Dear Candidate for Seattle City Council,
In 2009 the Seattle City Council passed a resolution to update SMC 25.11 the Tree Protection Ordinance. Ten years later this has not happened. But progress is being made. When the MHA Ordinance was passed in April, the Seattle city Council passed a Companion Resolution – RESOLUTION 31870 –
“calling for additional measures by the City and its partners that complement mandatory housing affordability (MHA) implementation to promote livability and equitable development, mitigate displacement, and address challenges and opportunities raised by community members during the MHA public engagement process.”
Section 6 of that resolution dealt with updating Seattle’s Tree Protection Ordinance.
Section 6. The Council recognizes the environmental, social, and economic benefits of Seattle’s urban forest and commits to working with community members and City departments to update the City’s tree regulations,
advancing the goals of the Urban Forest Stewardship Plan across Seattle.Potential measures may include, but are not limited to, the following:
A. Retaining protections for exceptional trees and expanding the definition of exceptional trees.
B. Creating a permitting process for the removal of significant trees, defined as trees 6 inches in diameter at breast height or larger.
C. Adding replacement requirements for significant tree removal.
D. Simplifying tree planting and replacement requirements.
E. Maintaining tree removal limits in single-family zones.
F. Exploring the feasibility of establishing a in-lieu fee option for tree planting.
G. Tracking tree removal and replacement throughout Seattle.
H. Providing adequate funding to administer and enforce tree regulations.
I. Requiring that all tree service providers operating in Seattle meet the minimum certification and training requirements and register with the city.
As someone running for election to the 2019 Seattle City Council we would like to know if you support Section 6 of this Resolution. Efforts are under way to try to pass the Tree Ordinance update this year. The Seattle Urban Forestry Commission has submitted a draft update to the Seattle City Council.
If you are elected you would be charged with ensuring the ordinance is implemented next year. A simple yes or no is all that’s needed.
____Yes I support Section 6 of Resolution 31870
____No I do not support Section 6 of Resolution 31870
Optional Comment (50 word maximum) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for your response. We will be posting candidates responses on the TreePAC website as well as e-mailing our supporters and posting on facebook. Your prompt response is appreciated. Please e-mail your response back to SteveZemke@TreePAC.org
Thanks.
Steve Zemke
Chair – TreePAC.