Park Board Oks Tree Ordinance But Citizens Bark At Details Of Urban Forestry Proposal
They all love trees.
But not everyone at Thursday’s Park Board meeting approved of a law designed to save Spokane’s urban forest.
“It’s too extreme,” said Mamie Picard of Spokane. “It reminds me of the tree Gestapo.”
Despite considerable opposition, the Park Board approved an ordinance to create Spokane’s first urban forestry program. The proposal will go before the City Council later this month.
“This is designed for citizens, trees and a sense of place we have in our neighborhoods,” said Melissa Burtt, a member of the committee that helped draft the ordinance.
Still, many questioned the details of the proposal. More than half of the 25 people who came to Thursday’s meeting opposed it.
The law lacks specific goals on planting and caring for trees, critics said. They also questioned other details.
For example, a property owner legally owns trees and shrubs located in a public right of way, the proposal states, and must therefore assume certain responsibilities.
Some of those responsibilities include obtaining permits when removing or planting trees.
“People have been taking care of their trees for 30 to 50 years,” Picard said. “This is going overboard.”
Although a permit fee hasn’t been established yet, many like Picard think charging citizens for a permit is just a way to make money.
Others at the meeting were concerned because the law would prevent property owners from doing any “major pruning” - the cutting of branches that are 2 inches in diameter or thicker. According to the proposal, major pruning must be done by a licensed arborist.
Some also were wary of the ordinance’s drafting process. The committee didn’t consult enough people, said Jay Cousins of Spokane.
But supporters of the proposal say they’ve solicited opinions from a number of groups, including neighborhood councils and experts in horticulture. There also has been a lot of misunderstanding, said Mike Stone of the Parks Department.
“We don’t expect to go out and hammer people,” he said. “We want to work one-on-one with people.”
Efforts to start a city urban forestry program started in the late 1970s, but it was only two years ago that things finally started to take shape. The committee received input from local citizens, Washington Water Power and experts in horticulture and other “green” industries.
Based on similar laws throughout the country, the proposed ordinance would mean the restoration and preservation of healthy street trees, supporters said.
Before voting, Parks Board member Carol Barber asked the board to remember the danger trees posed during ice storm in 1996. Much of that could have been averted with better management, she said.
“Trees were falling and failing,” she said. “We cannot prevent a storm but we can prevent that kind of damage.”
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