Author Archives: steve zemke

What’s next for Seattle’s Tree Ordinance Update?

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The Seattle City Council heeded public input and has decided to slow down their rush to update SMC 25.11 – Seattle’s Tree Protection Ordinance by the end of September. This will give more time for public input and scrutiny. The public needs to continue to send in their concerns and suggestions on how to make the ordinance more effective. The Seattle City Council and the Mayor are currently focused this month and next month on adopting their 2019 Budget. They will again take up the Tree Protection Ordinance after the Budget is adopted.

You can help us get a stronger ordinance by continuing to contact the Mayor and the Seattle City Council with your concerns and suggestions. Their e-mails are:

jenny.durkan@seattle.gov and Council@seattle.gov

Below are our  suggestions  of changes needed in the current draft they are working with labeled as version D7 that we believe would significantly strengthen the draft ordinance.

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Action Item – Council Hearing on Draft Tree Ordinance Wed. Sept 5, 2018

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Public Hearing on Draft Tree Ordinance

The Seattle Land Use and Zoning Committee of the Seattle City Council is holding a Public Hearing on its proposed draft Tree Ordinance:

Wednesday, Sept 5, 2018
9:30 AM to 11:30 AM (sign up starts at 9 AM)
Seattle City Hall, City Council Chambers,
600 4th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104

Please come and testify or send a letter to the Mayor and City Council.
jenny.durkan@seattle.gov and Council@seattle.gov

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Campaign Continues to Update Seattle’s Tree Ordinance

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Campaign Continues to Update Seattle’s Tree Ordinance

TreePAC is a member of the Coalition to Strengthen Seattle’s Tree Ordinance

LATEST NEWS (8/29/18): DETERMINATION OF NON-SIGNIFICANCE RELEASED ON NEWEST VERSION OF TREE REGULATIONS ORDINANCE

Summary:

Seattle City Councilmember Rob Johnson’s relentless push to repeal Seattle’s current Tree Protection Ordinance SMC 25.11 has advanced with the release of final language for the proposed new Ordinance (Version D7 – https://www.seattle.gov/council/meet-the-council/rob-johnson/trees-for-all)

Unfortunately the Seattle City Council’s latest version of an update to the current Tree Protection Ordinance  has changed to what we consider a “Tree Removal and Mitigation Ordinance.” There is a big difference between proactive tree retention/protection vs mitigation, which occurs after a tree is cut. Continue reading →

Action – June 1-7, 2018 – Coalition for a Stronger Tree Ordinance

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Coalition for a Stronger Tree Ordinance 

Dear Friends of Trees,

Can you show your support for trees next week?  Let us know. We need people to show up and speak for stronger tree protection at these Seattle City Council Hearings:

Monday June 4, 2018 10 AM – Press Conference by Coalition for a Stronger Tree Ordinance at City Hall outside Council Chambers, City Hall, 500 4th Ave. Come! We need you!  Invite others!

Monday June 4, 2018  10:30 AM – give public comments at the MHA Select Committee at Council Chambers in City Hall, 500 4th Ave This is the full City Council discussing the Mandatory Housing Legislation.  Testimony at the beginning of the meeting needs to address that issue. It’s fairly simple.

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Update on May, June Action on Seattle Tree Protection Ordinance

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Its Time to Update Seattle’s Tree Ordinance

Friends of Seattle’s Urban Forest and TreePAC invite organizations and individuals to attend our next meeting where we will be gearing up to update Seattle’s Tree Ordinance.

Next meeting of Seattle Tree Ordinance Working Group:

Saturday May 26, 2018 3 PM to 5:30 PM
Northgate Public Library
10548 5th Ave NE, Seattle WA

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Movement forward on Updating Seattle’s Tree Protection Ordinance – April Action

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Letter requesting organizations

to join Coalition for a Stronger Tree Ordinance

Seattle City Councilmember Rob Johnson has introduced a framework to update Seattle’s current Tree Ordinance.  This is something many citizens and organizations have been urging for almost 10 years.
We would like your organization to join with us and others to strengthen our coalition effort to coordinate and carry out a focused effort to update our outdated tree ordinance, last passed in 2009 as an “interim ordinance”. Continue reading →

Candidate Forum on Trees for Nov 2017 Election

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TreePAC Joins with other environmental groups and community councils to co-sponsor a candidate forum for the November 2017 Election!

GENERAL ELECTION CANDIDATE FORUM
TUESDAY, OCT. 3, 2017 – 7 P.M. TO 9:30 P.M.
POCOCK ROWING CENTER, 3320 FUHRMAN AVE. E.
IN SEATTLE’S EASTLAKE NEIGHBORHOOD
[LOCATION IS NEAR SW CORNER OF UNIVERSITY BRIDGE
PARKING IS ON STREET, OR IN PARKING LOT SPACES DESIGNATED FOR POCOCK

This forum, sponsored by the Eastlake Community Council, Friends of Seattle’s Urban Forest, Plant Amnesty, Portage Bay/Roanoke Park Community Council, Seattle Audubon, Seattle Greenspaces Coalition, Seattle Nature Alliance, Thornton Creek Alliance and TreePAC

The Forum focuses on the four Seattle citywide offices and Seattle Port Commissioner races.

7:00  Introductions and announcements

7:05  Candidates for Port of Seattle Commission

7:35 Candidates for Seattle Mayor  —   Cary Moon vs. Jenny Durkan

7:55 Candidates for position #9  —  M. Lorena González  vs. Pat Murakami

8:10  Candidates for Seattle City Attorney  — Pete Holmes vs. Scott Lindsay

8:40  Seattle City Council position #8 – Jon Grant vs. Teresa Mosqueda

Outside City Hall – Saving Myers Way

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An alliance of open-space activists and environmental-justice advocates win an important victory

By George Howland Jr – Outside City Hall, July 27, 2016

“You can fight city hall and win!

Earlier this month, the Seattle Green Spaces Coalition (Green Spaces) and TreePAC saved the Myers Way Parcels, 33 acres of open space in the middle of neighborhoods with poor air quality, concentrated poverty and a high number of people of color. Myers is bigger than Madrona Park and Beach (31 acres) and much bigger than Gas Works Park (19 acres).

In order to preserve Myers, the activists had to persuade Mayor Ed Murray to change course. He planned to sell the property to raise $5 million for homeless services. Now he will preserve Myers and find the money to fight homelessness elsewhere.

How did they do it?”

Read full article »

Crosscut: “Saving Seattle’s trees may mean saving their yards”

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We know that, at the most basic level, tree preservation is land preservation. Without a place to grow it doesn’t matter how many trees you intend to plant, how good your tree maintenance is, or how generously your Urban Forest is funded, you will not have sufficient number of trees to do the work we need them to do.

Eric Sigliano, reporter for Crosscut, knows this too. Read his article: Saving Seattle’s trees may mean saving their yards.