURE TO THAT PROCLAMATION
WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO DO THAT
FOR YOU ON MONDAY.
>> MR. CHAIR I WOULD LIKE TO
REQUEST THE CLERKS FIX MY
SIGNATURE TO THE PROCLAMATION
THAT WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD
NEXT WEEK ON MONDAY ON BEHALF
OF COUNCILMEMBER JUAREZ IN
SUPPORTING THE EFFORT AROUND
HIV AND AIDS CARE AND SUPPORT.
>> ANOTHER ITEM FOR
HOUSEKEEPING, WHICH IS SAD
NEWS.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT
DURING MY CHAIR REPORT TO
RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTION.
I BROUGHT THIS UP LAST WEEK.
TAKE THIS MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE
VINCENT SCOTT, A BELOVED
EMPLOYEE.
HE PASSED AWAY LAST SUNDAY.
HE PASSED AWAY FEBRUARY 27th.
ALWAYS A GENTLEMAN.
HE WAS A STRONG SOUL AND WILL
BE DEARLY MISSED.
HE WORKED IN THE DEPARTMENT
SINCE 2013 AND IS SURVIVED BY
HIS WIFE AND FIVE CHILDREN.
I'M GOING TO TAKE A MOMENT OF
SILENCE.
THANK YOU.
AT THIS TIME WE WILL MOVE TO
PUBLIC COMMENT AND OPEN FOR
TODAY'S AGENDA.
I ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE BE
PATIENT AS WE LEARN TO OPERATE
THIS NEW SYSTEM IN REAL TIME.
PUBLIC COMMENT IS LIMITED TO
ITEMS ON TODAY'S AGENDA.
WHILE IT REMAINS OUR STRONG
INTEND TO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS
REGULARLY INCLUDED, THE CITY
COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
END THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS
AT ANY TIME WE DEEM THE SYSTEM
IS BEING ABUSED OR UNSUITABLE
AND FAILS TO BE CONDUCTED IN A
MANNER IN WHICH WE CAN MODERATE
BUSINESS.
I SEE THAT WE HAVE NINE PEOPLE
SIGNED UP.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD FOR
THIS IS UP TO 20 MINUTES.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE GIVEN TWO
MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I WILL CALL ON EACH SPEAKER BY
NAME AND IN THE ORDER IN WHICH
THEY REGISTERED ON THE
COUNCIL'S WEBSITE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT REGISTERED TO
SPEAK AND WOULD LIKE TO YOU CAN
SIGN UP ON THE COUNCIL WEBSITE.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINK IS ALSO
LISTED ON THE AGENDA.
ONCE I CALL YOUR NAME YOU WILL
HAVE AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT AND BE
UNNEEDED.
PLEASE BEGIN SPEAKING BY
STATING YOUR NAME AND THE ITEMS
WHICH YOU ARE ADDRESSING.
ONCE THE SPEAKER HERE'S THE
CHIME WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE
WRAP UP YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IF THE SPEAKERS DO NOT AND
THEIR COMMENTS AT THE END OF
THE ALLOTTED TIME THE SPEAKERS
MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED TO
CALL ON THE NEXT SPEAKER.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE
DISCONNECT FROM THE LINE AND IF
YOU WANT TO CONTINUE FOLLOWING,
PLEASE DO SO VIA THE CHANNEL OR
THE LISTING OPTIONS LISTED ON
TODAY'S AGENDA.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW OPEN
AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKER ON OUR LIST.
I'M GOING TO RUN THROUGH THE
WHOLE LIST RIGHT NOW AND LET
YOU KNOW WHO IS NOT PRESENT.
MICHAEL OXMAN AND DAVID HAYNES
ARE NOT PRESENT AT THIS TIME.
SUSAN GRANT, JUST GOOD DIXON,
SUZANNE, YOU ARE ALSO NOT
PRESENT.
PLEASE DO REMEMBER YOU WILL
HAVE RECEIVED THE CORRECT PHONE
NUMBER TO CALL INTO FROM THE
REGISTRATION.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO I WOULD
LIKE TO WELCOME MICHAEL.
MICHAEL, YOU ARE OFF MUTE.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS.
I HAVE SEVEN THOUGHTS ON THE
ORDINANCE PRESENTED BY SDCI.
I NUMBERED THEM SO YOU CAN
EASILY SEPARATE THESE ISSUES
OUT.
NUMBER ONE, THIS DRAFT REMOVES
SOME PROTECTIONS.
CONTRARY TO THE URBAN FOREST
MANAGEMENT PLAN.
IT REMOVES THE RIGHT OF
CITIZENS TO APPEAL TYPE I TREE
REMOVAL ACTIONS IN SOME CASES.
ITEM NUMBER TWO, COUNCIL
RESOLUTION 31902.
IT'S LARGELY CONGRUENT WITH
RECOMMENDATIONS BY THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION.
SOME OF WHICH ARE MISSING FROM
THIS PROPOSAL.
THREE.
THE SURVEY IS NOT AN ADEQUATE
BASIS FOR MANAGEMENT DECISIONS.
IT REQUIRES GROUND PROOFING
WITH A NATIONAL CAPITAL
ASSESSMENT --
>> THERE IS NO CORRECTIVE
ACTION FOR INEQUITY ISSUES THAT
APPEAR IN THIS DRAFT, PRE-
ORDINANCE.
THOSE ARE A LAUNDRY LIST.
I ALREADY SENT THE COUNCIL A
LETTER AND I DON'T KNOW HOW
MUCH TIME I HAVE BUT THERE IT
GOES.
PLEASE CARRY ON AND I RESPECT
ANY DECISION YOU MAKE.
>> THANK YOU.
DAVID HAYNES, YOU ARE NOT
PRESENT.
I DO SEE THAT SUZANNE HAS
BECOME PRESENT.
THANK YOU.
UP NEXT IS RUTH WILLIAMS.
I SEE THAT YOU ARE OFF MUTE.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
HE MAY BE ON MUTE ON YOUR PHONE.
YOU WENT BACK ON MUTE.
YOU ARE OFF MUTE NOW.
ARE YOU ON MUTE ON YOUR PHONE?
CHECK YOUR TOUCHSCREEN.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> WE CAN.
TAKE IT AWAY.
WELCOME.
>> YOU CAN HEAR ME.
OKAY.
THANK YOU.
SORRY.
I'VE NEVER TRIED TO DO THIS
BEFORE.
HELLO.
YES.
I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
THORTON CREEK ALLIANCE.
I WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF
COMMENTS.
WE WILL BE SENDING IN A LETTER.
THERE IS A MAJOR SHORTFALL WITH
THE PROTECTION CODE.
THE 2020 URBAN FORESTRY
MANAGEMENT PLAN, UNDER KEY
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS,
RECOMMENDS CANOPY ACTIVITY.
URBAN FORESTS CONTAIN A
SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF
CONTINUOUS HABITAT FOR VARIOUS
TYPES OF WILDLIFE.
SEATTLE HAS WILDLIFE IN
CORRIDORS ALL OVER TOWN.
BUT THERE IS NO SUPPORT FOR
THIS IN THE PROPOSED CODE.
METRICS.
THE SAME MANAGEMENT PLAN
IDENTIFIES FUNDING FOR CITYWIDE
PRE-SURVEYS ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY.
YET ACCORDING TO THE 2016
CANOPY COVER STUDY, 72%, THAT'S
ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF OUR
CANOPY COVERAGE, IS IN PRIVATE
YARDS.
FUNDING FOR A COMPLETE SURVEY
IS NEEDED IF WE ARE EVER TO
HAVE EXCELLENT TRACKING ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT WE SEE
TODAY.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK AND A BIG THANKS FOR
SUPPORTING OUR CITIES NEED FOR
HEALTHY AND FUNCTIONAL TREE
CANOPIES.
>> THANK YOU, RUTH.
UP NEXT IS SANDY SCHELLER.
WELCOME.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT THE
SDCI GRASS ORDINANCE DOESN'T
CREATE A SEPARATE URBAN
FORESTRY DIVISION OR EVEN
PROPOSE HIRING EXPERTS IN
URBAN FORESTRY.
THIS DRAFT AFFECTS THE FUTURE
OF ALL OF SEATTLE'S TREES YET
SDCI HAS ONLY TWO EXHAUSTIVE
-- ON STAFF.
AND NO URBAN FORESTRY EXPERTS.
THE CITY SHOULD CREATE A
SEPARATE INDEPENDENT DEPARTMENT
OF CLIMATE AND HIGHER
PRFESSIONAL URBAN FORESTERS.
THIS IS WHAT MANY OTHER CITIES
DO.
ONLY THEN CAN WE ENSURE THAT
OUR BEAUTIFUL TREES WILL BE
ENJOYED BY FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
BYE-BYE.
>> THANK YOU, SANDY.
ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU.
UP NEXT IS SUZANNE GRANT
FOLLOWED BY JESSICA DIXON.
SUZANNE, WELCOME.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HELLO DAN STRAUSS.
I HOPE YOU'RE DOING WELL.
I HOPE YOU HAVE BEEN ENJOYING
THINGS.
I'M WORRIED THAT WE ARE GOING
TO LOSE MORE OF OUR
EXCEPTIONAL, SIGNIFICANT TREES.
IN THIS NEW ORDINANCE WE NEED
TO KEEP THE ONES THAT ARE SIX
INCHES TO 12 INCHES IN DIAMETER
ON PROPOSAL SITE PLANS.
UNDER THIS PROPOSAL ONLY TREES
12 INCHES AND LARGER WOULD BE
ON THE SIZE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.
THE CURRENT REQUIREMENT IS THAT
SITE PLANS HAVE TO SHOW ALL
TREES, SIX INCHES AND LARGER.
THE REPORT DONE IN 2012 STATES
THAT WITHIN A SINGLE FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL UNIT, 18% OF THE
URBAN FORESTRY TREES ARE OVER
12 INCHES IN DIAMETER.
55% ARE LESS THAN SIX INCHES ON
AVERAGE.
46% OF THE TREES WILL BE LARGE
AT MATURATION, CURRENTLY WITH A
TRUNK DIAMETER LESS THAN 12
INCHES.
45% OF SEATTLE'S TREES IN THE
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONE ARE OVER SIX
INCHES.
-- WILL ONLY INCLUDE THOSE 12
AND LARGER.
ONLY ABOUT 18% OF THE TREES ON
SINGLE-FAMILY SITES WOULD BE
NOTED ON THE SITE PLAN.
I'M SURE YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS
A HOLE IN THE SKY WHERE THE
TREE ONCE WAS.
A PICTURE OF SOME HUGE ELDER
TREES THAT WERE TAKEN DOWN.
YOU CAN SEE THEM.
THERE IS A WONDERFUL PICTURE
GOING AROUND OF THESE TREES.
NOT WONDERFUL, IT'S TRAGIC.
I KNOW YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING
ON.
ALEX, YOU ARE THERE.
ALL OF YOU WHO CARE ABOUT
TREES, I JUST HOPE THAT YOU
WILL TAKE ACTION AND MAKE THIS
TAMMY J. MORALES THING THAT WE
HAVE BEEN VOTING FOR.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, SUZANNE.
IT'S GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU.
NEXT IS JESSICA DIXON FOLLOWED
BY JUNE.
IF YOU ARE LISTENING AND WANT
TO PROVIDE A FULL COMMENT, NOW
IS THE TIME TO REGISTER.
JESSICA, WELCOME.
I SEE YOU PRESENT.
IF YOU WANT TO PRESS STAR SIX.
IT WILL BRING YOU OFF OF MUTE.
JESSICA, ONE MORE TIME.
PRESS STAR AND SIX.
THERE YOU ARE.
>> THAT SHOULD DO IT.
WELCOME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US
HERE TODAY.
I WANT TO URGE THE COUNCIL, AS
THEY ARE REVIEWING THE DRAFT,
TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT SYSTEM
FOR THE REMOVAL OF ALL TREES
OVER SIX INCHES AT DSH.
MISSING FROM THE LEGISLATION IS
THE EXPANSION OF THE PERMIT
SYSTEM FOR THE REMOVAL OF TREES
ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND IT HAS
BEEN MENTIONED THAT 72% OF OUR
TREE COUNT IS ON PRIVATE LOTS.
THE ORDINANCE DOES NOT REQUIRE
HOMEOWNERS TO OBTAIN A PERMIT
FOR THE REMOVAL OF TREES.
THESE ARE 6 TO 24 INCH,
DEFENDING ON THE DEFINITION OF
EXCEPTIONAL.
THEY CAN REMOVE UP TO THREE
EXCEPTIONAL TREES PER YEAR
WITHOUT A PERMIT.
THE PERMIT REMOVAL SYSTEM
ACCOMPLISHES SEVERAL THINGS.
IT ALLOWS THE CITY TO
ACCURATELY TRACK TREE REMOVAL.
IT ALLOWS THE CITY TO MANAGE
REPLACEMENT OF LOST TREE
CANOPY.
IT PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO
ENGAGE WITH PROPERTY OWNERS
ABOUT THE VALUE OF TREES.
AND POTENTIALLY PROTECT
WILDLIFE.
PERMITTING FOR TREE REMOVAL AND
PROVIDING A LINK AT THE BOTTOM
OF THE PERMIT WITH A MESSAGE
THAT TREE REMOVAL CAN IMPACT
WILDLIFE AND MIGRATORY BIRDS.
THE CURRENT PROPOSAL CALLS FOR
VOLUNTARY REPORTING OF TREE
REMOVAL FOR SIGNIFICANT TREES.
WE THINK THAT THIS WILL LEAD TO
TREE LOSS THAT WILL GO
UNTRACKED AND MOST LIKELY NOT
BE REPLACED ELSEWHERE ON THE
SITE OR IN THE CITY.
IT ALSO CONTINUES THE PRACTICE
OF AVERAGE CITIZENS HAVING TO
POLICE TREE REGULATION, WHICH
IS NOT SUFFICIENT AND CAN BE
DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS.
IN FACT WHEN THE EQUITY TOOLKIT
WAS APPLIED TO THE URBAN FOREST
MANAGEMENT PLAN, A SURVEY
SHOWED THAT SELF AND RESIDENCE
PREFER NOT TO RELY ON THE
SYSTEM.
--
>> THANK YOU, JESSICA, FOR YOUR
COMMENTS.
IF THERE IS ANYTHING FURTHER
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND THEM
TO MY OFFICE.
NEXT UP WE HAVE JUNE BLUE
SPRUCE.
JUNE, I SEE YOU ARE PRESENT.
PRESS STAR AND SIX.
DAVID, YOU ARE NOT PRESENT.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK NOW
IS THE TIME TO CALL IN.
JUNE, YOU ARE OFF MUTE.
>> CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN.
>> HELLO?
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN.
CAN YOU HEAR US?
>> YES.
SORRY.
I JUST WANT TO AGREE WITH
EVERYTHING EVERYBODY HAS SAID.
I WON'T WASTE TIME REPEATING
THINGS.
THE MOST EGREGIOUS PROBLEM WITH
THE DRAFT IS THAT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF IT WOULD NOW
FALL UNDER MASTER USE PERMIT
ONE.
THAT MEANS THE SDCI REGARDING
TREES DURING DEVELOPMENT WOULD
NO LONGER BE APPEALABLE FOR
THE HEARING EXAMINER AND THIS
IS UNACCEPTABLE.
PHYSICAL REPLACEMENT FOR TREES
ON SITE IS ONLY ONE FOR ONE.
I URGE THAT REPLACEMENT
REQUIREMENTS STATE THAT WE
PROVIDE EQUIVALENT CANOPY
WITHIN 20 TO 25 YEARS.
OTHERWISE AN 80-YEAR-OLD TREE
MIGHT TAKE 80 YEARS TO PROVIDE
EQUIVALENT CANOPY PROTECTION.
WE CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG WITH
GLOBAL WARMING HEATING UP OUR
URBAN CLIMATES.
I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT
ISSUE, THE DIAMETER OF THE
TREES THAT CAN BE REMOVED.
IT HAS BEEN INCREASED.
IT'S THREE TREES PER YEAR FOR
HOMEOWNER TO REMOVE, THAT'S TOO
MANY.
EVEN IF IT'S 12 INCHES OR
GREATER.
I WANTED TO SAY THAT GIVEN THE
CITIES ECONOMIC AND RACIAL
EQUITY -- IS CHANGING THE
ZONING LAWS.
IT'S A GREAT THING TO DO.
BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT WILL
INCREASE PRESSURE AS WE
INCREASE DENSITY AND WHAT HAS
BEEN SINGLE-FAMILY ZONED AREAS.
IT'S GOING TO BE MORE AND MORE
INCENTIVE TO REMOVE TREES.
CREATIVE DESIGN CAN PREVENT
THAT.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A STRONGER
ORDINANCE TO DETAIL.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, JUNE.
UP NEXT AND LAST, STEVE.
DAVID, YOU'RE STILL NOT
PRESENT.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK THEN
PLEASE CALL IN NOW.
STEVE, WELCOME.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M SPEAKING FOR THE COALITION
OF THE STRONGER TREE ORDINANCE.
THIS ORDINANCE IS A COMPLEX
MEASURE OF 13 YEARS OF TRYING
TO GET AN UPDATE TO THE
ORDINANCE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PROVISIONS
THAT WE DO SUPPORT.
INCLUDING IMPLEMENTING -- DOWN
TO 24 INCHES AS THE UPPER
THRESHOLD INSTEAD OF 30 INCHES.
THERE ARE A LOT OF PROVISIONS
THAT CREATE CONCERNS THAT WE
URGE YOU TO LOOK AT.
ONE IS THAT THE REPLACEMENT --
SDCI GENERAL FUNDS.
AND PRESERVATION FUNDS.
LIKE PORTLAND OREGON.
THEY NEED TO GO INTO USE FOR
WHAT THEY ARE BEING RAISED FOR,
WHICH IS TO REPLACE TREES THAT
WERE REMOVED.
THE DRAFT NEEDS TO ALSO
COORDINATE IN TERMS OF THE TREE
DEFINITIONS.
THERE IS A DIFFERENT DEFINITION
BEING PROPOSED.
FOR CONSISTENCY FOR US AND
OTHERS WORKING IN THE CITY THEY
OBVIOUSLY NEED TO HAVE THE SAME
DEFINITION.
NOT DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS,
DEPENDING ON WHICH ZONE THEY
WORK ON IN THE CITY.
THE DRAFT ORDINANCE,
SURPRISINGLY, DOES NOT PUT IN
THE ISSUE OF MAXIMIZING THE
RETENTION OF EXISTING TREES ON
A LOT.
THIS IS WHAT AUSTIN TEXAS DOES.
ACTUALLY IN THE DRAFTING, WHEN
THERE IS SHORT PLANNING GOING
ON, AND THE INITIAL PROCESS,
THAT LANGUAGE IS IN THE
LANDSCAPE AROUND THE LAND-USE
SECTION.
IT SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH THE
WHOLE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE SDCI STAFF
WILL HAVE THE LEGAL AUTHORITY
TO ENTER PROPERTY IF A
VIOLATION IS OCCURRING . THIS
BECOMES AN ISSUE FREQUENTLY
WHEN HE WE HAVE A POINT RAISED
THAT SDCI SAYS WE CAN'T ENTER
THE PROPERTY.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE.
IF YOU HAVE MORE COMMENTS FOR
THE OFFICIAL RECORD, PLEASE
SEND THEM TO MY OFFICE.
I'M DOING ONE LAST CHECK.
CAN YOU CONFIRM THERE ARE NO
MORE PUBLIC REGISTRANTS
CURRENTLY PRESENT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
THERE ARE NO FURTHER PUBLIC
COMMENT REGISTRANTS.
>> SEEING AS WE HAVE NO
ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS WE WILL
MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA
ITEM.
BEFORE I DO SO I WILL JUST TAKE
A MOMENT, BECAUSE WE HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENTERS STILL
LISTENING, TWO ITEMS ABOUT
TREES.
WESTON BRINKLEY, A LONGTIME
CHAIR FOR THE FOREST
COMMISSION.
HE IS ATTENDING HIS LAST
MEETING TODAY.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO
RECOGNIZE HIS GREAT WORK.
I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR
TAKING SO MANY OF MY CALLS OVER
THE LAST FEW YEARS.
YOUR WORK HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS
FOR OUR CITY.
I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU FOR
YOUR SERVICE.
WITH THAT SAID, IN MY LAST
NEWSLETTER, I USED LANGUAGE
THAT CONFLATED MANY OF THE
ASPECTS OF THE TREE ORDINANCE.
I AM COSPONSORING COUNCILMAN
ALEX PEDERSON'S BILL.
MY APOLOGIES FOR ANYONE WHO SAW
THAT STATEMENT AND WAS
CONFUSED.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING
FORWARD THAT REPORT TODAY.
OUR FIRST AGENDA ITEM IS
COUNSEL BILL 266 WHICH EXPANDS
THE TRANSFERABLE RIGHTS.
WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE
ABBREVIATED TITLE INTO THE
RECORD?
>> ITEM 1. COUNSEL BILL 120266.
ORDINANCE RELATING TO LAND USE
AND ZONING.
ALLOWING FOR THE TRANSFER OF
DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSFER RIGHTS
IN THE NC3-200 AND NC3P-200
ZONES.
>> THANK YOU.
WE ARE JOINED FOR THIS BRIEFING
BY THE COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF.
CAN YOU PROVIDE A BRIEF
REFRESHER ON THE LEGISLATION
THAT WE HAVE?
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO PICK LET ME
PULL UP THE PRESENTATION WE SAW
LAST MEETING.
CAN YOU SEE THAT?
>> YES WE CAN.
>> THIS BILL.
IT ALLOWS LAND-USE CODE TO
TRANSFER DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
FROM COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES AND
TRANSFER THE DEVELOPMENT FROM
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES FROM
SITES THAT INCLUDE LANDMARKS IN
THENEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL
THREE ZONE WITH THE 200 FOOT
HEIGHT LIMIT, WHICH ONLY EXISTS
ON FIRST HILL.
JUST AS A REMINDER THE NC3-200
ZONE EXTENDS BASICALLY FROM I-
FIVE TO BROADWAY ALONG MADISON
AVENUE WITH BREAKS FOR VIRGINIA
MASON AND THE SWEDISH
INSTITUTIONS.
>> CAN YOU CYCLE TO THE NEXT
SLIDE?
>> I WAS HAVING THAT PROBLEM
EARLIER.
LET ME TRY ONCE MORE.
GREAT.
THE NC3-200 ZONE EXTENDS ALONG
MADISON AVENUE.
BASICALLY FROM BROADWAY TO I-
FIVE.
SITES IN THIS ZONE WILL BE
PERMITTED TO TRANSFER THEIR
POTENTIAL OR WRITES TO ANOTHER
SITE ON THE SAME BLOCK.
WITHIN THE NC3-200 ZONE.
THOSE SITES WOULD THEN BE
ALLOWED TO EXCEED THE HEIGHT
AND LIMITS OF THE CODE UP TO
THE AMOUNT TRANSFERRED, UP TO
350 FEET.
WITH A LIMIT ON THE TOTAL OF
SQUARE FOOTAGE OF FLOOR AREA
THAT COULD BE USED ON SITE.
THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW AREAS IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL
ZONES WHERE A TRANSFER OF
DEVELOPMENT RIGHT PROGRAMS
WOULD BE ALLOWED.
ALONG WITH THE UNIVERSITY
DISTRICT.
THAT IS A SHORT SUMMARY OF THE
PROPOSAL.
YOU HAD A BRIEFING A COUPLE OF
WEEKS AGO.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY
QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
I DON'T BELIEVE I HAVE ANY
FURTHER QUESTIONS, MOSTLY
BECAUSE WE HAVE THE PREMEETING.
THE LAST BRIEFING.
WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSIONS SINCE
THEN.
COLLEAGUES, I WANTED TO TAKE
THIS TIME TO CHECK AND SEE IF
YOU HAVE QUESTIONS.
I AM SEEING NO QUESTIONS.
GREAT.
THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS.
BEFORE WE VOTE ON THIS
LEGISLATION I WILL MOVE TO
RECOMMEND PASSAGE OF COUNSEL
BILL 12066.
IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE?
>> ALEX PEDERSON.
>> YES.
>> SARA NELSON.
>> YES.
>> COUNCIL MEMBER TERESA
MOSQUEDA.
>> AYE.
>> CHAIR STRAUSS.
>> YES.
>> FIVE IN FAVOR.
>> THE MOTION CARRIES.
COUNSEL BILL 120266 CARRIES.
THANK YOU ALL.
THIS LEGISLATION WILL BE AT
FULL COUNCIL ON TUESDAY FOR A
FINAL VOTE.
THE NEXT ITEM, I GET TO GO BACK
TO MY ZONE.
THE NEXT ITEM IS 120265 WHICH
EXTENDS -- BY AN ADDITIONAL
MONTH.
PLEASE READ THE ABBREVIATED
TITLE INTO THE RECORD.
>> ORDINANCE FOR LAND-USE,
EXTENDING FOR SIX MONTHS IN
DEVELOPMENT CONTROLS
ESTABLISHED BY ORDINANCE
126293.
>> THIS CENTRAL STAFFER THAT IS
COVERING THIS LEGISLATION IS ON
A DESERVED VACATION THIS WEEK
SO I'M GOING TO TAKE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A SUMMARY
OF LEGISLATION WE PASSED LAST
YEAR TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS
YOU MAY HAVE.
I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE
HAVE THIS BILL BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE NOW SO THAT WE ARE
ABLE TO MOVE WITH URGENCY AFTER
THE PUBLIC HEARING AND BECAUSE
I KNOW VICE CHAIR TAMMY J.
MORALES IS NEW TO THE
COMMITTEE.
WE WANT TO ANSWER ALL THE
QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT
THE LEGISLATION.
THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE
LEGISLATION WE PASSED LAST
YEAR.
AND THE LEGISLATION WILL BE
BACK BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON
MARCH 23rd FOR A PUBLIC HEARING
AND ADDITIONAL BRIEFING.
AT THAT TIME WE WILL BE JOINED
BY THE CENTRAL STAFF AS WELL.
IN CASE YOU WANT TO ASK A
NONPARTISAN STAFF, THAT WILL BE
AVAILABLE NEXT TIME.
120265 WILL EXTEND THE
PROVISION TO BRING BUSINESS
HOME ON AN ADDITIONAL SIX
MONTHS TO ALLOW DEPARTMENTS TO
MAKE FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
A PERMANENT REGULATION.
AS WAS REQUESTED IN THE INITIAL
LEGISLATION.
TODAY I'M GOING TO USE THE
STAFF PRESENTATION FROM LAST
YEAR TO DESCRIBE PROVISIONS
THAT WOULD BE EXTENDED.
THERE ARE ASPECTS OF LAST
YEAR'S POWERPOINT THAT ARE NOT
APPLICABLE.
I WILL HIGHLIGHT THOSE
VERBALLY.
WE ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON TWO
SLIDES OF WHAT IT WOULD DO AND
THE CHANGES THEY WOULD MAKE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PULL THOSE
SLIDES UP.
HERE IT IS.
IF YOU COULD MOVE TO THE NEXT
SLIDE.
THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE HERE, I
WILL QUICKLY SIT ON THIS, TO
ALLOW FLEXIBILITY DURING THE
PANDEMIC FOR HOME-BASED
BUSINESSES TO HAVE CERTAIN
FLEXIBILITIES WITHIN A LAND-USE
CODE.
ALL HOME-BASED BUSINESSES ARE
STILL UNDER THE REGULATIONS OF
ANY OTHER REGULATORY BODY THEY
MAY HAVE.
WHETHER IT'S DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF CANNABIS,
ANYTHING THAT A BUSINESS WOULD
OTHERWISE BE REGULATED BY STILL
REMAINS.
WHAT WE SAW WAS PEOPLE USING
THEIR GARAGES FOR HOME-BASED
BUSINESSES AND THEN ADDING
VIBRANCY TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WHILE IT WAS IN PLACE.
THERE WE ARE.
ANY QUESTIONS HERE?
I'M SEEING NONE.
NEXT SLIDE.
HOW DOES LAND-USE CODE REGULATE
HOME OCCUPATION?
THIS IS OUR PRIMER.
THE NEXT SLIDE.
HOME OCCUPATIONS ARE CURRENTLY
ALLOWED AS RESIDENTIAL'S USE
FOR ALL ZONES.
-- WHEN YOU HAVE A HOME-BASED
BUSINESS, BASED OUT OF YOUR
HOME, THERE ARE LIMITS ON THE
NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
DELIVERIES AND PICKUPS.
THERE HAS BEEN A LIMIT TO
APPOINTMENT ONLY CUSTOMER
VISITS.
SO NO WALK UPS.
EVERYTHING HAS TO BE
PRESCHEDULED.
THE RESIDENTIAL APPEARANCE MUST
BE MAINTAINED.
NO MORE THAN TWO NONRESIDENTS
MAY WORK AT THE HOME
OCCUPATION.
THE HOME OCCUPATION CANNOT
SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE TRAFFIC
AND ON-SCREEN PARKING IN THE
VICINITY.
SIGNS IDENTIFYING THE BUSINESS
CANNOT EXCEED 64 SQUARE INCHES
IN SIZE.
HOWEVER THERE IS NO LIMIT ON
HOW MANY SIGNS YOU MAY HAVE.
OUTDOOR STORAGE CANNOT BE
ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOME
OCCUPATIONS.
THERE ARE LIMITS ON NOISE,
GLARE, AND OTHER IMPACTS.
I SHARE THIS WITH YOU.
THIS IS WHERE THE STARTING
PLACE FOR THE LAND-USE CODE WAS
REGARDING CODE BASED
BUSINESSES.
I WILL MOVE US TO THE NEXT
SLIDE AND DISCUSS THE CHANGES
THAT WERE MADE TO THE BUSINESS
HOME OF BILL.
I WILL BE HAPPY TO TAKE
QUESTIONS.
ON AN INTERIM BASIS, FOR ONE
YEAR.
THAT'S WHAT WE WILL ADD TODAY
AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE YEAR.
HOME OCCUPATIONS WOULD NOT BE
SUBJECT TO A LIMIT ON THE
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.
ONLY TWO NON-DWELLING PEOPLE,
PEOPLE NOT LIVING IN THE HOUSE
COULD BE EMPLOYEES.
ALLOWING WALK UPS TO OCCUR
RATHER THAN THE APPOINTMENTS
THAT WERE REQUIRED PREVIOUSLY.
BEING FLEXIBLE WITH INCREASED
TRAFFIC AND PARKING DEMAND.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE TRAFFIC
AND PARKING DEMAND WAS THE ONE
THAT WE WERE MOST AWARE OF FOR
POTENTIAL DETRIMENTAL IMPACTS.
I HAVE PERSONALLY NEVER SEEN
ANY COMPLAINTS AS OF TODAY.
ADDITIONALLY, HOME-BASED
OCCUPATIONS WOULD BE ALLOWED TO
HAVE SIGNS OF 120 SQUARE INCHES
AND THEY WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO
HAVE ONE.
THEY CAN HAVE 64 SQUARE INCHES
AND AS MANY AS THEY WANT.
NOW THEY ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO
HAVE ONE THAT IS LARGER.
THIS IS THE CRUX OF IT.
THE USE OF THE SPACE REQUIRED
FOR PARKING FOR THE HOME-BASED
OCCUPATION.
THIS IS WHERE WE GET TO THE
GARAGE BASE.
IF YOUR HOME, YOUR GARAGE, IS
REQUIRED TO BE USED FOR YOUR
OFFSTREET PARKING YOU COULD NOT
HAVE A HOME-BASED BUSINESS IN
YOUR GARAGE.
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE THAT USE
THEIR GARAGES FOR OTHER THINGS
INSTEAD OF PARKING CARS.
I WISH MORE PEOPLE USED THEIR
GARAGE TO PARK CARS.
WE WILL SAVE THAT COMMENT FOR
ANOTHER DAY.
THESE ARE THE CHANGES WHICH ARE
ALLOWING FOR NON-DWELLING
HUMANS TO BE EMPLOYEES.
THE WALK UPS ARE ALLOWED.
INCREASED TRAFFIC AND PARKING
MAY OCCUR.
HAVING ONE SIGN THAT IS LARGER
AND ALLOWING GARAGE SPACE TO BE
USED FOR BUSINESSES.
THAT'S WHERE WE ARE AT.
I CAN TELL YOU ONE CHANGE THAT
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AS A
PERMANENT REGULATION.
FIGURING OUT PERMITTING FOR
HOME BUSINESSES.
RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD
AMOUNT.
I DON'T NEED IT TO BE AN
ADDITIONAL COST I JUST COME AT
THIS POINT, DON'T HAVE THE DATA
I NEED TO FILTER OUT WHICH ONES
ARE HOME-BASED AND WHICH ARE
NOT HOME-BASED BUSINESSES.
WITH THAT PRESENTATION DO THE
COLLEAGUES HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
COUNCILMEMBER WARREN AS
PEPPERED ME WITH ALL OF THE
QUESTIONS.
IF YOU COULD WATCH LAST YEAR'S
PRESENTATION.
PLEASE, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
THINKING.
COUNCILMEMBER SARA NELSON.
YOU ARE ON MUTE.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY.
>> THANKS.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS
SIGN.
I HAVE NO IDEA HOW BIG 720 IS.
ANYWAY, THAT DOESN'T REALLY
MATTER.
MY QUESTION IS, DID COUNSEL
BILL 120001 GO THROUGH A
CHECKLIST FOR IMPACT OF SIGN?
I KNOW IT'S ABOUT BEING
ELIMINATED.
I'M ASKING THIS QUESTION
BECAUSE I'M GETTING UP TO SPEED
ON THE CHECKLISTS AND SIGNS.
BECAUSE I HAVE A PROJECTGOING
ON SEPARATE FROM THIS.
DO YOU KNOW IF IT WENT THROUGH
AS A CHECKLIST?
>> I ASK YOU TO REMIND ME HERE.
I KNOW THIS WAS ADOPTED ON AN
EMERGENCY BASIS DUE TO THE
PANDEMIC THAT IS WHY WE WANT TO
MAKE SURE ANY PERMANENT
REGULATIONS WILL GO THROUGH ALL
OF THE CHECKLISTS AND ALL OF
THE FINALIZATION.
WE HAVE AN EXTENSION TO ENSURE
THERE IS NOT A LAPSE BETWEEN
THE EMERGENCY DECLARATION AND
PERMANENT REGULATIONS.
I DON'T BELIEVE THIS WAS ON THE
CHECKLIST.
>> I BELIEVE IT DID.
>> OKAY.
WE WILL ASK NEXT TIME.
>> I WANT TO REINFORCE THAT I
DON'T HAVE A STRONG OPINION ON
THIS.
I DO SEE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
TAMMY J. MORALES HAS A
QUESTION.
I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP TO THAT.
I WILL TAKE TURNS.
>> YOU CAN GET THEM ALL OUT AND
THEN I WILL GO TO HER.
>> I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW IT'S
GOING.
I KNOW THAT THIS WAS MADE TO
HELP SMALL BUSINESSES DURING
THE PANDEMIC BUT IT WAS ALSO
SEEN AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
INCUBATE SMALL BUSINESSES.
HE SAID THAT THERE HASN'T BEEN
ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT PARKING
AND ALL OF THAT BUT I'M JUST
WANTING TO KNOW, AS A SMALL
BUSINESS OWNER, HAVE WE SEEN
PEOPLE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS
PROGRAM?
THAT WOULD BE GREAT NEWS.
>> YES.
WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT I
PERSONALLY HAVE NOT RECEIVED
ANY COMPLAINTS.
THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE ARE
TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION FOR
PERMANENT REGULATIONS.
WE WILL ASK THAT QUESTION OF
SDCI.
THIS IS A COMPLAINT BASED
ENFORCEMENT.
WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT ONE
SMALL BUSINESS IN PARTICULAR
HAD THEIR GARAGE STOREFRONT.
THEY HAVE NOW CLOSED THEIR
GARAGE STOREFRONT AND MOVED
INTO THE BREWERY DISTRICT.
I UNDERSTAND THERE MIGHT BE A
COMPETITION ASPECT THERE.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT
I'M JUST SO HAPPY TO SEE THIS
PROGRAM BE USED AS AN INCUBATOR
TO GO FROM GARAGE TO BRICK AND
MORTAR.
WE HAVE SEEN SUCCESS.
>> GREAT.
I AM ALL FOR ANYTHING THAT CAN
HELP SMALL BUSINESSES.
I'M JUST COMING OUT OF THIS
WITH POSITIVITY.
>> EXCELLENT.
THAT'S GREAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?
>> I'M DONE.
>> THANKS.
GREAT QUESTIONS.
CHAIRMAN TAMMY J. MORALES,
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE ANY
REAL QUESTIONS I JUST WANT TO
EXPRESS MY SUPPORT FOR THIS.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
NOT JUST IN THE PANDEMIC BUT AS
WE START TO MOVE TOWARD
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT CREATING
VIBRANT NEIGHBORHOODS
THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
ALLOWING PEOPLE TO RUN SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THEIR HOME.
WHETHER IT IS A BREWERY, A
CIDER MANUFACTURING OFFICE,
CHILDCARE.
THIS IS THE WAY THINGS USED TO
WORK.
LOTS OF PEOPLE RAN SMALL
BUSINESSES OUT OF THEIR HOME.
FOR ME, WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW
WE COULD CREATE THIS 15 MINUTE
CITY IDEA THAT WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT, ALLOWING PEOPLE TO
PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES IN
THEIR HOME IS AN IMPORTANT PART
OF THAT.
I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S THE RIGHT
WAY.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
GARAGES, THE IMPLICATION IS
THIS APPLIES TO ONLY SINGLE-
FAMILY HOMES.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU COULD
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW
THIS WOULD APPLY TO HOME
OCCUPATIONS FOR FOLKS WHO LIVE
IN APARTMENTS.
>> THE PROVISION IN THIS BILL,
WHAT THE LAND USE CODE WAS
DOING WAS RESTRICTING USE.
NOT PROVIDING PERMISSION FOR
USE.
IN THE UNDERLYING LAND USE CODE
THERE IS A RESTRICTION FOR
ANYWHERE THAT IS USED FOR
OFFSTREET PARKING.
IT CANNOT BE USED FOR HOME-
BASED BUSINESS.
SO IT IS NOT AN EXCLUSION OF
PEOPLE LIVING IN CONDOS OR
APARTMENTS OR TOWNHOMES OR
ANYTHING ELSE LIKE THAT.
IT IS THE BASE ZONING
REQUIREMENT TO EXCLUDE THE USES
ON GARAGES.
WONDERFUL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS,
COLLEAGUES?
I WILL SEND A LINK TO LAST
YEAR'S PRESENTATION AROUND
COUNCILMEMBER WARREN'S.
HE GRILLED ME WELL.
I REALLY APPRECIATED HER LINE
OF QUESTIONING BECAUSE I THINK
IT HELPED DESCRIBE THE
SITUATION BETTER.
I'M NOT SEEING ANY FURTHER
QUESTIONS.
WE WILL HAVE FREEMAN BEFORE US
AT OUR NEXT COMMITTEE.
THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE
TEMPORARY PROVISIONS WHILE THE
FINAL GUIDELINES AND POLICIES
ARE BEING MADE.
AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING
ME TO DISCUSS THIS.
WE WILL BE BACK IN TWO WEEKS.
AT THAT TIME I WILL LET YOU
KNOW.
I WILL BE ASKING ABOUT THE RULE
AGAINST HAVING A VOTE ON THE
SAME DAY AS A HEARING.
I THINK THIS IS A GOOD RULE
BECAUSE IT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
DO NOT JUST BRING UP A TOPIC
AND VOTED OUT.
ITEM NUMBER THREE.
THIS IS THE COMMITTEE MEETING I
HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR TWO
YEARS.
THE FINAL ITEM TODAY IS A
QUARTERLY TREE REPORT FROM SDCI
AND OSC.
WOULD YOU PLEAD READ THE ITEM
INTO THE RECORD?
>> --
>> THANK YOU.
WE HAVE BEEN HAVING DEPARTMENTS
JOIN US QUARTERLY FOR TREE
REPORTS SINCE I BEGAN IN 2020.
TODAY'S PRESENTATION SHOULD BE
PARTICULARLY INTERESTING
BECAUSE IT FOLLOWS THE DRAFT
TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE FOR
SDCI.
WE ARE PRESENTED BY PEOPLE FROM
SDCI AND OSC.
PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY.
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS ALONG THE WAY RAISE
YOUR HAND AND I WILL CALL ON
YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS.
CAN YOU SEE MY SCREEN NOW?
SDCI AND OSC ARE PROUD TO
PROVIDE A QUARTERLY MEETING ON
EFFORTS TO UPDATE THE TREE
PROTECTIONS.
I AM THE URBAN FORESTRY
ADVISOR.
AND SEAN IS HERE THIS AFTERNOON
AS WELL.
I WILL COVER A FEW UPDATES ON
THE URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT
PLAN, WHICH WE HAVE BEEN
BEEFING YOU ON AND WAS
FINALIZED IN 2021.
SHAUNA WILL REVIEW RESOLUTION
31902, WHICH WE HAVE RESPONDED
TO IN THIS WORK AND SHE WILL
TALK ABOUT THE DRAFT
LEGISLATION AND THE NEXT STEPS
IN THIS WORK.
FIRST OFF, TO RECAP, THE
MANAGEMENT PLAN IS A DOCUMENT
THAT PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK FOR
POLICY AND ACTION THAT GUIDES
CITY GOVERNMENT DECISION-MAKING
TO HELP SEATTLE MAINTAIN,
PRESERVE, ENHANCE, AND RESTORE
ITS URBAN FOREST.
THE CORE OF THE PLAN IS A SET
OF OUTCOMES, STRATEGIES, AND
INDICATORS THAT WILL SUPPORT A
HEALTHY URBAN FOREST ACROSS THE
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE OWNED LANDS.
IT IS ORGANIZED IN AN ACTION
AGENDA THAT OUTLINES THE STEPS
THAT THE CITY AND COMMUNITY
PARTNERS WILL TAKE TO IMPLEMENT
THE PLAN OVER THE NEXT FIVE
YEARS IN WHICH WE AIM TO MAKE
SURE THAT THE URBAN FOREST IS
PROPERLY MANAGED.
THERE ARE KEY URBAN FOREST
REACTIONS ONGOING VICE CITY
DEPARTMENTS.
SUCH AS PLANTING TREES AND
COMPLYING WITH THE 2-FOR-1 TREE
REPLACEMENT POLICY.
MANAGEMENT OF CITY PROPERTIES
AND NATURAL LANDSCAPES.
BASIC PLANS.
COORDINATING EFFORTS AND
UPDATING INITIATIVES AND
REGULATIONS TO SUPPORT THE
URBAN FOREST.
FOR TODAY I WILL FOCUS ON THE
SEVEN ACTIONS THAT THE PLAN
IDENTIFIES AS THE HIGHEST
PRIORITIES OF THE 19 ACTIONS IN
THE ACTION AGENDA.
THESE SEVEN ACTIONS WERE
PRIORITIZED DUE TO THEIR
IMPORTANCE IN MANAGING THE
URBAN FOREST AND IN SUPPORTING
AND RESPONDING TO COMMUNITY CAN
CONCERNS.
SOME ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY.
YOU WILL HEAR MORE SHORTLY
ABOUT THE TREE PROTECTION
REGULATIONS.
OTHER ITEMS HAVE NEW WORK
COMMENCING THIS YEAR, WHICH I
WILL SHARE MORE ABOUT IN THE
NEXT SLIDE.
AND THEN SOME OF THE ACTIONS
ISOLATED FOR WORK LATER IN THE
2023/2024 YEAR PERIOD WE ARE
TRACKING PROGRESS ON THE ACTION
AGENDA AS WE APPROPRIATE TASKS
TOWARD THESE INDOOR ANNUAL
REPORT PLANS.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW
OF THE AREAS WHERE
IMPLEMENTATION IS CURRENTLY
HAPPENING.
UNDER STRATEGY ONE, ACTION ONE
IS TO CREATE A STRATEGY TO
IMPROVE ACCESS FOR PEOPLE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL EQUITY PRIOR TO
COMMUNITIES TO INTEREST SHIPS,
APPRENTICESHIPS, AND JOBS IN
URBAN FORESTRY.
IN 2022 WE WILL HAVE A GAP AND
OPPORTUNITY ANALYSIS OF
OPPORTUNITY PATHWAYS FOR URBAN
FORESTRY.
THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS
CREATING A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE
ACCESS FOR PEOPLE AND
ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITIES TO
THE INTERNSHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS
, AND JOBS IN URBAN FORESTRY.
IN THE MEANTIME WORK IS
UNDERWAY ACROSS DEPARTMENTS.
PARKS AND RECREATION'S
PARTNERSHIP IS INVESTING IN
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND JOB
TRAINING PROGRAMS TO HELP TRAIN
URBAN FORESTRY LEADERS OF
TOMORROW.
WE ARE SEEKING TO WORK IN
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS TO GROW
THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTORS.
ALSO UNDER STRATEGY ONE, ACTION
TWO, INCREASE TREEPLANTING.
SEVERAL OF THE CITIES PROGRAMS
THAT PLANT TREES DO FOCUS THEIR
FUNDING EFFORTS IN THESE
COMMUNITIES USING TOOLS SUCH AS
THE CITIES RACE AND SOCIAL
JUSTICE IN THAT -- URBAN
FORESTRY STREET PROGRAM.
IN ADDITION, THE NEIGHBORHOOD
TEAM WHICH DISTRIBUTES 1000
TREES ANNUALLY FOR PLANTING MY
RESIDENCE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
FOCUSES DISTRIBUTION ON THE
PRIORITY AREAS AS WELL.
THIS FOCUS ON GETTING MORE
TREES INTO THESE COMMUNITIES
WILL IMPROVE AIR QUALITY, HELP
MITIGATE EXTREME HEAT, AND
INCREASE THE HEALTH OF NATURAL
SPACES IN COMMUNITIES WITH
CURRENTLY LOW CANOPY.
UNDER STRATEGY THREE, ACTION
EIGHT IS TO PERFORM A CANOPY
COVERAGE ASSESSMENT.
EVERY FIVE YEARS THE CITY
PERFORMS A CANOPY COVERAGE
ASSESSMENT AND WE USE THIS
INFORMATION TO INFORM OUR URBAN
FORESTRY PLANNING AS IT
PROVIDES AN ESTIMATE OF THE
AMOUNT OF TREE CANOPY CURRENTLY
PRESENT IN THE CITY AND
RELEVANT INFORMATION ON HOW THE
TREE CANOPY HAS CHANGED OVER
TIME, HOW IS IT IS DISTRIBUTED
ACROSS THE LAND AND THE
ECOSYSTEM THAT IT PROVIDES TO
RESIDENTS.
THIS HELPS US MAKE EFFECTIVE
AND EQUITABLE DECISIONS ON TREE
CANOPY AND ITS MANAGEMENT.
IN 2016 THE ASSESSMENT WAS DONE
USING DATA COMBINED WITH
IMAGERY.
NOWTHE 2021 ASSESSMENT WILL BE
DONE WITH THE SAME METHODOLOGY.
WE WILL GET A MORE ACCURATE
AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ON HOW
THE CANOPY HAS CHANGED.
THERE WAS A DELAY IN GETTING
THE LETTER.
THAT ASSESSMENT IS JUST NOW
GETTING UNDERWAY.
WE EXPECT TO HAVE THOSE RESULTS
BY MIDYEAR THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, I WILL JUST NOTE THAT
THESE ARE ACTIONS IDENTIFIED AS
PRIORITY ACTIONS IN THE
MANAGEMENT PLAN AND ALL SEVEN
OF THE PRIORITY ACTIONS IN THE
PLAN ARE SET TO HAPPEN THIS
YEAR AS WE GET SET FOR
IMPLEMENTATION.
CHAIR STRAUSS, I SAW YOUR HAND
WAS UP.
YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> THINGS, PATTY.
THAT IS REALLY GOOD
INFORMATION.
MY QUESTION IS ACTUALLY ABOUT
THE PICTURES.
I CAN'T SEE THE CAPTIONS.
IS THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT ON
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WITH THIRD
AVENUE RUNNING DOWN THE MIDDLE
OF THE FRAME?
>> I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO
THAT QUESTION.
>> COME BACK TO ME LATER.
>> THAT IS AN EXPERT ON THE
CANOPY ASSESSMENT.
YOU CAN LOOK THAT UP AND VIEW
IT ONLINE.
IT'S JUST HERE TO SHOW AN
EXAMPLE OF THE RESULTS THAT
COME OUT OF THAT ASSESSMENT AND
HOW IT CAN AFFECT
NEIGHBORHOODS.
>> LET ME MAKE SURE I HAVE MY
TRIVIA QUESTIONS CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU.
THAT IS IT FOR ME.
I WILL PASS IT OVER TO COVER
DETAILS OF THE ORDINANCE WORK.
>> THINKS SO MUCH, PATTY.
GREAT WORK.
>> THANK YOU.
>> RESOLUTION 31902 ON
SEPTEMBER 16th, 2019, REQUESTED
SDCI AND OSC TO TALK ABOUT CORE
STRATEGIES.
AS SHOWN HERE TO PROTECT
EXISTING TREES AND CANOPIES TO
SUPPORT FUTURE GROWTH AND
DENSITY AS PROVIDED FOR THE
CITIES CONFERENCE OF PLAN.
IT ASKED US TO CONSIDER
STRATEGIES THAT ALLOWED FOR
HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT AS WELL
AS NEEDS FOR LOW INCOME AND LOW
CANOPY NEIGHBORHOODS WHILE
BALANCING TREE PROTECTION
GOALS.
THE RESOLUTION ALSO DIRECTED US
TO REPORT QUARTERLY TO THE LAND
USE COMMITTEE.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH OUR
PARTNERS TO IMPROVE TREE
PROTECTIONS, ACHIEVE STRATEGIES
AS OUTLINED IN THE RESOLUTION.
THE RESOLUTION IS COMPATIBLE
WITH COUNSEL BILL 12020 SEVEN.
THE TREE SERVICE PROVIDER
REGISTRATION.
THE NEXT FEW SLIDES WILL
HIGHLIGHT PORTIONS OF THIS
ENVIRONMENTAL DRAFT
LEGISLATION, INCLUDING THE TWO
DRAFTED DIRECTOR RULES THAT
ACCOMPANY THIS DRAFT
LEGISLATION.
THERE'S THREE TYPES OF
REGULATED TREES UNDER THE
CURRENT REGULATIONS.
EXCEPTIONAL, WHICH ARE THE MOST
ECOLOGICALLY AND CULTURALLY
IMPORTANT TREES IN THE CITY.
DEFINED PRIMARILY BY SPECIES
AND TRUNK SIZE.
THERE ARE 70 OR SO TREE SPECIES
LISTED IN OUR 2008 DIRECTORS
RULE.
THE CURRENT RULES RIGHT NOW
PROTECT THESE TREES FROM
REMOVAL UNLESS THEY ARE
HAZARDOUS OR IF NECESSARY TO
ACHIEVE THE FULL DEVELOPMENT
POTENTIAL OF A SITE.
SO IF MOST TREES ARE REMOVED,
THEY MUST BE REPLACED.
SIGNIFICANT TREES ARE TREES
THAT ARE OVER SIX INCHES IN
DIAMETER BUT NOT DEFINED IN THE
CURRENT REGULATIONS.
THESE TREES ARE AN IMPORTANT
PART OF THE CITIES CANOPY BUT
CURRENT RULES DO NOT REQUIRE
REPLACEMENT.
HERITAGE TREES ARE TREES THAT
HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SPECIAL
DESIGNATION BY THE HERITAGE
TREE PROGRAM, COSPONSORED BY
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION.
THE OTHER TREES ARE UNDER SIX
INCHES AND THOSE TREES ARE NOT
REGULATED.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS A HIGH-LEVEL
CITYWIDE TREE CANOPY
COMPARISON.
THE TWO IMAGES ON THE RIGHT-
HAND SIDE SHOW 24 INCH AND 30
INCH DIAMETER, WHICH ARE VERY
LARGE, HUGE TREES.
OVER TWO FEET IN DIAMETER.
READ CEDARS AND SEQUOIAS.
YOU CAN SEE THERE IS NOT A LOT
OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 24 INCH
AND 30 INCH.
GENERALLY, WHAT WE REGULATE
RIGHT NOW IN OUR EXISTING TREE
CODE.
THOSE TWO IMAGES, YOU CAN SEE
HERE, ARE NEARLY IDENTICAL.
THE IMAGE ON THE FAR LEFT SIDE
OF THIS SCREEN SHOWS THE
LOCATIONS OF ALL OF THE SMALL,
MEDIUM, AND MEDIUM-SIZE TREES
THAT ARE 12 INCHES IN DIAMETER
AND LARGER.
THAT IMAGE ON THE LEFT INCLUDES
EVERYTHING TO THE RIGHT.
THOSE ARE THE REGULATED TREES
THAT ARE GRAPHICALLY DEPICTED
HERE AND FURTHER DESCRIBED IN
THE DRAFT LEGISLATION.
>> THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL.
CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG HERE.
I'M LOOKING AT THESE THREE
DIFFERENT MAPS.
THE MAP ON THE FAR RIGHT-HAND
SIDE HIS CURRENT REGULATION AND
THE MAP ON THE FAR LEFT IS THE
PROPOSED INCREASED PROTECTION.
IS THAT THE CORRECT
UNDERSTANDING?
>> THAT IS CORRECT,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS.
>> THIS IS JUST A VISUAL
DEPICTION OF HOW MANY LARGE
TREES AND HOW MUCH CANOPY WE
WILL BE PROTECTING UNDER THIS
ORDINANCE.
>> CORRECT.
>> COUNSEL, OTHER COLLEAGUES, I
JUST WANT TO NOTE THAT THIS IS
A VISUAL DEPICTION OF WHAT THIS
TREE PROTECTION WILL DO.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
THE ZONING APPLICABLE TO THE
DRAFT INCLUDES THREE MAJOR
ZONING CATEGORIES.
SINGLE-FAMILY, MULTIFAMILY AND
COMMERCIAL.
EACH OF THESE LARGE ZONING
CATEGORIES HAVE LARGER
SUBCATEGORIES UNDERNEATH THEM.
FOR EXAMPLE, MULTIFAMILY HAS
LOWRISE ONE AND TWO.
WHICH IS GENERALLY TOWN HOUSES
AND RENTAL HOUSES.
THE COMMERCIAL INCLUDES
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL AND
SEATTLE NEXT.
NOT ALL OF THE ZONES ARE SHOWN
HERE ON THIS SLIDE AND THEY ARE
FURTHER DESCRIBED IN THE DRAFT
LEGISLATION.
>> THANK YOU.
ON THIS ONE, CORRECT ME IF I'M
WRONG, DOWN TOWN AND INDUSTRIAL
ZONES ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE
DRAFT.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHY THE
DECISION WAS MADE.
I WOULD JUST LOVE TO HEAR YOUR
THOUGHTS ON IT.
>> THE DRAFT COVERS ALL OF THE
ZONES THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO
CHAPTER 2511, THE TREE
PROTECTION CODE.
>> JUST TEASING THAT OUT A
LITTLE FURTHER.
DOWNTOWN AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES
ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THERE AND
THAT IS WHY THE PROTECTION IS
NOT EXTENDED?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
THE DOWNTOWN ZONES ARE --
>> I'M MAY BE LESS CONCERNED
WITH DOWNTOWN, WHICH FEELS LIKE
A CONCRETE JUNGLE OFTEN TIMES.
AND INDUSTRIAL ZONES, THE ONLY
PLACE THAT HAS TREES IS THE
LEARY TRIANGLE.
THAT IS WHY I'M SO FOCUSED ON
THAT SPACE.
IT FEELS LIKE A TREE DESERT IN
THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
WOULD THEY BE ABLE TO ADD
INDUSTRIAL ZONES ARE?
IS THERE ANOTHER REASON WHY WE
SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERING
INDUSTRIAL ZONES?
>> FOR THE INDUSTRIAL ZONES,
HONESTLY WE DIDN'T LOOK AT
THOSE ZONES BECAUSE THEY WERE
NOT APPLICABLE TO THE CHAPTER
THAT WE WERE DOING THE UPDATES
IN.
I THINK THAT, GENERALLY, THE
NEEDS OF BUSINESS OWNERS AND
INDUSTRIAL ZONES MIGHT BE
DIFFERENT THAN THE NEEDS OF A
COMMERCIAL ZONE.
LIKE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL
FOR EXAMPLE.
AS FAR AS SIGHT DISTANCES AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> AND THIS DECISION WOULD NOT
PROHIBIT US FROM PLANTING
TREES.
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> I THINK WE WOULD WANT TO
INCREASE CANOPY CITYWIDE.
IT COULD POSSIBLY BE LOOKED
INTO FURTHER.
>> LET'S DIG INTO THIS A LITTLE
BIT MORE JUST BECAUSE
INDUSTRIAL ZONES NEED TO HAVE
MORE TREES.
I APPRECIATE IT.
SORRY.
THESE LINES KIND OF CAME OFF
THE CUFF.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> WHICH ZONES ARE THE TREES
DISAPPEARING FROM THE FASTEST?
THE MAPS THAT YOU HAD IN THE
PREVIOUS SLIDE ARE VERY
COMPELLING.
MAYBE THIS ISN'T FOR AN ANSWER
HERE BUT I'M JUST WONDERING,
ARE THERE PARTICULAR ZONES
AMONGST THOSE ON THE SCREEN
THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE?
TO CANOPY LOSS.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER
THAT QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER.
WE SEE A LOT OF DEVELOPMENT
PRESSURE IN THE AREAS THAT ARE
CLOSER TO THE URBAN VILLAGES.
ZONES THAT ARE SUPPORTIVE OF
TOWN HOUSES AND ROAD HOUSES IN
THE LOWRISE ZONE.
COMPARED TO THE LARGER, SINGLE-
FAMILY HOME LOTS THAT ARE IN
THE EDGES OF THE CITY.
SO LIKE LARGER SINGLE-FAMILY
LOTS ARE FURTHER AWAY AT URBAN
CENTERS.
THEY MIGHT HAVE LESS
DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE GENERALLY.
>> I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT
DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE.
I'M
>> RIGHT. SO, RIGHT NOW WE
THINK COLLECTING DATA WITH OUR
TREE TRACKER WORKSHEET, WE DO
HAVE DATA AT THIS TIME I CAN
CHECK BACK AND REPORT WHAT WE
HAVE COMPILED SO FAR.
>> AND MAYBE TO PUT IT INTO
DIFFERENT WORDS, THE AREAS THAT
ARE CLOSEST TO THE HUBS WITH A
FAIR AMOUNT ARE THE PLACES WE
ARE LOSING THE MOST AMOUNT OF
TREES RAPIDLY.
DID I GET THE CORRECT?
>> YES.
>> WHY THIS BILL IS SO
IMPORTANT TO BE PASSED NOW AND
NOT TO WAIT ANY LONGER IS I
THOUGHT WE NEED THAT
DEVELOPMENT TO OCCUR, AND WE
NEED TO BE ABLE TO RETRIEVE THE
REST OF OUR CITY, AND THAT IS
THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT
CONNECTION.
THAT IS THE SAME LINE OF THOUGHT
. ANSELMO NESSON, IS AT THE SAME
?
>> WE NEED BOTH.
MY QUESTION CAME FROM
ANECDOTALLY WHEN I CIRCULATE
THE CITY AND SEE LARGE TREES ON
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES BEING CUT
DOWN.
I NOTICED THAT AS WELL AS IN
OTHER ZONES.
I WILL CHECK BACK ON THE
TRACKER LATER.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I LOOK AT THIS QUESTION FROM A
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.
I KNOW THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO
CONSIDER HOW TO PRESERVE TREES.
MY UNDERSTANDIG IS THAT WE
NEED TO BE PLANTING MILLIONS OF
TREES IN ORDER TO GET THE KIND
OF CANOPY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
I AM INTERESTED IN THE EQUITY
ISSUES SINCE SO MUCH OF THE
SOUTH END LACKS TREE CANOPY AND
THAT HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR
HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
AND PHYSICAL HEALTH OF OUR
NEIGHBORS.
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
, AND I KNOW THAT IS NOT THE
PURPOSE OF THIS PARTICULAR
LEGISLATION, BUT WHAT THE
CONVERSATION IS OR THE PLANS ARE
FOR HOW WE ADD TO THE TREE
CANOPY IN AN EQUITABLE WAY.
>> THAT IS THE POINT OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
AS THERE ARE GOING TO BE TREES
THAT CANNOT BE PRESERVED AS WE
ARE CREATING THE DENSITY WE
NEED, AND THAT OCCURS, THAT HAS
TO TIE IN TO US RETRAINING OUR
CITY. I AM SORRY FOR TAKING US
ON ATTENTION.
YOU CAN TAKE IT FROM HERE.
>> I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ADD TO
THAT.
WE ARE EXPLORING AN OPTION
WHERE PAYMENTS RECEIVED WOULD
GO.
SCCI, WE ARE EXPLORING HOW
THOSE CAN BE POTENTIALLY
DIRECTED TO EXISTING PROGRAMS
THAT CAN REACH THREE AREAS
WHERE THERE IS LOW CANOPY AND
LOW INCOME AS WELL FOCUSING ON
AREAS IN THE SOUTH.
>> SO THE ENVIRONMENTAL DRAFT
LEGISLATION WAS PREPARED BY SCCI
AND INPUT FROM OUR STAKEHOLDERS.
THIS SLIDE HERE SHOWS THE
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DRAFT THAT
INCLUDE THE TWO RULES THAT ARE
PART OF THIS DRAFT PACKAGE.
IT INCLUDES AN EXPANSION OF THE
EXISTING DEFINITION OF
EXCEPTIONAL TREE TO REGULATE
MORE TREES OVER 24 INCHES IN
DIAMETER.
THAT MEANS INCLUDING TREE
GROWTH AND HERITAGE TREES AND
THAT EXPANDED EXCEPTIONAL TREE
DEFINITION.
IT DEFINES ANY TREE THAT IS 6
INCHES AND GREATER NOT ALREADY
DEFINED AS EXCEPTIONAL. AND
THEN IT ADDS REPLACEMENT FOR
SIGNIFICANT TREES 12 INCHES AND
GREATER.
IT ALSO ADDS A NEW PROVISION OR
CLARIFIES THAT WE WANT TO HAVE
HOMEBUILDER FLEXIBILITIES TO
DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS TO
ACCOMMODATE TRAYVON ATTENTION
AND ALLOWS A PAYMENT AND NEW
OPTION IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
AND CLARIFIES THE HAZARDOUS AND
EMERGENCY TREE REMOVAL
SITUATIONS.
IT SIMPLIFIES THE PROCESSES
WHICH MEANS DOCUMENTATION OF
TREES REMOVED AND REPLANTED.
AND IT ALSO UPDATES ENFORCEMENT
BY INCREASING THE PENALTY
AMOUNTS.
IN THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX SLIDES
I WOULD LIKE TO FURTHER
BREAKDOWN WHAT EACH OF THESE
KEY HIGHLIGHTS ARE IN THAT
DRAFT LEGISLATION.
>> I AM JUST GOING TO REPEAT
BACK WHAT I HEARD. I THINK THIS
IS THE CRUX OF THE ORDINANCE.
WE EXPAND DEFINITIONS AND
PROTECTIONS AND PROVIDE
FLEXIBILITY TO BUILDERS SO IF
THEY CAN PRESERVE THE TREE THEY
CAN GET, WHAT OTHER FLEXIBILITY.
MORE PROTECTIONS AND
FLEXIBILITY TO PRESERVE TREES.
ADDRESSES HAZARDOUS TREE
REMOVAL ACTIONS AND UPDATES
ENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS.
AND CAN YOU REMIND ME, THESE
ARE BOTH DIRECTOR ROLES AND THE
ORDINANCE AND NOT CONCLUSIVE OF
THE BILL ABOUT TREE REGISTRATION
.
>> YES.
THE SEPA DRAFT IS COMPATIBLE
WITH THE TREE PROVIDER
REGISTRATION.
>> MORE PROTECTIONS AND BETTER
ENFORCEMENT.
BETTER FLEXIBILITY.
COUNCILMEMBER PETERSON, DO YOU
HAVE A QUESTION AT THIS POINT?
GO FOR IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE
TREE REGISTRATION BILL THAT YOU
AND I ARE COSPONSORING JUST FOR
THE PUBLIC, CAN WE CLARIFY THE
SCHEDULE FOR THE CONSIDERATION
AND ADOPTION OF THE TREE
SERVICE PROVIDER REGISTRATION
BILL CB 120207.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
>> I APPRECIATE YOU.
>> LET'S DIVE INTO EACH OF
THESE SUBSECTIONS.
I AM EXCITED.
>> THE SEPA DRAFT LEGISLATION
EXPANDS THE DEFINITION BY
LOWERING THE THRESHOLD TO 20
BRANCHES.
IT ADDS TREE [ INDISCERNIBLE --
AUDIO CUTTING OUT ] WITH
CERTAIN EXISTING EXCEPTIONAL
TREES WITH THRESHOLDS SMALLER
THAN 24 INCHES TO CONTINUE TO
BE DEFINED AS EXCEPTIONAL.
THE SMALLER DIAMETER
EXCEPTIONAL TREES FROM THE 2008
DIRECTORS RULE WILL BE PART OF
THAT EXPANDED DEFINITION.
THIS ALLOWS STI TO REGULATE
MORE TREES AND CURRENTLY ARE
REGULATED.
AND SO THE SEPA DRAFT INCLUDES
A BRAND-NEW CATEGORY NOT IN THE
CURRENT TREE CODE. SIGNIFICANT
TREES ARE DEFINED AS ANY TREE
THAT HAS A DIAMETER OF 6 INCHES
OR GREATER THAT IS NOT ALREADY
DEFINED AS AN EXCEPTIONAL TREE.
REGULATES SIGNIFICANT TREES
BEGINNING AT A 6 INCH THRESHOLD
UP TO 24 INCHES AND REQUIRES
REPLACEMENT FOR ANYONE THAT
DECIDES TO REMOVE A SIGNIFICANT
TREE 12 INCHES OR GREATER.
IT ALLOWS REMOVAL WITH
ADDITIONAL REGULATED
SIGNIFICANT TREES.
>> THANK YOU.
>> AND SO THIS SLIDE HERE SHOWS
THE DRAFT PROVIDES SOME
FLEXIBILITY FOR HOMEBUILDERS TO
ACCOMMODATE TRAYVON ATTENTION.
IT DOES THIS IN TWO WAYS.
FOR DEVELOPMENT NOT SUBJECT TO
DESIGN THEIR VIEW, SETBACKS AND
SEPARATION REQUIREMENTS CAN BE
REDUCED BY A MAXIMUM OF 50% AND
AMENITY AREAS MAY BE REDUCED BY
10% AND SCREENING BY 25% AND
THE WIDTH, DEPTH AND FACDE
LIMITS CAN BE REDUCED BY 10%.
>> INCREASE.
>> INCREASE, THANK YOU BY A
MAXIMUM OF 10%.
AND SO THIS CAN HELP PRESERVE
EXISTING TREES ESPECIALLY WHERE
THERE IS NOT A LOT OF SPACE
AVAILABLE FOR BUILDINGS AND
TREES.
AND THEN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF
THIS FOR DEVELOPMENT SUBJECT TO
DESIGN REVIEW IT PROVIDES
DEPARTURES FOR HOMEBUILDERS AND
ALSO ALLOWS FOR REDUCTION OF
PARKING QUANTITY.
IT ALSO PROVIDES INCREASING THE
BASE SITE UP TO 50 FEET WHICH
ALLOWS FOR ADDITIONAL IF NEEDED
TO RECOVER THE FLOOR AREA LOST
WITHIN A TREE PROTECTION AREA.
>> THAT IS TRULY HELPFUL.
CAN YOU GIVE ME A HIGH-LEVEL
OVERVIEW?
DEVELOPMENT NOT SUBJECT TO
DESIGN REVIEW WHERE SINGLE-
FAMILY HOMES IN TOWN HALLS,
TOWNHOMES.
>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
TOWNHOUSES AND ROW HOUSES THAT
I SHOWED ON THE PREVIOUS SLIDE.
>> THEY ARE NOT SUBJECT OR ARE
THEY?
>> SUBJECT TO DESIGN REVIEW
WOULD BE THINGS NOT SINGLE-
FAMILY.
>> SO BIGGER AND TALLER WE WERE
GETTING INTO THE PARKING.
ALLOWING A BUILDER TO NOT BUILD
A COUPLE MORE PARKING STALLS TO
CREATE THE SPACE TO SAVE A TREE.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT HERE.
THIS IS SO CRITICAL AND I THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
HAD WE PASS THIS BILL A NUMBER
OF YEARS AGO, THE TREES
COULD'VE BEEN SAVED BECAUSE THE
PROJECT COULD'VE BEEN SOLD WITH
THESE ADDITIONAL ASPECTS OF
FLEXIBILITY.
BECAUSE THE LAND CODE WAS SO
STRINGENT, THE PROJECT COULD
NOT PENCIL FOR THAT BUILDER.
WHEN WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE
HOMES WHERE THE TREE ONCE WAS,
THIS OFTENTIMES HELPS US HAVE A
STENCIL AND SAVE THE TREE.
>> LOTS OF EDITORIAL HERE FOR
ME TODAY.
THE SEPA DRAFT ALLOWS FOR
SEVERAL CIRCUMSTANCES.
THE DRAFT DIRECTOR REGARDING
PAYMENT IN LIEU IS SUBJECT TO
FURTHER REFINEMENT TO INCLUDE
CITY COSTS LIKE ESTABLISHMENT
OF NEW TREES PLANTED AS PART OF
MITIGATION AT THIS TIME.
>> IT WOULD BE TO INCLUDE
PLANTING OF NEW TREES CITYWIDE.
WE WOULD LIKE TO INCLUDE
ESTABLISHMENT. WE ARE LOOKING
AT A TIME FRAME OF 3-5 YEARS
FOR THE NEW TREES.
>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
HAVE TO KEEP THOSE TREES
HEALTHY.
THIS IS FOR A LATER
CONVERSATION, I MIGHT SUGGEST
WE DEDICATE ENFORCEMENT DOLLARS
TO BE PART OF THIS PROGRAM AS
WELL SO THEY GO BACK TO THE
GENERAL FUND FOR GENERAL USE.
I WANT TO RETRAIN MORE OF OUR
CITY, AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE
THOSE TREES GET A HEALTHY START
TO THEIR FUTURE.
>> THE SEPA DRAFT INCLUDES 2
NEWS SECTIONS THAT STRENGTHENED
THE EXISTING LEGISLATION.
TREES MUST BE RATED AS EXTREME
OR HIGH RISK HAZARD IN THE
ASSESSMENT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE TREE IS
ASSESSED AS HIGH RISK, SCCI MAY
REQUIRE HAZARD PRUNING RATHER
THAN THE REMOVAL OF THE ENTIRE
TREE.
FOR EMERGENCY ACTIONS IT IS
CLEAR ABOUT THE DOCUMENT
REQUIREMENTS FOR FINES AND
PENALTIES AND THIS DRAFT
LEGISLATION INCLUDES SEVERAL
NEW UPDATED REGULATIONS FOR THE
TREE CODE.
SO AS FAR AS PROCESSES AND
REINFORCEMENT, THE LAST
HIGHLIGHT I LIKE TO SHARE WITH
YOU TODAY IS THE DRAFT IS
SIMPLIFYING THE PERMIT REVIEW
PROCESS AS SDCI REGULATES MORE
TREES.
THE SEPA DRAFT INCREASES THE
PENALTY AMOUNTS TO HELP AID AND
THE THIRD TREES FROM BEING
REMOVED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
AS FAR AS NEXT STEPS, OUR TEAM
IS COMMITTED AND LOOKS FORWARD
TO WORKING WITH STAKEHOLDERS
INCLUDING THE UFC AND ANY WORK
THAT WE NEED TO DO ON THE
POTENTIAL REVISIONS TO THE SEPA
DRAFTS IN THE WEEKS AND MONTHS.
WE WILL BE MOVING FORWARD TO
IDENTIFY ANY POTENTIAL AT THE
MENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT NEEDS
THAT WE NEED TO DO TO CONTINUE
TO SHAPE THIS LEGISLATION.
>> THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL.
IF SOMEBODY, THE APPEAL WINDOW
CLOSES TOMORROW.
WE WILL HAVE A MUCH BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF THE TIMELINE
BEFORE ROSS. IF THERE ARE
APPEALS IT WILL GO BACK TO THE
EXAMINER, AND THAT CAN LAST A
NUMBER OF MONTHS.
CAN YOU PROVIDE SOME MORE
CLARITY?
AND IF YOU ARE NOT THE RIGHT
PERSON, I CAN GET THEM FROM HIM
.
>> I CAN ANSWER THAT.
>> THE SEPA DRAFT ORDINANCE, IT
DOES ALLOW FOR AN APPEAL IF
ANYBODY THOUGHT THE DECISION
WAS ISSUED IN ERROR OR WE
COMMITTED NECESSARY INFORMATION
FOR THE DRAFT CODES.
WE WOULD EXPECT THAT ANY APPEAL
OF THE SEPA DECISION WOULD TAKE
SEVERAL MONTHS TO RESOLVE.
>> AND THAT IS ON THE HEARING
EXAMINER SCHEDULE.
>> YES.
>> I KNOW THE HEARING EXAMINER
HAS A VERY FULL SCHEDULE. IF
SOMEBODY APPEALS, ARE THEY ABLE
TO REMOVE THEIR APPEAL ON THEIR
OWN ACCORD, OR IS IT WEDNESDAY
APPEAL IT MUST GO TO THE
EXAMINER?
>> I DO NOT KNOW THE ANSWER TO
THAT QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER.
>>.
ENOUGH.
>> NOT A PROBLEM.
>> I THINK THAT WE HAVE LOST
OUR COUNSEL CENTRAL STAFF.
IS YOLANDA STILL WITH US?
I AM NOT SEEING OUR CENTRAL
STAFF.
WE WILL COME BACK TO THAT
ANSWER.
I GOT A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS
BACK TO THE POLICY.
ABOUT CLARIFYING THE
DISTINCTION BETWEEN A 6 INCH AND
12 INCH.
WHAT IS THE FUNCTION OF THE
SIGNIFICANT TREE DEFINITION FOR
6 TO 12 INCHES?
AND THE QUESTION COMES BETWEEN
SIX AND 12 INCHES.
>> THE SEPA DRAFT IS A LOWER
THE THRESHOLD DOWN TO 3 INCHES.
THAT IS SOMETHING FOR
REPLACEMENT. WE THOUGHT THAT
WAS REASONABLE AND WHAT OTHER
CITIES IN THE REGION HAVE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT ANSWERS
YOUR QUESTION COMPLETELY.
AND THEN 6 INCHES, THE REASON
FOR THE 6 INCHES IS REPORTING
REQUIREMENTS START AT 6 INCHES.
6 INCHES IS REPORTING FOR 12
INCHES.
>> A NEW DEFINITION IS ANY TREE
THAT IS 6 INCHES AND GREATER
THAT IS NOT ALREADY DEFINED AS
EXCEPTIONAL.
WE REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT 12.
THIS IS NEW.
>> THE LAST QUESTION FROM ME,
CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE
REASONS FOR NOT INCLUDING A
COMIC REQUIREMENT IN THIS
LEGISLATION?
IS IT ALREADY IN THE LAND USE
CODE?
>> YES.
I WOULD BE HAPPY TO.
FEEDBACK INCLUDING THE
COMMUNITIES DO NOT SUPPORT THE
REQUIREMENT OUTSIDE DEVELOPMENT.
THAT IS WHAT DIRECTED US IN OUR
DRAFT HERE.
AND THEN, IN ADDITION TO THAT,
THE TREE PROVIDER REGISTRATION
COULD DO THAT WORK AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S BILL .
THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER WAY TO DO
THAT OUTSIDE DEVELOPMENT.
>> YOU DO KNOW FOR EXCEPTIONAL
TREES YOU ARE REQUIRED A PERMIT
FOR SIGNIFICANT TREES AS WELL?
>> DURING DEVELOPMENT, YES.
>> WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
FOR ALL OF THE OTHER TREES.
>> THOSE ARE MY QUESTIONS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
AT THIS TIME?
>> THANK YOU.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION
ON THE BILL AND I AM GLAD THAT
THERE ARE NO CONFLICTS WITH
REGISTRATION BILL THAT WILL
MOVE FORWARD ON.
I WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO
CALLED IN AGAIN TODAY AND FROM
THE COMMENT WE HEARD FROM THEM
A LOT OVER THE LAST YEARS AND
HAVE ALSO SENT EMAILS AND WE
WANT THEM TO KNOW THAT I DO
HEAR THEIR CONCERNS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS?
I GUESS WE WILL SEE TOMORROW IF
WE GET TO TAKE THIS BILL UP IN
THE NEXT MONTH OR SO OR IF WE
HAVE TO WAIT A LONG TIME.
WE WILL HAVE MORE UPDATES AT
THAT POINT.
GREAT.
COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU FOR
COMING BACK WITH ME QUARTERLY
FOR OVER TWO YEARS AT THIS
POINT.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
AND WHILE WE DON'T GET AN
APPEAL BY TOMORROW AND WE TAKE
THIS BILL UP, I THINK YOU WILL
BE LEGALLY BELIEVE THAT THEIR
DUTIES OF COMING BACK AND
REPORTING.
IT WOULD BE GREAT TO KEEP
HAVING YOU BECAUSE IT WOULD BE
NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU ONCE A
QUARTER.
GREAT.
THANK YOU, COLLEAGUES.
WE WILL BE TAKING UP
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S TREE
SERVER PROVIDER LEGISLATION ON
MARCH 23 COMMITTEE.
I CAN TELL YOU YOU HAVE HEARD
SOME OF MY THOUGHTS ABOUT THE
UNDERLYING DIRECTORS ROLES AND
ORDINANCE AND I KNOW THERE CAN
BE SOME SMALL TWEAKS MADE TO
MAKE THIS A BETTER BILL.
SHANDA, Q HAVE BEEN TRYING YOUR
DARNDEST TO GET THIS OUT INTO
THE PUBLIC VIEW FOR SO LONG.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO BE A
LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT SAYING
THAT.
I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS NOT
TAKEN A POSITION ON THIS
LEGISLATION, RATHER THE MAYOR
HAS ONE SEATTLE VISION AND
WANTS TO ENSURE THAT OUR CITY
STAFF ARE ABLE TO DO THE JOBS
THEY ARE REQUIRED TO DO. THAT
IS WHY WE ARE ABLE TO GET THIS
PUBLISHED.
SHANDA, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE
HAD TO QUIETLY GIVE US NON-
ANSWERS, AND THAT IS NOT YOUR
FAULT.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GETTING
THIS DRAFT LEGISLATION OUT SO
QUICKLY JUST DEMONSTRATES
ALREADY WE ARE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IF THERE IS NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS -- WE WILL HAVE THAT
FREE REGISTRY LEGISLATION AT
OUR NEXT MEETING ON MARCH 23.
BEFORE I CONCLUDE, I JUST WANT
TO SHARE MY CONDOLENCES WITH
VINCENT SCOTT'S FAMILY AND ALSO
FOR WEST SPRINKLY, THANK YOU
FOR YOUR SERVICE ON THE
FORESTRY COMMISSION.
WITH THAT, IT CONCLUDES THE
MEETING OF THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE.
THE NEXT MEETING IS WEDNESDAY.
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING. WE ARE
ADJOURNED.