THE LAND-USE COMMITTEE WILL
COME TO ORDER. I AM DAN STRAUSS
. PLEASE CALL THE ROLE.
>> COUNCILMEMBER MOSQUESA .
COUNCILMEMBER MORALES.
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN. VICE
CHAIR MORALES.
>> HERE. CAN YOU CALL ON
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN ONE MORE
TIME?
>> PRESENT. THANK YOU.
>> I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN
OTHER COUNCILMEMBERS ADJOIN US
WE ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM ON THE
AGENDA FOR TODAY. IT IS THE
COUNSEL BILL PUBLIC HEARING ON
THE TREE PROTECTION SPELL. IF
THERE ARE NO OBJECTIONS, WE
WILL BEGIN. WE ARE FAST TODAY
ON THIS COMMITTEE. BEFORE WE
BEGIN IF THERE IS NO OBJECTION
THE AGENDA WILL BE ADOPTED.
HEARING NO OBJECTION, THE AGEND
IS ADOPTED. WE ARE GOING TO DO
IN PERSON SPEAKERS FIRST AND
THEN ONLINE , CLERK IF YOU
COULD HAVE ME THE LIST FOR IN
PERSON , WE HAVE 45 PEOPLE
SIGNED UP ONLINE. MANY ARE
PRESENT AND MANY OTHERS ARE NO
PRESENT. IF YOU HAVE SIGNED UP
FOR VIRTUAL TESTIMONY , YOU
NEED TO LOOK AT THE EMAIL THAT
WAS SENT AS AN RSVP TO YOUR SIG
UP . NOT THE COUNSEL LISTEN
LINE. I WILL BE THE PEOPLE WHO
ARE NOT PRESENT SO YOU KNOW.
CAMERON McKINNON , MOIRA,
CONNIE , REBA , DAVE , CHRIS,
KELSEY , FRANCESCA, LUIS , GRE
, JESSE, PATRICK , ETHAN ,
RICHARD , KIERSTEN , ALAN,
JANICE , TREVOR . IF YOU OR
YOUR FRIEND IS THE NAME I
CALLED AND THEY ARE NOT
PRESENT, PLEASE CALL IN NOW. WE
HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE SIGNED UP IN
PERSON SO WE WILL BEGIN THEIR.
PLEASE PLAY THE VIDEO. THANK
YOU. HELLO SEATTLE. WE ARE THE
EMERALD CITY, THE CITY OF
FLOWERS AND THE CITY OF GOODWIL
BUILT ON INDIGENOUS LAND, THE
TRADITIONAL TERRITORY OF THE
PEOPLE. THE SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL WELCOMES REMOTE PUBLIC
COMMENT AND IS EAGER TO HEAR
FROM RESIDENTS OF OUR CITY. IF
YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A SPEAKER
AND PROVIDE A VERBAL PUBLIC
COMMENT YOU MAY REGISTER TWO
HOURS PRIOR TO THE MEETING VIA
THE SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL
WEBSITE. HERE IS SOME
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PUBLIC
COMMENT PROCEEDINGS. SPEAKERS
ARE CALLED UPON IN THE ORDER
UNDER WHICH THEY REGISTER ON TH
COUNCIL WEBSITE. EACH SPEAKER
MUST CALL IN FROM THE PHONE
NUMBER PROVIDED WITH A
REGISTERED ONLINE AND USE THE
MEETING I.D. AND PASSCODE THAT
WAS EMAILED UPON CONFIRMATION.
IF YOU DID NOT RECEIVE AN IN
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.
WANTS THE SPEAKERS NAME IS
CALLED, THE SPEAKERS MICROPHONE
WILL BE UNMUTED AND AN
AUTOMATIC PROMPT WILL SAY, THE
HOST WOULD LIKE YOU TO UNMUTE
YOUR MICROPHONE. THAT IS YOUR
CUE THAT IT IS YOUR TURN TO
SPEAK. AT THAT TIME, YOU MUST
PRESS ÷6. YOU WILL HEAR A
PROMPT OF, YOU ARE UNMUTED.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE
UNMUTED ON YOUR END SO YOU CAN
BE HURT. PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME
AND THE ITEM YOU ARE ADDRESSING
A TIME WILL SOUND WHEN 10
SECONDS ARE LEFT IN YOUR
ALLOTTED TIME. AS A GENTLE
REMINDER TO WRAP UP YOUR PUBLI
COMMENTS, THAT TIME WILL SOUND.
AT THE END OF YOUR ALLOTTED TIM
YOUR MICROPHONE WILL BE MUTED I
THE NEXT SPEAKER REGISTERED WIL
BE CALLED. ONCE SPEAKERS HAVE
COMPLETED PROVIDING PUBLIC
COMMENT, PLEASE DISCONNECT FRO
THE PUBLIC COMMENT LINE AND JOI
US I FOLLOWING THE MEETING VIA
THE SEATTLE CHANNEL BROADCAST O
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
THE PROCESS IMPEDES THE
COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO CONDUCT IT
BUSINESS ON BEHALF OF THE
RESIDENTS OF THE CITY. ANY
OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE THAT IS
DISRUPTIVE TO THESE PROCEEDINGS
, OR THAT IS NOT FOCUSED ON AN
APPROPRIATE TOPIC AS SPECIFIED
IN COUNCIL RULES MAINLY TO THE
SPEAKER BEING MUTED BY THE
PRESIDING OFFICER. OUR HOPE IS
TO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSIONS THAT WIL
ASSIST OUR ORDERLY
CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES BEFORE
THE COUNCIL. THE PUBLIC COMMEN
PERIOD IS NOW OPEN. WE WILL
BEGIN WITH THE FIRST SPEAKER O
THE LIST. IS REMEMBER TO PRESS
÷6 AFTER YOU HEAR THE PROMPT
OF, YOU HAVE BEEN UNMUTED.
THANK YOU SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU. AND , WELCOME TO
TODAY'S LAND-USE COMMITTEE
PUBLIC HEARING ON THE TREE
PROTECTION ORDINANCE. THE
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS NOW
OPEN. WE WILL BEGIN WITH THE
FIRST SPEAKERS ON THE LIST AND
WILL READ THE LIST IN ORDER SO
YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE. MEAGAN
JIM, BARBARA, SANDY , DAVID ,
KATHLEEN , STEVE AND LET'S
BEGIN. MEGAN YOU ARE UP FIRST
AND YOU WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES.
THEN, JIM AND BARBARA. WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING.
>> THE MICROPHONE HAS TO BE
TURNED ON. IS IT? MAYBE, STAND
LITTLE CLOSER TO THE MICROPHONE
>> OKAY, CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
>> YES.
>> ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. M
NAME IS MEGAN AND I LIVE IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD NOT FAR FROM WHERE
I GREW UP IN SEATTLE. FIRST OF
ALL , I WANT TO MAKE SURE I
THINK MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL AND
EACH ONE FOR YOUR VERY IMPORTAN
WORK. EACH ONE IS GRAVELY
CHARGED WITH SAFEGUARDING PART
OF THE LIVING SOUL OF THIS CITY
, OUR TREES. WHILE YOU CARVEOU
PATHWAYS FOR BUILDING CRITICALL
NEEDED HOUSING , YOU BECOME TH
GATEKEEPERS OF WHAT OUR CITY I
GOING TO BECOME IN TERMS OF IT
ENVIRONMENTAL HEART. AS A
CONCERNED ELDER AND NATIVE OF
THE CITY AND WITH KEEPING
FUTURE GENERATIONS OF CHILDREN
AND FAMILIES WHO LIVE HERE IN
MIND , INCLUDING YOUR OWN
GRANDCHILDREN , WHAT YOU CHOOSE
TO PROTECT , OR NOT WILL HAVE
CONSEQUENCES FOR DECADES TO
COME. NONE OF US EXPECT ALL
MATURE TREES TO SURVIVE THE
MANDATE FOR MORE HOUSING. BUT,
THIS CAN BE THE MOMENT WHEN WE
CHALLENGE OUR DESIGNERS AND
BUILDERS TO ENVISION NEW WAYS
TO WORK WITH AND AROUND OUR
MATURE TREES . THERE ARE KNOWN
TREE AND FRUIT ROOT FRIENDLY
TREE PRACTICES AND I WOULD LOVE
TO SEE YOU DISCUSSIONS OF
INCENTIVES TO BUILD DESIGN
MODIFICATIONS. RECENTLY , I
SOLD A SMALL HOME IN NORTH
SEATTLE WITH THE CORNER GROVE A
BEAUTIFUL, MATURE TREES AND I
KNEW THIS MODEST HOME CLOSE TO
LIGHT RAIL WOULD BE RAISED IN
HEARTBEAT. I ASSESSED THE
BUILDABLE SPACE ON THE LOT AND
SAW THAT THE TREES ABSOLUTELY,
DID NOT PRECLUDE EXPANSION,
FUTURE EXPANSION AND RECORDED
TREE PROTECTION COVENANT, WHICH
NOW RUNS WITH THE LAND. I ASK
ALL OF US TO IMAGINE DEVELOPMEN
IN THIS WAY. HOW CAN WE CREATE
EXPANSION WITH OUR CULTURE?
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS JIM
DAVIS.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS--
>> MA'AM ? WE ARE GOING TO
CONTINUE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT
TO DISRUPT FLOW. IF THERE IS A
MOMENT WE CAN MAKE THAT
ADJUSTMENT, MY APOLOGIES FOR NO
HAVING THE SCREEN ON. IT WILL B
THE SAME SCREEN AS IS A PEER.
JIM, WELCOME. HOW ARE YOU TODAY
>> GOOD. MY NAME IS JIM DAVIS
AND I LIVE IN COUNCILMEMBER
LEWIS'S DISTRICT BUT NEXT YEAR
I WILL LIVE IN CHAIRMAN
STRAUSS'S DISTRICT. I WANT TO
SAY WE CAN GROW OUR NEEDED
HOUSING ALONGSIDE LARGE TREES.
IT IS NOT AN EITHER OR
PROPOSITION. I WANT TO ADDRES
TWO ITEMS. ONE IS THAT THE
CLAIM OF KEEPING LARGE TREES I
GOING TO RAISE RENTS AND
INCREASE HOUSING PRICES.
UNLESS, WE HAVE TO CUT DOWN ALL
THE LARGE TREES ON A LOT . IN
FORMAL , MULTIPLE DAY PROCESS
LAST YEAR WITH THE HEARING
EXAMINER , THE HEARING EXAMINER
REJECTED THAT VIEW AND SAID
THAT IT WAS NOT SUPPORTED. I
THINK WE NEED TO TAKE THAT INTO
CONSIDERATION. THAT WAS AN
IMPORTANT FINDING. SECONDLY, I
WOULD JUST SAY THAT I WOULD
LIKE TO SEE SOME EVIDENCE THAT
RENTERS DON'T WANT TO LIVE BY
LARGE TREES. THE LAST TIME WE
WERE IN BALLARD WITH A GROUP
THAT WERE TRYING TO BRING
ATTENTION TO A LOT BEING SCRAPE
NEEDLESSLY OF THE TREES ON THE
EDGE, IT WAS THE RENTERS NEXT
DOOR IN THE TRIPLEX THAT WERE
MOST ADAMANT ABOUT KEEPING THE
TREES NEXT TO THEIR LIVING
SPOT. I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY
THAT I WOULD LIKE TO REALLY
RECOMMEND THAT YOU MAKE
AMENDMENTS TO RETAIN SPACE FOR
LARGE TREES TO LIVE IN. THE
CURRENT 85% ORDINANCE ONLY
ALLOWS 2.5 FEET OF EARTH AROUN
THEM. I JUST THINK THAT WE CA
AMEND THAT. DUE. I APPRECIATE
YOU ALL PAYING ATTENTION TO THI
ORDINANCE.
>> UP NEXT IS BARBARA BERNARD
SANDY SHETLER , DAVID AND THAN
YOU CLERK , FOR GETTING THIS TV
WORKING. GOOD MORNING BARBARA.
>> GOOD MORNING. HELLO
COUNCILMEMBERS. I AM BARBARA
BERNARD AND I WILL SOON BE IN
DISTRICT SEVEN. I WANT TO THANK
YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK TO
CREATE A BETTER TREE ORDINANCE.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CONSIDER
ADOPTING THE AMENDMENTS FOR
COUNCIL BILL CB 120534. I KNOW
THE NEED FOR HOUSING. AS A CHIL
, MY FAMILY WAS HOMELESS DUE TO
AN APARTMENT FIRE. IT LEFT A
LOT OF TRAUMA FOR ME. TODAY, MY
HOME IN SEATTLE IS IN A
MULTIFAMILY INFILL BUILT ON AN
ECA. IT WAS BARELY AFFORDABLE
TO ME AT THE TIME WE MOVED TO
SEATTLE. I UNDERSTAND THE
UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF
CLEARCUTTING THE LOTS WHEN IT
WAS BUILT. THEY ARE BUILT UP T
THE LOT LINE ON TWO SIDES SO
THERE IS NO ROOM FOR TREES. THE
FRONT EXPOSURES ARE WHERE THE
CARS ARE PARKED SO EVERY TIME A
CAR IS STARTED THE EMISSIONS GO
RIGHT INTO THE BUILDING AS THER
ARE NO TREES TO BUFFER THE CO2
EMISSIONS. DURING THE SUMMER WE
HAVE EXTREME HEAT AND HAVE
CONTINUOUS SUMMERS OF SMOKE AND
HEAT. WE DECIDED TO SAVE ENOUGH
TO GET A SEAT INSTALLED, WHICH
IS NOT AN OPTION FOR OTHER
RENTERS OR OTHER LOW INCOME
INDIVIDUALS. I UNDERSTAND THAT
MATURE CONIFERS AND DECIDUOUS
TREES HELP CLEAN THE AIR IN TH
AIR. WITHOUT THEIR HELP IT WILL
GET MORE EXTREME IN SEATTLE.
THESE MATURE TREES ARE DOING
THEIR BEST NOW WHILE PLANTING I
GOOD. WE WILL NOT REPEAT ANY OF
THE MAGNIFIED BENEFITS FROM THE
PLANTED TREES UNTIL DECADES AR
PAST. PLEASE REMOVE 85% LOT
COVERAGE. PLEASE KEEP THE
PERIMETER TREES SO THEY CAN
CONTINUE TO GIVE US THE BENEFIT
THAT WE NEED TODAY. SHOULDN'T
SEATTLE'S CURRENT RESIDENTS
ALSO HAVE THE HEALTH BENEFITS O
MATURE TREES? THIS BILL WILL
IMPACT THE FUTURE OF THE URBAN
FOREST FOR GENERATIONS. IT
SEEMS WHILE THERE IS A LOT OF
WORK THAT IS BEEN DONE, THERE I
STILL WORK FOR OVERSIGHT AND
SOME THINGS CAN BE AVERTED WIT
THESE THOUGHTFUL AMENDMENTS.
THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO GET THIS
RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS SANDY
FOLLOWED BY DAVID AND KATHLEEN.
GOOD MORNING SANDY.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
DOING THIS WORK. I AM SANDY AN
I AM ASKING YOU TO PLEASE
SUPPORT AMENDMENT A 7 REQUIRIN
THE TREE RETENTION AND PLANTIN
AREA WHEN A LOT IS DEVELOPED ,
WHICH PORTLAND ALREADY HAS.
PEOPLE NEED TREES RIGHT WHERE
THEY LIVE BY THEIR HOMES. THE
PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT ON AIR
QUALITY AND HEALTH NOTED THAT
TREES AROUND HOUSING ARE
ESPECIALLY CRITICAL TO PROTECT
CHILDREN. AND, PEOPLE WITH
ASTHMA LIVING IN POLLUTED AREAS
MORE HARD SCAPE EQUALS MORE
HEALTH AND EQUITY. THANKFULLY,
WE ALREADY HAVE THE TOOLS WE
NEED TO BUILD HOUSING AROUND
TREES. EXAMPLES INCLUDE PEER
FOUNDATIONS INSTEAD OF TRENCHIN
WERE SEISMIC CONDITIONS ALLOW.
AIR SPITTING ROOTS TO CUSTOMIZ
BUILDING PLACEMENTS AND
CONSULTING WITH ARBORISTS AT
SPECIFIC POINTS IN THE
DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. THESE
APPROACHES ARE NOT EXPENSIVE O
EVEN NOVEL. BUT, IF THEY ARE
NOT REQUIRED BUSINESSES ARE
UNLIKELY TO USE THEM. THE
TRANSITION TO ELECTRIC CARS
OFFERS A COMPARISON. CARMAKERS
ONCE ARGUED THAT MOVING AWAY
FROM GASOLINE WOULD RESULT IN
THEIR FINANCIAL RUIN AND SEND
SOCIETY BACK TO THE DARK AGES.
YET, ELECTRIC CARS ARE NOW
COMMONPLACE AND THE BIG
AUTOMAKERS HAVE REMAINED
PROFITABLE. NEW COMPANIES HAVE
SPRUNG UP AND EMISSION FREE
TRANSPORTATION IS BECOMING
REALITY. THIS IS HAPPENING
BECAUSE PEOPLE IN THE FORM OF
STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
ASKED. THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE
ARE NOW ASKING FOR HOUSING TO B
BUILT AROUND OUR TREES , NOT
INSTEAD OF TREES. PLEASE SUPPOR
AMENDMENT A 7.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS DAVID
FOLLOWED BY KATHLEEN AND STEVE
GOOD MORNING DAVID.
>> GOOD MORNING. WHAT IS THE
TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE? IT
CERTAINLY IS A WAY TO PROTECT
TREES AND KEEP SEATTLE TRUE TO
ITS NAME, THE EMERALD CITY. BUT
IT IS MORE THAN THAT. IT IS A
WAY TO ENSURE THAT OUR TREES AR
THERE TO PROVIDE SHADE ON HOT
SUMMER DAYS. IT IS A WAY TO
MAKE SURE OUR TREES AND THE
CANOPY KEEP OUR NEIGHBORHOODS
FROM FLOODING DURING RAINY
SEASONS. AND, FOR OUR CHILDREN,
THE ROBUST TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE WILL PROTECT THE
OPPORTUNITIES TO PLAY IN NATURE
AS COUNCILMEMBER NELSON NOTED
IN A RECENT MEETING, TREES ALSO
PROTECT HABITAT FOR BIRDS. TREE
WILL FURTHER PROTECT OUR
WATERWAYS AND PUGET SOUND. THAT
IS HOME TO THE SALMON AND OUR
BELOVED ORCHID. IF WE LOSE MAN
MORE TREES WE WILL IMPACT THESE
IMPORTANT FELLOW BEINGS IN THE
GREAT PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND
ACCELERATE THEIR DECLINE. IN
PREVIOUS MEETINGS I HEARD
COMMENTS THAT WE NEED TO BUILD
MORE HOUSING SO MORE PEOPLE CAN
ENJOY THIS PARADISE. PART OF
WHAT DEFINES OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY
AS A PARADISE OF THE VERY TREE
WE STAND TO LOSE. IF WE CUT
THESE TREES DOWN ON THE PATH TO
MORE HOUSING WE WON'T HAVE A
PARADISE. ONE YEAR AGO, SEATTL
HAD A DRAFT PROTECTION
ORDINANCE THAT PROVIDED
SIGNIFICANT PROTECTION FOR THE
TREES. THIS CURRENT DRAFT
REMOVES MANY OF THESE
PROTECTIONS AND PROVIDES
NUMEROUS PATHS TO CUTTING DOWN
TREES DURING DEVELOPMENT. I URG
YOU TO ADOPT THE AMENDMENTS
FORWARDED TO YOU BY THE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION SO WE CAN
TRULY CALL THIS A TREE
PROTECTION ORDINANCE. IN
ADDITION TO THOSE, I PROPOSE AN
AMENDMENT THAT WOULD PROVIDE AN
INCENTIVE FOR KEEPING TREES.
POSSIBLY, THE CITY COULD PAY A
PORTION OF THE COST FOR
DESIGNING AROUND THE EXISTING
TREES. CUTTNG A TREE IS A
REVERSIBLE. LET'S FIND WAYS TO
KEEP THE TREES WHILE BUILDING
MORE HOUSING. PLEASE DON'T GET
THIS WRONG, OUR TREES, OUR
CHILDREN AND NATURE ARE
DEPENDING ON YOU TO GET THIS
RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU DAVID. UP NEXT IS
KATHLEEN FOLLOWED BY STEVE .
GOOD MORNING KATHLEEN.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
KATHLEEN.
>> HOLD THE MICROPHONE A LITTL
CLOSER.
>> A LITTLE BIT CLOSER? LIKE
THIS? OKAY. MY NAME IS
KATHLEEN. I AM A NATIVE OF
SEATTLE AND I GREW UP IN BEACON
HILL , ONE OF THE AREAS WE ARE
CONCERNED ABOUT WITH LOW TREE
COVERAGE. I WANT TO SAY THAT MY
FAMILY SUFFERED GREATLY FROM
THE POLLUTION OF BEING IN THAT
AREA. I GREW UP IN A FAMILY
WITH NINE KIDS. MORE THAN HALF
OF US HAVE HAD CANCER. MY
MOTHER HAD CANCER. MY FATHER
DIED YOUNG OF HEART DISEASE. S
, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE COSTS
OF THE TREES , AS IF THEY ARE
NUISANCE, I WANT MORE ATTENTION
PAID TO THE COST OF THE
ELIMINATION OF THOSE TREES .
EXCUSE ME. I SUPPORT AMENDMENT
A 6 AND A 7 AND C 1. AND, I
HAVE SOME ARTICLES THAT I WANT
TO PUT INTO THE COMMENTS THAT
ARE FROM SCIENCE NEWS ABOUT TH
DEADLY HEALTH EFFECTS OF URBA
HEAT ISLANDS. ONE COMMENT
THAT UPSET ME AT THE LAST
HEARING WAS SOMEONE WHO SAID
THAT WE HAVE TO STOP
PRIORITIZING TREES OVER PEOPLE
. I BELIEVE THAT THESE ARTICLE
WILL SHOW THAT IS VERY FALSE AN
WE NEED TO BE MORE NUANCED IN
OUR THINKING AND MORE
ENCOMPASSING OF ALL OF THE
FACTORS THAT GO INTO IT. WE
CAN'T LOOK AT LIVING SYSTEMS
LIKE JUST AN ENGINEERING
PROBLEM. WE CAN'T IGNORE ALL O
THE INTERCONNECTIONS. THANK YOU
>> THANK YOU. CLERK , IF YOU
WANT TO PASS ME THOSE. NEXT IS
STEVE .
>> GOOD MORNING. I WANT TO
THANK THE LAND USE COMMITTEE
AND CHAIRMAN STRAUSS ,
COUNCILMEMBER NELSON AND
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN FROM
MOVING FORWARD ON THIS
LEGISLATION. IT HAS BEEN 14
YEARS SINCE THIS HAS BEEN IN TH
WORKS. IT IS TIME TO START NOW.
YOU HAVE HAD A TOUGH TIME MAKIN
DECISIONS. YOUR JOB IS TO
BALANCE THE NEEDS OF THE CITIS
AS IT GROWS AND THESE INCLUDE
HOUSING AND THE GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE THAT KEEPS OUR
CITY LIVABLE. WE CAN DO BOTH
WITH YOUR HELP. GREEN
INFRASTRUCTURE AND PROVIDE
MULTIPLE BENEFITS. OTHER CITIES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE
SCRAMBLING TO PLANT MILLIONS OF
TREES TO GET WHAT WE ALREADY
HAVE. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS
SPENDING 1.5 BILLION ON URBAN
AND COMMUNITY FOREST AND DNR IS
SPENDING SEVERAL MILLION
DOLLARS OR MORE AND ASKING FOR
MORE. IT IS EXPENSIVE TO
REPLANT TREES. WE ALREADY HAVE
EXISTING TREES. THEY ARE THE
SURVIVORS. THE PARKS DEPARTMENT
SAYS PLANTING THEM AND WATERING
THEM AND MAINTAINING A NEW TREE
FOR FIVE YEARS COSTS OR THOUSAN
DOLLARS PER TREE. WE HAVE 20%
TREE CANOPY NOW, BUT BASED ON
HOUSE BILL 1110 REQUIRING FOR
PLEXUS AND SIX PLUSES ACROSS TH
CITY , WE WILL HAVE A SEVERE
THREAT TO OUR TREE CANOPY. THE
DRAFT ORDINANCE HAS A 85% LOT
GUARANTEE FOR A MULTIFAMILY ZON
AND THAT IS ALREADY AT 23%. IT
BECOMES A FUTURE WAY WE BUILT I
RESIDENTIAL ZONES. SEATTLE WIL
NEVER HAVE 30% CANOPY, IT WILL
BE 20% OR IN THAT AREA. YOU
ALREADY HEARD REPEATEDLY ABOUT
PORTLAND , WHICH ADOPTED TREE
PROTECTION AREAS AND PLANTING
AREAS SAYING THEY ARE A VITAL
COMPONENT. WE, THE CITIZENS AR
SAYING, GIVE A GUARANTEED AREA
FOR TREES IN OUR CITY SO WE CAN
REACH OUR 30% TREE CANOPY.
REALIZE THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT
WAS DONE IN THE DENMAN ADDENDU
SAID NO CITY IMPACT ON
NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIAL AND
THAT DIDN'T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT
THE NEW LEGISLATION. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU STEVE. UP NEXT IS
ANOTHER STEVE. GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. THEY HAVE HAD
PROBABLY, AT LEAST 20 YEARS OF
FAILURES HERE . ONE OF THE
REASONS THEY FAIL IS THAT
EVERYBODY ASKS TO GO IN AND
THAT INCLUDES DEVELOPERS. I WA
VERY HAPPY THAT COUNCILMEMBER
NELSON BROUGHT UP THE CITY ,
WHO COULD BE A MUCH BETTER MODE
FOR TAKING CARE OF TREES. I
HOPE THE CITY IMPROVES. BUT,
CITIZENS ALONE IN THE CITY ARE
NOT ENOUGH. WE ARE GOING TO HAV
TO BRING DEVELOPERS IN BECAUSE
IF THERE IS A LOOPHOLE , TRUCKS
WILL BE DRIVEN THROUGH WITH
LOCKS. I AM CONCERNED MOST
ABOUT THE LARGER TREES. THESE
ARE GENERATIONAL TO REPLACE.
AN APARTMENT HOUSE CAN BE BUIL
IN FAR, FAR, FAR LESS TIME. AND
SEATTLE PUBLIC HOUSING IS NOT
FOR THOSE THAT MAKE $150,000 .
IT IS PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING
$80,000 , $70,000 , $60,000 OR
LESS. SO, I THINK THAT WE NEED
TO TAKE A REALLY STRONG LOOK.
I OFTEN HEAR THAT PRICE IS A
REAL PROBLEM. RACE THE A FEAST
IF YOU ARE REALLY CONCERNED
ABOUT PEOPLE WHO NEED HOUSING.
IF YOU ARE REALLY CONCERNED,
SAVE THE EXISTING BUILDINGS ,
THEY ARE NOT CHEAP BUT LESS
COSTLY THAN BRAND-NEW. AND
UNLESS HIGHLY SUBSIDIZED,
BRAND-NEW HOUSING IS ALWAYS THE
MOST EXPENSIVE. WE ARE GOING T
TAKE A LOOK AT EVEN SOMETHING
WEIRDER. HOW ABOUT HAVING A
LIVING WAGE INSTEAD OF A MINIMU
WAGE ? THIS WILL SOLVE A GREAT
DEAL OF PROBLEMS THAT ARE ON TH
STREETS OF SEATTLE AND PEOPLE
WHO MAY SOON BE ON THE STREETS
OF SEATTLE. IT IS TIME TO SAVE
THE OLDER TREES , SAVE THE
ENVIRONMENT AND MAKE SEATTLE A
PLACE THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO
LEAVE.
>> THANK YOU STEVE. WE ARE
GOING TO --CORTEZ , DO YOU WANT
TO SPEAK THIS MORNING? ANYONE
ELSE ? I THINK EVERYONE HAS
SPOKEN. THANK YOU. WE ARE GOING
TO TRANSITION TO THE REMOTE
TESTIMONY NOW . I WILL READ
THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE WHO AR
NOT PRESENT. IF YOU HEAR YOUR
NAME OR YOU HEAR YOUR FRIEND'S
NAME , THEY HAVE NOT CALLED THE
NUMBER. SO, CAMERON, KEVIN ,
PATRICK , KIERSTEN , ALAN ,
JANICE , TREVOR . THOSE ARE THE
FOLKS THAT HAVE NOT CALLED IN
PRESENT AT THIS MOMENT. I WILL
READ THROUGH THE LIST SO THAT
FOLKS KNOW WHERE THEY ARE ON TH
LIST. THEN, WE WILL START WITH
GROUPS OF THREE. UP FIRST IS
MATT HUTCHINS , FOLLOWED BY
MICHAEL , JUNE , SKYLER , ROB ,
KAREN , DAVID , LOIS , MOIRA ,
COLLEEN , AREVA , JANET, ERIC,
WOODY , DAVID , CHRIS , KELSEY
CHRISTINA , FRANCESCA, MARIE,
KEVIN , ROCKY , GREG , JESSE ,
PATRICK , ANDREW , JOHN ,
TRISTAN , PATRICK , MARY ,
JASON , ETHAN , RICHARD ,
KIERSTEN , SUZANNE , ALAN ,
IRENE , JOE , LUCAS , JANICE ,
TREVOR , SUSAN , LEAH. WITH
THAT, THAT IS THE ORDER. WE
WILL START WITH MATT HUTCHINS
FOLLOWED BY MICHAEL AND
FOLLOWED BY JANE. WELCOME MAT.
>> I SEE YOU ARE OFF MUTE.
MAKE SURE YOUR TELEPHONE ISN'T
MUTED. GOOD MORNING. THANK YO
VERY MUCH. I WOULD LIKE TO SAY
THAT THERE IS AN ARCHITECT WH
BILLS A LOT OF AFFORDABLE AND
OTHER HOUSING IN SEATTLE. THE
REGULATIONS WE ALREADY HAVE TWO
BALANCE AND OVERLAY ON ANY
URBAN LOT , THERE ARE SO MANY.
IT IS A VERY COMPLEX AND
FRAGILE EQUATION. THE TREE
ORDINANCE , AS IT IS NOW AS
PROPOSED THROWS A GIANT RANCH
INTO THIS FRAGILE EQUATION. I
AM CONCERNED THAT A LOT OF
PROJECTS WILL GO UP TO OVER
$10,000 IN ADDITIONAL COSTS TO
COMPLY. AND THE PROJECTS WE DO
, FOR EXAMPLE THE WATER PROJECT
THAT BILLS TINY HOMES , THAT
EXTRA $10,000 MEANS IT IS
HOUSING DENIED FOR MANY OF
THOSE RESIDENTS. I WOULD HOPE
THAT WE CAN SPEND MONEY ON
PLANTING TREES AND I WOULD URGE
YOU TO CONSIDER THAT.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
MICHAEL , FOLLOWED BY JUNE AND
SKYLER. MICHAEL?
>> SO, WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A
MAN IF HE SHALL GAIN THE WHOLE
WORLD AND LOSE HIS OWN SOUL?
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT SEATTLE IS
FACING. WE ARE ROLLING DOWN TH
TRACK TO MAKE IT EASIER TO
PROFIT WITHOUT THE NEED TO STO
AND BE THOUGHTFUL IN BUILDING
NEW HEALTHY HOUSING. WE ARE
SACRIFICING OUR HERITAGE FOR
UNBRIDLED GROWTH. THAT IS WHAT
CANCER IS. NOW, IT WILL ALSO
TAKE OUR TREES. FAR FEWER TREE
WILL CHANGE THE EMERALD CITY.
THE COMPREHNSIVE PLAN CALLS FOR
30% TREE CANOPY COVERAGE. EVE
THIS IS TOO LIMITED. IT SHOULD
BE 30% TREE CANOPY COVERAGE IN
EACH AND EVERY RESIDENTIAL
NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT IS OUTSIDE
OUR PARTS AND GREEN BELTS. THI
ORDINANCE WILL NOT MOVE US
TOWARDS THAT GOAL. FROM WHAT I
SEE WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT
AMENDMENTS , IT WILL NOT EVEN
SLOW THE CURRENT DECLINE
INCREASE IN TREE CANOPY
COVERAGE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY
AMENDMENTS TO THIS ORDINANCE.
ONLY A FEW WILL BE CONSIDERED B
THIS COMMITTEE. NO ONE HAS
DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR MUCH
GREATER EDUCATION TO OUR
NEIGHBORS ON HOW TO PROPERLY
CARE FOR THE TREES THEY ALREADY
HAVE. NO ONE HAS DISCUSSED THE
NEED FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION TO ACCEPT MORE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE TREES
PLANTED ON PARKING STRIPS , MOS
OFTEN BY RESIDENTS OOZING FROM
RECOMMENDATIONS BY SDOT.
SEATTLE IS OVER 131 YEARS OLD
AND SO ARE SOME OF THE TREES IN
SOME OF OUR OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS
MANY ARE REACHING THE POINT THE
WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED AS THEY
WEAKEN. REPLACING A GRAND OLD
TREE WITH THE SAPLING PLANTED I
A PARKING STRIP WILL NOT
MAINTAIN OUR TREE COVER. WE MUS
REPLACE TREES THAT ARE REMOVED
WITH MORE THAN ONE, MUCH MORE
THAN ONE NEW TREE. THESE NEW
TREES SHOULD BE PLANTED AND NO
WHERE THERE IS LIMITED ROOM FOR
THE ROOTS TO GROW.
>> THANK YOU MICHAEL. UP NEXT
IS JUNE, FOLLOWED BY SKYLER AND
BROCK. JUNE WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS JUNE
AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT 2. I
WANT TO INVITE EVERYONE
LISTENING, ESPECIALLY CITY
COUNCIL , NOT JUST THE
LEGISLATION TO THINK AND ACT
LIKE TREES IN A FOREST. WE USE
TO THINK THAT TREES COMPETED
WITH EACH OTHER FOR WATER, LIGH
AND THEY DO TO SOME EXTENT.
THAT THINKING IS FLAWED. RECENT
RESEARCH SHOWS TREES
COLLABORATE, COOPERATE, PROTECT
AND NURTURE EACH OTHER. TREES
WITH MORE LIGHT TAKE SUGAR T
TREES IN DEEP SHADE AND EVEN
TREES OF OTHER SPECIES. I
APPRECIATE THE MANY POSITIVE
CHANGES IN THE PROPOSED TREE
ORDINANCE, BUT IT IS
INADEQUATE. AS OTHERS HAVE
SAID, WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE
NEW HOUSING BILL ALMOST ALL
RESIDENTIAL ZONES IN SEATTLE AR
NOW MULTI FAMILY. MANY PEOPLE
THINK AND ACT AS IF TREES AND
HOUSING HAVE TO COMPETE FOR
SPACE AND RESOURCES. THAT
THINKING IS FLAWED. HOUSING AND
TREES ARE BOTH ESSENTIAL FOR
THE PEOPLE OF SEATTLE TO LIVE
AND THRIVE. ESPECIALLY , THOSE
WITH FEWER RESOURCES. HOUSING
AND TREES CAN COLLABORATE FOR
THE WELL-BEING OF ALL. PEOPLE
NEED TREES WHERE THEY LIVE , NO
JUST IN PARKS AND WILD AREAS.
THE COUNCIL MUST PASS AMENDMENT
A6 AND A7 TO REMOVE THE HARD
SCAPE ALLOWANCE FOR MULTIFAMILY
ZONES FROM THE ORDINANCE AND TO
ADD 20% TO 40% LOT ALLOWANCE
FOR TREE PROTECTION AS PORTLAND
IT. THE URBAN FT. STREET
COMMISSION DID THE MATH. 15% O
EVEN A LARGE LOT IS NOT ADEQUAT
TO SUPPORT EVEN ONE MATURE TIE
TWO TREE. OVER TIME, IT WILL
BECOME UNHEALTHY IN THE AREA
WILL BECOME UNINHABITABLE.
PLEASE DON'T JUST PROTECT TREES
LEARN FROM THEM , ACT LIKE THEM
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU JUNE. UP NEXT IS
SKYLER FOLLOWED BY ROB AND
CAMERON . CAMERON , YOU ARE NOT
PRESENT AT THIS TIME. IF YOU AR
NOT PRESENT WHEN WE GET TO YOU
WE WILL COME BACK TO YOU AT THE
END. SKYLER, WELCOME.
>> HELLO. I AM THE OWNER OF TH
REAL ESTATE GROUP BASED IN
SEATTLE. WE WORK WITH LOCAL
HOMEOWNERS AND BUILDERS. I WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANCE OF
CREATING TREE REGULATION THAT
TAKES INTO CONSIDERATION THE
LACK OF HOUSING SEATTLE IS
FACING. IF THE TREE PROTECTION
CODE IS PAST THE CITY OF SEATTL
WILL DRIVE UP THE COST OF HOMES
AND WE ARE ALREADY FESSING LAC
OF DEVELOPMENT ON LAND BECAUSE
OF THE OVERABUNDANCE OF TREES.
I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THE
RAMIFICATIONS OF A STRICT
REGULATION CODE AS IT RELATES T
MANY RESIDENTS. THEY RELY ON
THE PROPERTY VALUE FOR
RETIREMENT. WHEN A PROPERTY
VALUE DROPS BECAUSE AN AND
ACCESSIBLE TREE OCCUPIES THE
PROPERTY. THEY ARE DECIDING
THAT TREES ARE WORTH MORE THAN
PROPERTY OWNER'S FUTURE. THERE
DOES NEED TO BE A BALANCE
BETWEEN PRESERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT. INSURING THE TREE
CANOPY IS REPLANTED IS
IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE
MAINTAINED. WITH THAT SAID I
BELIEVE THE CURRENT LANGUAGE IN
THE CODE DOES NOT SUPPORT THE
IDEOLOGY OF PROVIDING AN
EASIER PATH TO INCREASING THE
SUPPLY OF HOMES THAT ARE
CURRENTLY TOO SMALL FOR THE
POPULATION. WE CANNOT CONTINUE
TO PRIORITIZE TREES OVER PEOPLE
I EMPLOY THE COUNCIL TO DECIDE
WHETHER MAINTAINING TREES IS A
HIGHER PRIORITY THAN PROVIDING
MORE HOMES TO THEIR CITIZENS. I
BELIEVE A BALANCED CODE CAN
MEET THE NEEDS FOR BOTH
MAINTAINING TREE CANOPY THROUGH
REPLANTING AND PROMOTING NEW
HOMES. I DON'T BELIEVE THIS
BILL CURRENTLY MEET THAT BALANC
. THE LANGUAGE OF THE CODE NEED
FURTHER CLARIFICATION. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SKYLER. UP NEXT I
ROB , FOLLOWED BY CAMERON NOT
PRESENT. THEN, DAVID AND HANS.
ROB, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME. MY NAME IS ROB AND
AM A DEVELOPER IN SEATTLE AND
HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR 15 YEARS
I CONSIDER MYSELF A BIT OF AN
EXPERT. ALTHOUGH I DO IT TO MAK
A LIVING , LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE
SAID IT IS A JOB, BUT WE ARE NO
OUT TO GOUGE THE CITY IN
WHATEVER WAY WE CAN , OR ITS
CITIZENS. WE ARE PASSIONATE
ABOUT BUILDING AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. THE MORE RESTRICTIONS
THAT ARE PUT ON US AS WE MOVE
FORWARD TO TRY TO DO THAT , THE
MORE IMPOSSIBLE IT BECOMES TO D
IT. I THINK IT IS EASY TO VILL
NICE THE DEVELOPERS IN A
SITUATION LIKE THIS WHEN YOU
TALK ABOUT THE TREE ORDINANCE.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE STUDY OF THE
CITY , IT IS NOT THE INFIELD
DEVELOPERS THAT HAVE CREATED
THE LOSS OF THE CANOPY. IT IS I
PART TO MAJOR INSTITUTIONS AND
GOVERNMENT -CONTROLLED PROPERTY
. WE, OUR COMPANY AND MOST
COMPANIES I KNOW THAT DO THIS
FOR A LIVING HAVE PLANTED WAY
MORE TREES THAN WE HAVE EVER
TAKEN OUT. SO, IT IS REALLY
IMPORTANT AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON
THIS THAT WE FOCUS ON A BALANCE
BETWEEN HOUSING AND TREES. IT
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ONE OR THE
OTHER. WE PLANT A LOT OF TREES.
WE PLANT MORE THAN WE TAKE DOWN
I WOULD REALLY LIKE THE COUNCIL
TO CONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE OF
BUILDING THE HOUSING SO WE CAN
STAY ON THE MANDATE OF THE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT AND
SEATTLE'S OFFENSIVE PLAN TO DO
THAT. WITH YOUR SUPPORT , I
WOULD LIKE YOU TO REALLY
CONSIDER LIMITING THE SCOPE O
THE ORDINANCE SO WE CAN PROVID
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THAT
EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT AT
THIS MEETING. THANK YOU FOR YOU
TIME.
>> THANK YOU ROB. UP NEXT IS
CAMERON WHO IS NOT PRESENT. IF
YOU CALL IN BEFORE THE END OF
THIS HEARING WE WILL COME BACK
TO YOU AT THE [ INDISCERNIBLE ]
UP NEXT IS DAVID, FOLLOWED BY
HANS AND LOIS.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD MORNING. I
AM AN ARCHITECT AND I SPECIALIZ
IN MULTIFAMILY HOUSING IN
SEATTLE. I WANT TOTAKE MY TIME
TO SHARE SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT
BALANCING TREES AND HOUSING. I
LISTEN TO A LOT OF PUBLIC
COMMENT ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION
AND THERE IS ONE AREA THAT I
HAVE HEARD FROM VIRTUALLY
EVERYONE AND THAT IS BUILDING
ENOUGH HOMES IS IMPORTANT AND
MAINTAINING A HEALTHY TREE
CANOPY IS IMPORTANT. THE FACT
THAT THESE TWO THINGS ARE BOTH
IMPORTANT AND ARE BEING
DISCUSSED AT THE SAME TIME
DOESN'T NECESSARILY FOLLOW THAT
THESE THINGS ARE EQUAL PRIORITY
THE PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE
EFFECT THAT THIS LEGISLATION
SHOULD MORE CLOSELY FOLLOW THE
GUIDANCE OF THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION FOR THE 85% RULE .
THESE COMMENTS ARE SIMPLY A
REFLECTION OF THE BELIEF THAT
PRESERVATION OF THE TREE CANOPY
IS THE HIGHER PRIORITY. I THE
SAME TOKEN, IF YOU BELIEVE, LIK
I DO THAT HUIZINGA HOUSING
AFFORDABILITY IS ONE OF THE MOS
IMPORTANT CHALLENGES, THEN THAT
IS THE PRIORITY. THIS
LEGISLATION IS THEN DEEPLY
MISGUIDED. THE POLITICALLY
EXPEDIENT THING TO DO IS TO
TREAT ALL OF THESE PRIORITIES A
EQUAL AND MAKE EVERYONE IN THE
ROOM HAPPY. YOU CALL THAT
BALANCED LEGISLATION. THAT IS
SMART POLITICS, BUT IT IS NOT
GREAT GOVERNANCE. GOOD
GOVERNANCE REQUIRES CHOOSING
AND PRIORITIZING. AS YOU
DELIBERATE, I WOULD ASK THAT YO
GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO YOUR
PREFERENCES. WE HAVE A HOUSING
CRISIS. DO WE HAVE A TREE
CRISIS? IF YOU THINK SO AND YOU
THINK THAT DESERVE TOP
PRIORITY, THEN BY ALL MEANS SAY
IT OUT LOUD AND SUPPORT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S VARIOU
AMENDMENTS. BUT, IF YOU DO
BELIEVE THAT OUR HOUSING CRISI
IS A TOP PRIORITY AND WE NEED
TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE
IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD
HOMES, THEN PLEASE LET YOUR
VOTES REFLECT THAT. I SUPPORT
AMENDMENTS A TWO, A SIX AND
REJECTED MEMOS THAT HAVE MORE
RULES THAT MAKE IT MORE
DIFFICULT FOR SEATTLE TO BUILD
THE HOMES WE SO DESPERATELY
NEED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU DAVID. UP NEXT IS
HANS FOLLOWED BY LOIS AND
MOIRA.
>> HELLO. I AM HERE TO TALK
ABOUT THE TREE ORDINANCE. MY
NAME IS HANS. I AM 14 YEARS OLD
AND LUCKY TO HAVE GROWN UP WHER
THERE ARE HUGE TREES AROUND. I
GO TO SLEEP EVERY NIGHT LOOKIN
AT AN OWL IN OUR TREE. WE DO
HAVE A TREE CRISIS. I CAN'T
IMAGINE LIVING IN A PLACE WHER
THERE IS 85% HARD SCAPE. I CAN'
BELIEVE THERE COULD BE NO
MEETING OR BIG TREES. IT WOULD
BE SO DEPRESSING AND THE SUMME
WOULD GET REALLY HOT. I WILL
NEVER FORGET THE 160 DEGREE
DOME SUMMER WHEN I WAS 12. MOS
PEOPLE DON'T HAVE
AIR-CONDITIONING. WE NEED TO
KEEP TREES WHILE MAKING HOMES.
THEY SHOULD KEEP SEATTLE
LIVABLE FOR GENERATIONS. WE
NEED TO CONSIDER TREES BEFORE
ANY IMPROVEMENTS. WHAT I DON'T
UNDERSTAND IS THAT DEVELOPERS
ARGUE THAT IT WILL COST MORE
TO BUILD IF THEY CAN'T JUST CUT
DOWN ALL THE TREES. I AM ONLY
14, BUT THAT ISN'T TRUE. I KNOW
THAT IS NOT TRUE. IT WILL COST
MORE TO NOT SAVE AS MANY
EXISTING TREES AS POSSIBLE AND
WE CAN'T GO 85% HARD COVERAGE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS LOIS
FOLLOWED BY MOIRA AND COLLEEN.
GOOD MORNING LOIS.
>> THERE WE GO. THANK YOU VERY
MUCH CHAIRMAN STRAUSS AND OTHE
LAND USE COMMITTEE MEMBERS .
WAS LISTENING TO THAT YOUNG MA
SPEAK WITH A SMILE. IT BROUGHT
ME JOY TO LISTEN TO HIM. I WANT
TO THANK YOU FOR HOLDING SPACE
FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE
PROPOSED TREE ORDINANCE. I AND
THE LEGACY RESIDENTS IN THE
CENTRAL DISTRICT. MY PARENTS
ADVOCATED WITH OTHERS THROUGH
THE VOICE OF FORMAL COUNCIL
MEMBER, FRANK SMITH. IT PAINS
ME TO SEE SO MUCH PAST EFFORTS
DESTROYED BY THOSE IN OUR
COMMUNITY THAT ARE BUILDING FO
PROFIT. THEY ARE BUILDING HOME
THAT LEGACY MEMBERS CANNOT
AFFORD. THERE HAVE BEEN SO FEW
BLACK AND BROWN BODIES INVITED
TO ENGAGE IN THIS PROJECT IT
WILL HAVE HEALTH IMPACTS ON OUR
CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN. TH
URBAN FORESTRY COMMISSION
VOLUNTEERED FOR TRIBES AND
COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO SUBMIT A
LENGTHY LETTER REQUESTING MORE
TIME FOR IMPACT ANALYSIS AND
AMENDMENTS. THEY ARE NOT
INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT DRAFT
VERSION . THIS COMMITTEE AND
HOPEFULLY, THE LARGER CITY
COUNCIL WILL COMMIT TO ENGAGE
WITH THE USDA AND OTHER GROUPS
OF COLOR , ALONG WITH WORKING T
PRESERVE THE URBAN CANOPY.
EQUITY AND REPRESENTATION
MATTER. IT IS NEEDED TO DRAFT
PLAN THAT TRULY PROTECTS THE
TREES AND MAKE SEATTLE THE
EMERALD CITY. IF THE CITY
COUNCIL AND COMMITTEE WOULD LIK
TO MOVE FORWARD , ESPECIALLY
WITH THE PROPOSED 85% LOT
COVERAGE IN HONOR OF THOSE WHO
CAME BEFORE ME , I CAN'T SUPPOR
IT. UNLESS THE WATER DOWN
PROVISIONS ARE REMOVED , OR AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY IS
PREPARED, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS
ALREADY SUFFERING FROM CANOPY
LOSS, SUCH AS THE CENTRAL
DISTRICT IN SOUTH SEATTLE.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU LOIS. UP NEXT IS
MOIRA , FOLLOWED BY COLLEEN AND
REVA. GOOD MORNING MOIRA.
>> THERE YOU ARE. GOOD MORNING
HELLO. I AM WITH LEGACY GROUP
CAPITOL. THIS BILL IS A GOOD
START BUT NEEDS MORE
CLARIFICATION. THE VAGUE
LANGUAGE IN THE CODE CAN BE
PROBLEMATIC FOR ALL PARTIES.
SMALL BUILDERS NEED TO PREDIC
A CLEARER CODE. THE POLICY
SHOULD BE FAIR AND BALANCED AND
WE NEED BOTH HOUSING ENTRIES.
IN A HOUSING CRISIS WE CAN'T
CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE TREES
OVER PEOPLE. TREES AND HOUSING
ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. WE
CAN PLAN FOR BOTH. WE WOULD
LIKE SAID BILL TO BE UPDATED AN
CLARIFIED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
COLLEEN , FOLLOWED BY REVA AND
JANET. COLLEEN, TAKE IT AWAY.
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN
STRAUSS AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER
AND THANK YOU FOR THIS WORK.
THIS IS GREAT WORK. OUR
COMMUNITY CLUB SUPPORT THE BIL
YOU ARE WORKING ON, BUT IT NEED
A FEW AMENDMENTS TO GET IT
RIGHT. WE SUPPORT THEM IN A
SIX, REMOVING THE 85% STANDARD
LOT COVERAGE FOR MULTIFAMILY
CONVERSION RESIDENTIAL ZONES.
AND, CONTINUE THE USE OF SAR
STANDARDS, WHICH GIVES THE CITY
MORE CODE FLEXIBILITY. IF LEFT
IN THERE, 85% WILL BE THE
MAXIMUM AND EVERY DEVELOPER
WILL MAX OUT EVERY TIME. THERE
IS NO ROOM FOR MATURITY FOR TH
TREES. IT WOULD BE A DEVELOPERS
DREAM TO OUT AT 85%. WE SUPPOR
AMENDMENTS A SEVEN, WHICH
REQUIRES A 20% ALLOWANCE OF
TREE PRESERVATION IN THE
PLANTING AREA IN RESIDENTIAL
AND COMMERCIAL ZONES. AND, 40%
FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD RESIDENTIA
ZONES. IN 2020, OREGON PASSED
THE SAME LEGISLATION OUR STATE
JUST PAST , REQUIRING 1-4 UNITS
IN FAMILY ZONES. THEY FOUND OUT
THAT TREE LOSS WAS SEVERE AND
THE REINSTATED THE LEGISLATION
BACK TO 20% FOR MULTIFAMILY AN
40% MORE TREE COVERAGE IN THE
FAMILY ZONES. WE SHOULD DO THAT
AS WELL. WE ALSO SUPPORT
AMENDMENT SEE ONE. IT IS TREE
FIRST AND THAT MAKES A
DEVELOPER MORE AWARE OF HOW THE
CAN SAVE THE TREES AND THOSE
AROUND THEM. THAT IS A PUBLIC
HEALTH BENEFIT. FINALLY, PAYMEN
IN LIEU FOR TREES WILL NOT, BY
ITSELF SAVE THE CITIES TREES. I
IS THE PRESERVATION OF THE TREE
THAT ARE THERE NOW. AND, TREE
REPLACEMENT FUNDING SHOULD BE
UNDER THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY TO ADMINISTER
THAT FUNDING. IT NEEDS TO GO T
AREAS THAT ARE POOR IN TREE
CANOPY COVERAGE AND MAKE SURE
THAT THE AREAS ARE NOT
DISPLACED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK ON THIS IMPORTANT POLICY.
>> THANK YOU , COLLEEN. UP NEXT
IS REVA , FOLLOWED BY JANET AND
ERIC.
>> I AM REVA--
>>-- APOLOGIES.
>> I LOVE THE WAY YOU SAY MY
NAME. I AND FOR INCREASED
DENSITY OF URBAN TREE COVER .
PLEASE THINK AND GROW SEATTLE
HOLISTICALLY. I HEAR A LOT OF
LANGUAGE FROM THE BUILDING
COMMUNITY THAT ARE RESISTING.
LEASE THINK ABOUT OPTIMIZATION
NOT PRIORITIZATION. WE NEED TO
OPTIMIZE ALL THREE THINGS ,
TREES, HOMES AND CLIMATE
RESILIENCY. AS WRITTEN , THE
TREE ORDINANCE DOES NOT ALLOW
ROOM FOR TREES TO GROW. PLEASE
REMOVE THE 85% LOT COVERAGE.
HARD SCAPE WILL RUN OFF HEAT
ISLANDS, POLLUTION OF THE SOUND
AND A LOT OF BAD STORM WATER.
IT WILL INCREASE ENERGY FOR
HEATING AND COOLING BUILDINGS,
WHICH WILL ALL EXACERBATE OUR
CLIMATE CRISIS. WE ARE ALL IN
CLIMATE CRISIS, AS WELL AS
HOUSING PRICES. STUDIES SHOW
THERE IS LESS TREE COVERAGE IN
LOW INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS
IS AN APARTMENT INEQUITY. THE
ORDINANCE NEEDS TO HAVE FIVE
YOUR GOALS FOR ADDRESSING
ENVIRONMENTAL INEQUITY IN THE
TREE CANOPY. AGO OF 2037 IS TO
FAR IN THE FUTURE. WE NEED
MEANINGFUL GOALS FOR THE NEXT
FIVE YEARS, ESPECIALLY IN LOW
INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS. PLEASE
SEE MY WRITTEN NOTES FOR MORE
DETAILED SUGGESTIONS. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS JANET
FOLLOWED BY ERIC AND WOODY.
JANET WELCOME. TAKE IT AWAY.
>> GOOD MORNING COUNCIL. MY
NAME IS JANET AND I AM A
FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE ALLIANC
AND THE MEMBER OF TREE PACK
FOREST. ACCORDING TO RECENT
POLLING, SEATTLE VOTERS
OVERWHELMINGLY ARE FOR TREE
PROTECTION. WHEN WE ASKED YOU
TO UPDATE THE TREE ORDINANCE
OVER THE PAST 13 YEARS WE
WANTED YOU TO STRENGTHEN IT, NO
WEAKEN IT. OUR URBAN FORESTS
ARE THE LAST BEST HOPE TO COMBA
CLIMATE CHANGE. ONE YEAR AGO,
THE HEAT DON'T WAS YOUR WAKE U
CALL. I LOVE LISTENING TO THE
14-YEAR-OLD SPEAKER, HANS WHO
REMEMBERS IT SO WELL . IT WAS
LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE FOR
HIM. WE DO THANK THOSE WHO ARE
PUSHING THIS FORWARD , INCLUDIN
MAYOR BRUCE HARRELL AND THOSE
ON THE COUNCIL WHO ARE URGING
STRONG TREE ORDINANCE. PLEASE
AMEND THESE THREE THINGS. A6
TO REMOVE THE 85% LOT COVERAGE,
A SEVEN TO REQUIRE 20%
ALLOWANCE FOR TREE
PRESERVATION, AND C 1, A NEW
SECTION 4F DCI TO HAVE TREES A
THE BEGINNING OF THE PERMIT.
AND HAVE A TREE INVENTORY
CERTIFIED BY AN ARBORIST.
REMEMBER, SEATTLE IS SALMON
HABITAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU JEN. UP NEXT IS
ERIC , FOLLOWED BY WOODY AND
DAVE. ERIC, GOOD MORNING.
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
ERIC . IN ADDITION TO BE BORN
AND RAISED IN SEATTLE I'VE BEEN
BUILDING HOMES HERE FOR OVER 40
YEARS. MOST OF OUR HOMES ARE
BUILT GREEN CERTIFIED. THIS
MEANS THEY RESULT IN TREES IN
AREAS SPECIFIED BY LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTS OR ARBORISTS AS
REQUIRED FOR MAXIMUM HEALTH OF
THE TREE, LONG-TERM AND THE
BENEFIT OF THE HOME'S OCCUPANTS
MANY OF THESE TREES WE HAVE
PLANTED ARE IN PARTS OF THE CIT
WITH LOW EXISTING TREE CANOPY.
IN MY CAPACITY AS A
HOMEBUILDER HAVE TO INTERACT
WITH THE TREE COAT MUCH MORE
THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON. I
FUNDAMENTALLY BELIEVE THAT WE
CAN STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN
THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL ENERGY
EFFICIENT HOUSING AND TREES.
THE DRAFT ORDINANCE IS A GOOD
STEP IN THIS DIRECTION. HOWEVER
THERE ARE OVER 50 AMENDMENTS
PROPOSED , WHICH HAVEN'T HAD
ADEQUATE TIME FOR PUBLIC REVIEW
FROM WHAT I HAVE HEARD , BOTH
FROM THE OFFICIAL AND OTHERS
CONTRADICTORY AND STILL OTHERS
SIMPLY CONFUSING. I SIMPLY
CANNOT COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS UNTIL THEY ARE FULLY
KNOWN AND HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO
REVIEW THEM. THE BUILDERS
ASSOCIATION HAS SUBMITTED SOME
PROVISIONS TO HELP CLARIFY AND
REMOVE AMBIGUITIES IN THE
PROPOSAL. I HAVE REVIEWED THES
AND SUPPORT THEM AND I ENCOURAG
YOU TO DO SO, AS WELL. LASTLY,
SOME OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
WOULD DRAMATICALLY RESTRICT TH
ABILITIES FOR THESE HOUSING
PROJECTS. THIS WOULD PUSH NEW
HOUSING FROM THE URBAN JOB
CENTER , POTENTIALLY INCREASING
COMMUTE TIMES, REDUCING TREE
CANOPY ELSEWHERE AND POTENTIAL
CAUSING THE CITY TO FALL OUT O
COMPLIANCE WITH OUR
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I URGE YOU
TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER PUBLIC
HEARING FOR A DATE AFTER THE
COMMITTEE HAS DECIDED ABOUT TH
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS . THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU ERIC. WE DO HAVE
PUBLIC COMMENT AVAILABLE EVERY
SINGLE MEETING THAT WE HAVE,
INCLUDING THE NEXT THREE. UP
NEXT IS WOODY WHEELER , FOLLOWE
BY DAVE AND CHRIS. WOODY
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS WOOD
WHEELER AND I AM IN DISTRICT
IV. I WILL START FROM A QUOTE
FROM DR. ROBERT BULLARD , FATHE
FROM ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND
PROFESSOR OF URBAN PLANNING AND
ENVIRONMENT POLICY AT SOUTHERN
TEXAS UNIVERSITY. HE SPOKE ABOU
THE IMPORTANCE OF TREE CANOPY I
URBAN AREAS. TREE CANOPY IS PAR
OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE. TREES D
MORE THAN JUST PROVIDE SHADE.
THEY CAN FOSTER LIVABILITY. WHE
YOUR AREA IS BARREN OF GREEN
SPACE, PARKS, GREEN CANOPY YOU
ARE TALKING ABOUT NOT ONLY THE
HEAT IMPACT, BUT YOU ALSO DON'T
HAVE THE BENEFICIAL AND
NURTURING EFFECTS OF NATURE.
THESE ARE JUSTICE ISSUES THAT
WE HAVE TO ADDRESS AND BUILD
INTO OUR PLANNING , IN TERMS OF
HOW WE WILL DEAL WITH CLIMATE
RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY.
THE COMMUNITIES THAT DON'T HAVE
A GREEN CANOPY CAN'T WAIT 20
YEARS. THEY ARE SUFFERING RIGHT
NOW. DOZENS OF SEATTLE HAVE
SUFFERED AND SOME EVEN DIED
DURING THE JUNE 2021 HEAT DOME.
FIVE POCKET NEIGHBORHOOD
SUFFERED THE MOST BECAUSE THEY
HAVE FEWER KNEES TREES. SHADE
FROM TREES CAN BE THE DIFFERENC
BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH. WE CAN
PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING WHIL
ACHIEVING OUR CITIES MODEST 30
TREE CANOPY GO. A REVISED TRE
ORDINANCE IS A KEY STEP IN THIS
DIRECTION. I SUPPORT THE
AMENDMENT OF THE URBAN FORESTRY
COMMISSION WITH EMPHASIS ON FOU
PROVISIONS. NUMBER ONE, REMOVE
THE GUARANTEED 85% LOT
DEVELOPMENT AREA GUARANTEE .
NUMBER TWO , REQUIRE DEVELOPERS
TO MAXIMIZE THE RETENTION OF
SIGNIFICANT TREES WITH ADEQUAT
SPACE FOR THEM TO GROW AND
SURVIVE. NUMBER THREE, RETAIN
DEFINITIONS AND USE OF
EXCEPTIONAL AND SIGNIFICANT
TREES. NUMBER FOUR, UNDER
INTENT, ADDRESS CLIMATE
RESILIENCY AND HOW THIS IMPACT
THE CITY. THESE ARE SURVIVAL
ISSUES. THANK YOU MAYOR BRUCE
HARRELL AND THE CITY FOR
ADVANCING THIS IMPORTANT TREE
PROTECTION ISSUE.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS DAVE,
FOLLOWED BY CHRIS AND KELSEY.
>> GOOD MORNING. CAN YOU HEAR
ME?
>> YES WE CAN.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM AN
ARCHITECT AND MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE CHAPTER OF THE
INSTITUTE OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. WE HAVE A CRISIS OF
BOTH. SEATTLE NEEDS TO PLAN
2000 NEW TREES BY 2037 AND NE
HOMES BY 2044. I WOULD ENCOURAG
YOU TO LOOK AT YOUR BROWSER AN
TYPE IN CANOPIES OF GREEN URBA
DENSITY. THERE IS A SEVEN
MINUTE VIDEO OF HOW IT IS DONE
FOR MULTIFAMILY PROJECTS THAT
RETAINED EXCEPTIONAL TREES
WHILE ACHIEVING THE DENSITY
REQUIREMENTS. THAT WAS NOVEMBE
OF 2022. THERE IS ONE SECTION
OF THE TREE ORDINANCE PROPOSED
IN 2023 THAT WILL TAKE AWAY
DESIGNING WITH TREES. IF THIS
IS PROPOSED , THESE WONDERFUL
EXAMPLES WOULD HAVE LED TO KNOW
CONTINUE TREES ON A LOT, JUST
THE DENSITY. THE CITY COUNCIL
MUST ACCEPT AMENDMENTS A SIX
AND A SEVEN TO REMOVE THE 85%
NEW COVERAGE GUARANTEE. AS WEL
AS RESTORE THE DESIGN OF PARK
REVISIONS I KNOW DAN PRESENTE
THIS REQUIREMENT . IT IS BEING
REVISED NOW TO SAY, IF THE
DEVELOPMENT APPLICANTS CHOOSE
TO RETAIN TIER 2 TREES, WHICH
IS EXCEPTIONAL TREES , WHY IS
NOW BECOMING AN OPTION ? BOTH
DENSITY AND CANOPY ARE NEEDED
FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCY. THEY
ARE NOT VOLUNTARY CHOICES.
PLEASE ACCEPT THE AMENDMENTS A
AND A7 . THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU DAY. UP NEXT IS
CHRIS, FOLLOWED BY KELSEY AND
CHRISTINA. WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU CHAIRMAN STRAUSS
AND COUNCILMEMBERS FOR YOUR HAR
WORK ON THIS COMPLEX PROBLEM.
IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD WE HAD A
SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE LOT
SOLD TO A DEVELOPER WHO WANTED
TO SUBDIVIDE INTO TWO PROPERTIE
AND BUILD SIX UNITS. THERE WERE
TREES ALL AROUND THE PERIPHERY
OF THIS LOT, BUT IN SPITE OF
THIS THE DEVELOPER WANTED TO CU
DOWN EXCEPTIONAL TREES AND FEEL
THE PROPERTY WITH STRUCTURES ,
LOT LINE TO LOT LINE. THROUGH
DISCUSSIONS WITH CITY
COUNCILMEMBERS , ELECTED
OFFICIALS AND CAN SEND
NEIGHBORS WE NOW HAVE A NEW PLA
SAVING ALL OF THE TREES BECAUSE
THE BUILDINGS WERE CONCENTRATED
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LOT. IT
IS A WONDERFUL STORY. WE CAN
SAVE TREES AND BUILD NEW HOMES.
WE HAVE TO CONSULT ARBORISTS TO
KNOW WHAT TREES NEED TO PROSPE
AND WE HAVE TO ASK ARCHITECTS T
BE CREATIVE AND EMPHASIZE SAVIN
EXISTING LARGE TREES. WE CAN
DO BOTH. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU CHRIS. UP NEXT I
KELSEY , FOLLOWED BY CHRISTINE
KEVIN O'LEARY IS STILL NOT
PRESENT. PATRICK AND ALAN ARE
STILL NOT PRESENT. TREVOR
JOHNSON IS STILL NOT PRESENT.
KELSEY? WELCOME.
>> I DON'T SEE YOU THERE YET.
THERE YOU ARE. A6 AND A7 AT
YOUR CONVENIENCE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC
COMMENT ON THE TREE PROTECTION
ORDINANCE. I AM AN OWNER OF A
HOME IN SEATTLE. SEATTLE CAN AN
SHOULD HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND TREES. WE SHOULD CONSIDER
THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS BILL,
ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THE
HOUSING NEED TO ENSURE HOUSING
ENTRIES FOR GENERATIONS TO COME
I AM CONCERNED WITH HOW EASILY
TREE REMOVAL TIED TO DEVELOPMEN
IS ALLOWED . HOMEOWNERS WILL
LOSE MUCH OF THEIR ABILITY TO
PROACTIVELY MANAGE THEIR LITTLE
PIECE OF THE URBAN FOREST.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THE PROPERTY
OWNER CAN EASILY GET THE TREE
REMOVED BY A QUALIFIED
PROFESSIONAL VERSUS PASSING A
BILL THAT RESTRICTS IT. I
SUPPORT ALL THE AMENDMENTS FRO
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN AND
CHAIRMAN STRAUSS. MY GREATEST
CONCERN DATES BACK TO THE
LEGISLATION PASSED LAST FALL.
URGE YOU TO CLARIFY UNDER WHAT
CIRCUMSTANCES A TREE CAN BE
REMOVED. WE NEED TO HELP THE
URBAN FOREST OF SEATTLE TO
SURVIVE. AS THE DRAFT IS
CURRENTLY WRITTEN THERE IS NO
DOUBT THAT BAD ACTORS WILL SWOO
IN. PLEASE INCLUDE THE
AMENDMENT FROM LINE 10 OF THE
SUPPOSED SUBSTITUTE DRAFT WAS
INTRODUCED ON FRIDAY AND
CLARIFIED THAT A TREE COULD B
REMOVED AFTER TWO INSTANCES OF
TIER 2 TREES HAVE BEEN
REMOVED. THIS IS A GROSS
MISCONDUCT. THE FINANCIAL
PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH
ILLEGAL REMOVAL OF ILLEGAL TRE
WORK NEEDS TO BE FIRM.
>> UP NEXT IS CHRISTINA AND
FRANCISCO AND LUISA . WELCOME.
>> IS CHRISTINA AVAILABLE TO
JOIN US? I SEE YOU THERE. PRES
÷6 AT YOUR CONVENIENCE. THERE
YOU ARE.
>> GOOD MORNING. I AM AN IFA
CERTIFIED ARBORIST AND A RENTER
IN SEATTLE. I URGE YOU TO
LISTEN TO THE SEATTLE ARBORIST
ASSOCIATION FOR RECOMMENDED
CHANGES TO THE CODE. THE FIRST
MAJOR ISSUE WITH THE DRAFT CODE
IS THE HIGHER DESIGNATION
REQUIREMENT FOR THE REMOVAL OF
TIER THREE AND TIER FOUR TREES.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS TO
REMOVE DEAD TREES OR TREES
INFECTED WITH PAST . A BLANKET
REQUIREMENT FOR A HAZARD
DESIGNATION TO REMOVE TREES
YIELDS MANY POTENTIAL NEGATIVE
IMPACTS. LIKELY IMPACTS OF THE
NEW CODE IDENTIFIED ARE PROPERT
OWNERS BEING FORCED TO RETAIN
UNHEALTHY OR PROBLEMATIC , BUT
NONHAZARDOUS TREES. IT
INCREASES REGULATORY BURDENS AN
COSTS . DELAYED ACTION INCREASE
RISKS FOR PROPERTY OWNERS AND
TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS. IT
DECREASES THE TIME AVAILABLE TO
ESTABLISH APPROPRIATE
REPLACEMENT TREES. IT
DISCOURAGES HOMEOWNERS KNOWIN
THERE IS NOT A GOOD SYSTEM IN
PLACE FOR TREE MANAGEMENT. IT
ENCOURAGES SEVERE AND DAMAGE
REOCCURRING , OTHER THAN
REMOVAL. WE NEED TO HAVE OTHER
PERMITS AVAILABLE FOR THESE
NONHAZARDOUS AND OTHERWISE
PROBLEMATIC TREES. I LOVE TREES
AND WORKING WITH TREES , I KNO
THAT TREES IN THE URBAN FOREST
REQUIRE MANAGEMENT TO THRIVE AN
PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL AND
SOCIAL BENEFITS. THIS
REGULATION SHOULD ENCOURAGE
THOUGHTFUL, PROACTIVE
LEGISLATION OF PRIVATE AND
PUBLIC TREES TO MAINTAIN A
HEALTHY AND DIVERSE URBAN FORES
WITH LOW TO MODERATE RISK. TH
WAY IT IS SET UP DOES NOT ALLOW
FOR THIS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
FRANCISCA , FOLLOWED BY LUISA
AND KEVIN. GOOD MORNING.
>> HERE I AM. GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR SHEPHERDING
CHAIRMAN STRAUSS THIS VERY
DIFFICULT AND PERHAPS, MAYBE
CONTROVERSY OF BILL OR
AMENDMENT TO THE BILL. I THINK
DEBRA JUAREZ IS MY
COUNCILPERSON. I AM WRENCHES
ABOUT SPEAKING UP IN PUBLIC
PLACES. I AM REMINDED THAT THE
COUNCIL WANTS REALLY LISTENED
AND I THINK IT WAS MAYOR BRUC
HARRELL WHEN I CAME IN FRONT O
THE COUNCIL. THAT IS PROBABLY,
THE ONLY TIME I HAVE. HERE I AM
AGAIN IN HOPES OF AND
REMEMBERING THE TIMES WHEN THE
COUNCILMEMBERS WERE PRO-LIFE OF
AND REALLY LISTENED TO MYSELF ,
WHO IS A RESIDENT IN SEATTLE
FOR NOW 60 YEARS. I AM REALLY
ENCOURAGED BY HEARING THE
PEOPLE BEFORE ME TRYING TO
PROMOTE TREE PROTECTION. I AM
ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTIVE OF
THE CHANGES FOR REVISIONS THAT
ARE BEING MADE TO FURTHER OUR
TREE PROTECTION ORDINANCE. I
WANT TO SAY A LITTLE BIT MORE
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF
SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE SURVIVAL AND WELL-BEING ,
WHETHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY
DEPENDS ON OUR NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT. FOR SERIOUS
SUSTAINABILITY, WE NEED TO
CREATE AND MAINTAIN CONDITIONS
UNDER WHICH HUMAN AND NATURE
CAN EXIST IN PRODUCTIVE HARMONY
TO SUPPORT PRESENT AND FUTURE
GENERATIONS. I WILL CLOSE BY
SAYING THAT TREES ARE LIVING
BEINGS . IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO
USE YOURSELF AS A LIVING BEING
IN CONSIDERATION OF THE TREES ,
IF YOUR FOOT WAS STOMPED ON BY
HEAVY MACHINERY --
>> FRANCESCA ?
>> AM I DONE?
>> YES, I AM SORRY. IT IS
IMPORTANT FOR US TO MAINTAIN
THE MICROPHONE PROTOCOL FOR
EVERYONE. PLEASE DO SEND IN AN
ADDITIONAL WRITTEN COMMENTS
SHOULD YOU LIKE. UP NEXT IS
ALICIA , FOLLOWED BY KEVIN AND
ROCKY . ALICIA?
>> GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS
ALICIA AND I AM HERE TODAY
REPRESENTING THE MASTER
BUILDERS ASSOCIATION AND ARE
2600 MEMBERS. I WOULD LIKE TO
START BY THANKING THE COUNCIL
FOR TAKING UP THIS IMPORTANT
LEGISLATION. I WOULD ALSO LIKE
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS DRAFT
OF THE BILL IS OFF TO A GOOD
START IN TRYING TO BALANCE TREE
AND HOUSING. THIS BILL ADDS
70,400 MORE TREES THAT HAVE
SOME FORM OF PROTECTION AND
REPLACEMENT REQUIREMENTS. THIS
IS A BIG STEP IN ADDING TO OUR
CITIES TREE CANOPY. IN ORDER TO
TAKE AN EQUALLY BIG STEP FOR
HOUSINGS, HOMEBUILDERS NEED
PREDICTABILITY AND CLEAR AND
DISTINCT LANGUAGE IN THE CODE T
PREVENT SUBJECTIVITY , WHICH
COULD ADD TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
DOLLARS AND MONTHS OF WASTED
TIME AND PERMITTING. WITH
INTEREST RATES THAT ARE NOW
DOUBLED, BUILDERS CANNOT TAKE
THIS RISK. THEREFORE , A LARGE
NUMBER OF PROJECTS WILL NOT BE
BUILT. WE CAN'T AFFORD THIS IN
CITY THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS
HOUSING. I ASK THAT AS YOU
CONSIDER THE LARGE NUMBER OF
POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS, YOU LOOK A
THEM TO THE LAND OF HOUSING AN
ASK YOURSELF, WILL THESE
AMENDMENTS ADD TO PERMITTING AN
REVIEW TIMES? REMEMBER THAT THE
ULTIMATELY ADD TO THE COST OF A
HOUSE. FINALLY , I WOULD LIKE T
NOTE THAT WE ARE ALSO CONCERNE
THAT SOME OF THESE AMENDMENTS
WILL NOT ALLOW SEATTLE TO MEET
ITS COMPETENCY PLAN IN THE
GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU ALICIA. UP NEXT I
KEVIN, FOLLOWED BY ROCKY AND
GREG. GOOD MORNING KEVIN.
>> GOOD MORNING. THANK YOU. I
AM AN ARCHITECT AND HAVE BEEN
WORKING FOR 25 YEARS IN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. IN THAT
TIME , THE CODES AND
CALCULATIONS OF DOCUMENTATION,
THE UNCERTAINTY FOR TIME TO
PERMIT OF A STRUCTURE HAS
DOUBLED. AND, THE COSTS HAVE
TRIPLED. I DEFINITELY WANT BOT
HOUSING AND TREES AND BEAUTY.
THE CITY WANTS TO INCREASE ITS
DENSITY AND THEY ALSO WANT TO
INCREASE ITS CANOPY. WE CAN HAV
BOTH. I DON'T THINK YOU CAN
HAVE IT IN THE SAME LOCATION.
TREES CAN BE PLANTED AND PARKS
AND PUBLIC SPACES ALONG
SIDEWALKS AS WELL AS ON PRIVATE
PROPERTY, BUT HOUSING CAN ONLY
EXIST IN CERTAIN AREAS. IT IS
IRONIC THAT WE ARE SEEING MORE
PEOPLE LIVING IN OUR PARKS AND
PUBLIC SPACES AS OPPOSED TO
GENERATING OR HOUSING. IN
GENERAL, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE TH
CITY SPEND MORE TIME ON ACTION
AND LESS TIME ON PAPERWORK,
DOCUMENTATION AND BUREAUCRACY
THAT REQUIRES US TO CALCULATE
ALL OF THESE TREES THAT CREATE
UNCERTAINTY AS TO WHETHER OR NO
THE PROJECT CAN BE BUILT OR NOT
INSTEAD, LET'S JUST PLANT TREES
WHERE THEY CAN LIVE AND ALLOW
HOUSING TO BE BUILT WHERE IT CA
BE BUILT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU KEVIN. UP NEXT IS
ROCKY, FOLLOWED BY GREG AND
JESSE. PATRICK BOYLE IS STILL
NOT PRESENT. TREVOR JOHNSON, YO
ARE STILL NOT PRESENT. CAMERON%
IS STILL NOT PRESENT. EVERYONE
ELSE IS PRESENT. ROCKY, TAKE I
AWAY.
>> GOOD MORNING CHAIRMAN
STRAUSS. I WORK FOR LEGACY
CAPITAL REPRESENTING MORE THA
60 SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO
BUILT INFILL HOUSING IN SEATTLE
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE MAYO
, COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF FOR TH
WORK ON THIS COMPLICATED ISSUE.
I HAVE WALKED IN THOSE SHOES AS
CITY STAFF AND I UNDERSTAND HO
DIFFICULT IT IS. UNFORTUNATELY,
WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO
AND NOT ENOUGH TIME TO DO IT.
THE MASTER BUILDERS HAVE
SUBMITTED PROPOSED REVISIONS TO
ENSURE THAT WHAT THE STATE
INTENDED FOR THE PROPOSED BILL
OCCURS. I URGE THE COMMITTEE TO
ADOPT THOSE AMENDMENTS. IT IS
ONE MM AMONG MANY. THERE ARE
MORE THAN 50 POTENTIAL
AMENDMENTS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN
WRITTEN YET. WE ONLY HAVE BRIEF
DESCRIPTIONS OF THOSE AND MANY
OF THOSE CONTRADICT ONE ANOTHER
THE PUBLIC CANNOT MEANINGFUL
COMMENT ON THESE AMENDMENT. WE
NEED MORE TIME. SOME OF THE
AMENDMENTS, INCLUDING A PORTLAN
STYLE SET ASIDE FOR TREE
PROTECTION WILL RESULT IN LESS
HOUSING. THAT IS PLAIN AND
SIMPLE. I QUESTION HOW THE CIT
CAN MEET THE CITY PLAN . THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS GREG
, FOLLOWED BY JESSE AND
PATRICK. GREG WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS GREG
SMITH. I AM A BUILDER AND A
RENTER. I ALSO HAVE EXPERIENCE
WORKING WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE
HOMELESS . BOTH HOUSING AND
TREES ARE IMPORTANT AND NEED TO
BE IN BALANCE. I AM SURE THIS
ORDINANCE DOES NOT ACHIEVE THAT
BALANCE. SEATTLE IS MOST
CONCERNED WITH HOMELESSNESS AND
THE COST OF HOUSING. I AM
AFRAID THIS TREE ORDINANCE WILL
INHIBIT MORE BUILDING , THEREBY
INCREASING THE VERY HIGH COST O
HOUSING AND THEREBY, INCREASIN
HOMELESSNESS IN SEATTLE.
FURTHERMORE, NOT BUILDING
HOUSING IN SEATTLE WILL PUSH
HOUSING TO THE SUBURBS WHICH
WILL HARM THE ENVIRONMENT MORE
THAN BUILDING THEM CLOSER IN
THE CITY. PLEASE ALLOW THIS
ORDINANCE TO ALLOW FOR ADEQUAT
HOUSING IN SEATTLE.
>> THANK YOU GREG. UP NEXT IS
JESSE , FOLLOWED BY PATRICK AND
ANDREA. WELCOME.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. I AM IN GOVERNMEN
RELATIONS POLICY. WE ARE A
MEMBER-BASED ORGANIZATION
REPRESENTING NONPROFIT AFFORDIN
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS WORKING T
BUILD THE AFFORDABLE HOME THAT
ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED. A LOT
OF WORK WENT INTO BALANCING THE
PROTECTIONS FOR TREES AND
ALLOWING NEEDED HOUSING
PROTECTIONS FOR THE FOREST. TH
VAST MAJORITY OF THE TREE CANOP
LOSS IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE
REDEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING . I
APPRECIATE HOW THIS ORDINANCE
GREATLY RESTRICTS TREE REMOVAL
AS YOU GO THROUGH THE
AMENDMENT PROCESS, I URGE YOU T
EXAMINE EVERY COMPOSED AMENDMEN
TO THE TREE ORDINANCE FROM THE
PERSPECTIVE OF THE IMPACT TO
HOUSING PRODUCTION. DEVELOPERS
NEED CLEAR AND PREDICTABLE
STANDARDS , AND THE 85%
ALLOWABLE REQUIREMENT ALLOWS
THAT.
>> I STRONGLY SUPPORT A 3 THA
ALLOWS TREES TO BE PRESERVED.
THIS WILL ACHIEVE A BETTER
BALANCE BETWEEN A TREE AND
HOUSING. I ALSO SUPPORT
AMENDMENT C 1 THAT ALLOWS YO
TO CONSIDER TREES BEFORE ANY
EXTENSIVE DESIGN WORK IS
COMPLETED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
HARD WORK TO GET THIS RIGHT.
LET'S MAKE SURE OUR CITY EXPAND
THE CANOPY WITHOUT ENDANGERING
CRITICAL HOUSING START. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU JESSE. UP NEXT I
PATRICK, FOLLOWED BY ANDREA AND
JOHN. PATRICK, AT YOUR
CONVENIENCE.
>> THANK YOU. MY NAME IS
PATRICK TAYLOR AND I'M A
HOUSING DESIGNER AND ADVOCATE.
WE CAN HAVE TREES AND HOUSING.
WE NEED TO ENSURE THERE IS
CLARITY IN THE RULE . I AM
CALLING IN SUPPORT OF
MAINTAINING THE BALANCE OF 85%
A LOT COVERAGE ALLOWANCE AND
THE AMENDMENT TO ALLOW FULL LOT
COVERAGE. WITHOUT THOSE
GUARANTEED LOT COVERAGE
ALLOWANCE IS WE WILL HAVE FEWER
AREAS FOR MUCH-NEEDED HOUSING,
INCLUDING AREAS THAT ARE PART
OF THE COMP PLAN. IT WILL CAUS
FUTURE TRANSPORTATION
PROBLEMS. URBAN HOUSING IS
FRIENDLY HOUSING . I GREW UP I
RURAL AREAS WHERE TREES WERE
REMOVED BY HUNDREDS OF ACRES.
LET'S SUPPORT URBAN HOUSING
ENTRIES AND REJECT
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN'S HOUSIN
AMENDMENT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WORK. AND, THANK YOU TO
CHAIRMAN STRAUSS FOR HELPING TO
BALANCE OUR COMPETING
PRIORITIES. I KNOW IT IS NOT AN
EASY JOB YOU HAVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS ANDREA
FOLLOWED BY JOHN AND CEDAR.
WELCOME.
>> THANK YOU. I AM A
CERTIFIED ARBORIST AND MUNICIPA
SPECIALIST AND ONE OF THE
FOUNDERS OF THE SEATTLE
ARBORIST ASSOCIATION. MY
EXPERIENCE AS AN ARBOR STARTED
IN PERFORMING CONSTRUCTION
REVIEWS. I BELIEVE WE CAN DO
BOTH HOUSING ENTRIES. I THINK W
ARE SMART ENOUGH TO SUPPORT TH
BEAUTIFUL TREES AND SUPPORT TH
PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE. THANK YO
FOR HAVING US HERE AND
CONSIDERING OUR CRITICAL
CONCERNS. THE FIRST THING I
WANT TO DISCUSS IS THE AFP
VIOLATIONS. THE TREE SERVICE
PROVIDER REGISTRY IMPLEMENTED
LAST YEAR WAS ORIGINALLY
INTENDED TO PREVENT NEGLIGENT
AND UNNECESSARY TREE REMOVAL.
THE PENALTIES FACING REGISTERE
TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE NOT
COMMISERATE WITH THE STANDARD
SEVERE TREE REMOVAL SHOULD
WARRANT A SEVERE CONSEQUENCE.
THE TSP, AS WRITTEN DOES NOTHIN
TO PREVENT THE HARM DONE BY
NON-PROVIDERS WHO ARE THE MOST
LIKELY TO CAUSE SEVERE HARM TO
TREES AND THE COMMUNITIES AROUN
THEM. IT OVERBURDENED THOSE WH
ARE ACTING ACCORDING TO
REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS AND
INCREASES THE COST OF TREE CARE
THE TSP SUPPORTS INCREASING
FUNDING TO ENSURE THE
ENFORCEMENT OF THIS REGULATION,
WHICH ALSO INCLUDES OTHER
PENALTIES, SUCH AS SIGNIFICANT
COMPLIANT TREE WORK. THE LAST
THING I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT
WE ALSO VERY MUCH SUPPORT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF A PERMIT
SYSTEM TO ALLOW REMOVAL OF TREE
OF SMALLER SIZES AS ANOTHER
COMMENTOR MENTIONED. THERE ARE
PLENTY OF LEGITIMATE REASONS WH
TREE MANAGERS AND HOMEOWNERS
WOULD PROACTIVELY REMOVE A TREE
SO THEY CAN BEST PRESERVE THE
URBAN FOREST. PERMITS SHOULD
ALLOW PROPERTY OWNERS TO
PROACTIVELY MANAGE THEIR TREES
>> THANK YOU ANDREA. UP NEXT I
JOHN, FOLLOWED BY CEDAR AND
TRISTAN. PATRICK BOYLE AND
TREVOR JOHNSON ARE NOT PEASANT.
JOHN WELCOME.
>> HELLO. I HAVE A DEGREE IN
URBAN FORESTRY FROM THE
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. I HAVE
PERFORMED TREE WORK IN SEATTLE
SINCE 1988. I AM NOT , AT THIS
TIME ADVOCATING FOR A SPECIFIC
AMENDMENTS. THE CODE , AS
WRITTEN IS TAILORED TO BUILDERS
AND GREEN WASHES THIS COAT. I
ENCOURAGE YOU TO WITHHOLD
MEETINGS WITH LEADING ARBORISTS
AND OUR INDUSTRY, INCLUDING
YOUR OWN CITY ARBORIST AND
SEATTLE ARBORIST ASSOCIATION.
HERE ARE SOME OF THOSE NAMES,
ANDREA , JOAN TAYLOR , AND
OTHERS. THEY SPEAK FOR ME AND
WOULD HAZARD THAT ANY ARBORIST
TO CARES FOR THE TRUE TREE
PRESERVATION IN SEATTLE, WE
WELCOME A NEW ORDINANCE , BUT
WE NEED ONE THAT ARBORISTS IN
THE INDUSTRY CAN WORK WITH. WE
WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR THE TREES.
SO, PLEASE WORK WITH THOSE WHO
DO EVERY DAY. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU JOHN. UP NEXT IS
CEDAR, AND FEEL FREE TO SEND I
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS.
TRISTAN FIELD AND PATRICK BOYL
IS NEXT. IF HE IS NOT PRESENT
BY THE TIME WE GET THERE WE WIL
CALL ON MARY NEXT.
>> HELLO. I LIVE IN SOUTHPAR
. WE HAD A TIME IN LATE 2022
WHERE THERE WERE TENS OF
THOUSANDS OF HOMES DAMAGED
BECAUSE OF NOT HAVING ENOUGH
TREES. THE FLOODING COULD HAVE
BEEN BETTER RESTRICTED IF WE
HAD THE TREES. I WAS IN
HURRICANE SANDY WHERE I SAW THE
PROBLEM OF HAVING TREES DOWNED
BECAUSE OF THE HURRICANE . NEW
YORK AND NEW JERSEY ENDED UP
PAYING BILLIONS F DOLLARS FROM
NOT HAVING ENOUGH OF THOSE
KINDS OF TREES . I HAVE ALSO
WRITTEN AN ARTICLE THAT I WILL
SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL ABOUT TH
IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A BUNCH O
TREES IN URBAN AREAS IN ORDER
TO HELP WITH MENTAL HEALTH AN
HELPING TO AVOID HEAT ISLANDS,
WHICH IS VERY PREVALENT IN
SOUTHPARK AND OTHER AREAS THAT
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TREES . THIS
IS THE AREA WHERE PEOPLE END UP
DYING BECAUSE OF THE EXTREME
HEAT . THE YEAR BEFORE WE ENDE
UP HAVING HUNDRED DEGREES IN
AUGUST , WHICH ACTUALLY FELT
LIKE MORE BECAUSE OF THE HEAT
ISLANDS WE HAVE AND THE LACK O
ANY KIND OF TREE CANOPY. IT IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAV
THESE TREES .
>> THANK YOU. UP NEXT IS
TRISTAN , FOLLOWED BY PATRICK
DOYLE, NOT PRESENT AND MARY AN
THEN, JASON STEVENS. GOOD
MORNING.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF
YOUR WORK AND THANK YOU IN
ADVANCE FOR LISTENING. I AM
PART OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF PACIFIC NORTHWEST
CHAPTER OF INTERNATIONAL
SOCIETY OF ARBORISTS AND
HORTICULTURE. ARE CHAPTER SPAN
ALASKA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, IDAHO
WASHINGTON AND OREGON. WE
REPRESENT OVER 2000 ARBORIST .
ARE CHAPTER FOCUSES ON EDUCATIO
IN SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS. WE
ARE HERE TO SPEAK OUT IN SUPPOR
OF MAINTAINING THE I SA BEST
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AS A TOOL
FOR INFORMING POLICY. AS YOU
MAY KNOW I SA HAS RECOGNIZED TH
PUBLIC IS A WORLDWIDE NETWORK
FOR THE SCIENCE OF TREES.
THIS HELPS PRACTITIONERS PERFOR
WORK ACCORDING TO TOP
STANDARDS. THESE PRACTICES ARE
ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THE SURVIVA
OF TREES DURING AND AFTER
CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTAINING
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY TO OUR
COMMUNITIES. THE 20 POINTS AR
AVAILABLE . THEY SET THE
INDUSTRY STANDARD FOR SAFETY. A
PART OF THIS, DIRECTLY
PERTAINING TO THE SEATTLE TREE
CODE, WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AN
RECOMMEND THE CITY OF SEATTLE
RECOMMEND A DRAFT THAT WILL
CITE THE BEST PRACTICES FOR THE
ISA, IN SPECIFIC REGARDING TH
PROTECTION AREAS. ALL THREE
INCH AND GREATER SHOULD BE
INVENTORIED FOR DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS. OFF-SITE TREES MUST
BE PROTECTED OF ALL SIZES AND
IMPLEMENT A CRITICAL REZONING
AREA FOR TREES DURING
DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING TIER
FOUR TREES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU. PATRICK BOYLE
STILL NOT PRESENT AND WE WILL
MOVE ON TO MARY, FOLLOWED BY
JASON STEVENS.
>> GOOD MORNING MARY.
>> HELLO. I WAS BORN AND
RAISED IN SEATTLE AND THEY WORK
AT AN ARBORIST COMPANY ON THE
TREE SERVICE PROVIDER LIST. ON
OF OUR ROLES IS TO SPEAK WITH
ISSUES WE SEE. THERE IS NO WAY
TO EDIT OR DELETE AN ERROR OR
A CHANGE OF MIND. I THEN HAVE
TO SUBMIT A NOTICE TO CORRECT O
CHANGE IT. THERE IS A LOT OF BA
DATA WITH DOUBLE COUNTED TREES
, MISREPRESENTED WORK AND MORE.
THE PORTAL FOR SUBMITTING THES
NOTICES CAN CRASH FREQUENTLY
AND MAKES THE PROCESS TIME
CONSUMING AND REPETITIVE, DUE T
THE LAYOUT. IF THERE ARE GOING
TO BE SUCH LARGE PENALTIES FOR
ALL THREE VIOLATIONS, PLEASE
INCLUDE THE SYSTEMS AND SOFTWAR
TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS TO REMAIN
COMPLIANT WITH THE CODE.
FINALLY, THERE IS NO ONE
REVIEWING THE SUBMISSIONS. THER
IS NOTHING IN THE NOTICE THAT W
SHOULD PROCESS THE ACTION TO
PREVENT BATTERY WORK FROM BEING
PERFORMED. I AM FULLY IN
SUPPORT OF PROTECTING TREES AN
INSURING THAT TREE CARE IS
BENEFICIAL TO THE HEALTH AND
SAFETY OF OUR TREES AND THE
PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. HOWEVER, WE
NEED TO CONSIDER HOW THE
ORDINANCE IS NEGATIVELY
IMPACTING THE OPERATIONS OF
COMPLIANT TREE SERVICE PROVIDER
AND THE ABILITY FOR RESIDENTS T
SEEK OUT PROPER TREE CARE AND
AFFORD IT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU MARY. UP NEXT IS
JASON STEVENS, THEN JASON HARMO
AND ETHAN CHILDS. GOOD MORNING
JASON.
>>
EITHER JASON STEVENS OR JASON
HARMON, PLEASE PRESS ÷6. LET'S
ALSO BRING ETHAN CHILDS UP.
ETHAN CHILDS , ÷6 TO COME OFF
MUTE. WE HAVE JASON HARMON.
GOOD MORNING.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT. I AM AN
ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST. I WORK
FOR A TREE SERVICE PROVIDER IN
SEATTLE AND AM A MEMBER OF THE
SEATTLE ARBORIST ASSOCIATION.
THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO
COMMENT AND FOR ALL OF YOUR HAR
WORK. AS SOMEONE THAT WORKS
WITH THE PUBLIC , I COMPLETELY
UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY TO TRY
TO MAINTAIN AND REPLENISH THE
TREE CANOPY THAT CONTINUES TO B
LOST. WE ALL SEE THE EFFECTS O
CLIMATE CHANGE. ONE OF THE
REASONS THIS ORDINANCE REQUIRE
MORE THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION
AND CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT WITH
THE ARBOR , CULTURAL, AND URBAN
FOR PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE DOIN
THE WORK EVERY DAY IS BECAUSE
IT IS GOING TO BE GIVING
GUIDANCE TO OTHER MUNICIPALITIE
FOR YEARS TO COME. I
RESPECTFULLY URGE THE COUNCIL
TO SLOW THE TIMELINE FOR
ADOPTION OF THESE AMENDMENTS
AND TO ALLOW FOR THE REVIEW AN
CONSIDERATION OF THE IMPACTS O
THE CODE. I AM CONCERNED MY
FELLOW ARBORISTS IN THE CITY
ARE WORRIED THAT THE FUNDING
FOR ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO BE
IMPROVED. THERE ARE BAD ACTORS
NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ADHERING T
THIS COLD AND THEY WILL MANAGE
TO GET AWAY WITH ILLEGAL TREE
WORK. ALONG THE SAME LINES,
ADDING ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
TO AN ALREADY PERMITTING SYSTE
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A
SUSTAINABLE POSITION OR
ENCOURAGING MODEL FOR OTHER
MUNICIPALITIES. I AM CONCERNED
THE PUNITIVE APPROACH WILL NOT
ACHIEVE THE GOAL OF THIS UPDATE
AND WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST IT
BE MORE CONSTRUCTIVE AND USE A
INCENTIVE-BASED APPROACH . I
URGE THE COUNCIL TO TAKE THIS
INTO CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU JASON. PLEASE DO
SEND IN ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
I AM REALIZING WE DID NOT READ
THE BILL INTO THE RECORD AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING.
CLERK, IF YOU COULD READ THE
SHORT TITLE OF THIS BILL INTO
THE RECORD.
>> COUNCIL BILL 120534, TREE
PROTECTION BILL FOR PUBLIC
HEARING.
>> THANK YOU. SOUNDS GOOD. UP
NEXT IS JASON STEVENS . JASON
, I SEE YOU ARE THERE. GOOD
MORNING.
>> EXCELLENT. APOLOGIES FOR
THE DIFFICULTIES WITH THE
PHONE. I AM JASON STEVENS AND I
LIVE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 AND
I AM HERE TO SUPPORT AND PROTEC
SEATTLE'S TREES . I WOULD LIKE
TO TAKE YOU ON A LITTLE
VISUALIZATION EXERCISE BACK TO
THE SUMMER OF 2021. IF IT HELP
AND YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE, CLOSE
YOUR EYES AND IMAGINE GOING
BACK TO THAT SUMMER OF 2021 ,
WHEN SEATTLE TEMPERATURES
REACHED 108 AND PORTLAND
TEMPERATURES REACHED 112. NOW,
IMAGINE THAT HEAT . YOU ARE
OUTSIDE. FEEL IT ON YOUR SKIN.
FEEL THE AIR . NOW, IMAGINE
SITTING UNDER A MATURE TREE
WITH ALL OF ITS PROTECTION,
SHADE , HOW DOES THE HEAT FEEL
NOW? HOW DOES YOUR SKIN FEEL?
HOW DOES THE AIR AROUND YOU
FEEL? NOW, IMAGINE THAT TREE
GONE . IMAGINE AGAIN, THE SUN
ON YOUR SKIN AND HOW IT FEELS.
HOW DID THE TEMPERATURE CHANGE
AROUND YOU? NOW, PLEASE COME
BACK TO YOUR CURRENT SPACE AND
THIS CURRENT TIME . THANK YOU
FOR THAT LITTLE VISUALIZATION
EXERCISE. I SUPPORT THE
PROTECTION OF THE SEATTLE
TREES. WE ARE IN A CLIMATE
CRISIS , A CLIMATE EMERGENCY AN
THE TEMPERATURES WILL BE
INCREASING EVERMORE. WE WILL
SEE MORE AND MORE HEAT WAVES ,
LIKE THE SUMMER OF 2021 AND THE
MATURE TREES ARE IN PLACE TO
HELP US NOW. SO, PLEASE PROTEC
SEATTLE'S TREES . THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU JASON. UP NEXT I
ETHAN CHILDS , FOLLOWED BY
RICHARD ELLISON AND KIERSTEN
MINER. ETHAN GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU
FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN
TO EVERYBODY'S CONCERNS TODAY.
I AM AN ARBORIST IN THE SEATTL
AREA AND I INTERACT WITH THE
CODE ALL OF THE TIME. I HAVE
TALKED TO HUNDREDS OF HOMEOWNER
AND PROPERTY MANAGERS EVERY
YEAR. I AM REALLY CONCERNED
THAT THIS NEW CODE IS GOING TO
DISINCENTIVE FIVE PLANTING AND
PRESERVING TREES. THE MORE
REGULATION THAT GETS PUT ONTO
IT, THE MORE THE COST TO REMOVE
THEM GOES UP. THE MORE ONEROUS
REGULATIONS ARE, DOESN'T HELP
ANYONE. THE CURRENT REGULATION
THAT ARE IN EFFECT ARE VERY
PUNITIVE TOWARDS TREE PROVIDER
SERVICES. THEY ARE OUT THERE
TRYING TO DO THE BEST FOR THE
TREES AND OUR CLIENTS. I REALLY
URGE THE COUNCIL CONSIDER
TAKING ANOTHER LOOK AT THIS AND
TALK ABOUT WHAT DOES
CONSTITUTE SUCH GREAT HARM THA
A COMPANY SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF
BUSINESS FOR MAKING
POTENTIALLY, A CLERICAL ERROR
WHEN SUBMITTING NOTICES TO THE
CITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU ETHAN. UP NEXT IS
RICHARD ELLISON, FOLLOWED BY
KIERSTEN MINER AND SUZANNE
GRANT.
>> PRESS ÷6 TO COME OFF MUTE.
GOOD AFTERNOON RICHARD. WE WIL
ADD KIERSTEN MINER . KIERSTEN
IF YOU ARE READY, ÷6.
>> THIS IS KIERSTEN MINER, CA
YOU HEAR ME?
>> YES WE CAN. GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YO
FOR YOUR HARD WORK TODAY. I AM
A FAMILY PHYSICIAN WHO LIVES
IN SEATTLE. I UNDERSTAND THE
CURRENT DRAFT WILL NOT
MEANINGFULLY PROTECT OUR GROW
SEATTLE'S TREES AND THAT
AMENDMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO
SUBSTANTIALLY STRENGTHEN IT. I
AM HERE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT
TREES ARE A MATTER OF PUBLIC
HEALTH. I HAVE BEEN A FAMILY
PHYSICIAN FOR OVER 20 YEARS AND
I SEE KIDS THROUGH ELDERLY. I
HAVE DELIVERED BABIES AND DO
HOSPICE. I HAVE SEEN THE
PROBLEM OF ART DECREASING TREE
CANOPY IN MY PATIENT ROOMS. I
THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT TREE
SCRUB CARBON AND SLOW CLIMATE
CHANGE. I THINK IT IS LESS
WELL-KNOWN HOW THEY IMPACT
HEALTH. THERE ARE JUST THREE
THINGS I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. ONE
IS AIR QUALITY. OBVIOUSLY, THE
DECREASE POLLUTANTS, SCRUB
CARBONS AND PRODUCE OXYGEN.
THAT IS ABSTRACT, SO I WON'T DO
A VISUALIZATION, BUT I IMAGINE
YOU CAN'T GET ENOUGH AIR.
ASTHMA AND EMPHYSEMA, COPD MAK
IT DIFFICULT. IN SOME AREAS
THERE IS MORE THAN A 10%
INCREASE IN ASTHA. PART OF THAT
IS THE POLLUTING INDUSTRY . A
HUGE PART IS THAT THERE IS
ALMOST NO TREE CANOPY IN THESE
AREAS. DURING THE FIRE SEASON ,
OF COURSE MY OFFICE IS FLOODED
WITH PEOPLE THAT USUALLY BREATH
JUST FINE AND NOW CAN'T WITHOU
MEDICATION. THE SECOND EFFECT
IS METABOLIC. THIS IS A LOVELY
LIST. TREES BOOST THE IMMUNE
SYSTEM, LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE,
INCLUDE MOOD AND SLEEP, INCREAS
OUR ABILITY TO FOCUS. THEY HAVE
SO MUCH IMPACT THAT IF HOSPITAL
PATIENTS SEE TREES OUT THE
WINDOW IT SHORTENS THEIR POSTOP
STATE. THE THIRD EFFECT IS
COOLING.
>> THANK YOU KIERSTEN AND FEEL
FREE TO SEND IN ANY ADDITIONAL
WRITTEN COMMENTS. WE WILL TRY
RICHARD ELLISON AGAIN. AFTER
RICHARD IS SUZANNE GRANT AND
ALAN TAYLOR. RICHARD , ÷6. CA
WE ALSO BRING UP SUZANNE GRANT?
IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE RICHARDS
TITLE UP UNTIL HIS RESPONSIVE.
GOOD AFTERNOON SUZANNE GRANT.
TAKE IT AWAY.
>> HELLO. HERE WE ARE. WE AR
TRYING TO GET YOU TO HEAR US
AGAIN. I SUPPORT AMENDMENT A6
AND A7 PROPOSED BY
COUNCILMEMBER PEDERSEN . THANK
YOU. HOWEVER, THE NEW ORDINANC
HAS OFFERED NO CORRECTIONS .
THIS ORDINANCE FAVORS INCREASE
AND THEN CHECK PACE OF LARGE
TREE REMOVAL AND REQUIRES AN
APPEAL TO THE HEARING
EXAMINER'S. I HAVE BEEN THROUGH
ONE OF THOSE AND THEY ARE
IMPOSSIBLE. DEVELOPERS SAY IT
WILL COST MORE TO BUILD IF WE
TRY TO SAVE TREES, BUT IT WILL
COST MORE NOT TO SAVE AS MANY
EXISTING TREES AS POSSIBLE.
REPLANTING TREES IS COSTLY AND
TAKES DECADES TO REGAIN THE
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES THEY ARE
PROVIDING NOW. I HAVE A
PARAGRAPH ABOUT WHAT TREES GO
THROUGH, BUT THE DOCTOR WE JUST
LISTEN TO SET IT MUCH BETTER
THAN I CAN. SHE SAID IT ALL.
THEY SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES. TREES
SAVE PEOPLE IN TERMS OF HUMAN
LIFE AND HEALTH. PEOPLE NEED
TREES. OUR PRIORITY NEEDS TO B
TO PRESERVE EXISTING TREES.
REPLACING SERENE, MATURE TREES
WITH SERENE LITTLE SAPLINGS
WOULD BE CAN TO REPLACING THRE
EXPERIENCED CITY COUNCILMEMBERS
WITH THREE KINDERGARTNERS. AS
DEVELOPERS PARTNER WITH CREATIV
ARCHITECTS AND ARE JUST A LITTL
LESS GREEDY WE CAN ACHIEVE MOR
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND KEEP OU
TREES. WE CAN BUILD AROUND THE
EXCEPTIONAL TREES. YOU JUST HAV
TO WANT TO DO SO. I TALKED TO
A DEVELOPER WHO OWNS A HOME NEA
ME AND IS WAITING FOR THE ZONIN
TO PASS UNTIL HE CAN SELL HIS
LITTLE HOUSE COVERED WITH LARGE
EXCEPTIONAL TREES. HE THINKS
THEY WILL NOT BE CUT BECAUSE
THEY ARE ON THE EDGE OF THE LOT
ON THE ALLEY ACCESS. HE KNOWS
THEY WILL BE CUT FIRST TO ACCES
THE LOT FOR BUILDING. WE NEED
LAWS THAT WILL PREVENT THEIR
LOSS. CUTTING THE TREES IS LIKE
KILLING THE GOLDEN GOOSE. WE
DO HAVE A TREE CRISIS . PEOPLE
ARE UNHEALTHY AND DYING DUE TO
LIVING WITH A TREE CANOPY. THAN
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SUZANNE. LET'S
GIVE RICHARD ELLISON ANOTHER
TRY. ARE YOU PRESENT? AT THE
SAME TIME, PLEASE BRING UP ALAN
TAYLOR. ALLEN LET'S TAKE IT
AWAY IF YOU ARE READY. ÷6.
WELCOME. GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH CHAIRMAN
STRAUSS FOR HAVING ME. I OWN A
TSP AND THEM ACTIVE WITH THE
SEATTLE ARBORIST ASSOCIATION .
WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO SAY
THAT WE DO NOT OPPOSE MORE
HOUSING. THIS IS A DESPERATE
NEED THAT OUR INDUSTRY HAS. IT
IS NEGATIVELY IMPACTING THE
PROFESSION OF OUR HORTICULTURE
BECAUSE MANY PROMISING YOUNG
ARBORISTS CANNOT AFFORD TO STA
IN SEATTLE UNDER AN ARBORIST
SALARY. MY PERSONAL VIEW IS WE
MISSED THE MARK ABOUT THREE TO
SIX DECADES AGO AND WE NEED
MORE HIGH-RISE APARTMENTS TO
HELP FILL THIS NEED. I AM A
LITTLE WORRIED THAT TOWN HOUSES
AND FOR PLEXUS AREN'T GOING TO
DO IT. THAT IS SOMETHING FOR
ANOTHER DAY. THE MAIN ISSUE I
WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT IS
TWOFOLD. ONE IS THAT THE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TSP
PROGRAM STILL NEEDS A LOT OF
IMPROVEMENT. YOU HAVE BASICALL
TAKEN PROFESSION THAT WAS VERY
LIGHTLY REGULATED IN THE PAST
AND CREATED A SITUATION WHERE
NOW, THERE IS A VERY INTENSE
REGULATION. IMAGINE A
RESTAURANT LOSING ITS LIQUOR
LICENSE. THAT IS THE SORT OF
THING THAT CAN CAUSE FINANCIAL
RUIN AND HAS BROUGHT ALL OF US
ARBORISTS TOGETHER TO SPEAK OUT
AND SAY, WE NEED A LITTLE BIT
MORE REASONABLENESS IN THESE
ROLES AND WE NEED MORE CLEARLY
DEFINED BOUNDARIES. I JUST
ENCOURAGE THE CITY COUNCIL TO
KEEP LOOKING AT THESE AND
ESPECIALLY, LOOKING AT THEM
THROUGH THE LENS OF SMALL
BUSINESS OWNERS THAT WE ARE
TRYING TO OPERATE AND KEEP OUR
CUSTOMERS HAPPY AND OUR
EMPLOYEES BUSY IN THE CITY. THE
LAST THING THAT I WANT TO PUSH
ON IS IT LOOKS LIKE THE FDIC
HAD NO CLUE HOW THEY WOULD
REGULATE THE REMOVAL OF TIER
THREE AND TIER FOUR TREES. A
LOT OF FOLKS HAVE BROUGHT UP
GOOD POINTS ABOUT HOW HAZARD I
NOT THE ONLY LEGITIMATE REASON
TO REMOVE THESE TREES.
ESPECIALLY WITH OUR BUSINESS
AND THE ABILITY TO OPERATE IN
OUR CITY UNDER THREAT, WE NEED
MORE CLEAR GUIDELINES AS TO
WHEN WE CAN OR CANNOT REMOVE TH
TREES , AND THAT MAY INCLUDE A
NEW PERMITTING SYSTEM.
>> THANK YOU ALAN. I SEE
RICHARD ELLISON IS OFF MUTE.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> TAKE YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
I AM A BIOLOGIST AND FOUNDER O
SEATTLE TREES. IN 1996 I
DEVELOPED 24 BIG TREES WHICH
REACHED THE 1997 SEATTLE CITY
COUNCIL. THE CITY COUNCIL
PROTECTED THE LARGEST, TALLEST
TREE IN WASHINGTON STATE WITH
$2500 BOND. THE FIRST THREE
BOND EVER IN THE CITY. I WAS
ALSO A MEMBER OF THE URBAN FORC
TASK FORCE IN 1997 THROUGH 2000
IT IS 25 YEARS OLDER. LEE
SUPPORT THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF
THE CURRENT SEATTLE URBAN
FORESTRY COMMISSION. PLEASE STO
THE CURRENT 85% LOT COVERAGE I
SUPPORT A6 AND A7. REQUIRE
20% OR 40% ALLOWANCE FOR TREE
PRESERVATION. SUPPORT AMENDMEN
C 1 SO TREES CAN BE PLANTED A
THE BEGINNING OF THE PERMIT
PROCESS. SUPPORT THE REQUIRED
EVERY MOVEMENT AND PRE-HIT
INVASIVE SPECIES. INCLUDE
CONTROL OF INVASIVE EDUCATION
SO NEWLY PLANTED TREES ARE NOT
CHOKED OUT BY VINES DURING
SUMMER DROUGHTS. PLEASE ADD AN
ADDITIONAL DIRECTIVE FOR
EDUCATION. ACCORDING TO
SURVEYS BY THE NORTHWEST
PROGRESSIVE INSTITUTE, SEATTLE
RESIDENTS OVERWHELMINGLY WANT
LAWS TO RESERVE LARGE TREES. OU
CLIMATE CRISIS IS REAL AND IT
WAS RULED IN 2021 WHEN IT WAS
108 DEGREES AND THE WASHINGTON
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SUPPORTED
THAT 129 PEOPLE DIED OF THE
HEAT. VICTORIES ARE NEEDED TO
MITIGATE THE DANGERS OF EXTREM
HEAT. TREES CAN SAVE LIVES AND
EVERYBODY'S LIVES MATTER.
>> THANK YOU RICHARD. UP NEXT
IS IRENE, FOLLOWED BY JOE AND
LUCAS . PATRICK BOYLE, YOU ARE
STILL NOT PRESENT. JANICE
BROOKSHIRE YOU ARE STILL NOT
PRESENT. CAMERON McKINNON YOU
HAVE JOINED US AND WE WILL CALL
ON YOU AT THE END, WHICH IS
COMING SOON. IENE GOOD
AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THIS IS
IRENE AND I'M A RESIDENT. I
WANT TO THANK ALL THE DEDICATED
TREE ADVOCATES WHO HAVE WORKED
FOR MANY YEARS TO GET TO THIS
POINT IN THE TREE ORDINANCE. M
AWARENESS OF THE NEEDLESS LOSS
OF TREES BEGAN A DECADE AGO WHE
A MAJESTIC AND EXCEPTIONAL 80
FOOT WESTERN RED CEDAR IN MY
NEIGHBORHOOD ON THE EDGE OF THE
LOT WAS SECRETLY CUT DOWN ON AN
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. THE TREE
WAS SACRIFICED TO CREATE AT
GREAT PARKING FOR THREE SKINNY
LITTLE TOWNHOMES WHICH WERE NO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE SHOULD
NEVER ALLOW THIS , YET IT
CONTINUES. THE MAJORITY OF OUR
LARGE TREES ARE INFORMALLY
SINGLE-FAMILY ZONES, BUT THESE
ARE NOT FOR THE EXCLUSIVE
ENJOYMENT OF THOSE HOMEOWNERS.
ALL OF THE RESIDENTS IN THE
ADJACENT TOWN HOMES, CONDOS AND
APARTMENTS ALSO ENJOY THE
BENEFIT OF THESE TREES AND THEY
ARE WALKING THEIR DOGS ARE JUST
STROLLING TO THE AREA THROUGH
SIDEWALKS AND STREETS. PLEASE
VOTE YES ON A6 AND A7 . AND
YES ON C 1. WE NEED A TREE
INVENTORY AT THE BEGINNING OF
THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS. THIS
INFORMATION WILL HELP PLANNERS
MAKE WISE DECISIONS ON TREE
PRESERVATION AND REPLACEMENT
OPTIONS. TO SUGGEST THAT WE
CAN'T HAVE MORE HOUSING WHILE
PRESERVING TREES IS REALLY
FALSE. JUST READ THE LAND-USE
INFORMATION BULLETIN TWICE A
WEEK AND COUNT THE HUNDREDS OF
NEW UNITS BEING PERMITTED. IF
YOU WANT HOMEOWNERS TO APPROVE
NEW NEAR $1 BILLION HOUSING
LEVY , DON'T DIMINISH THE
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF THOSE
VERY AREAS WHERE YOU WANT NEW
HOUSING TO BE CONSTRUCTED.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU IRENE. UP NEXT I
JOE , FOLLOWED BY LUCAS . JANIC
BROOKSHIRE IS NOT PRESENT. IF
JANICE REMAINS NOT PRESENT WE
WILL MOVE ON TO TREVOR JOHNSON
JOE , GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> HELLO AND THANK YOU VERY
MUCH. I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL
AND THE PARTICIPANTS FOR TAKING
THE TIME TODAY TO GO OVER THIS
TREE COAT AND PROPOSED
AMENDMENT. I AM A PRODUCTION
MANAGER FOR TREE SERVICE
PROVIDER AND I HAVE A COUPLE
ITEMS I WANT TO DRAW CONCERN
ABOUT. THE FIRST ONE IS THAT I
THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE THE CODE
TO PREVENT TREE SERVICE
PROVIDERS TO BE REMOVED FROM TH
LIST DUE TO CLERICAL
OVERSIGHTS. THESE CHANGES ARE
BECOMING RAPID AND DRASTIC AND
HAS NOT BEEN THE MOST CLEAR
COMMUNICATION RELATED TO
BUSINESSES OR THE PUBLIC. THERE
NEEDS TO BE A LITTLE MORE GRACE
GIVEN AS BUSINESSES AND
PROPERTY OWNERS ADAPT TO THE NE
CODE CHANGES. I ALSO FEEL THAT
WE NEED TO ADAPT THE CODE AND
ENSURE THAT REPLACEMENT
RESTRICTIONS ON TREE WORK
PERFORMED BY NONREGISTERED TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE
PENALIZED. PROPERTY OWNERS
WOULD THEN TURN TO LICENSED
TREE SERVICE PROVIDERS AS TO
WHAT IS ALLOWED IN THE CODE.
EVEN IF CAUGHT BY A CITY
INSPECTOR, LEGAL TSP'S WILL HAV
PLAUSIBLE DENIABILITY OF THE
LEGAL WORK BEING DONE BY DENYIN
THE FACT THAT THEY ARE RECEIVIN
PAYMENT, WHICH IS EXPLICITLY
EXPLOITIVE AND PEOPLE COULD BE
WORKING FOR CASH. I FEEL THAT
THE CURRENT CODE NEEDS TO BE
AMENDED TO ENSURE THAT TREE
SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL BE
REMOVED FROM THE CITIES TSP LIS
FOR GROSS VIOLATIONS. THE
PUNISHMENT SHOULD FIT THE CRIME
AND CURRENTLY, THERE ARE
REPERCUSSIOS FOR VERY MINOR
THINGS OR OVERSIGHTS. THIS
OPENS NEW TSP PROVIDERS TO
HIGH RISK. FINALLY, I THINK WE
NEED TO CREATE A PERMIT SYSTEM
TO ACCOMMODATE SMALLER TREE
REMOVALS TO ENCOURAGE
STEWARDSHIP.
>> THNK YOU JOE. PLEASE FEEL
FREE TO SEND IN ANY ADDITIONAL
WRITTEN COMMENTS. UP NEXT IS
LUCAS. JANICE BROOKSHIRE AND
TREVOR JOHNSON ARE NOT PRESENT.
AFTER LUCAS WILL BE SUSAN WARD
AND LEAH HALL AND KATHY WILL B
AFTER THAT. THE NEXT THREE
NAMES I WILL READ ARE THE LAST
THREE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PRESEN
AT THIS TIME. PATRICK BOYLE ,
JANICE BROOKSHIRE , AND TREVO
JOHNSON IS BACK PRESENT. LUCAS
, GOOD AFTERNOON. TAKE IT AWAY.
>> THANK YOU CHAIRMAN STRAUSS.
I APPRECIATE THE TIME AND THE
COMMENTS. I HAVE A COUPLE
ITEMS. FIRST, THE 50
AMENDMENTS THAT ARE PROPOSED, I
THINK THE PUBLIC IN THE
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AND THE
ARBORIST COMMUNITY NEED MORE
TIME TO LOOK AT THE IMPACTS OF
THOSE. I WOULD STRESS THAT THIS
NOT BE PUSHED OUT OF COMMITTEE
WITHOUT HAVING THOSE ACTUALLY
WRITTEN. MASTER BUILDERS
ASSOCIATION HAS PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS AND I WOULD STRESS
THAT THOSE TAKE A LONG LOOK BY
COUNCIL TO ADOPT THEM. ALL OF
THE BUILDERS THAT ARE SACRIFICE
THEIR TIME ARE NOT IN POLICY ,
BUT HAVE SPENT THE PAST YEAR AN
HALF GOING THROUGH THIS CODE.
WE BUILT HOUSING AND WE SAVE
TREES. WE DO THAT. THE
DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY HAS BEEN
VILIFIED A LITTLE BIT OVER THE
TREES AND THAT IS EASY TO DO.
WE CARE ABOUT TREES. WE CARE
ABOUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING. ALSO
SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS, IT
APPEARS ARE GOING TO RESTRICT
HOUSING AND MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR SEATTLE TO MEET ITS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. I BELIEVE
THAT PROPONENTS OF THIS
ORDINANCE LIKELY ALREADY OWN
HOMES. FOR YOUNG TEENAGERS AN
TWENTYSOMETHINGS THAT ARE NOT
ATTENDING THESE MEETINGS, I
WOULD STRESS YOU THINK ABOUT
THOSE PEOPLE IF THIS GOES
THROUGH. THE COMPANY I WORK
FOR JUST PASSED ON BUILDING 15
UNITS WHICH WOULD'VE BEEN MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING BECAUSE OF
TREES. THAT WILL ALL BUT TRIPLE
UNDER THIS NEW CODE. WE NEED AN
ORDINANCE THAT SUPPORTS MIDDLE
INCOME HOUSING OR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING. THERE ARE PEOPLE
LOOKING FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM.
IF YOU WANT TO MEET SEATTLE'S
CODE, YOU DON'T NEED TO PUNISH
THE DEVELOPER TO DO IT.
>> THANK YOU LUCAS. THE LAST
FIVE SPEAKERS REMOTELY PRESENT
OUR TREVOR JOHNSON , SUSAN WARD
LEAH HALL, KATHY, AND CAMERON
McKINNON. PATRICK BOYLE AND
JANICE BROOKSHIRE ARE NOT
PRESENT AT THIS TIME. CALL IN
TO THE EMAIL CONFIRMATION YOU
RECEIVED, NOT THE LISTEN LINE.
TREVOR, THEN SUSAN , THEN LEAH.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU
FOR YOUR TIME AND ALL THE
EFFORT PUT IN ON THIS AND FROM
EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL. I A
INVOLVED IN MASTER BUILDERS AND
LIVE IN GREENWOOD AND WE BUILT
HOUSES. WE HAVE ROUGHLY 100
BEING BUILT IN THE CITY OF
SEATTLE RIGHT NOW. WE PLAN TO
KEEP BUILDING MEANINGFUL
HOUSING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS INTO
THE FUTURE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN
ARE THE AMOUNTS OF THE
AMENDMENTS. I THINK THERE ARE
OVER 50 AMENDMENTS. WE WANT A
LITTLE MORE TIME TO BE ABLE TO
TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE AND MORE
PUBLIC COMMENT SO WE CAN
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY MEAN. I
BELIEVE THE PROPOSAL REVISIONS
HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED AND WE
WOULD LOVE THE CHANCE TO HAVE
THOSE LOOKED OVER. I THINK THAT
IS IMPORTANT TO US TO MAKE SURE
WE CAN CONTINUE TO BUILD HOUSIN
FOR OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
ALSO, SOME OF THE PROPOSED
AMENDMENTS WOULD RESTRICT OUR
ABILITY TO DEVELOP IN THE CITY
SEVERELY. INCLUDING , DEVELOPIN
ALL TYPES OF THOUSANDS, WHETHER
THAT IS AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR
FOR-SALE HOUSING . SO, IF ALL O
THE AMENDMENTS WERE ADOPTED IT
WOULD MAKE IT REALLY TOUGH AND
EVEN TOUGHER. I THINK IT WOULD
MAKE IT HARD FOR THE CITY TO
MEET ITS GROWTH MANAGEMENT
COMMITMENTS , AS FAR AS THE
AMOUNT OF DENSITY IN HOUSING. W
WOULD JUST LIKE SOME MORE TIME
AND HOT PUT IN TO THIS TO MAKE
SURE WE CAN MEET THE NEEDS OF
TREES AND HOUSING BOTH. WE ARE
BIG FANS OF TREES AND WE PLANTE
MANY, MANY TREES , THOUSANDS OF
TREES AND WE WOULD LIKE TO BE
ABLE TO PLANT MORE. WE THINK W
ACTUALLY PLANT MORE THAN ANY
OTHER GROUP , EVEN INCLUDING TH
CITY AND THE PARKS DEPARTMENT.
WE WOULD CONTINUE TO DO THAT,
LIKE WE HAVE DONE FOR DECADES I
THE CITY AND DO IT IN A
THOUGHTFUL WAY. THANK YOU FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU TREVOR. UP NEXT IS
SUSAN WARD, FOLLOWED BY LEE AND
KATHY AND CAMERON McKINNON.
SUSAN WELCOME.
>> GOOD MORNING. I THINK A
NEW AND STRONGER TREE COAT IS
DESPERATELY NEEDED BY THE CITY.
I THINK FAR FROM INCREASING OU
TREE CANOPY TO THE GOAL OF 30%
COVERAGE, WE ARE LOSING MORE
EVERY MONTH. DEVELOPMENT IN THE
CITY MUST RESERVE TREES.
SEVERAL AMENDMENTS TO THE NEW
CODE SHOULD BE ADOPTED. AN 85%
LOT COVERED STADARD FOR NEW
BUILDINGS WOULD ENSURE TREE LOS
AND PREVENT THE CITY FROM
SAVING MATURE TREES. DEVELOPIN
85% OF LOT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY
ALLOW THE REMOVAL. PLEASE ADOPT
AMENDMENT A6 AND A7 . THEY AR
CRITICAL. MOST OF SEATTLE'S
TREES ARE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
WITHOUT PROTECTION, MANY MORE
WILL DISAPPEAR. ON MY STREET,
ALL OF THE TREES WERE RECENTLY
PULLED. IF DEVELOPERS ARE
ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THIS
PRACTICE, WE WILL LOSE MOST OF
OUR TREE COVER. THIS WILL BE
MORE TRUE IN SOME
NEIGHBORHOODS. ADOPT AMENDMENT
C1 TO REQUIRE TREES CONSIDERE
EARLY IN THE DEVELOPMENT
PROCESS. PRESERVATION MUST BE
COORDINATED ACROSS ALL
STAKEHOLDERS. SOME TREES THAT
DON'T REACH THE DIAMETER
REQUIREMENT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED. DOES ANYBODY WANT
TO LIVE IN A CONCRETE CLAD
SEATTLE WITHOUT TREES? THEY
SHADE, COOL, CALM AND CLEAN UP
THE AIR. DO YOU WANT MORNINGS
AND EVENINGS WITHOUT BIRDSONG?
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU SUSAN. WE WILL
CALL ON PATRICK BOYLE AND JANIC
BROOKSHIRE. THE LAST THREE
SPEAKERS WE HAVE ARE LEAH HALL,
KATHY, AND CAMERON McKINNON.
WELCOME.
>> I AM LEAH HALL, PRESIDENT
OF RANIER BEACH AND A MEMBER
OF THE CURRENT FORCE COMMISSION
BUT NOT SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF
THEM. I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON
THIS BILL AND TAKE IN HEART WHA
YOUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE TO SAY.
WE OPEN THIS MEETING WITH THE
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT, A VERBAL
RECOGNITION OF THE STEWARDSHIP
REQUIRED. I WAS BORN AND RAISE
IN SEATTLE AND I'VE SEEN
FIRSTHAND THE TRANSFORMATION OF
THE LAND WE CALL HOME. UPON
FIRST CONTACT, SETTLERS SHAPE
LAND FORMATION, ALTERED
WATERWAYS AND DECIMATED ANCIENT
FORESTS TO INITIALLY ACCOMMODAT
THE HOUSING NEEDS OF NEWCOMERS
WHILE DISPLACING THOSE WHO HAD
A DEEP RESPECT FOR THE LAND AND
KNEW HOW TO PROVIDE FOR
COMMUNITY WITHOUT STRIPPING TH
LAND OF ITS BOUNTIFUL RESOURCES
I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE
GOING TO THIS PROCESS THAT WHY
WE NEED TO KEEP THE SPIRIT OF
THIS ALIGNMENT IN MIND. DESPIT
THE TALKING POINT ABOUT
REPLACING TREES, THAT IS NOT TH
ONLY ANSWER. MANY OF MY
NEIGHBORS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED.
THE FOUR ACRE CLEAR-CUT OF
MATURE FOREST, 100% CANOPY TO
ZERO BEHIND MY HOME THAT LOST
RICH SOILS AND NATIVE PLANTS AN
IS NOW COVERED BY HOMES. THE
REPLACEMENT TREES ARE NOT
PROTECTED . MANY OF THEM HAVE
DIED AND BEEN KNOCKED OVER.
NATURE IS THE ORIGINAL
ARCHITECT. IF WE NEED TO VIEW
NATURE AND THE LAND AS A
COMMODITY AND UNDERSTAND THE
BEST USE FOR OUR LAND, USE TREE
AS A PUBLIC UTILITY AND PROTECT
THEM AS SUCH. WE CAN PLANT AND
DESIGN BETTER AND CARE MORE. WE
CANNOT REESTABLISH THE FOREST
THAT ONCE THRIVED HERE. WE NEE
TO PROTECT AND NURTURE OUR URBA
FOREST AND PROVIDE FOR MATURE
TREES.
>> THANK YOU AND FEEL FREE TO
SEND IN ADDITIONAL WRITTEN
COMMENTS. THE LAST TWO SPEAKERS
WE HAVE REMOTELY PRESENT OUR
KATHY AND CAMERON. PATRICK
BOYLE AND JANICE BROOKSHIRE ARE
NOT PRESENT AT THIS TIME. GOOD
AFTERNOON CATHY.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I
APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
COMMENT IN THIS FORM. I HAVE
NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. I AM
GOING TO SPEAK FOR THE TREES.
THE EMERALD CITY , THIS IS THE
PHRASE I HEARD AND SAW WRITTEN
ABOUT SEATTLE BEFORE I CAME TO
LIVE HERE IN 1992 FROM THE EAS
COAST. SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS TRUE
I SAW WITH AWE MANY TREES
THROUGHOUT MUCH OF THE CITY ,
ASIDE FROM DOWNTOWN IN THE URBA
CENTER. SO MANY EVERGREENS
CONTINUALLY CAUGHT MY EYE , EVE
ALONG ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. I
MOVED HERE FOR A JOB , BUT I
STAYED FOR THE BEAUTIFUL
ENVIRONMENT AND GREEN TREES AND
BLUE WATERS, THE CLEAN AIR AND
THE QUALITY OF LIFE. I LIVE IN
WEST SEATTLE, WHICH IS FULL OF
GREEN EVERYWHERE. A MULTITUDE O
TALL TREES WITH LARGE CANOPIES
PROVIDING COOL SHADE AND OXYGEN
AND CLEAN AIR AND HABITAT FOR
BIRDS , WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE. I
HAVE FIVE VERY TALL TREES ON M
PROPERTY, INCLUDING TWO CEDARS
AND TWO DOUGLAS FIRS. MY HOUSE
WAS BUILT IN 1941 SO THE TREES
ARE AT LEAST 52 YEARS OLD.
THERE CANOPIES COVER MOST OF MY
BACK AND FRONT YARD PROVIDING
COOLER TEMPERATURES IN THE
SUMMER AND A HEAVEN FOR
SONGBIRDS. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT
THE PROPOSED REVISIONS IN THE
DRAFT TREE ORDINANCE I MEASURE
MY TREES. ONE OF THE FIRST AN
RED CEDAR APPEAR TO JUST MEET
THAT THRESHOLD. THE OTHER
EVERGREENS ARE JUST BELOW IT.
THAT MEANS THAT IF THE PROPOSED
DEFINITION OF TIER 2 TREES
STANDS , SOMETIME IN THE FUTUR
IF THE PROPERTY IS SLATED FOR
MORE UNITS, MOST OF THESE TREES
WOULD BE CUT DOWN. THE SAME
WOULD BE TRUE FOR MANY
PROPERTIES AROUND HERE. IT IS
DIFFICULT TO IMAGINE THE
TRANSFORMED LANDSCAPE IN
SEATTLE, NOT TO MENTION
EVERYWHERE ELSE. PLEASE LOWER
THE TIER 2 TREES THRESHOLD .
>> THANK YOU CATHY. PLEASE FEE
FREE TO SEND IN ANY ADDITIONAL
COMMENTS. THE LAST PERSON WE
HAVE REMOTELY OR PHYSICALLY
PRESENT TO SPEAK IS CAMERON
McKINNON. JANICE BROOKSHIRE AN
PATRICK BOYLE, THIS IS YOUR
TIME TO CALL IN TO THIS PUBLIC
HEARING. GOOD AFTERNOON
CAMERON. AT YOUR CONVENIENCE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I AM THE
OWNER OF A SMALL DEVELOPMENT
FIRM LOCATED IN THE EASTLAKE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF SEATTLE. I HAVE
BEEN BUILDING HERE FOR MORETHAN
10 YEARS. I THINK THE BILL IS
GOOD START BUT NEEDS MORE
CLARIFICATION. THE VAGUE
LANGUAGE IN THE CODE IS
PROBLEMATIC FOR ALL PARTIES. WE
NEED MORE TIME IN ORDER TO
REVIEW THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
WE NEED TO ENSURE MORE
PREDICTABILITY IN THE PROCESS.
I WILL SAY THIS IS A SIMPLE
TREE PRESERVATION VERSUS
PROGRESS. TAKE A PRODUCTIVE
APPROACH AND OUR CITY MUST BE
STEWARDS IN THE FUTURE TO CRAF
POLICIES THAT SUPPORT BOTH
HOUSING AND TREES. NOT THE
PRESERVATION OF EXISTING, AGIN
TREE STOCK AT THE EXCLUSION OF
NEW, YOUNG SAPLINGS. TREES AND
HOUSING ARE NOT MUTUALLY
EXCLUSIVE. WE MUST PLAN
APPROPRIATELY FOR PLANTING NEW
TREES AND BUILDING NEW HOUSES I
ORDER FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO
THRIVE. I REMIND EVERYONE THAT
A SOCIETY GROWS GREAT WHEN THE
OLDER GENERATION PLANTS TREES
FOR SHADE THEY WILL NEVER SIT
IN.
>> THANK YOU CAMERON. DOUBLE
CHECKING , WE DO NOT HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENTERS
REMOTELY PRESENT, IS THAT
CORRECT?
>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.
>> THANK YOU. JUST CHECKING ,
DID YOU WANT TO SPEAK TODAY? N
? THANK YOU. JUST WANTING TO B
SURE. AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS
PUBLIC HEARING I DID
INCORRECTY REFER TO THIS AS
PUBLIC COMMENT. THIS HAS BEEN A
PUBLIC HEARING FOR COUNCIL BIL
120534 AS DESCRIBED ON THE
AGENDA AND AS RED IN THIS
PUBLIC HEARING. WE JUST HAD A
GREAT TWO HOURS WHERE EVERYONE
GOT TWO MINUTES. THE PUBLIC
HEARING ON COUNCIL BILL 120534
IS NOW CLOSED SEEING AS HOW WE
DO NOT HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL
PUBLIC REGISTRANTS THAT ARE
REMOTELY OR PHYSICALLY PRESENT.
THIS WAS THE PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNCIL BILL 120534 . COLLEAGUE
, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR
ITEMS FOR THE GOOD OF THE AGEND
RIGHT NOW?
>> NO.
>> SEEING NONE, THIS CONCLUDES
THE MONDAY, APRIL 24, 2023
SPECIAL LAND USE COMMITTEE
MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING ON
COUNCIL BILL 120534. THE NEXT
LAND USE COMMITTEE IS OUR NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING ON
APRIL 26, 2023. THE FIRST
REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING WE
WILL BE HAVING THIS MONTH. EVER
OTHER MEETING THIS MONTH HAS
BEEN A SPECIAL MEETING. WE LOOK
FORWARD TO SEEING FOLKS ON
WEDNESDAY AT 2:00 P.M. THANK YO
FOR ATTENDING. WE ARE ADJOURNED