>> WE ARE RECORDING.
>> THANK YOU, THE FEDERAL RATE,
2023 MEETING OF THE LAND-USE
MEETING WILL COME TO ORDER.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE ?
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA ?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ?
>> PRESENT.
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES ?
>> HERE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> PRESENT . COULD YOU CALL
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AGAIN? I
SEE HER .
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> WE SHOULD MARKER IS PRESENT
.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA ?
>> PRESENT.
>> I CAN SEE COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON SO WE ARE MARKING HER
PRESENT.
>> FIVE PRESENT .
>> THANK YOU . WE HAVE SIX ITEM
ON THE AGENDA TODAY , FIVE OF
WHICH ARE APPOINTMENTS TO THE
SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION AND
ONE IS A BRIEFING AND DISCUSSIO
ON COUNCIL BILL 125059, SMALL
CHANGES TO THE REGISTERED
TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS
LEGISLATION . BEFORE WE BEGIN ,
IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION, THE
AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED. HEARING
NO OBJECTION , THE AGENDA IS
ADOPTED . WE WILL OPEN THE
HYBRID PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD
FOR ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
CLERK, PLEASE PLAY THE VIDEO.
>> HELLO, SEATTLE, WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY , THE CITY OF
FLOWERS AND THE CITY OF
GOODWILL, BUILT ON INDIGENOUS
LAND , THEIR TRADITIONAL
TERRITORY. THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WELCOMES REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT AND IS EAGER TO HEAR
FROM RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY. IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A SPEAKER
AND PROVIDE A VERBAL PUBLIC
COMMENT, YOU MAY REGISTER TWO
HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING VI
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL WEBSIT
. HERE IS SOME INFORMATION ABOU
THE PUBLIC COMMON PROCEEDINGS .
SPEAKERS ARE CALLED UPON IN THE
ORDER IN WHICH THEY REGISTER ON
THE COUNCIL WEBSITE. EACH
SPEAKER MUST CALL IN ON THE
PHONE NUMBER PROVIDED WHEN THE
REGISTER ONLINE AND USE THE
MEETING I.D. AND PASSCODE THAT
WAS EMAILED UPON CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN EMAIL
CONFIRMATION, PLEASE CHECK YOUR
SPAM OR JUNK MAIL FOLDERS. A
REMINDER, THE SPEAKER MEETING
I.D. IS DIFFERENT FROM THE
GENERAL LISTEN LINE MEETING I.D
PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA. ONCE
SPEAKER HAS THEIR NAME CALLED,
THEIR MICROPHONE WILL BE TURNED
ON AND AN AUTOMATIC PROMPT WIL
SAY , THE HOST WOULD LIKE YOU T
UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE AND IT
IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK. AT THAT
TIME, YOU MUST PRESS START 6
AND YOU WILL HEAR, "YOU ARE
UNMUTED." BE SURE YOUR PHONE I
UNMUTED. BEGIN BY STATING YOUR
NAME AND THE ITEM YOU ARE
ADDRESSING . A CHIME WILL SOUND
WHEN 10 SECONDS ARE LEFT IN YOU
ALLOTTED TIME . AS A GENTLE
REMINDER , WRAP UP THE PUBLIC
COMMENTS . AT THE END OF THE
ALLOTTED TIME , YOUR MICROPHONE
WILL BE MUTED AND THE NEXT
SPEAKER REGISTERED WILL BE
CALLED. AFTER SPEAKERS HAVE
CONCLUDED , DISCONNECT FROM THE
PUBLIC COMMENT LINE AND JOIN US
BY FOLLOWING THE MEETING VIA
SEATTLE CHANNEL BROADCAST OR
THROUGH THE LISTENING LINE
OPTION LISTED ON THE AGENDA. TH
COUNCIL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO
ELIMINATE PUBLIC COMMENT IF TH
SYSTEM IS BEING ABUSED OR IF TH
PROCESS IMPEDES THE ABILITY OF
THE COUNCIL TO CONDUCT BUSINES
ON BEHALF OF RESIDENTS OF THE
CITY. ANY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE
THAT IS DISRUPTIVE TO THESE
PROCEEDINGS, OR NOT FOCUSED ON
AN APPROPRIATE TOPIC AS
SPECIFIED IN COUNCIL RULES , MA
LEAD TO THE SPEAKER BEING MUTED
BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER . OUR
HOPE IS TO PROVIDE AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR PRODUCTIVE
DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL ASSIST OU
ORDERLY CONSIDERATION OF ISSUE
BEFORE THE COUNCIL. THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW OPEN AND
WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE FIRST
SPEAKER ON THE LIST. PLEASE
REMEMBER TO PRESS START 6 AFTER
YOU HIT THE PROMPT OF , "YOU
HAVE BEEN UNMUTED." THANK YOU
SEATTLE.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY IN-PERSON
PUBLIC COMMENTORS? NO. WE WIL
GO ONLINE WHERE WE HAVE FOUR
PEOPLE SIGNED IN. ALICIA,
BARBARA , STEVE, SANDY. WE WIL
BEGIN IN THAT ORDER , IF YOU
ARE LISTENING AND WANT TO
PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT , YOU
STILL HAVE TIME TO DO SO AS LON
AS YOU REGISTER AND SIGN IN NOW
WE WILL HAVE ALICIA RUIZ.
WELCOME , ALICIA.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON , MY NAME IS
ALICIA AND I AM THE SEATTLE
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MANAGER. I
AM CALLING IN TO EXPRESS OUR
FULL SUPPORT TO THE AMENDMENT O
COUNCIL BILL 120509, THE TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS BILL. THESE
AMENDMENTS ARE VERY NEEDED.
THE ORIGINAL BILL CAUSED
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND ,
THANK YOU MR. STRAUSS FOR
MAKING THE NEEDED AMENDMENTS.
>> THANK YOU. BARBARA AND THE
STEVE. BARBARA?
>> HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS, THIS
IS BARBARA BERNARD , THANK YOU
FOR CONTINUING TO FIND WAYS TO
PROTECT THE SEATTLE URBAN
FOREST. YOUR COMMUNITY WORK
PROVIDING THEIR TREE SERVICE
REGISTRY BILL HELPS WITHOUT
PROTECTION. SINCE COUNCIL BILL
120509 IS STILL IN DISCUSSION
FOR AMENDMENT , WOULD IT BE
POSSIBLE TO CONSIDER POTENTIAL
CHANGES TO THE SUGGESTED
AMENDMENT TO THE FIRST ONE I
WAS THINKING OF IS ADDING A WEE
TO ONLINE POSTING WHICH ALLOWS
FOR EQUAL ACCESS TO EVERYONE TO
THE INFORMATION . WE KNOW THAT
MANY OF THE RESIDENTS OF
SEATTLE IN UNDERSERVED
POPULATIONS DO NOT NECESSARILY
HAVE ACCESS TO EASILY GET TO A
COMPUTER MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY
DURING THE WORKWEEK AND USE IT
AT THE LIBRARY WHEN POSSIBLE.
THAT WOULD BE VERY IMPORTANT T
MAKE SURE COMMUNITIES HAVE
ACCESS TO THE INFORMATION. A
SECOND ONE IS , WE COULD HAVE A
PRINTED OR POSTED NOTICE IN A
VISIBLE SPOT WHILE THE TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE ON SITE .
THIS WOULD REASSURE THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT THE WORK THAT I
BEING DONE . AND ELIMINATE THE
CONFLICT THAT HAPPENS BETWEEN A
TREE CREW AND THE PUBLIC.
SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO
SHARE AN EXAMPLE OF WHY THAT IS
IMPORTANT. LAST YEAR, THERE WAS
A NEWS REPORT WHICH SHOWED AN
UNPERMITTED TREE CUTTING AND TH
TREE SERVICE PROVIDER WAS
ACTUALLY ENDANGERING A YOUNG
WOMAN WHO WAS STANDING UNDER TH
TREE WHILE THEY WERE STILL
WORKING . TREE ADVOCATES WERE
CALLING IN TO REPORT THESE
CUTTINGS . WHEN RESIDENTS HAVE
TO CALL IN TO REPORT SUSPICIOU
TREE REMOVAL I DO NOT SEE A POS
INSIDE SAYING IT WAS OKAY, THE
RISK A CONFRONTATION AND WE
DON'T WANT TO SEE THAT
ESCALATION. HAVING THE ONLINE
POSTING WOULD BE ALLOWING
NEIGHBORS TO VERIFY THAT THE
WORK IS LEGIT AND DOES NOT
RESULT IN NEEDLESS CALLS TO SE
IF A PERMIT WAS ISSUED. THANK
YOU FOR THE SMALL CHANGES WIL
HELP IN CONFLICT AND NEGATIVE
FEELINGS GENERATED IN
NEIGHBORHOODS . I APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME .
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS STEVE
THEN SANDY. WELCOME, STEVE.
>> THANK YOU. I AM SPEAKING ON
BEHALF OF FRIENDS OF SEATTLE
URBAN FOREST. WE APPRECIATE THE
WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUT INTO
MODIFIED THE VERSION THAT YOU
PUT OUT PREVIOUSLY . I THINK A
LOT OF THE CONCERNS WE HAVE
HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. TREES
SIX INCHES AND GREATER ARE 45
OF THE RESIDENTIAL ZONES
ACCORDING TO THE SEATTLE
FOREST ECOSYSTEMS REPORT FROM
2012. WE ARE STILL 65% NOT
COVERED ON RESIDENTIAL ZONES .
WE WANT TO SUPPORT THE ONE WEEK
PROVISION AS THREE DAYS IS A
SHORT TIMEFRAME. WE WANT
SOMETHING -- I DON'T KNOW IF
THERE IS SOMETHING GOOD FOR A
MONTH OR TWO MONTHS , SO THAT,
IF THOUGH CHANGES CHANGE ,
AN ISSUE OF STOPPING TREES
RELEVANT TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING,
IT DOES NOT SAY TOPPING IS
ALWAYS PROHIBITED. 2509070 FOR
-- YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT PARTS O
THE CODE OUT THERE, STRICTLY
PROHIBITED . YOU SHOULD LOOK AT
IT. IT SAYS TREE REMOVAL OR
TOPPING IS PERMITTED IN THE
FOLLOWING CASES EXCEPT IN
PROVIDED IN 2511050, WHICH
GIVES A BUNCH OF EXEMPTIONS. IT
IS APPROPRIATE TO SAY, TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS SHOULD NOT B
TOPPING ANY TREES IN SEATTLE ,
REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE,
BECAUSE IT BRINGS ABOUT MORE
HAZARDOUS TREES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, STEVE. UP NEXT I
SANDY. WELCOME , SANDY.
>> HELLO. THIS IS SANDY. THAN
YOU . I WANTED TO THANK YOU FO
LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY AND
EXPERTS ON THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION TO THOUGHTFUL
AMENDMENTS TO THE TREE SERVICE
PROVIDER REGISTRY. I STRONGLY
SUPPORT HAVING ARBORISTS ON
SITE WHILE THEY ARE WORKING.
THAT WAS MY DAUGHTER THAT
BARBARA WAS REFERRING TO. EITHE
TAPING A NOTICE OF TREE WORK T
THEIR TRUCK OR PUTTING IT UP ON
A SANDWICH BOARD . TO THE
AVERAGE PERSON , IT IS HARD TO
TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
LEGAL AND ILLEGAL TREE WORK.
MOST PEOPLE ARE EXTREMELY
UNCOMFORTABLE WALKING UP TO
PEOPLE WITH CHAINSAWS TO ASK
QUESTIONS . AND WORKERS DO NOT
APPRECIATE BEING INTERRUPTED.
HAVING A POSTED NOTICE SOLVES A
BIG PROBLEM WITH LITTLE EFFORT.
CHANGING THE ADVANCE NOTICE T
ONLINE IS A FANTASTIC IDEA.
HOLDING IT INTO THE EXISTING
SYSTEM THAT S. HAS BEEN
SUCCESSFUL USING FOR NINE YEAR
WOULD BE EVEN BETTER. IT WOULD
ALSO REDUCE THE LOAD MANAGEMEN
OF THE SEATTLE TREES . IN THE
MEANTIME, CONSIDER MAKING THIS
NOTICE TIME A FULL WEEK INSTEAD
OF THREE DAYS SO PEOPLE WHO
WORK LONG HOURS HAVE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO STAY INFORMED
ABOUT THE TREES IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD. THE MAPPING TOOL
IS A GREAT IDEA AND WILL ANSWE
THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO GET MOR
ACCESSIBLE INFORMATION ABOUT
TREES IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD .
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK TO
SAVE SEATTLE'S BIG TREES .
>> THANK YOU, SANDY. CAN YOU
CONFIRM THERE ARE NO MORE
PUBLIC, REGISTRANTS AT THIS
TIME ?
>> THERE ARE NO MORE
REGISTRANTS ONLINE AT ALL
TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, SIR . AT THIS TIM
, WE HAVE NO ADDITIONAL SPEAKER
, WE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT
AGENDA ITEM. WITH THAT, CLERK
WE WILL READ IN ALL FIVE
APPOINTMENTS AT THE SAME TIME S
WE KEEP IT SMOOTH RATHER THAN
GETTING CLUNKY . OUR FIRST FIVE
ITEMS ON THE AGENDA ARE A
BRIEFING DISCUSSION AND POSSIBL
VOTE ON APPOINTMENTS 02445
THROUGH 02449, THE APPOINTMENT
ARE BEN GIST , KEVIN O'NEILL
PHOEBE ERIN BOGERT , ADAM PAU
AMRHEIN , AND JILL CRARY TO
THE SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION
FOR A TERM FEBRUARY 28, 2025.
PLEASE READ THE SHORT TITLES
INTO THE RECORD.
>> APPOINTMENT 02445 OF BEN
GIST AS MEMBER, SEATTLE DESIGN
COMMISSION, FOR THE TERM TO
FEBRUARY 28th 2025. APPOINTMEN
02446, OF KEVIN O'NEILL AS
MEMBER , SEATTLE DESIGN
COMMISSION, FOR A TERM TO
FEBRUARY 28, 2025. APPOINTMENT
02447, OF PHOEBE ERIN BOGERT, A
MEMBER, SEATTLE DESIGN
COMMISSION, FOR THE TERM TO THE
UNDER 28, 2025. APPOINTMENT
02448, REAPPOINTMENT OF ADAM
PAUL AMRHEIN AS MEMBER SEATTLE
DESIGN COMMISSION, FOR A TERM T
FEBRUARY 28, 2025. AN
APPOINTMENT 02449,
REAPPOINTMENT OF JILL CRARY AS
MEMBER, SEATTLE DESIGN
COMMISSION, FOR THE TERM TO
FEBRUARY 28th, 2025 . FOR A
DISCUSSION OF POSSIBLE VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE JOINED B
MICHAEL JACOBS FROM THE OFFICE
OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE DISCUSSION
OF ALL OF THE APPOINTEES.
MICHAEL JENKINS, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GIVE US A
BRIEF BACKGROUND? WE HAVE A DEE
BACKGROUND ON THE DESIGN
COMMISSION. THE VIEWING PUBLIC
COULD USE A DESCRIPTION.
>> I AM ALWAYS TO -- HAPPY TO
TALK ABOUT THE SEATTLE DESIGN
COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR
BRINGING FORWARD FOR
CONFIRMATION THESE APPOINTMENTS
AND REAPPOINTMENTS . SINCE 1960
THE SEATTLE DESIGN COMMISSION
HAS ADVICE THE MAYOR, CITY
COUNCIL , AND CITY DEPARTMENTS
ON THE DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ASPECTS OF CAPITAL FACILITIES ,
PROJECTS THAT SEEK LONG-TERM
USE OF THE PUBLIC REALM OR
PROJECT THAT SEEK TO VACATE A
STREET OR ALLEY FOR NEW
DEVELOPMENT. WE HAVE 10
COMMISSIONERS THAT ARE
REPRESENTATIVE OF ARCHITECTURE
AND DESIGN PROFESSIONS , AS WEL
AS A FINE ARTIST , AND AN
AT-LARGE MEMBER WHO TYPICALLY
HAS EXPERTISE IN THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS . WE ARE
HERE TODAY TO SEEK COUNCIL
CONFIRMATION OF THE APPOINTMENT
OF PHOEBE ERIN BOGERT AS OUR
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. BEN GIST
AS ARCHITECT. HE IS NOT ABLE T
BE HERE TODAY, EITHER IN PERSO
OR VIRTUALLY, HE IS LITTERING
ON AN AIRPLANE TODAY BUT SINCE
HIS REGRETS. FINALLY, KEVIN
O'NEILL, AS OUR TRANSPORTATION
PLANNER . WE ARE SEEKING
REAPPOINTMENTS OF ADAM PAUL
AMRHEIN AND JILL CRARY , IN THE
URBAN PLANNER AND AT-LARGE
POSITION. FINALLY, JILL CRARY
HAS BEEN NOMINATED TO SERVE A
ONE-YEAR TERM AS CHAIR TO THE
COMMISSION. A POSITION THAT
SHE WAS UNANIMOUSLY NOMINATED
BY HER FELLOW COMMISSIONERS. I
AM PLEASED WITH THAT .
>> THAT IS WONDERFUL.
>> KEVIN AND PHOEBE ARE ONLINE.
>> THAT IS WONDERFUL. WE WILL
GO THROUGH THESE IN ORDER. BEN
IS ON AN AIRPLANE . WOULD YOU
LIKE TO TALK ABOUT HIM ?
>> AGAIN, HE SENDS HIS REGRETS,
HE STARTED A NEW POSITION
HEADING UP THE SEATTLE OFFICE
FOR A MULTISTATE ARCHITECTURAL
FIRM BASED IN SAN DIEGO. BEN
COMES TO US WITH 20+ YEARS IN
ARCHITECTURE, SPECIALIZING IN
MIXED-USE, SINGLE-PURPOSE
ARCHITECTURE. HE RECENTLY LEF
THE FIRM OF G2 ARCHITECTURE
WHERE HE WAS ONE OF THE
PRINCIPLES. HE HAS ALSO
SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN
WORKING WITH THE LOCAL AIA
CHAPTER IN ADVANCING
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTFOR
BOTH EMERGING ARCHITECTS AND
ARCHITECTS WHO HAVE HAD
SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE IN THE
FIELD , AGAIN, FOCUSING ON
MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT,
SINGLE-PURPOSE DEVELOPMENT . WE
ARE PLEASED TO HAVE SOMEONE WIT
HIS BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE
JOIN THE COMMISSION AGAIN, HE
SENDS HIS APOLOGIES FOR NOT
BEING HERE TODAY .
>> NOT A PROBLEM. ANY QUESTIONS
ABOUT BEN? AND WE WILL MOVE O
TO KEVIN. SEEING NONE , KEVIN ,
IT IS EXCITING TO HAVE YOU WITH
US TODAY. FOR BOTH PHOEBE
BOGERT AND ADAM, BEN, I HAVE
NOT HAD THE PLEASURE OF GETTING
TO WORK WITH YOU VERY DIRECTLY,
PEOPLE I HAVE LOOKED UP TO IN
THE CITY FOR DOING BIG THINGS.
IT IS JUST REALLY EXCITING TO
HAVE YOU BOTH HERE IN COMMITTEE
TODAY. KEVIN , HAVING WORKED AT
SDOT , IN THE STREET USE , WIT
STREET USE , CAN YOU TALK TO ME
ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE PLANNING
COMMISSION REGARDING
TRANSPORTATION AND STREET USE
AS INFLUENCES THE BUILD
ENVIRONMENT? THE REASON THE
PLANNING COMMISSION IS SO
IMPORTANT, THIS CREATES THE
BUILD ENVIRONMENT AND THAT IS
WHAT WE EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY
WHICH IMPACTS OUR QUALITY OF
LIFE AND OUR OUTLOOK IN THE
WORLD. KEVIN , PLEASE SHARE ANY
THOUGHTS. HOW DOES THE STREET
PLAY INTO THE BUILT ENVIRONMEN
?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS . GREAT QUESTION. I
THINK THAT THE STREET
ENVIRONMENT PLAYS INTO THE WORK
THE PLANNING COMMISSION DOES I
A COUPLE OF WAYS. ONE, AS YOU
ARE AWARE, MANY PROJECTS , EVEN
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS,
THAT THE COMMISSION REVIEWS AND
SUBSEQUENTLY THE COUNCIL OFTEN
REVIEWS, HAVE STREETSCAPE
TREATMENTS ADJACENT TO THE SITE
THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO
THE QUALITY OF THE PUBLIC REAL
AND THE QUALITY OF HOW THE
PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATES
WITH THE PUBLIC STREET
RIGHT-OF-WAY . OBVIOUSLY, LIGH
RAIL STATIONS, WHICH THE
COMMISSION REVIEWS A LOT OF
THOSE, THE ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS
TO THE STATIONS , SO PEOPLE CAN
GET TO THOSE STATIONS SAFELY ,
WHETHER THEY ARE A PEDESTRIAN
OR A BIKE RIDER, AND , FINALLY
AS THE TRANSPORTATION PLANNER
, TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS ARE
SYSTEMS , AS YOU ARE AWARE.
THINKING ABOUT HOW STREET
IMPROVEMENTS AT A PARTICULAR
SITE FOR A SPECIFIC DEVELOPMEN
PROJECT THAT THE DESIGN
COMMISSION MAY BE REVIEWING , I
IS IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THE
CONTEXT AND THE CONTEXT WITHIN
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND HOW
THAT STREET DESIGN FOR THE
PROJECT INTEGRATES WITH WHAT IS
HAPPENING UP AND DOWNSTREAM. I
A BIKE IMPROVEMENT ADJACENT
TO THE SITE CONSISTENT WITH
BIKE IMPROVEMENTS DOWN THE
STREET GOING BOTH WAYS? THOSE
ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THE STREET
ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORTATION
GENERALLY IS IMPORTANT TO THE
DESIGN COMMISSION.
>> WELL SAID , KEVIN. ANY
QUESTIONS FOR KEVIN, COLLEAGUES
? I AM SEEING NONE.
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON , PLEASE .
>> HELLO, KEVIN, GOOD TO SEE YO
AGAIN. I THINK YOU ARE
EMINENTLY QUALIFIED AND WOULD B
A GREAT ADDITION AND ASSET. YOU
RAISE A POINT THAT -- WHEN I
WAS STAFFING THE LAND-USE CHAIR
WAS ALWAYS AN ISSUE , IT SEEMS
LIKE TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AN
LAND-USE PLANNING DO NOT HAPPEN
AT THE SAME TIME. USUALLY,
LAND-USE IS AFTER. BECAUSE IT
IS HARDER, I SUPPOSE . ANYWAY ,
I AM HAPPY THAT YOU TOUCHED ON
THOSE AND YOUR HISTORY PUTS YO
IN A GOOD POSITION TO ADDRESS
THAT FUNDAMENTAL ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON.
>> WELL SAID. KEVIN , THANK YO
FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE O
THE DESIGN COMMISSION . YOUR
EXPERTISE IS INVALUABLE. UP
NEXT -- ANYTHING ELSE, KEVIN?
>> NO, THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS .
>> THANK YOU, FRIEND. OF NEXT ,
PHOEBE BOGERT, I DON'T KNOW IF
WE HAVE WORKED CLOSELY
TOGETHER, BUT YOU WORK ON ONE O
THE BEST DESIGN PARKS IN THE
CITY. ON 14th AVENUE.
NORTHWEST. I AM VERY EXCITED T
HAVE YOU HERE WITH US ON THE
DESIGN COMMISSION AND MAYBE YO
COULD TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
YOUR WORK ON THAT PARK AND HOW
IT CHANGED AND INFORMED THE
COMMUNITY BUT ALSO, SHARE
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE ABOUT
THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE AND WHA
YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO ON THE
DESIGN COMMISSION.
>> THANK YOU , COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS, HELLO, COUNCILMEMBERS
I AM EXCITED TO BE HERE TODAY
YES, I DID WORK ON THE PARK I
MY DAYS WORKING AT BETHUNE.
HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY WORKED
RECENTLY, IN PORTLAND, AND
BROUGHT THE FIRM BACK TO
SEATTLE, CALLED PLACE . I HAVE
DEPTH AND RANG IN WORKING WITH
INTEGRATED DESIGN FIRMS. AND
INTERIOR DESIGN AND LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE. WORKING MERRILY
FOR A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
FIRM NOW. I HAVE PRACTICED IN
THE REGION FOR JUST UNDER 20
YEARS, A LITTLE UNDER, I WENT T
THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL AND GREW UP
IN SEATTLE. IN A COUPLE OF
WEEKS, IT WILL BE THE SEATTLE
DESIGN COMMISSION REVIEWING
GARFIELD SUPERBLOCK , I WILL BE
SITTING IN AS A NEW MEMBER, THE
COMMISSION. IT IS VERY NEAR AN
DEAR TO MY HEART, THE PUBLIC
LANDSCAPE , THE PUBLIC REALM OF
SEATTLE AND WATCHING YOU GROW U
AND ME GROW UP WITH IT AS WELL.
GEMENSKAP PARK IS A GREAT
EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT, THE INTERSECTION OF
PUBLIC REALM AND TAKING BACK
PIECES OF THE CITY FOR THE
PUBLIC. GEMENSKAP PARK , IF
PEOPLE ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH IT
14th AVENUE, THIS WEIRD
CARRIAGEWAY , BALLARD , AND THE
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION JUST
HAD A VERY ROBUST BACKGROUND
BEHIND IT TO ADVOCATE FOR THAT
TO BECOME A PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
IN A PART OF -- EXCUSE ME, A
PARK WITHIN THAT PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY. IT WAS AN
INTERESTING COLLABORATION WITH
SDOT, SEATTLE PARKS AND REC ,
WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION, GETTING SOMETHING
NEW TO BE A NEW LEXICON FOR
LINEAR PARKS IN SEATTLE. I THIN
LOOKING AT THOSE SPACES AND
HOW WE EXPERIENCE THE PUBLIC
REALM ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS
MAKES ME EXCITED TO DO MY WORK
EVERY DAY AND BE PART OF THE
DESIGN COMMISSION.
>> THAT IS WONDERFUL. VERY WELL
SAID. I CANNOT FOCUS ON THIS
ENOUGH, HAVING A PART IN A
STREET IS NOT A USUAL THING.
COLLEAGUES , ANY QUESTIONS FOR
PHOEBE ? SEEING NONE , YOUR
WORK SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND WE
ARE EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ON THE
COMMISSION. NEXT IS ADAM. HE
CANNOT BE WITH US. MICHAEL,
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY A FEW
WORDS?
>> WE ARE SEEKING HIM FOR A
SECOND TERM IN THE URBAN
PLANNING POSITION, HE WEARS A
NUMBER OF HATS, DESIGNER, HE WA
ACTUALLY HIS DAY JOB WHICH IS
LEADING ELEMENT URBAN DESIGN
GROUP . WE STARTED WORKING WITH
ADAM IN THAT CAPACITY BEFORE H
JOINED THE COMMISSION , LEADING
URBAN DESIGN SOLUTIONS FOR THE
PORTAGE BAY BRIDGE INVESTMENTS.
WHEN HE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO
JOIN THE COMMISSION AFTER THAT
WORK WAS COMPLETED, WE WERE
THRILLED TO HAVE THAT
EXPERTISE. HE HAS A RANGE OF
PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CLIENTS THAT
NEED DISTRICT MASTER PLANNING
INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND
DESIGN, PROJECTS LIKE 520 . HI
FIRM IS CONTINUING WITH THAT
THAT EXPERTISE DOES NOT COME
ALONG VERY OFTEN AND WHEN
SOMEONE WANTS TO RE-UP FOR A
TWO YEAR TERM, WE ARE HAPPY THE
ARE WILLING TO DO THAT,
SIMILARLY WITH JILL. THANK YOU
FOR CONSIDERING THE
REAPPOINTMENT OF ADAM .
>> THANK YOU ANY QUESTIONS FOR
MICHAEL ABOUT ADAM? SEEING NONE
, I AM EXCITED TO SPEAK ON JIL
CRARY . YOU WERE APPOINTED
THROUGH OUR COMMITTEE DURING TH
PANDEMIC WHEN WE COULD NOT MEE
IN PERSON . AT THAT POINT, I
FELT IT WAS SUCH A MISSED
OPPORTUNITY. I AM REALLY EXCITE
TO HAVE YOU HERE AND GETTING
TO WORK NEAR YOU IS THE BEST
WAY I CAN SAY IT. WATCHING HOW
YOU AND ROBERT REDEVELOPED AND
CHANGED SEATTLE CENTER IS SO
INCREDIBLY WELCOMING , TO BE A
21ST-CENTURY SPACE , REIMAGININ
WHAT COULD BE THERE. AND JUST
WATCHING HOW BRIGHT AND LIVELY
IT IS THERE NOW WITH THE
MONORAIL, GETTING FOLKS FROM
SOUND TRANSIT WITH THE
REDEVELOPMENT OF CLIMATE PLEDG
ARENA. THOSE ARE THE BIG THING
PEOPLE SEE . BUT ALL OF THE WOR
IT TOOK TO GET THOSE PARTNER
GROUPS THERE , WITH THE BALLET,
THE THEATERS, I CANNOT COUNT
HOW MANY ORGANIZATIONS THERE AR
ON THAT CAMPUS. IT IS OUR
CENTRAL PARK IN A LOT OF WAYS
OUR COMMUNITY HUB. SUCCESS IS
NEVER BY ACCIDENT. I SEE YOUR
FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER IT. WITH
THAT , IS THERE ANYTHING YOU
WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US
ABOUT THE DESIGN COMMISSION? HO
YOUR WORK AT SEATTLE CENTER
INFLUENCES YOUR PERSPECTIVE ON
THE DESIGN COMMISSION ?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS . I RETIRED FROM SEATTL
CENTER AS THE PANDEMIC WAS
BEGINNING. IT WAS AN INTERESTIN
TRANSITION . ONE OF THE THINGS
I KNEW, EVERY SINGLE PROJECT W
EVER TOOK TO THE DESIGN
COMMISSION , THE DESIGN
COMMISSION MADE IT BETTER. WE
TOOK SOME VERY COMPLICATED
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
THAT HAD MONEY LEVERAGED IN
INTERESTING WAYS, AND THOSE
PARTNERS LEARNED A LOT, TOO.
BRINGING THOSE PRIVATE INTEREST
TO DISCUSSION AND BRAINSTORMIN
ABOUT WHAT THE PUBLIC REALM
SHOULD BE , THAT WAS A VERY GOO
EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF US. I WAS
EXCITED TO BE ON THE
COMMISSION. THE THINGS THAT WE
HAVE DONE THE LAST TWO YEARS
HAVE BEEN GREAT TO BE INVOLVED
IN. WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK
ON SOUND TRANSIT AND SOUND
TRANSIT 3 . WE ARE EXCITED TO
LOOK AT HOW IT TOUCHES THE
PUBLIC REALM AND HOW WE CAN
HOPEFULLY, AGAIN, TAKE A VERY
COMPLICATED MULTI-HEADED PEACE
AND FOCUS ON JUST MAKING IT
BETTER. TO BE IN THE PUBLIC
REALM.
>> THE THING I WOULD SAY,
COUNCILMEMBERS , I SHAMELESSLY
APPROACHED JILL AND KEVIN AND
HAVE BEEN TALKING AS WELL, TO
HAVE THAT KIND OF EXPERTISE
BROUGHT BACK TO THE CITY ,
PEOPLE WHO REALLY UNDERSTAND ,
NOT ONLY HOW CAPITAL PROJECTS
GET FUNDED, BUT HOW THEY GET
BUILT. WE DO NOT GET THAT KIND
OF EXPERTISE VERY OFTEN AND THE
FACT THAT KEVIN AND JILL ARE
WILLING TO STAND AND SPEND TIME
TO DO THAT FOR THE CITY AGAIN
IN THAT CAPACITY, THAT IS SO
VALUABLE FOR THE WORK WE DO.
MAKING SURE THAT THE WORK WE
TOUCH BECOMES MORE VALUABLE.
THAT HAPPENS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE
WHO , ALL THE PEOPLE YOU'RE
CONSIDERING TODAY, PARTICULARLY
HAVING JILL AND KEVIN 'S
EXPERTISE AND UNDERSTANDING HOW
THE CITY WORKS MAKES IT MUCH
LARGER.
>> ALSO , TO HAVE PHOEBE DO
COMPARISONS AND CONTRASTING OU
NEIGHBOR TO THE SOUTH. HAVING
BOTH OF THESE MAJOR CITIES, AND
WITH SDOT, JILL, YOU
NEGOTIATED DEALS WITH THE MOST
POWERFUL PEOPLE IN SEATTLE.
>> YES.
>> YOU DID. WE ARE ALL REAPING
THE BENEFITS FROM THAT. I DID
NOT REALIZE THE DESIGN
COMMISSION PLAYED THOSE ROLES I
THE NEGOTIATIONS. IT IS AN
INCREDIBLE HONOR TO HAVE YOU,
PHOEBE AND KEVIN , JOINING US .
I THINK THIS WILL BE A DREAM
TEAM. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF
TALKING. COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSE
HAS A COMMENT . I WILL ASK FOR
OTHER COLLEAGUES IN A SECOND.
>> THANK YOU. JILL , WITH YOUR
EXPERTISE , FOR DECADES AT
SEATTLE CENTER , YOU HAVE SEEN
THE CITY GOVERNMENT MOVED FROM
AN AT-LARGE COUNCILMEMBER SYSTE
TO A HYBRID SYSTEM WE HAVE NOW
WITH THE SEVEN DISTRICTS
COUNCILMEMBERS. JUST REALLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DESIGN
COMMISSION'S WORK AND THE
INTERPLAY ON THE GROUND , WITH
THE EXPERTISE OF THE DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBERS , WHEN WE ARE
BUILDING OUT THE SOUND TRANSIT
STATIONS, WHERE THEY WILL BE
LOCATED, EXACTLY . AT SEATTLE
CENTER , THAT IS A BIG CONCERN.
CONSULTING COUNCILMEMBER LEWIS
ON THAT WOULD BE IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE , IN MY DISTRICT, I WA
FORTUNATE TO HAVE A COUPLE OF
STATIONS OPEN UP RECENTLY.
HAVING THAT ON THE GROUND
DISCUSSION WITH THE DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBERS WILL BE VERY
IMPORTANT SO THAT STATION, ALL
THE DISRUPTION THAT OCCURS ,
WILL BE MITIGATED WITH
COMMUNICATIONS AND INPUT FROM
THEM . I WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL
THE DESIGN COMMISSION APPOINTEE
TO BE THINKING THAT YOU HAVE A
RESOURCE IN THE DISTRICT
COUNCILMEMBERS UNDER THE SYSTE
.
>> THAT IS GREAT. THANK YOU .
>> I WILL PUT ONE PLUG-IN FOR
SOUND TRANSIT STATION AT
SEATTLE CENTER, PANDA PRINTING,
LOCATED WHERE THE DESIRED
STATIONS IS. IF WE COULD FIND
THEM A HOME ON THE SEATTLE
CENTER CAMPUS, THEY ARE THE LAS
AND BEST PLACE TO HAVE YOUR
FILM DEVELOPED. YES, I AM THA
ANALOG WHERE I HAVE FILM
DEVELOPED . THAT IS THE PLUG I
WILL PUT INTO PHOEBE, KEVIN,
JILL . COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS ? APPOINTEES, ANY
OTHER COMMENTS NOW THAT WE HAVE
HAD SOME DISCUSSION? NOT SEEING
ANY, WHAT IS CENTRALLY FOCUSE
FOR ME IS THAT THESE ARE
VOLUNTEER POSITIONS. NOT BEING
COMPENSATED FOR MY TIME SPENT.
THEY ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT
ROLES FOR OUR CITY . I REALLY
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
SPENDING YOUR TIME TO SEATTLE
THE BEST PLACE IT CAN BE. WITH
THAT, I MOVED TO RECOMMEND
CONFIRMATIONS 02445 THROUGH
02449 . IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECOND .
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND
SECONDED TO APPROVE 02445
THROUGH 02449 . PLEASE CALL THE
ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUEDA ?
>> YES .
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> YES .
>> COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> YES .
>> COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS?
>> YES . 02445 THROUGH 02449
PASSES AND WE WILL HAVE A FINAL
VOTE ON FEBRUARY 14th WITH THE
FULL SEATTLE COUNCIL. YOU DO NO
NEED TO ATTEND , IF YOU DO NOT
WANT TO. WE ARE VERY EXCITED T
HAVE YOU ON BOARD. MICHAEL ,
THANK YOU FOR MAKING SURE THERE
WAS NO LAPSE BETWEEN PREVIOUS
MEMBERS AND NEW MEMBERS COMING.
>> YOU ARE WELCOME. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBERS.
>> NEXT IS OUR FINAL ITEM ON
THE AGENDA TODAY , A BREAKING
DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL BILL
120509, WHICH WOULD AMEND THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR REGISTERED TRE
SERVICE PROVIDERS . PLEASE READ
THE SHORT TITLE INTO THE RECORD
>> COUNCIL BILL 120509 ,
AMENDING REQUIREMENTS FOR
REGISTERED TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS FOR BRIEFING AND
DISCUSSION.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE HAVING
OUR TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS JOIN
US HERE . IT IS MY UNDERSTANDIN
THAT URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION
COCHAIRS SHOULD BE WITH US.
ALTHOUGH -- THERE IS JOSH. WE
ALSO HAVE ANOTHER. WE ARE
JOINED BY YOLANDA HO FROM
COUNCIL CENTRAL STAFF , AND
KELSEY AND ANDREA FROM OUR HIG
ROAD TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS IN
THE CITY. AND, FIRST UP , DO
YOU HAVE A SHORT PRESENTATION,
YOLANDO, OR WOULD YOU LIKE TO
BRING UP THE BILL AND I CAN GO
TO THE CHANGES?
>> I CAN PROVIDE A SHORT
PRESENTATION TO GET EVERYONE ON
THE SAME PAGE, THEN WE CAN TAKE
IT FROM THERE, IF THAT SOUNDS
GOOD TO YOU, CHAIR ?
>> THAT WOULD BE GREAT .
>> LET ME GET THE PRESENTATION
UP. YOU CAN SEE IT OKAY?
>> YES.
>> GREAT. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
COUNCIL BILL 120509 . THIS
WILL BE OF AN OVERVIEW -- W
WILL DO A BRIEF RECAP OF BOTH
THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
REGISTRY , AND SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
REGISTRY PROGRAMS FOR TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS , DESCRIBE
THE COUNCIL BILL BEFORE YOU ,
AND HIGHLIGHT THE SUBSTANTIVE
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE
PRE-INTRODUCTION DRAFT AS
DISCUSSED AT THE DECEMBER 8
MEETING, LAST YEAR , AND THE
CURRENT BILL BEFORE YOU . AND
NOTE SOME POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION. LAST
MARCH, THE COUNCIL PASSED AN
ORDINANCE 126554 WHICH CREATED
A REQUIREMENT THAT TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS REGISTER PRIOR TO
CONDUCTING COMMERCIAL TREE WORK
ON PRIVATE PROPERTY IN SEATTLE.
THAT WOULD BE WITH THE
SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
CONSTRUCTION AND INSPECTIONS
REGISTRATION. IT DEFIES
COMMERCIAL TREATMENT AS MAJOR
PRUNING, REMOVAL OF TREES LARGE
THAN SIX INCHES IN DIAMETER AT
BREAST PLATE, AND ASSESSMENT OF
THE HEALTH OR HAZARD RISK OF
TREES LARGER THAN SIX INCHES
DIAMETER. THIS SPECIFIED
REQUIREMENT IS NECESSARY FOR
TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS TO
REGISTER WITH THE CITY , SUCH A
AN ARBORIST CERTIFICATION ,
PARTIAL LIABILITY INSURANCE ,
THESE REQUIREMENTS MATCH THOSE
OF THE SEATTLE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION'S TREE SERVICE
PROVIDER REGISTRY , AND REQUIRE
HIRING ENTITIES OF TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS TO POST A PUBLIC
NOTICE AT OR NEAR THE WORK SIT
AT LEAST THREE BUSINESS DAYS IN
ADVANCE OF MAJOR PRUNING OR TRE
REMOVAL. AND IT CODIFIED
EXISTING CITY REQUIREMENTS
RELATED TO HAZARDOUS TREE
REMOVAL PERMITS AND ADDED A
REQUIREMENT FOR A THIRD-PARTY
REGISTERED TREE SERVICE PROVIDE
TO CONDUCT THE HAZARD TREE
ASSESSMENT IN THE CASE OF
EXCEPTIONAL TREES. THE SEATTLE
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION
INSPECTIONS WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING
THIS REQUIREMENT , IN AUGUST,
THEY LAUNCHED THE TREE SERVICE
PROVIDER REGISTRY AND REQUIRED
THAT ALL TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS
REGISTER WITH THE CITY BY
NOVEMBER 10th. THEY ALSO ISSUE
A DIRECTORS ROLE 8-2022 TO
SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION OF THE
REGISTRY LAST SEPTEMBER. JUST A
QUICK COMPARISON OF SDOT AND
SDCI'S REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS , THE REQUIREMENTS
ARE LARGELY THE SAME, THE SDO
PROGRAM IS FOR THOSE WHO DO
TREE WORK IN THE PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY , THAT HAS BEEN IN
PLACE FOR A DECADE. THE ONE
DIFFERENCE I WOULD NOTE IS IN
THE PUBLIC NOTICE TIMEFRAME.
THESE DIFFERENCES ARE DUE TO
THE INTENT OF THE NOTICES, THE
NOTICE SDCI IS FOROF
NOTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY,
WHERE IS THE NOTICE FOR SDOT
WILL SOLICIT PUBLIC COMMENT SO
THAT STAFF WILL TAKE THAT INTO
CONSIDERATION WHEN DETERMINING
WHETHER TO ISSUE A PERMIT FOR
TREE REMOVAL IN THE PUBLIC
RIGHT-OF-WAY. IF NO ONE HAS AN
QUESTIONS, I WILL KEEP MOVING.
ON TO COUNCIL BILL 120509 ,
THIS WOULD RENAME MAJOR PRUNIN
TO AFFORDABLE WORK AND USE THAT
SAME DEFINITION FOR MAJOR
PRUNING THAT IS ALREADY
CODIFIED IN THE SEATTLE
MUNICIPAL CODE TITLED 15. IT
WOULD REQUIRE THAT COMMERCIAL
TREE WORK IN ENVIRONMENTALLY
CRITICAL AREAS BE SUBJECT TO
REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TREE
SERVICE PROVIDER REGISTRATION .
THIS WAS UNINTENTIONALLY LEFT
OUT OF THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION
AND ECA'S OUR GEOLOGICAL
HAZARD AREAS, LANDSLIDES , STEE
SLOPES , FLOOD PRONE AREAS,
WETLANDS , HABITAT CONVERSATION
AREAS , AND ABANDON LANDFILLS .
IT WOULD REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT
TO PHYSICALLY POSTED PUBLIC
NOTICE AT OR NEAR THE WORKSITE
INSTEAD REQUIRING THAT NOTICES
BE POST BY SDCI FOR TREE REMOVA
AND AFFORDABLE WORK AT LEAST
THREE BUSINESS DAYS IN ADVANCE
ONLINE. SDCI WOULD BE REQUIRED
TO HAVE A MAP-BASED TOOL BY TH
END OF NEXT MARCH TO HELP PEOPL
WHO ARE EASILY FINDING SUCH
NOTICES. IT WOULD REQUIRE THAT
TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE
THEIR CITY ISSUED REGISTRATION
NUMBER CLEARLY DISPLAYED ON
THEIR COMMERCIAL VEHICLE , AND
HAVE THE BUSINESS NAME AND PHON
NUMBER ON BOTH SIDES AND THE
REAR OF THEIR VEHICLES. IT
MAKES SOME TECHNICAL CORRECTION
AND CLARIFICATIONS. JUST NOTIN
, BECAUSE THERE WAS A
PRE-INTRODUCTION DRAFT DISCUSSE
IN DECEMBER, THE KEY DIFFERENCE
ARE THAT THIS COUNCIL BILL DOE
NOT INCLUDE THE EXEMPTION FOR
WORK ON HEDGES AND FRUIT TREES.
AND IT DOES NOT INCLUDE A
DEFINITION FOR HEDGES. IT
RENAMES PRUNING TO AFFORDABLE
WORK BUT DOES NOT MAKE CHANGES
TO BRANCH SIZE THRESHOLDS OR
PERCENTAGE OF BRANCHES THAT MAY
BE REMOVED AS COMPARED TO THAT
DEFINITION. IT AS A REQUIREMEN
FOR COMMERCIAL TREE WORK TO BE
SUBJECT TO THE TREE SERVICE
PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS AND
RESTORES THE PUBLIC NOTICE
REQUIREMENT, CHANGES IT TO
ONLINE ONLY, AND IT ADDS THE
DEFINITION FOR COMMERCIAL
VEICLES BASED ON THE DEFINITION
THAT IS ALREADY CODIFIED IN
TITLE 11 AND ADDS A REQUIREMEN
THAT THE BUSINESS NAME AND PHON
NUMBER BE ON THE REAR OF THE
VEHICLE IN ADDITION TO BOTH
SIDES. POTENTIAL IMPACTS ARE
THAT TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS
HAVE FOUND -- WELL, AS THE
REGULATION HAS GONE INTO PLACE,
EVEN THOUGH THE HIRING ENTITIES
ARE THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY OR
POSTING THE NOTICES , TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS HAVE TAKEN ON
THIS RESPONSIBILITY TO AVOID
ANY PENALTIES LEVIED ON ANYONE
. THIS HAS CAUSED COMPANIES TO
HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO DRIVE
AROUND THE CITY AND POST NOTICE
, WHICH DOES ADD COST TO
BUSINESSES AND INCREASES
VEHICLE EMISSIONS. REVIEWING
THIS PHYSICAL POSTING
REQUIREMENT IN ADVANCE OF
DOING THE WORK WILL ELIMINATE
THESE BURDENS. COMPANIES WILL
STILL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT
INFORMATION ABOUT IT BUT THE
BURDEN WILL SHIFT TO SDCI, THE
PROPOSAL WOULD ALSO REQUIRE THE
COMPANIES HAVE THE BUSINESS NAM
AND PHONE NUMBER ON THEIR
VEHICLES AND CLEARLY DISPLAYED
THEIR CITY ISSUED REGISTRATION
NUMBER , COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IN
SEATTLE ARE ALREADY REQUIRED TO
HAVE THE BUSINESS NAME
PERMANENTLY DISPLAYED ON TWO
SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. ADDING
THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DOES
NOT SEEM TO BE A HUGE ADDITIONA
BURDEN. SDCI COULD ALSO DO
SOMETHING SIMILAR TO WHAT SDOT
HAS BEEN DOING IN TERMS OF
PROVIDING REGISTERED TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS WITH A
PLASTIC WINDSHIELD STICKER UPON
REGISTRATION . WHEN THEY RENEW
THE REGISTRATION, SOMEONE HAS T
CLEAR THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY
REGISTERED WITH THE CITY. THAT
IS ONE POSSIBILITY. IN TERMS O
RESIDENCE, AS SOME HAVE NOTED,
SOME EMAILS AND IN PUBLIC
COMMENT, HAVING A PHYSICAL
NOTICE ON SITE DOES ALLOW
RESIDENTS TO EASILY TELL IF A
TREE SERVICE PROVIDER IS
REGISTERED AND HAS FOLLOWED
PROPER PROCEDURE. THE PHYSICAL
NOTICES TO HELP RESIDENCES
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN ILLEGAL TRE
REMOVAL VERSUS ONE THAT HAS BEE
PERMITTED OR IS ALLOWED BY RIGH
WHILE THE WORK IS IN PROCESS.
CHANGING THIS NOTICE REQUIREMEN
TO ONLINE ONLY WILL REQUIRE
THAT RESIDENTS HAVE SMART PHONE
WITH THEM , OR TO ACCESS A
COMPUTER LATER TO DETERMINE IF
TRE SERVICE PROVIDERS HAS
PROVIDED THE REQUIRED NOTICE.
TREE WORK NOTICES ARE ALREADY
AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH THE
SDCI PUBLIC NOTICE PORTAL , BUT
THE INTERFACE IS NOT ENTIRELY
INTUITIVE AND THERE IS NO
SUMMARY CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR
THESE NOTICES. THE COUNCIL BIL
WOULD REQUIRE THAT, BY THE END
OF MARCH NEXT YEAR, SDCI
PROVIDE THE PUBLIC WITH MAPPING
TOOLS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO FIN
THE NOTICES . SDCI COULD ALSO
CONSIDER PROVIDING A BIWEEKLY
EMAIL SUMMARY OF NOTICES TO
INTERESTED RESIDENCES, SIMILAR
TO THE LAND-USE INFORMATION
BULLETIN IT CURRENTLY PUTS OUT.
ONTO RACIAL EQUITY , AS WAS
DISCUSSED LAST YEAR DURING THE
DELIBERATIONS ABOUT TRADE IN
THE NEW REGISTRATION
REQUIREMENT, WORKERS IN THE
LANDSCAPE INDUSTRY , WHICH
INCLUDES TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS
ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY LATINO O
HISPANIC, AND THIS PROPOSED
LEGISLATION IS INTENDED TO
REDUCE THE ADMINISTRATIVE
BURDEN AND COST FOR TREE SERVIC
PROVIDERS BY CHANGING TO AN
ONLINE NOTICE SYSTEM. THROUGH
MY RESEARCH , I DID FIND THAT
SMART PHONE OWNERSHIP, CHANGIN
TO RESIDENTS, SMART PHONE
OWNERSHIP IS FAIRLY UBIQUITOUS
AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AT OR
AROUND 85%, AND THIS DOES NOT
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT ETHNICITY
MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE ACCESS
TO THESE ONLINE NOTICES THROUGH
THEIR SMART PHONES. HOWEVER ,
THOSE WHO ARE 65 YEARS OR OLDER
AND THOSE LOW INCOME ARE LESS
LIKELY TO OWN SMART PHONES OR
HAVE ACCESS TO A COMPUTER OR
HIGH-SPEED INTERNET. THUS, THEY
WOULD HAVE LESS ACCESS TO THESE
ONLINE NOTICES. IN TERMS OF
IMPLEMENTATION, THESE ARE TREE
NOTICES ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE
ONLINE. SDCI HAS ALREADY MET
THE INTENT OF THIS LEGISLATION
FOR YOU. CREATING A NEW ONLIN
MAPPING TOOL MAY REQUIRE SOME
ADDITIONAL -- WILL REQUIRE
ADDITIONAL STAFF TIME AND
POTENTIALLY ADDITIONAL RESOURCE
IF THE SDCI REQUIRES
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES BEYOND
WHAT THEY HAVE IN THEIR CURREN
BUDGET. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO
INCLUDE ANY REQUESTS IN EITHER
THE 2024 PROPOSED BUDGET OR
POSSIBLY EARLIER IN THE MIDYEA
SUPPLEMENTAL, DEPENDING ON THE
TIMING . SDCI WOULD ALSO NEED
TO EDUCATE PERMIT APPLICATIONS
ABOUT CHANGES TO COMMERCIAL TRE
WORK AND THE ENVIRONMENTALLY
CRITICALLY AREAS. BUT THIS
EFFORT SHOULD BE RELATIVELY
MINOR AND SHOULD NOT BE A
MAJOR LIFT FOR THEM. WITH THAT,
I HAVE COMPLETED MY
PRESENTATION .
>> THANK YOU. I WILL DO A QUIC
SUMMARY OF YOUR VERY GOOD
PRESENTATION. I WILL NOTE , TH
CHANGES IN THIS BILL ARE
CHANGING THE POSTING
REQUIREMENTS TO REQUIRE THEM T
BE ONLINE LEGALLY REQUIRED THE
TO BE ONLINE, AS WELL AS AN
INCLUSION OF A MAP SO PEOPLE CA
FIND IT EASY TO NAVIGATE . I
WAS SPEAKING WITH COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN BEFORE THIS MEETING GO
UNDERWAY ABOUT MY DESIRE TO
INITIALLY HAVE IT WITH THE
PERMIT UP THAT SDCI ALREADY
HAS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE I
AS A SEPARATE MAP. THERE ARE A
NUMBER OF FORTHCOMING CHANGES
IN THE NEXT MONTH WITH THE TREE
ORDINANCE, GIVING SDCI THE TIME
THAT THEY NEED TO REALLY
EFFECTIVELY CREATE THIS MAP IN
GOOD WAY. WHILE ALSO
UNDERSTANDING, IF SDCI HAS
RESOURCED PROPERLY AHEAD OF NEX
YEAR, THEY CAN GET THIS DONE
SOONER. WE PUT IT AT THE END O
THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR
BECAUSE WE WILL GIVE THE MONEY
IN THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE. THEY
ARE ONLY ABLE TO USE THAT MONE
IN JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR, GIVING
THEM THREE MONTHS OR LESS . IF
THERE IS A WAY WE CAN GET IT
GOING FASTER, WE ARE ALWAYS
WELCOME. REQUIRING THE VEHICLES
TO HAVE NUMBERS AND CITY ISSUE
REGISTRATION NUMBERS, RATHER
THAN REQUIRING THE NOTICE BE
POSTED ON THE TREE, HAVING
NOTICE ON THE TRUCK ALWAYS
ALLOWS PEOPLE TO KNOW WHETHER O
NOT THESE ARE REGISTERED
ARBORISTS ARE NOT. THERE WAS
SOME MAJOR PRUNING, TECHNICAL
TERM , WE USED IT AS A GENERAL
TERM , JUST CHANGING THAT TO
AFFORDABLE WORK SOLVES SOME OF
THE ISSUES. ADDING
ENVIRONMENTALLY CRITICAL AREAS
AS WELL. AFTER SPEAKING WITH
THIS GROUP OF AMAZING ARBORISTS
, THERE ARE OTHER CHANGES THAT
ARE DESIRED AS WELL. LET'S HOL
THAT FOR THE SECOND PORTION OF
THIS DISCUSSION. I WILL FIRST
OPENED IT UP TO COLLEAGUES AND
THEN HEADED OVER TO THE
ARBORISTS TO SHARE HOW THIS
BILL HAS WORKED AND WHAT HAS NO
WORKED, WHAT IS GOOD AND BAD
ABOUT THE CHANGES. JOSH, I WIL
PASS IT OVER TO YOU TO DO THE
SAME AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK
WITH THAT , COLLEAGUES, ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR
CONCERNS ? COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN ?
>> THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER AN
I LIKE THE EXISTING LAW. BECAUS
I HELPED TO DRAFT IT. WITH THI
COUNCIL BILL , BASICALLY
AMENDING THE EXISTING LAW , I
REALLY DO APPRECIATE THE WORK
BY SDCI IN GETTING THE REGISTR
STARTED. ALSO, HAVING ONLINE
ALREADY THE ABILITY TO LOOK
THESE UP. IF YOU KNOW HOW TO
LOOK FOR THEM. I APPRECIATE THE
DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR WORK. I D
LIKE THE IDEA OF POSTING ON THE
VEHICLES. I THINK THAT IS
ALREADY DONE FOR A LOT OF THESE
COMPANIES. GLAD WE ARE
MEMORIALIZING THAT. I WANT TO
HEAR FROM THE FORRESTER
COMMISSION. THANK YOU FOR
INVITING THEM TO THE MEETING .
WANT TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE
RATIONALE FOR THE CHANGES.
>> WONDERFUL. COLLEAGUES ?
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON , MORALES
MOSQUEDA ? SEEING NO QUESTION
AT THIS TIME , THANK YOU,
FRIENDS. ARBORISTS ? TAKE IT
AWAY. IF YOU COULD START BY
INTRODUCING YOURSELF. IF YOU
WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR
CERTIFICATIONS, ALWAYS WELCOME.
AND SHARE WITH US HOW HAS THI
BILL IMPACTED YOUR WORK, WHAT I
GOING WELL AND WHAT HAS NOT GON
WELL, AND MAYBE SPEAK TO THE
CHANGES.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH ,
COUNCILMEMBER STRAUSS , AND
THANK YOU FOR INVITING US HERE.
I WANT TO THANK ALL THE
COUNCILMEMBERS FOR TAKING THE
TIME TO LISTEN TO US , AND
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR
ATTENDING, ESPECIALLY THE
FORRESTER COMMISSION , AND I
WANT TO THANK YOLANDA HO FOR
THE WONDERFUL RECAP OF THE
PROPOSED CHANGES . WE EACH HAVE
A LITTLE PREPARED WE WOULD LIKE
TO SAY . I THINK THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO IS BE
HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
I WANT TO SAVE SOME TIME FOR
THAT. WE ARE HERE TO HELP AND
HELP YOU UNDERSTAND OUR
INDUSTRY AND OUR BUSINESS A
LITTLE BIT BETTER. MY NAME IS
ALAN TAYLOR . I GREW UP IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND ATTENDED SCHOOL
FOR FORESTRY . IT WAS THE
MOUNTAINS THAT BROUGHT ME TO TH
PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND THE TREES
THAT HAVE MADE ME STAY. I HAVE
FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE TREES W
HAVE HERE. MY DAD , MALCOLM, ON
OF MY HEROES , AS A MEMBER OF
THE NEW HAMPSHIRE HOUSE IN THE
1970s, WORK TO CREATE THE NEW
HAMPSHIRE REAL WETLANDS
PROTECTION LEGISLATION . IN
DOING THAT, HE WORKED WITH
DIFFERENT INTEREST GROUPS,
INCLUDING CONTRACTORS IN THE
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE,
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS , AND A
NUMBER OF POLITICAL COALITIONS
TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. I HAVE A
VERY INTERESTING ROADMAP IN THE
PAST IN MY FAMILY IN HOW THESE
THINGS CAN BE DONE , AND THAT
LEGISLATION IS STILL ENFORCED .
SOMETHING THAT INSPIRES ME TO
THIS DAY. THINKING OF
CERTIFICATIONS. I AM A
BOARD-CERTIFIED MASTER ARBORIST
WITH THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY
OF ARBORIST CULTURE AND A THE
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CONSULTING
ARBORISTS , THE TWO MAIN GROUPS
THAT YOU CAN BE CERTIFIED BY AS
AN ARBORIST IN THE U.S. ONE OF
THE FIRST THINGS I WANT TO GET
OUT IS DISPELLING THE MYTH OF
WHAT AN ARBORIST IS .
UNFORTUNATELY, IF YOU SEE
ARBORISTS DEPICTED IN ANY TV
SHOWS OR MOVIES , GENERALLY IS
NOT A VERY ACCURATE DEPICTION.
WORRY THAT , IN THIS DISCUSSION
WE WILL RUN INTO A SITUATION
WHERE WHAT MOST PEOPLE IMAGINE
WHAT AN ARBORIST DOES IS
DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE ACTUALLY
DO . THE COUNCILMEMBERS CAN
AGREE WE DO NOT WANT TO JUDGE
THEM AS POLITICIANS BY WHAT TH
WORST POLITICIANS DO. AS
ARBORISTS , HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE
JUDGED BY WHO WE GENERALLY ARE
AND NOT THE WORST AMONG US. TH
MOST GENERAL SENSE, WE ARE HERE
TO MODERATE THE RELATIONSHIP
BETWEEN HUMANS AND TREES. AS
SOMEBODY WHO REALLY LOVES TREES
THAT IS AN AMAZING JOB TO HAVE.
THERE ARE SO MANY THREATS TO
THE URBAN FOREST RIGHT NOW, THA
IS WHY I'M EXCITED WHAT WE ARE
DISCUSSING WAYS TO PROTECT TREE
AND MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR THE
RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. ILLEGAL
TREE CUTTING AND REMOVAL IS
DEFINITELY ONE OF THOSE THREATS
BUT THERE IS AN INCREDIBLY LON
LIST OF OTHER THREATS WE ARE
FACING RIGHT NOW AND WE WILL
HAVE TO BE REALLY DYNAMIC TO
RISE TO THE OCCASION AND MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE A HEALTHY
URBAN FOREST GOING FORWARD. WE
ARE ALSO NOT HERE TO SAY THAT
WE THINK ALL REGULATION IS BAD
WE ARE HERE TO SAY THAT WE WANT
REGULATION THAT MAKES SENSE.
THERE IS ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW
THINGS IN THIS NEW WARDEN IS
THAT WE SUPPORT AND WE THINK AR
REALLY GOOD. WE WANT TO THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN FOR
MIKE PROPOSING THIS LEGISLATION
, AND WE WILL GET TO IT IN A
MINUTE . WE HAVE A DETAILED
ORIENTED LOOK AT IT. THERE ARE
GOOD THINGS HERE, AND THE IDEA
OF A REGISTRY, ESPECIALLY. IT I
CRAZY HOW LOW THE BAR IS TO
MAKE ENTRY, ANYONE CAN CALL
THEMSELVES AN ARBORIST, YOU
DON'T HAVE TO PASS A BAR. JUST
HAVING SOME SORT OF BASE
REQUIREMENTS FOR DOING THIS
WORK AND THE CITY WE THINK IS
REALLY GOOD FOR SOME WORK . I
WILL GET TO IT LATER,
UNFORTUATELY, YOU MISSED SOME
PEOPLE WHO THIS WOULD IMPACT.
GENERALLY, THE LICENSES WE
THINK ARE REALLY GOOD.
PENALTIES FOR COMMON ISSUE HAV
SIGNIFICANT INFRACTIONS ON CIT
TREE CODES . IT IS GOOD TO HAVE
TEETH THAT CAN PUNISH COMPANIE
IN ADDITION TO PEOPLE HIRING
THEM. AND , ONE THING I WANT TO
SAY , EVEN IN THE MOST CYNICAL
PURELY BUSINESS-ORIENTED SENSE
GROWING URBAN FOREST IS GOOD FO
US . THERE ARE 1 MILLION REASON
TO GO BEYOND THAT FOR WHY WE
SHOULD GROW THE URBAN FOREST.
ESPECIALLY WHEN WE GO TO TREE
CONFERENCES AND THE LIKE, WE
WILL GO ON AND ON UNTIL
EVERYBODY IS HALF-ASLEEP ABOUT
HOW WONDERFUL TREES ARE. I HAVE
SPENT MY ENTIRE LIFE WORKING
WITH TREES AND I WOULD NOT HAVE
IT ANY OTHER WAY I THINK THEY
ARE THE MOST INCREDIBLE
ORGANISMS. WE THINK MOST OF
THESE REGULATIONS ARE A NET
POSITIVE. THERE ARE SOME DETAIL
WE WANT TO GET TO. ON THAT NOTE
I THINK ONE OF THE MOST
CRITICAL DETAILS THAT WAS
MISSED, HOW BIG A ROLE
LANDSCAPERS AND HORTICULTURALIS
PLAY IN TERMS OF MANAGING THE
TREES WITHIN THE CITY?
>> CAN WE COME BACK TO WHAT YO
ARE SAYING . I WANT TO FOCUS ON
WHAT HAS WORKED AND WHAT HAS NO
WORKED IN THE BILL IS WRITTEN.
HAVE A LIST OF OTHER THINGS WE
HAVE TALKED ABOUT. IF WE CAN
STAY FOCUSED AND WE WILL GET T
THAT IN A MOMENT.
>> OKAY. IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO
TALK ABOUT NOTICES AND THE
SPECIFIC TIMELINES ALONG WITH
THAT? CLEARLY , THAT IS ONE OF
THE BIG PIVOTAL POINTS IN ALL O
THIS. HOW MUCH TIME DO WE NEED
FOR NOTICES ? HOW AND WHERE
SHOULD THEY BE PLACED ? THE WAY
TO CONCEPTUALIZE THIS, FOR ONE
WE ARE SUPPORTING NOTICE
POSTING FOR TREE REMOVAL. THAT
IS A CROSS THE BOARD. WE WANT
PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO
FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT WHAT IS
GOING ON IS LEGIT. LOGISTICALLY
IT WORKS A LOT BETTER IF THE
NOTICES CAN BE PLACED ON SITE
BY THE CREW OR IF THERE IS A
DIGITAL OPTION. THE THREE DAY I
ADVANCE THING HAS BECOME A
MAJOR ISSUE FOR INDUSTRY AND
CAUSED A LOT OF HARDSHIP AND
INCREASED COST , BECAUSE, SO
MUCH IS CAUGHT UP IN THIS WORK
, WHAT USED TO BE PRUNING, NOW
AFFORDABLE WORK. IN MY COMPANY,
WE DO SOME JOBS THAT ARE A
COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS, A
LOT THAT ARE $500 , $700 ,
SOMETIMES WE DO TWO OR THREE OF
THOSE PER DAY SOMETIMES YOU HAV
LAST-MINUTE CANCELLATIONS. YOU
HAVE A JOB PRUNING A FRUIT TRE
FOR MRS. JONES, A CANCELLATION
ON TUESDAY, NOW IT IS MONDAY AN
YOU ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT TO DO. IF YOU ARE FOLLOWIN
THE RULES , YOU HAVE TO FIND A
JOB THAT EITHER FALLS ENTIRELY
UNDER THE THRESHOLD OF
REPORTABLE WORK OR MAJOR PRUNIN
TO FILL IN, OR , IN THEORY, LET
THE CREW GO HOME EARLY AND
SUFFERED A BIG LOSS OF REVENUE
FOR THE DAY. IN ALL OF THIS,
WITH THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, PEOPL
BEING CONCERNED THAT THAT IS A
HUGE LAYER IN ALL OF THIS, I
CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE A TWO TRACK
SYSTEM WHERE , MAYBE FOR TREE
REMOVAL , THERE ARE ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE POSTINGS
. IT HAS CREATED IMMENSE
HARDSHIP, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE
WHO MOSTLY PRUNE TREES AND OFTE
THOSE JOBS ARE MUCH SMALLER.
THE LOGISTICAL COSTS THAT ARE
ADDED TO THOSE JOBS ARE MUCH
GREATER RELATIVE TO THE OVERAL
COST OF THE JOB. IF YOU HAVE I
GLOBALIZED FOR A MONSTER TREE
REMOVAL BECAUSE OF A HAZARDOUS
TREE THAT IS UNSAFE IN A
CHALLENGING SPOT , ADVANCE
NOTICE POSTING IS NOT A BIG
DEAL. THAT IS A KEY THING WE
WANT TO GET ACROSS, IT IS JUST
NOT SCALING SUPER WELL. ONE
EXAMPLE , I KNOW THE INTENT OF
THE LEGISLATION WAS TO REQUIRE
THE HOMEOWNERS TO DO THE
POSTING. BUT ANOTHER THING
WE'RE HAVING ISSUE WITH, BY
FAILING TO POST , IT COULD RISK
OUR ABILITY TO WORK IN THE CIT
IF WE LOSE OUR TSP LICENSE,
THAT FOR TWO OR THREE DOZEN
COMPANIES WOULD MEAN INSTANT
BANKRUPTCY . THAT THREAT TO
LIVELIHOOD IS A BIG DEAL. JUST
THINKING OF HOW , YOU HAVE A GA
IN THE SCHEDULE, HOW IS THIS
NOTICE POSTING GOING TO WORK
OUT? I THINK THAT IS A BIG
PIECE OF THE PUZZLE FOR US. LE
ME SEE. DO YOU WANT
>>> I AM ONE OF THE PROJECT
MANAGERS AT SEATTLE TREE CARE.
I COME FROM A TREE CONSULTING
BACKGROUND . WHEN THIS
LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED, I
WAS LIVING IN COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN 'S DISTRICT AND WAS I
EARLY CONTACT ABOUT SOME OF IT.
THANK YOU FOR THE REGISTRATION
I AGREE WITH ALAN 'S COMMENTS.
WE ARE GRATEFUL IT IS HERE. WE
SUPPORT POSTING NOTICE FOR
TREE REMOVALS, POSTING NOTICE
FOR PRUNING HAS BEEN
CHALLENGING. I WILL LET KELSEY
SPEAK TO THAT LITTLE BIT MORE.
WE DO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF
POSTING OUR TSP NUMBER ON OUR
TRUCKS, HOWEVER , ONE THING TO
NOTE IS THAT THEY CHIP TRUCK
DOES NOT HAVE ANYTHING WHERE
THEY CAN POST ANYTHING ON THE
BACK OF IT. IT IS COMPLETELY
OPEN WITH JUST A BUMPER . I
WOULD REQUEST THAT WE CHANGE
THAT TO JUST THE LEFT AND RIGHT
SIDES AND NOT THE REAR . A LOT
OF COMPANIES HAVE A HARD TIME
MEETING THAT REQUIREMENT.. ONE
OF THE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT
POSTING THREE BUSINESS DAYS IN
ADVANCE IS THAT CLIENTS WHO
HAVE TREES THAT THEY HAVEN'T
NOTICED REQUIRE PRUNING OR
NEIGHBORS WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM
HAVING A TEAM OF QUALIFIED
INDIVIDUALS ALREADY MOBILIZED
TO THE SITE, COSTS ARE
INCREASING SIGNIFICANTLY.
WHEREAS, IF I HAVE A TEAM OF
ARBORISTS WORKING ON SITE, WE
HAVE POSTED NOTICE FOR WHAT IS
ESSENTIALLY VERY SMALL PRUNING
WORK . IF WE HAVE A VERY SMALL
AMOUNT OF WORK THAT IS JUST
ABOVE THE THRESHOLD INCLUDING
MOVING A DEAD BRANCH, THE WAY
THE CODE IS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW,
WE CAN'T REASONABLY ADD THAT ON
WITHOUT LEAVING THE SITE ,
CHARGING OUR CLIENTS ADDITIONAL
MOBILIZATION TO RETURN TO THE
SITE LATER , RESUBMITTING OR
SUBMITTING ADDITIONAL NOTICE.
INCREASING COSTS ON THE GROUND
FOR NOT ONLY OUR OVERHEAD . WE
DID HIRE ADDITIONAL STAFF TO
HELP POST THESE NOTICES BUT IT
IS INCREASING COSTS FOR TREE
OWNERS . SOMETHING I HAVE
NOTICED IN MY CONVERSATIONS WIT
FOLKS IS WHEN WE ARE PRUNING OR
HELPING PEOPLE MANAGE THEIR
PROPERTIES FOR LONG-TERM IS THA
PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO PLANT TREE
ANYMORE. I WALK THEM THROUGH TH
CODE RESTRICTIONS AND WHERE
THINGS HAVE GONE AND WHAT THEY
NEED TO PLAN FOR , THE RIGHT
TREE THE RIGHT PLACE AND I
BECAME AN ARBORIST BECAUSE I
BELIEVE IN PROTECTING SEATTLE
URBAN FOREST AND I WANT TO HELP
PEOPLE MANAGE THEIR TREES AND
MAINTAIN THEM SAFELY AND PEOPLE
ARE AFRAID OF THE COST
ASSOCIATED WITH TREE CARE .
WHILE THE INTENT IS VERY GOOD,
THINK THAT THE NOTICED
REQUIREMENT HAS STARTED TO
INCREASE THOSE COSTS. THAT
INCLUDES LEAVING NOTICE
AFTERWARDS , SOMETHING YOU WOUL
BE OPEN TO DISCUSSING. IT IS
JUST THE ADVANCED NOTICE HAS
BECOME A BIG LOGISTICAL
CHALLENGE. I HAVE OTHER ASPECT
THAT I HAVE GONE THROUGH AS A
MUNICIPAL SPECIALIST . I LOVE
THE CODE ESPECIALLY IN TERMS OF
URBAN FORESTRY. I HAVE GONE
THROUGH POINT BY POINT BUT I
WOULD LIKE TO PASS IT TO KELSEY
QUICKLY AND THEN I WILL COME
BACK WHEN NEEDED.
>> AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD AND
SPEAK WITH YOU AND PROVIDE OUR
INPUT. I AM A CERTIFIED ARBORIS
AS WELL AS A CO-OWNER AND CEO
AT SEATTLE TREE CARE BUT I AM
ALSO HERE REPRESENTING THE NEWL
FORMED SEATTLE ARBORIST
ASSOCIATION. WE REPRESENT OVER
28 ARBORIST COMPANIES WORKING I
SEATTLE AS WELL AS 83 I AS A
CERTIFIED ARBORISTS AND 200
OTHER WORKERS RELATED TO OUR
FIELD OF HORTICULTURE. WE PRUNE
OVER 21,000 TREES IN SEATTLE,
ANNUALLY . THIS LEGISLATION FEL
LIKE IT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. N
ONE KNEW WHAT WAS COMING DOWN
THE PIPELINE. I RECOGNIZE THAT
IT WAS POSTED AND WE COULD HAVE
HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE
INPUT BEFORE IT WAS MASTERED BU
NOBODY THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO
DID. ONE BENEFIT IS THAT THE
ARBORIST COMMUNITY IS GETTING
TOGETHER AND FURTHER ALIGNING S
THAT WE CAN HELP SUPPORT THE
TREE CODE IN THE FUTURE. I WOUL
LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THE
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR SEATTLE
2035 AS WAS UPDATED IN 2022 AN
STATES THAT OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE
THE CITY MORE EQUITABLE,
LIVABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND
RESILIENT FOR TODAY'S COMMUNITY
. THE CITY OF SEATTLE URBAN
FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN AIMS TO
RETURN OUR CANOPY COVERS TO 33%
AND ENSURE THAT OUR URBAN FORES
PROVIDES EQUITABLE ACCESS TO
ECOSYSTEM SERVICES, ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITIES AND HEALTH
BENEFITS OFFERED BY TREES. AS
THE OWNER OF A LOCAL TREE
SERVICE COMPANY FOR THE PAST 15
YEARS, I JUST WANT TO OFFER MY
INSIGHT INTO HOW THIS NEW TSP
CODE IS IN CONFLICT WITH OUR
EQUITY GOALS. ELLEN AND ANDREA
HAVE MENTIONED IT HAS DRIVEN U
THE COST OF TREE CARE. FOR
EXAMPLE, IF A RESIDENT HAS A
HAZARDOUS TREE THAT THEY NEED T
HAVE REMOVED, WHICH IS A
FINANCIAL BURDEN AND THOUSANDS
OF DOLLARS, AND THAT DOES NOT
EVEN INCLUDE THE COST FOR THE
PERMIT ITSELF , THEY NOW NEED T
HAVE A THIRD PARTY COMPANY COME
IN AND PREPARE THE TREE REMOVAL
APPLICATION AND PERMITTING FOR
THEM. THIS IS AN UNNECESSARY
BURDEN FOR HOMEOWNERS TO HAVE
HAZARDOUS TREES MITIGATED BUT
THEY ARE THREATENING THE
PERSONHOOD, THE KIDS, THE
PROPERTY. PHYSICALLY POSTING
THE NOTICE IN ADVANCE ON THE
ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN OF IT,
EVEN FOR SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS
THE ANNUAL APPLE TREE PRUNING
PROJECT DRIVES UP THE COST OF
TREE CARE. THIS DIS-INCENTIVIZ
HIS OWNERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP
AND PLANTING . WE HEAR REGULARL
FROM CITIZENS THAT THEY WANT T
REMOVE A TREE BECAUSE
MAINTAINING IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE
THE BAR OF CULTURE OFFERS A
SOLID CAREER PATHWAY TO A
DIVERSE RED FORCE AND OUR POLIC
DEVELOPMENT OF THE JOBS. THE
URBAN FOREST OF TOMORROW NEED
ARBORISTS AND WILL NEED
ARBORISTS EVEN MORE THAN THEY
DO TODAY WITH THE INCREASED
THREATS THEY ARE CURRENTLY
FACING. OPERATING UNDER THE
THREAT OF REMOVAL FROM THE TSB
FOR TWO POTENTIAL CLERICAL
ERRORS IN POSTING NOTICE
INCORRECTLY IS AN INCREDIBLE
BURDEN ON OUR COMPANY. IN
GENERAL, THE CURRENT TREE
PROTECTION CODE IS QUITE A BIG.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE EXCEPTIONAL
TREE THRESHOLD IS BASED ON AN
OUT-OF-PRINT BOOK . UNTIL WE
UPDATE THE OVERALL TREE
PROTECTION CODE , PLACING THE
BURDEN ON US FOR TWO VIOLATION
AND YOU ARE OUT, IS UNFAIR.
LANDSCAPERS AND HORTICULTURE'S
ARE OFTEN THE ENTRY POINT AND
THE TSP PUT MANY OF THEM OUT O
COMPLIANCE. ENTRY ATUL TREE CAR
WE HAVE 40 PEOPLE WORKING WITH
US. WE ARE WOMEN, WE ARE PEOPLE
OF COLOR. WE COME FROM ALL WALK
OF LIFE AND ECONOMIC
BACKGROUNDS. WHEN WE PRUNE
THOUSANDS OF TREES EVERY YEAR,
THERE IS A STRONG POSSIBILITY
THAT WE WILL MAKE AN
ADMINISTERED OF ERROR. WATCHED
EVERYBODY'S JOB ON MY COMPANY B
ON THE LINE ? THIS DOES NOT FEE
LIKE A PENALTY THAT FITS THE
VIOLATION. A COMPANY HAS TO
GROW TO A CERTAIN SIZE IN ORDER
TO HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO
SUPPORT THE TRAINING AND
DEVELOPMENT OF ITS TEAM MEMBERS
AT SCALE . IN THE PAST SIX YEAR
ALONE, MY COMPANY, SEATTLE TREE
CARE, HAS FUNDED AND SUPPORTED
THE CERTIFICATION OF 17
EMPLOYEES AS WELL AS PROVIDED
LOTS OF OTHER CRITICAL TRAINING
AROUND SAFETY AND PROPER TREE
CARE. ON THE OTHER HAND, WE
COMPLETE MORE PROJECTS EVERY
YEAR AND ARE MUCH MORE EXPOSED
TO POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS. I
WOULD ALSO ADD IN THAT OUR WORK
IS SOMEWHAT SEASONAL. WE DON'T
ALWAYS KNOW WHICH PROJECTS WE
WILL BE DOING A WEEK OR TWO FRO
NOW. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO
HAVE TEAM MEMBERS GO SOMEPLACE
TO WORK RATHER THAN TELLING THE
WE DID NOT POST NOTICE
PROPERLY. THERE WAS NO JOBS AND
WE ARE NOT PAYING YOU TODAY. WE
EXPERIENCED THIS WHERE A CREW
FINISHED UP EARLIER, A CUSTOME
CANCELED AND WE DON'T HAVE WORK
THAT WE CAN HAVE OUR EMPLOYEES
DO BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT POSTED
NOTICE. WE HAVE PRIDED OURSELVE
AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT KEEPS
OUR TEAM MEMBERS EMPLOYED
FULL-TIME AND YEAR-ROUND AND
THIS IS THE COMMITMENT THAT IS
NEEDED TO GROW THE NEXT
GENERATION OF ARBORISTS AND
OFFER LIVING WAGES TO OUR
DIVERSE WORKFORCE. IT IS THE
INTENTION OF THE CODE TO RID TH
CITY OF THE BAD ACTORS, THE TRE
CUTTERS COMING IN ON THE
WEEKENDS, LET'S NOT
INADVERTENTLY TAKEDOWN THE
COMPANIES THAT ARE WORKING HARD
TO LEARN AND GROW.
>> I WOULD END BY TELLING YOU
YOU HAVE THE FIRST MEETING OF
THE SEATTLE ARBORIST
ASSOCIATION. I WANTED TO ENSURE
THAT EVERYBODY ALIGNS BEFORE
EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SPEAK WITH YOU ALL TODAY. WE
PUT OUT THE INVITATION ONLY A
FEW DAYS AHEAD OF TIME BUT 17
PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO ATTEND AND
WE ALL VERY QUICKLY CAME TO A
UNANIMOUS AGREEMENT WITH THE
TREE PROTECTION CODE. WE WOULD
LIKE TO STAND AS AN ORGANIZATIO
THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT THE CITY
AS THE OVERALL TREE PROTECTION
CODE .
>> CAN I ADD ONE THING?
>> I HAVE A SMALL TREE CARE
COMPANY. IN ADDITION TO THE
INVOLVEMENT WITH WHAT APPEARS T
BE A BUDDING SEATTLE ARBORIST
ASSOCIATION, I AM HERE TO
REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF ALL
THE ARBORIST MEMBERS OF PLANT
AMNESTY, A GROUP MANY OF YOU
PROBABLY KNOW. THERE IS A GROUP
OF ARBORISTS THAT REFERS TO ITS
NUMBERS -- I AM THE CHAIR OF
THE COMMITTEE AND IT IS 20
DIFFERENT AGRICULTURAL COMPANIE
AND CONSULTANTS AND ALL
CAREFULLY VETTED BY THE
ORGANIZATION . I AM HERE TO ALS
SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF.
>> THANK YOU.
>> I AM GOING TO TURN IT OVER T
YOU NOW. JOSH MORRIS, CO-CHAIR
OF THE URBAN JUROR FOREST
RECOMMISSIONED. IF YOU COULD
GIVE US SUMMARIZING HOW THE
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION IS
FEELING ABOUT HOW THE ORIGINAL
LAW IS WORKING, HOW YOU ARE
FEELING ABOUT THESE CHANGES AND
WE WILL HOLD CONVERSATION ABOU
ANY OF THE POTENTIAL OTHER
CHANGES FOR LATER BUT JOSH, I
REALLY APPRECIATE RECEIVING THE
LETTER FROM THE URBAN FOREST
RECOMMISSIONED. IT WAS REALLY
CLEAR AND HELPFUL. JOSH, TAKE I
AWAY.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR STRAUSS. I'
JOSHUA MORRIS, CO-CHAIR OF THE
-- THE URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSIO
HAS NOT YET HAD A CHANCE TO
REVIEW IN COMMISSION THE
PROPOSED CHANGES BUT WE HAVE
TAKEN A LOOK AT THE FIRST SET
OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS . WE HAD
THREE MAJOR CONCERNS AT THAT
TIME. THE FIRST WAS EXEMPTION
OF HEDGES FROM POSTING
REQUIREMENTS OR REPORTABLE WORK
. THAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN
RESOLVED IN THE CURRENT SET OF
AMENDMENTS. WE ARE ALSO
CONCERNED ABOUT SOME
DEFINITIONS THAT HAD BEEN
PROPOSED TO ESTABLISH CODE
ELSEWHERE . IT IS ALSO
INCONSISTENT WITH BEST PRACTICE
AND DURING THE REMOVAL OF
POSTING REQUIREMENTS. WE WILL B
PLEASED TO SEE THAT AN ONLINE
POSTING SYSTEM IS BEING PROPOSE
ON THIS SET OF AMENDMENTS. THE
COMMISSION HAS HISTORICALLY, FO
A LONG TIME, BEEN ADVOCATING FO
MUCH LONGER POSTING
REQUIREMENTS, UP TO TWO WEEKS,
CONSISTENT WITH HOW SDOT IS
RUNNING THEIR SYSTEM. I AM
REALLY EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT TH
SEATTLE ARBORIST ASSOCIATION. I
GOT A CHANCE TO MEET ELLEN AND
ANDREA AND A COUPLE OF MEETING
ONLINE AND I THINK WE HAVE A LO
TO LEARN FROM THEM . I REGRET
THAT THE URBAN FOREST
RECOMMISSIONED MEETS AT SUCH AN
INCONVENIENT TIME AND I AM
LOOKING FORWARD TO FIGURING OUT
A WAY WE CAN ALL PLAN MORE
CONVENIENT TIMES TO LEARN FROM
EACH OTHER.
>> THANK YOU, JOSH. ANYTHING
FROM THIS CURRENT BILL THAT
STANDS OUT AS A HAZARD TO YOU?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
>> MY APOLOGIES. FOR EVERYONE
HERE, I HAVE A RULE IN MY
COMMITTEE WHERE I HAVE BILLS
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TWICE
BEFORE WE VOTE IT OUT SO THIS I
THE FIRST OF TWO OPPORTUNITIES
TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION. THIS I
SO THAT I VALIDATE AND KNOW
THAT EVERYONE HAS RECEIVED THE
INFORMATION AND HAS HAD TIME TO
PROCESS AND BRING ANY
AMENDMENTS IF DESIRED. IF YOU
DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER NOW, IT IS
OKAY. WE WILL ASK YOU AGAIN IN
TWO WEEKS.
>> I WOULD ECHO THE CALL FROM
SANDY AND STEVE FOR DAY OF
POSTING REQUIREMENTS. WE DO
OFFER IT LARGELY ON A COMPLAINT
BASED SYSTEM AND THERE IS A
PASSIONATE TREE EDUCATION
COMMITTEE OUT THERE WHO ARE
WILLING TO CONFRONT TREE SERVIC
PROVIDERS AND INTERRUPT THEIR
WORK. IF WE CAN COME UP WITH A
SYSTEM THAT IS AND BURDENSOME
ON THE PERSON CARING FOR THE
TREES , BUT IT DOES KEEP
COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT EASE AND
NOTIFY THEM WHEN TREE WORK IS
OCCURRING, THAT IS SOMETHING
THAT COULD BE HELPFUL FOR ALL O
US.
>> THANK YOU, JOSH.
>>> COLLEAGUES, ANY QUESTIONS
FOR ANY OF THESE PANELS?
>> COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> THANK YOU CHAIR STRAUSS. I
APPRECIATE THE DISCUSSION HERE.
I AM ALREADY HEARING SOME
COMMON GROUND WITH SOME OF THE
PUBLIC CALLERS AND WHAT THE
URBAN FORESTRY WAS SAYING AND
WHAT SOME ARBORISTS WERE SAYING
IN TERMS OF DAY OF POSTINGS.
THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING TO ADD
TO THESE AMENDMENTS . SINCE
READING FROM THE SUMMARY, FISCA
NOTE FROM CENTRAL STAFF ,
SHIFTING COMPLETELY ONLINE MAY
DISADVANTAGE SOME RESIDENTS AN
THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS T
THE TECHNOLOGY. MAY BE THE
COMPROMISE IS A DAY OF POSTING
I HAVE ALSO HEARD, TRYING TO
BIFURCATE THE HEAVY PRUNING,
WHICH WE WOULD BE CALLING
REPORTABLE WORK BUT BIFURCATING
THAT FROM THE REMOVAL WHICH IS
A MORE SERIOUS SITUATION. I WA
-- THE MASTER BUILDERS CALLED
IN SUPPORT OF IT AND THAT THREW
ME OFF A LITTLE BIT BUT
BIFURCATING THE REMOVAL, HAVING
A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME ONLINE,
NOTIFICATION FOR A MAJOR REMOVA
VERSUS JUST THE PRUNING. THER
MAY BE A WAY TO NUANCE THIS A
LITTLE BIT. I DID WANT TO SPEA
TO THE ISSUE ABOUT THE TIMING O
THE ORIGINAL BILL THAT WAS
INTRODUCED IN OCTOBER 2021. WE
ADOPTED IT SEVERAL MONTHS LATER
AND THEN IT BECAME EFFECTIVE I
NOVEMBER 2022. I THINK IT WAS,
IN TERMS OF HOW LONG IT TAKES
FOR US TO PASS BILLS, THAT WAS
POSTED ONLINE FOR A LONG TIME
BUT HAPPY TO GET THIS
ADDITIONAL INPUT TODAY. THANK
YOU.
>> COUNCILMEMBER NELSON?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU.
YOU ARE A SERVICE PROVIDER. AR
THERE A LOT OF --
>> TO CLARIFY, JOSHUA IS ON THE
URBAN FOREST RECOMMISSIONED
WORKING FOR THE SEATTLE AUDUBON
SOCIETY. ALAN KELSEY AND ANDREA
ARE ARBORISTS.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT --
DOES SEATTLE HAVE -- ARE WE
LIMITED IN THE NUMBER OF TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS IN TOWN? ARE
THERE A LOT OF PEOPLE TO DO THI
WORK ? THE REASON I ASK THIS IS
I AM HEARING DISCREPANCY OVER
HOW MANY DAYS ARE A GOOD AMOUNT
TO POST ONLINE ? I AM TRYING TO
GET A SENSE OF, IS PART OF THAT
-- IF YOU HAVE TO POST IT
ONLINE FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
TIME AND THEN AN ARBORIST GETS
AN OFFER FOR ANOTHER JOB, YOU
COULD LOSE YOUR PLACE IN LINE.
AM TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF WHA
THE CAPACITY IS IN SEATTLE. I
JUST WANT TO SIGNAL THAT I HAVE
NO POSITION ON THIS. I AM TRYIN
TO GET A SENSE OF WHERE THE
ISSUES MIGHT LIE.
>> THE ARBORIST IN CHAMBER WILL
BE BEST SUITED.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON. YOUR
QUESTION GOES IN TWO DIFFERENT
DIRECTIONS. ONE IS HOW MANY TRE
SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE THERE?
>> LICENSED AND REPUTABLE THAT
ONE WOULD WANT TO DO THIS WORK.
>> DO ANY OF YOU HAVE THE MOST
RECENT NUMBERS?
>> 54, I WANT TO SAY. THAT
INCLUDES 20 ARBORISTS.
>> AS OF RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE 6
REGISTERED TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS ON THE LIST THAT IS
PUBLISHED. HOWEVER, THERE ARE A
GOOD NUMBER OF THEM THAT ARE
CONSULTING SERVICES ONLY. THEY
DON'T ACTUALLY DO ANY PRUNING,
REMOVAL, ET CETERA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> WE ARE OPERATING UNDER THE
ASSUMPTION THAT A LOT OF
COMPANIES ARE STILL OPERATING
NOT AS TSP'S WITHIN SEATTLE.
THERE IS NOT A LOT OF
ENFORCEMENT AND THAT IS ONE OF
OUR CONCERNS . BY CREATING THES
RULES AND THEN NOT HAVING A LOT
OF ENFORCEMENT FUNDING TO GO
BEHIND THEM, WE GET PUNISHED
FOR COMPLYING BUT THEN IF OTHER
ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE
WITH IMPUNITY, IT JUST MAKES U
LESS COMPETITIVE RELATIVE TO
FOLKS WHO ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE
RULES. THE WHOLE NOTICE POSTING
THING , WE ARE APPROACHING THAT
AS MORE OF THIS IS AN INTERNAL
PROCESS ISSUE THAT HAS US
STRESSED OUT BECAUSE IT MIGHT
COST US OUR ABILITY TO WORK IN
THE CITY. THERE IS A GROWING
NUMBER OF TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS. ONE OF OUR CONCERNS
WITH THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND
FRUIT TREES AND HEDGES IS THAT
THERE ARE LIKELY A LOT OF
HORTICULTURAL COMPANIES THAT
PRUNE TREES THAT MAY NOT EVEN
KNOW THIS APPLIES TO THEM AND
LIKELY ARE IN VIOLATION OF CODE
AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS AND WOUL
HAVE A HARD TIME BECOMING TSP'S
DUE TO THE REQUIREMENT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME?
>> VICE CHAIR MORALES? PLEASE
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU. I WONDER IF
YOLANDA CAN SPEAK TO THAT ISSUE
A LITTLE BIT OF THE CAPACITY O
OUR DEPARTMENTS TO ENFORCE AND
WHAT IT MEANS FOR OUR STAFFING
NEEDS SO THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE
TO OPERATE IN THE CITY IF THEY
ARE ALLOWED AND IF THEY ARE NOT
OPERATING OR AT LEAST THAT THI
IS BEING ENFORCED, IF THERE IS
SOMETHING HAPPENING THAT IS NOT
ALLOWED.
>> AS YOU MAY BE AWARE , THE
CITY IMPLIES A POINT BASED
SYSTEM. WE DON'T HAVE LOTS OUT
THERE WHO -- THERE IS NO
COLLECTIVE ENFORCEMENT. THERE
WAS NO ONE GOING OUT AND
CHECKING TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE
ARE POSTING THINGS. IT IS MORE
IF WE HAVE ALERT NEIGHBORS WHO
ARE CALLING THE DEPARTMENT,
NOTING THAT THERE IS TREE WORK
HAPPENING BUT NO NOTICE VISIBLE
. I THINK THE CITY HAS THAT
LIMITED ENFORCEMENT CAPACITY
AND WE RELY UPON OUR RESIDENTS
TO ALERT THEM TO IF THERE IS
SOMEONE ILLEGALLY OPERATING
EITHER IN THE RIGHT OF WAY OR
ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. HOW MUCH
DOES THE CITY WANT TO SPEND ON
ENFORCEMENT ISSUES VERSUS
HOPING FOR COMPLIANCE. I TALKED
EXTENSIVELY WITH SDOT AND FRO
WHAT I UNDERSTAND , SDOT IS
FOCUSED ON THE COMPLIANCE . IT
IS NOT ABOUT THE PENALTIES BUT
WORKING WITH THE TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THEY
UNDERSTAND THE REGULATIONS.
HAVING FOLKS OUT DOING THE WORK
INCORRECTLY IS WORSE -- THOSE
WHO ARE LESS LIKELY TO COMPLY
OFTEN WILL CONTINUE NOT
COMPLYING. AT LEAST SDOT'S
STANCE IS TRYING TO GET THOSE
INTO COMPLIANCE SO THEY CAN DO
THE RIGHT THING AND THAT IS
BETTER FOR THE CITY THAN
PENALIZING THEM.
>> I HAVE A FOLLOW-UP.
>> TAKE IT THE WAY.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY SENSE THEN O
WHETHER THE MATERIALS THAT ARE
PROVIDED TO HELP EDUCATE
SERVICE PROVIDERS ABOUT THESE
RULES ARE AVAILABLE IN DIFFEREN
LANGUAGES? THE PEOPLE MAYBE
SPEAKING TO SOMEBODY ON THE
STREET AS SOMETHING IS
HAPPENING, SPEAK OTHER
LANGUAGES? PART OF WHAT I AM
WONDERING IS , GIVEN THAT WE
KNOW MANY OF THESE SERVICE
PROVIDERS MAY NOT SPEAK ENGLIS
AS A FIRST LANGUAGE, I WOULD
NOT WANT TO SEE PEOPLE ALL
GETTING PENALIZED IF THEY DON'T
UNDERSTAND. IN ORDER TO HELP
THEM UNDERSTAND, ARE WE
PROVIDING THESE THINGS IN
LANGUAGES THAT OUR SERVICE
PROVIDERS SPEAK?
>> IT LOOKS LIKE EVERYTHING HAS
BEEN INTERFACED IN ENGLISH. FOR
INSTANCE, WE KNOW HOW ONE WOUL
ENTER THE INFORMATION BUT IT I
SOLELY IN ENGLISH . WHEN I
LOOKED ONLINE, ALL I FOUND WAS
PRIMARILY ENGLISH. I THINK THAT
IS AN AREA WHERE WE MAY NEED TO
CONSIDER EXPANDING THE
MATERIALS IN THE TRANSLATION TO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCESS. THA
IS WORTH TALKING ABOUT AND
UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE NEED IS
FOR THAT.
>> MY NEXT QUESTION WOULD BE,
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR US TO
MAKE SURE THAT THE MATERIALS
THAT WE NEED THE PUBLIC TO
UNDERSTAND ARE TRANSLATED INTO
THE LANGUAGE IS THAT THE PUBLIC
NEEDS?
>> THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE
WOULD WANT TO ASK THE DEPARTMEN
AND THE TRANSLATION SERVICES,
WHAT KINDS OF MATERIALS ARE THE
THINKING OF ? WITH SDOT THEY
HAVE A STREET TREE MANUAL THAT
IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AND IN
ENGLISH BUT IT IS ONE DOCUMENT
THAT LAYS OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING
I KNOW THERE ARE VARIOUS
PIECES OF INFORMATION BUT I DO
NOT KNOW TO WHAT EXTENT THEY AR
ALL TRANSLATED.
>> THANK YOU.
>> COLLEAGUES, ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME? SEEING
NONE, I AM GOING TO MOVE US INT
THE NEXT PORTION OF THIS
CONVERSATION WHICH, AFTER
MEETING WITH YOU THIS LAST WEEK
THERE WERE SOME OTHER ISSUES
RAISED . I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE
SOME SPACE ON THIS COMMITTEE.
FORGOT MY NOTEBOOK IN MY OFFICE
SO THIS IS ALL GOING OFF OF
MEMORY. LET ME SEE IF I HAVE TH
LIST CORRECT. CHANGING
VIOLATIONS TO SUSTAINED
VIOLATIONS SO THAT THERE IS NO
A WORRY OF GETTING A VIOLATION
THAT DOES NOT ACTUALLY STICK AN
IT COUNTING AGAINST YOU. THE
ISSUE ABOUT HORTICULTURALIST'S
WITHIN POSTING ON VEHICLES,
CURRENTLY SDOT AND STC I HAVE
TWO DIFFERENT NUMBERS. HAD WE
MERGE THAT ? UNDERSTANDING
DEADWOOD ENFORCEMENT THAT YOU
MENTIONED AND THEN THIRD PARTY
CONFRONTATION. DID I MISS ANY?
>> LET'S START DOWN THE LIST.
>> I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN NOTES.
>> THIRD-PARTY CONSULTATION.
THIS IS A GOOD ONE TO TALK
ABOUT. THIS WAS A REQUIREMENT O
THE NEW ORDINANCE WHICH , I
THINK THERE ARE SOME REALLY GOO
KERNELS IN THERE AND THERE ARE
SOME SITUATIONS. IN A LOT OF
WAYS, ICS DRAWING LINES BETWEE
HOW SDOT DOES THEIR ENFORCEMENT
WITH STCI. IF I'M A REGISTERED
TREE PROVIDER AND I THINK THERE
IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR
TREANDA SHOULD BE REMOVED, I CA
SUBMIT THAT AS AN OPINION AND
PART OF A PERMIT APPLICATION.
ONE OF THEIR HORTICULTURALIST
WILL REVIEW THAT AND MAKE SURE
WHAT I AM SAYING MAKES SENSE.
IF THEY THINK WHAT I AM SAYING
SOUNDS FISHY OR IS NOT SUPPORTE
BY PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE OR DOE
NOT MAKE SENSE, THEY CAN ASK FO
THIRD-PARTY REVIEW. THAT JUST
SEEMS LIKE THE MOST REASONABLE
WAY TO GO ABOUT ALL OF THIS.
ANDREA SPOKE TO THE COSTS
ASSOCIATED WITH REMOVING A
PROTECTED TREE IN THE CITY, SAY
AN EXCEPTIONAL TREE . RIGHT NOW
BEFORE YOU EVEN TALK TO AN
ARBORIST ABOUT GETTING THE WORK
DONE, YOU ARE LOOKING AT $700
FOR A CONSULTING ARBORIST REPOR
AND $430 FOR A REVIEW. THIS
MIGHT BE A STONE DEAD TREE THAT
EVEN A LAYPERSON COULD LOOK AT
AND SAY THAT OUGHT TO COME DOWN
IT SEEMS UNSAFE. OUR FRIENDS IN
BAINBRIDGE HAVE A PRUNING
SYSTEM WHERE IF YOU WANT TO
REMOVE A HEALTHY TREE , THERE I
A HEFTY FEE THAT GOES ALONG WIT
THAT AND IT SUBSIDIZES HAZARD
TREE REMOVAL PERMITS TO EASE
THE BURDEN. IN LOOKING AT THESE
BURDENS OF TREE OWNERSHIP AND
TREE STEWARDSHIP -- I DON'T EVE
LIKE USING THE WORD OWNERSHIP
ESPECIALLY WHEN IT IS SOMETHING
THAT MIGHT OUTLIVE YOU. I VIEW
IT MORE AS A STEWARDSHIP . THAT
IS ONE OF THE MAJOR ISSUES WE
RUN INTO, ESPECIALLY DEALING
WITH YOUR AVERAGE PERSON. THE
TWO THINGS THEY FIND MORE
SURPRISING ARE OF YOUR TREE IS
DEAD, YOU HAVE TO PAY MONEY TO
GET PERMISSION TO REMOVE IT .
THE OTHER ONE IS, EVEN OF THE
TREE IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE IS
PUBLIC PROPERTY, THEY ARE
REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN IT. THAT I
ANOTHER ISSUE FOR ANOTHER DAY.
TO GET TO YOUR LAST POINT, WE
THINK THAT THERE ARE BAD ACTOR
THAT ABUSE THE SYSTEM AND THERE
SHOULD BE CHECKS TO MAKE SURE
THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN BUT FOR
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO KEEP TREE
AROUND AND TO NOT CREATE AN
UNDUE BURDEN, ESPECIALLY FOR
HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED
COMMUNITIES, I AM DOWN AT
SKYWAY AND I DO A LOT OF WORK
BUT JUST DEALING WITH SOME FOLK
IN THE RAINIER VALLEY , IT IS
TOUGH WHEN YOU WORK THEM THROUG
THE COSTS THAT COULD GO ALONG
WITH DEALING WITH TREES
SOMETIMES . ANDREA, I AM SURE
YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD.
>> I USED TO LIVE IN
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S
DISTRICT BUT NOW I LIVE IN
DISTRICT 2. I HAVE A NEIGHBOR
WITH A DEAD TREE AND IT IS TOO
EXPENSIVE FOR MY COMPANY TO
MANAGE IT FOR THEM AND I LOOK A
IT EVERY DAY AND IT IS A
CHALLENGE. THIRD PARTY
REPORTING IS CONSISTENT TO
REQUEST AT THE CITY 'S ASKING,
AFTER REVIEW. THERE ARE OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES AROUND . THEY
ALL HAVE EXCEPTIONS WHERE THE
CITY REVIEWERS CAN REQUEST A
THIRD-PARTY REVIEW IF THERE IS
SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS HAPPENING
OR IF THEY DON'T THINK THAT THE
LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT WAS ENOUGH
TO JUSTIFY A REMOVAL. WE WOULD
LIKE THE CODE TO BE CHANGED A
STCI'S REQUEST OR THE REVIEWIN
ARBORISTS ' DISCRETION, WHETHER
OR NOT A THIRD-PARTY REPORT IS
REQUIRED . ANOTHER EXAMPLE
BEYOND JUST A DEAD TREE IS A
TREE THAT IS IN CONFLICT WITH
INFRASTRUCTURE. I HAVE A CLIENT
CURRENTLY WHO HAS AN EXCEPTIONA
TREE BUT -- EXCEPTIONAL IS SMAL
SIZE. IT IS GROWING ON TOP OF
TWO ROOMS. THE TREE WAS PLANTED
TOO CLOSE TO THE HOUSE. THE
REMOVAL COST ALONE IS $800. TH
CITY PERMIT FOR THE HAZARDOUS
TREE REMOVAL PERMIT IS $451
WHICH HAS CHANGED THIS YEAR. IT
IS THE PERMIT COST PLUS THE NEW
TECHNOLOGY SERVICE FEE APPLIED
TO THOSE AND THEY TECHNICALLY
REQUIRE A THIRD-PARTY ARBORIST
REPORT SO THEY NEED TO HIRE A
THIRD ARBORIST WHO IS ON THE TS
LIST TO COME OUT AND PHOTOGRAPH
THE TREE -- IT IS VERY OBVIOU
THAT THIS SMALL TREE IS GROWING
ON TWO ROOMS AND WE COULD NOT
PRUNE IT. THE HOMEOWNER WOULD
LOVE TO KEEP THE TREE BUT THERE
IS JUST NO WAY. A TREE REMOVAL
THAT IS VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD AN
OBVIOUS AND REASONABLE IN
MANAGING GOES FROM $850 TO WEL
OVER $1600 IN NO TIME. IF A
THIRD-PARTY REPORT COULD BE
REQUESTED AT THE DISCRETION,
THAT WOULD BE A GOOD AMENDMENT,
SAVE PEOPLE MONEY AND ALSO HEL
WEED OUT THE MORE BAD ACTORS .
THAT DOES REQUIRE THAT STCI
WOULD BE MORE FUNDED BECAUSE
THERE ARE ONLY TWO ARBORISTS
THAT ARE REVIEWING THESE REPORT
AT THE MOMENT . I THINK THAT
THERE ARE FOUR TOTAL BUT SDOT
MADE A GOOD POINT THAT THEY DO
ENFORCE WELL BUT THEY HAVE SIX
HORTICULTURISTS WORKING
FULL-TIME. STCI DOES NOT HAVE
THE ABILITY TO REQUEST THIS AS
IS OR SPEND THE AMOUNT OF TIME
THEY NEED TO TO CALL THROUGH
AND REQUEST ADDITIONAL
ASSESSMENT. IN ADDITION TO THA
, THE OTHER CHALLENGING THING I
THE CODE WAS THERE REQUIREMENT
FOR A PERMIT OR THIRD-PARTY
REPORT FOR PRUNING AN
EXCEPTIONAL TREE IN THE CASE OF
IT BEING A HAZARD. THERE WAS
ONLY ONE TYPE OF PERMIT IN THE
CITY OF SEATTLE FOR HAZARDOUS
TREE REMOVAL. THERE ARE NOT ANY
OTHERS THAT EXIST.
>> TECHNICALLY THERE IS NO
PRUNING PERMIT AVAILABLE WITH
STCI. WE HAVE BEEN ASKING TO
STRIKE THE PRUNING PORTION FRO
THAT. I THINK THAT IS NUMBER
THREE . I AM SURE THAT WE CAN
FIND IT . STRIKING OR PRUNING A
HAZARDOUS TREE, THAT
STIPULATION -- THERE IS NOTHING
IN THE CODE THAT MAKES THAT
POSSIBLE.
>> ONE GOOD THING TO ADD ON
THERE WHEN IT COMES TO
EVERYTHING SURROUNDING PRUNING,
I KNOW WE HAVE HAD SOME BACK AN
FORTH ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE
CAN REFER TO NATIONAL STANDARDS
IT IS A LITTLE FUNKY. WE FOUND
PLACE IN THE CODE WHERE THE
NATIONAL PRUNING STANDARDS ARE
REFERRED TO. ONE THING WE WANT
TO ENCOURAGE THE COUNCIL TO DO
IS PLEASE DEFER TO NATIONAL AN
INDUSTRY STANDARDS AND
TEMINOLOGY WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
SOME FOLKS THAT ARE WAY SMARTER
THAN US PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INT
CREATING THOSE AND THEY MAKE
EVERYONE LIVES SO MUCH EASIER.
IF THE RULE IS SIMPLY -- I
BELIEVE THIS IS PART OF THE NEW
ORDINANCE THAT YOU MUST PRUNE
TO THE STANDARD. JUST THAT
ALONE, IF PEOPLE WOULD DO THAT
AND FOLLOW THAT, THE LEVEL OF
PRUNING QUALITY AND THE CITY
WILL GO WAY UP. THEN, SPEAKING
TO ENFORCEMENT , ANDREA
MENTIONED THE TWO ARBORISTS
TYPICALLY REVIEWING REPORTS.
THESE BAD ACTORS KNOW THAT STC
FIELD ENFORCEMENT PEOPLE, WHER
THERE WAS NOT EVEN A SINGLE
ARBORIST THAT WORKS IN THE FIEL
-- THEY HAVE SO MUCH SAY OVER
HOW THE TREES ARE MANAGED ON
PUBLIC REPARTEE IN THE CITY.
THERE IS NOT A SINGLE ONE OF
THEM THAT GOES OUTSIDE THE
OFFICE. ALSO, THE BAD ACTORS
KNOW THAT EVEN THE STANDARD
CONSTRUCTION ACTORS DON'T WORK
WEEKENDS AND DON'T TYPICALLY
WORK HOLIDAYS SO IT IS A COMMO
PRACTICE TO DO THAT WORK ON A
WEEKEND OR HOLIDAY. EVEN IF TH
CONCERNED CITIZEN CALLS IT IN,
YOU CAN DESTROY A MONSTROUS TRE
IN TWO HOURS WITH A CHAINSAW.
SOMETHING THAT TOOK 100 YEARS T
GROW . THE ABSENCE OF THAT
EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT, WE HAVE
NOT PROTECTED MORE TREES. THAT
HAS BEEN A BIG THEME IN THE
WHOLE DISCUSSION. ARE WE MAKIN
TREE PROTECTIONS BETTER OR
WORSE? THE THING IS, A NOTICE
OF REQUIREMENT DOES NOT CHANGE
ANYTHING ABOUT TREE PROTECTIONS
IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE UPDATING
THAT . WITH EVERYTHING THE
COUNCIL IS WORKING ON IN THE
MAYOR'S OFFICE , AS MUCH AS WE
WANT TO PLAY A ROLE IN WHAT WE
ARE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, MORE
THAN ANYTHING, WE WANT TO SAY W
ARE HERE IS A RESOURCE AS ALL O
THAT GETS UPDATED. WE ARE
WORRIED WE ARE MISSING THE
IMPORTANT STUFF AND SOME THING
ARE NOT MAKING QUITE AS BIG OF
DIFFERENCE. EVEN THE EXCEPTIONA
TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE, I
LOVE TREES. I AGREE WITH
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN THAT A
GOOD TREE IS A BIG TREE. THE
BIGGER, THE BETTER . I LOVE
CLIMBING TREES, THE BIGGER THE
BETTER. WITHOUT SMALL TREES,
WITHOUT YOUNG TREES , WE DO NOT
GET OLD TREES OR BIG TREES.
THERE IS A BIGGER DISCUSSION TO
BE HAD HERE BUT MORE THAN
ANYTHING, AS THIS CODE IS
IMPLEMENTED -- COUNCILMEMBER
PEDERSEN, JUST TO GIVE YOU A
BETTER PERSPECTIVE ON HOW THIS
ALL CAME OUT, STCI DID NOT
FINALIZE THE RULES ON HOW WE HA
TO DO THIS STUFF UNTIL ONE WEE
BEFORE IT WAS IMPLEMENTED. IT
REQUIRED THINGS LIKE COLLECTIN
DIAMETERS OF TREES WE INTENDED
TO PRUNE. OFTEN, THERE IS
TYPICALLY A 30 TO 120 DAY LAG
FROM WHEN I VISIT A SITE AS A
SALESPERSON ARBORIST AND WHEN
MY COMPANY DOES THE WORK . NOW
ALL OF THE SUDDEN WE ARE BEING
TOLD WE HAVE A WEEK AND THERE
IS ALL OF THIS INFORMATION WE
DON'T HAVE. BY THE WAY, YOU HAV
TO POST THESE NOTICES AND IT I
SEATTLE SERVICES PORTAL SO IT I
AWFUL. CERTAINLY WE MISSED TH
BALL NOT KNOWING ABOUT THIS
LEGISLATION THAT YOU PROPOSED
AND NOT ACTING ON IT MORE BUT
THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION FELT
VERY RUSHED AND THAT IS ONE OF
THE REASONS WHY THE ARBOR
CULTURAL COMMUNITY HAS BEEN SO
ACTIVE AROUND THE ISSUE.
>> THIS MIGHT HELP TO CLARIFY A
WELL THAT THE TYPICAL PRACTICE
FOR AN ARBORIST IS NOT
NECESSARILY TO MEASURE A TREE
FOR PRUNING . IF WE ARE GOING T
A PROPERTY AND WE ARE JUST
PRUNING, WE ARE NOT NECESSARILY
MEASURING THEM WHICH IS WHY HE
IS SAYING WE WOULD HAVE TO GO
BACK TO ALL OF THE SITES AND
TAKE MEASUREMENTS. WE ARE
MEASURING THEM FOR REMOVAL,
THOUGH.
>> TO YOUR POINT ABOUT HOW MUCH
WE MIGHT BE TAKING OFF THE TREE
OR NOT, IT IS JUST A REALLY HAR
THING TO COME UP WITH HARD RULE
ON. I LOOK AT A LOT OF TREES
WHERE, IF WE WERE TO REMOVE MOR
THAN 10% OF THE LIVE FOLIAGE,
THAT WOULD BE RISKING THE
LONG-TERM PLIABILITY OF THE TRE
AND THAT IS ESPECIALLY A LOT OF
THE BIGGER, MATURE, EXCEPTIONAL
TREES. THEN THERE ARE OTHER
TREES LIKE OVERGROWN HEDGE
TREES THAT ROUTINELY HAVE 80%
OF THEIR FOLIAGE REMOVED AND
THAT IS JUST FINE. IN A LOT OF
INSTANCES, THEY NEED IT .
OTHERWISE THEY WILL OUTGROW
THEIR AVAILABLE SPACE. IT IS A
HARD THING TO CREATE ANY SORT O
SET RULE ON. THAT IS ONE OF THE
REASONS WE HAD MENTIONED THINGS
LIKE -- ONE OF THE BIG THOUGHTS
BEHIND INCREASING SOME OF THES
THRESHOLDS WAS THE IDEA THAT IF
WE BUMPED THE THRESHOLD FOR
REPORTABLE WORK UP A LITTLE BIT
IT WOULD EXCLUDE A LOT OF THOSE
HORTICULTURALIST'S THAT RIGHT
NOW ARE JUST UNWITTINGLY
OPERATING ILLEGALLY . IT IS VER
HARD TO SHEAR A HEDGE AND NOT
REMOVE 15% OF THE LIVE FOLIAGE
BUT THAT IS A TOTALLY ACCEPTABL
THING TO DO AND THERE ARE
100,000 HEDGES IN THE CITY.
ARBORISTS ONLY TAKE CARE OF THE
BIG ONES THAT ARE HARD TO REACH
. THAT WAS THE IDEA. IT SOUNDED
LIKE THERE WAS SOME CONCERN
ABOUT WHAT IMPACT THAT WOULD
HAVE ON OUR CANOPY COVERAGE
AREA IN THE CITY BUT WE NEED TO
RECOGNIZE THAT THESE ARE THINGS
THAT ARE GOING ON NEARLY
CONSTANTLY. THE BIG THING WE
WANT TO AVOID IS THE SITUATION
WHERE IT IS ONE OF THOSE RULES
THAT EVERYONE JUST IGNORES
BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO
FOLLOW. A LOT OF THIS JUST FEEL
LIKE IT IS ENDING UP IN A
SITUATION WHERE YOU REALLY JUS
HAVE COMPANIES THAT ARE ROLLING
THE DICE AND GOING, AM I GOING
TO GET UNLUCKY AND SOMEBODY
REPORTS US ? THAT IS WHAT WE AR
WORRIED ABOUT. WE ARE THINKING
IF THERE ARE SOME EXCLUSIONS TO
WHAT IS REPORTABLE WORK , THAT
WOULD HELP MAKE IT SO A LOT OF
THE COMPANIES ARE ABLE TO DO TH
WORK THEY WANT TO DO WHILE WE
ARE HAVING SOME REGULATORY
AUTHORITY OVER THE WORK THAT
ARBORISTS DO. YOU GOT TO
CONSIDER HORTICULTURALISTS ,
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, THERE WAS
A LOT OF PEOPLE TOUCHING THE
URBAN FOREST IN SEATTLE AND IT
IS NOT JUST ARBORISTS.
>> TO FOLLOW ON TO THE POINT
THERE , I KNOW THAT THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION, WHERE THIS
LETTER WAS DRAFTED , I WAS
PARTICIPATING AS A MEMBER OF TH
PUBLIC , LISTENING IN ON THE
MEETING AND THANK YOU TO JOSHUA
WHO WAS TYPING THIS AT THE
TIME. I REMEMBER STUART,WHO
WAS THE ONLY ARBORIST ON THE
COMMISSION, WAS NOT PRESENT THA
DAY. I KNOW THAT THE URBAN
COMMISSION WAS WORKING ON A
TIGHT TIMELINE. SOMETHING THAT
HAS COME UP DURING THOSE
CONVERSATIONS WAS NOT
UNDERSTANDING THE REQUEST FOR
THE ASK FOR THE INCREASE FROM
2 INCHES TO 4 INCHES TO
DETERMINING MAJOR PRUNING BUT
NOW REPORTABLE WORK AND THE
INCREASE FROM 15% TO 25% . TO
SPEAK TO THE POINT, OUR REQUES
ON THAT INCREASE IS SEPARATING
THE ARBORISTS FROM
HORTICULTURISTS BUT ALSO ON
MOST TREES, A 2 INCH CUT BUT
MAKING A 2 INCH CUT ON A MATURE
TREE IS NOT CONSIDERED MAJOR
PRUNING. 4 INCHES IS WELL
WITHIN WHAT COULD BE CONSIDERED
NORMAL BEST PRACTICE , SAME WIT
25% REMOVAL, DEPENDING ON THE
TREE. THE CURRENT STANDARDS
HAVE BEEN UPDATED TO OMIT
BLANKET PRUNING REQUIREMENTS.
THEY WERE AMENDED IN 2017. THEY
REMOVED A 25% THRESHOLD BECAUS
IT ENCOURAGED A LOT OF TREE
CARE FOLKS TO OVER PRUNE TREES
TO THAT 25% WHICH, IN SOME
CASES, IS ACCEPTABLE BEST
PRACTICES. WHEN WE ARE
EVALUATING TREES TO PRUNE, WE
ARE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION
THE SIZE, SPECIES . FROM WHERE
WE STAND AS PEOPLE WHO ARE
CARING FOR THE TREES DAY IN AND
DAY OUT AND DO UNDERSTAND BEST
PRACTICE, INCREASING THOSE TO 4
INCHES AND 25% IS ALIGNED WITH
BEST PRACTICE PRESUMING YOU ARE
FOLLOWING THE STANDARDS AND TH
OTHER RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE LAI
OUT IN THE SEATTLE MUNICIPAL
CODE AS FAR AS NO REMOVAL OF
TREES ABOVE 6 INCHES IN
DIAMETER. THE OTHER REPORTABLE
WORK PIECE THAT COUNCILMEMBER
STRAUSS POINTED OUT AS PART OF
OUR PUNCHLIST HERE WAS DEAD
WOODING . AS THE WAY THE CODE
READS RIGHT NOW, IT SAYS REMOVA
OF BRANCHES 2 INCHES IN DIAMETE
OR GREATER AND WE WOULD LIKE IT
TO BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE LIVE
BRANCHES. IT FREQUENTLY HAPPENS
THAT I CAN SEE FROM THE GROUND
THAT THERE IS A DEAD BRANCH IN
THE UPPER CANOPY OF A LARGE
DOUGLAS FIR TREE AND WHEN I SEN
A CLIMBING ARBORIST INTO THE
TREE TO TAKE CARE OF THAT, THEY
CAN'T REMOVE THAT RANCH IF IT I
LARGER THAN 2 INCHES IF I DID
NOT SUBMIT NOTICE PROPERLY.
REALLY, IS IT A HAZARDOUS
BRANCH, OR COULD BE. IT MIGHT
NOT BE IMMINENTLY HAZARDOUS BUT
IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT A BREAKS
LATER . HOPING TO ADD LIVE
BRANCHES AND LIVE ROOTS AND LIV
CANOPY . WE WOULD ASK THAT WE
INCREASE TO 4 INCHES AND 25%
WHAT WE ARE WILLING TO DISCUSS
THAT FURTHER. THE ONLY OTHER
PIECE I WANTED TO POINT OUT WIT
THE NORMAL PRUNING, IT IS NOT
DEFINED ANYWHERE IN CHAPTER
2511. IT IS ONLY DEFINED IN
CHAPTER 2509 . IT IS NOT IN THE
TREE PROTECTION CODE . THE
DEFINITION IN THE CODE SAYS
NORMAL PRUNING MAINTENANCE MEAN
FOR TREES, SHRUBS, AND OTHER
PLANTS COMPLIANT WITH THE
AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS .
DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN THE TWO
IS A LITTLE BIT VAGUE IN THE WA
THE CODE IS WRITTEN RIGHT NOW.
>> A REALLY IMPORTANT
DISTINCTION TO DRAW IS WE TAKE
NO ISSUE WITH THE MAJOR PRUNING
AND MINOR PRUNING THRESHOLDS
WITH SDOT TREES. THOSE TREES AR
PUBLIC TREES. THEY ARE A PUBLI
RESOURCE AND WE THINK IT IS
REASONABLE THAT SDOT HAS THE
PERMITTING REQUIREMENT THAT GOE
ALONG WITH ANY SORT OF MAJOR
PRUNING. WE ARE JUST THINKING
THAT IN THE PRIVATE PROPERTY
CONTEXT, MAYBE WE COULD LOOK AT
IT IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT
LIGHT.
>> REALLY WELL SAID. DO YOU
WANT TO JOIN IN ON ANYTHING? AR
YOU FEELING GOOD?
>> REALLY WELL SAID. WITH THAT
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY
REACTIONS TO WHAT WE HEARD
TODAY.
>> IT IS GREAT LEARNING FROM TH
ARBORISTS HERE . I AM NOT AN
ARBORIST OR PRACTITIONER. IT IS
REGRETTABLE THAT STUART WAS NOT
ABLE TO JOIN US ON THE MEETING.
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING
BACK TO THE COMMISSION AND
SHARING WHAT WE ARE LEARNING
TODAY AND MAKING OUR
RECOMMENDATIONS BETTER AND
STRONGER. THE ONE THING I WOULD
HAVE CONCERN ABOUT IS DEFERRIN
FOR THIRD-PARTY REPORTING.
UNFORTUNATELY, STCI DOES NOT
HAVE THE BEST REPUTATION AMONG
LOT OF FOLKS IN THE TREE
COMMUNITY . I HAVE SEEN EVIDENC
OF STCI NOT ENFORCING ITS OWN
CODE . THAT WOULD GIVE ME PAUSE
. I WOULD LOVE TO KICK THIS
AROUND WITH MORE FOLKS . I ALS
HEAR THE POINT THAT IT IS A
BURDEN AND INCREASING THE COST
OF WORK WHEN IT MAY BE QUITE
OBVIOUS . THAT IS THE ONLY THIN
I HEARD THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
KEEP THINKING ON BUT THANKS
AGAIN TO EVERYBODY HERE.
>> IF YOU HAVE A BETTER ENTITY,
PLEASE LET US KNOW. SDOT HAS A
GOOD REPUTATION IN THIS WORLD
AND IT IS PARTLY BECAUSE THE
STREET TREES HAVE BEEN
REGULATED FOR SO LONG. WE HAVE
NOT REGULATED PRIVATE PROPERTY
TREES EXCEPT FOR SIGNIFICANT
AND HAZARDOUS TREES. THERE IS
LOT OF NEW GROUND BEING
PLANTED. IS THAT RIGHT,
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN?
>> ARE THERE ANY POTENTIAL
FURTHER AMENDMENTS?
>> IS THAT SET UP ALREADY? I
THAT THEY 501(C)(3)?
>> NOT YET.
>> I LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING
MORE.
>> AS A QUICK CLOSING COMMENT ,
THE THING I NEED TO STRESS MORE
THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS THAT WE
NEED TO SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE
TREE PLANTING, END OF STORY.
THAT IS THE SINGLE MOST
IMPORTANT THING WE CAN DO. WE
NEED TO PLANT MORE IN PLANTING
STRIPS AND RIGHT OF WAYS AND WE
NEED TO PLANT MORE TREES IN OU
PRIVATE PROPERTY SPACES. DESPIT
OUR BEST EFFORTS, WE ARE LIVING
THROUGH A LARGE-SCALE DIE OFF ,
EVEN IN AREAS THAT ARE
COMPLETELY UNAFFECTED BY
DEVELOPMENT . WE HAVE A LOT OF
INVASIVE PESTS EITHER HERE OR
ON THE HORIZON AND CLIMATE
CHANGES WREAKING HAVOC WITH A
LOT OF OUR ESTABLISHED, MATURE,
NATIVE TREES . AND EVERYTHING
YOU DO, I URGE THE COUNCIL ,
LET'S PROTECT OLD TREES BUT IF
WE DON'T ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO
PLANT NEW ONES -- THIS IS THE
FORRESTER IN ME COMING OUT. THE
FORRESTER WALKS INTO THE WOODS
AND GETS EXCITED ABOUT THE
LITTLE TREES THAT ARE GROWING
OUT OF THE UNDERSTORY. THE OVER
STORY IS VERY IMPORTANT BUT IF
ALL YOU DO IS ASSESS THE HEALTH
OF YOUR FOREST BY LOOKING AT TH
BIG TREES, IT IS LIKE WALKING
INTO AN ELDERCARE FACILITY AND
USING IT TO DETERMINE THE HEALT
OF THE SOCIETY. WE NEED TO HAVE
YOUNG TREES. WE NEED TO HAVE A
ROBUST NURSERY OF HEALTHY YOUNG
TREES COMING ALONG AND MANY OF
THOSE WILL NOT BE THE SAME TREE
THAT HISTORICALLY HAVE LIVED
HERE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO US
I AM SURE WE MISSED SOME
DETAILS. WE ARE HERE AS A
RESOURCE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO
REACH OUT. WE WOULD LOVE TO BE
ABLE -- HAPPY TO HAVE A SEAT A
THE TABLE AND WE ARE HERE TO
HELP .
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU AS WELL.
WHEN WE ORIGINALLY HAD THIS BIL
GOING FORWARD, I WAS COLD
CALLING ARBORISTS TO TRY TO GE
OPINIONS BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW
WHO TO CALL. OFTEN TIMES, WHAT
WE FIND IN LEGISLATIVE WORK IS
THAT PEOPLE DON'T -- WE SEE
THIS WITH SOUND TRANSIT. PEOPLE
DON'T SPEAK UP UNTIL IT IMPACTS
THEM. YOU ARE BUSY PEOPLE . YOU
HAVE LIVES, CHILDREN, FAMILIES,
WORK . I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU BEING ABLE TO COME BACK
TOGETHER IN A FORWARD FOCUS,
HOW DO WE MAKE THIS BETTER
PERSPECTIVE ? IT HAS BEEN VERY
HELPFUL AND ENLIGHTENING BECAUS
I AM NOT AN ARBORIST . THE LAWS
TAT WE PASS HERE IMPACT
ARBORIST WORK.
>> COLLEAGUES , FOR THE
TIMELINE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE
THIS BILL BACK BEFORE US IN TWO
WEEKS ON THE 22nd. JOSH, WE
WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK .
KELSEY, ANDREA, ALAN , WE WOULD
LOVE TO HAVE YOU BACK AS WELL.
COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE
AMENDMENTS , THE EARLIER NOTICE
THE BETTER. DON'T WALK ANYTHING
ON.
>> MAY I ADD SOMETHING, CHAIR?
>> CERTAINLY.
>> I AM GOING ON VACATION NEXT
THURSDAY SO IF PEOPLE COULD
PLEASE GET ME YOUR AMENDMENT
IDEAS EARLIER, BY NEXT WEEK, I
CAN WORK WITH YOU ON THAT LIST
MY COLLEAGUE WILL BE HERE IN MY
ABSENCE BUT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN
DEEP IN THE BRANCHES ON THIS
ONE, I FEEL LIKE I WOULD LIKE
TO WORK WITH FOLKS ON ANY SORT
OF IDEAS FOR REFINING
AMENDMENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT
BEFORE I HEAD OUT . I JUST WANT
TO LET YOU ALL KNOW EARLY THAT
I WILL BE NOT THAT THE FEBRUARY
22 MEETING BUT I AM HERE TO HEL
YOU WITH AMENDMENTS AND HOPE TO
GET THOSE IN GOOD SHAPE BEFORE
HEAD OUT NEXT WEEK.
>> THANK YOU, YOLANDA. I WILL
MAKE THE REQUEST THAT PEOPLE
NOTIFY YOU OF AN AMENDMENT IDEA
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE FLUSHED
OUT , BUT NOTIFY YOU OF THE IDE
BY MONDAY. WE GOT THREE
BUSINESS DAYS, WHICH IS THE SAM
AMOUNT OF TIME THAT WE ARE
REQUESTING NOTICE FOR TREE
REMOVAL.
>> WITH THAT , LAST QUESTION OF
THE DAY FOR THE ARBORISTS OR FO
JOSH. WHAT IS A TREE'S FAVORITE
DRINK?
>> WATER.
>> THAT WAS MY ANSWER AS WELL.
ROOT BEER.
>> WITH THAT , THIS CONCLUDES
THE WEDNESDA, FEBRUARY 8 , 2020
MEETING OF THE LAND USE
COMMITTEE. THE NEXT REGULARLY
SCHEDULED LAND-USE COMMITTEE
WILL BE ON FEBRUARY 22, 2023 .
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND WE
ARE ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.