Ice Storm Costs City $5.7 Million More Than 5,000 Trees Need To Be Replaced

The ice storm that pounded Spokane is handing a bruising $5.7 million bill to the city for damage to parks and trees.

“It crushed my heart to see so much damage,” said Parks Director Ange Taylor.

Topping the list of the storm’s insults to city property are the more than 5,000 park and street trees that need to be replaced. At least 20,000 more need pruning.

A downed tree devastated a heating and cooling system at Downriver Golf Course. Another tree took out part of a driving range net at Esmeralda Golf Course.

Heavy equipment moving debris across Manito Park’s fragile turf took a $20,000 toll on the landscaping.

Parks employees gave state and federal disaster-relief teams a rundown of the damage and estimated recovery costs Tuesday. The teams are in town to access what dollars might be recovered and whether the storm will be declared a federal disaster.

“There’s a good feeling we’re going to be reimbursed,” said Taylor.

Without reimbursement, acting City Manager Bill Pupo said he’s not sure where the money would come from to pay for repairs to property or to replace trees damaged by the storm.

“We don’t budget for emergencies of this magnitude,” Pupo said.

The storm’s devastation highlights the city’s need for an urban forestry program, said Mike Stone of the Parks Department.

“The iron is hot with ice storm to talk about trees,” Stone said.

While the Parks Department is responsible for replacing and pruning trees on park property, homeowners are responsible for city-owned trees in front of their homes, Taylor said.

Spokane’s charter says the Parks Department has “supervision” over shrubs and trees on all city property, Taylor said. But the department has no budget or staff to supervise the care of city trees.

“It hasn’t been a priority,” Taylor said. “There hasn’t been an interest, but now there is.”

Taylor said he plans to bring an ordinance to the council early next year that would create an urban forestry program.

Anticipating the creation of a forestry program, the city hired a consultant in 1995 to inventory street trees.September 1996, the consultant had assessed 44,000 trees valued at $81 million. Another 26,000 trees are currently being evaluated.

“Someone has to be responsibile to make sure those trees are being cared for and managed,” he said.

For now, residents worried about trees in front of their homes should call the Parks Department, Taylor said, adding that a city tree can’t be pruned or removed without a permit from the Construction Services Department.

Stone cautioned people not to “overreact” to the damage.

“A lot of trees with thorough pruning could be saved,” he said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo Graphic: Ice causes millions in tree losses

MEMO: Residents concerned about the condition of city-owned trees adjacent to their property should call the Parks Department at 625-6200.