Councilmember Dan Strauss proposed doubling the number of arborists in Seattle’s Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) from two to four to increase tree protection and enforcement now.
From Dan Strauss’s newsletter:
“Tree Protection Staff: As we await a new, stronger tree protection ordinance, I am proposing to hire two additional arborists in the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection to immediately enhance the City’s ability to enforce the tree code and review permit applications to ensure compliance with tree protections. While the bigger changes we need will come with a new ordinance, we can start by adequately enforcing the laws we currently have.”
Unfortunately, the Nov 10th City Council Budget reconciliation proposal did not include this amendment.
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| Public Hearing Thursday Nov 18, 2021 9:30 AM Each Budget Committee Meeting allows space for public comment at the beginning of each meeting. To provide public comment, you must register ahead of time. Signup opens 2 hours in advance of the meeting. Please sign up to testify and/or send an e-mail to the Seattle City Council urging they add 2 arborist positions to SDCI’s budget now to help protect more existing trees. Send e-mails to council@seattle.gov Funding keeps getting put off until later as trees keep getting cut down now across the city. Twelve years without adequately responding to tree loss and updating Seattle’s Tree Protection Ordinance continues to be delayed by the Council and Mayor. The Climate Crisis is now, and tree equity is a matter of climate justice and public health now. Steve Zemke |