Tree Plan’S Critics Draw Their Pencils Neighborhood Councils Get Chance To Revise Proposed Ordinance, Put In Limbo By Board

Neighborhood council leaders critical of the city’s proposed street tree ordinance are taking their turn at crafting a new version.

Last week, the city’s Park and Recreation Board abruptly withdrew its ordinance in frustration, citing a lack of council and citizen support.

The proposed ordinance had been in development for three years.

Neighbors objected to fines, permit fees, the makeup of the tree committee and the way members are appointed. They also oppose making trees in the city right of way the responsibility of property owners.

Representatives of seven neighborhoods plan to meet Sunday to prune the ordinance.

“There isn’t that much of the ordinance we are solidly against,” said Jay Cousins, chairman of the street tree committee for the Assembly of Neighborhood Councils, which includes 20 neighborhoods.

The street tree ordinance is crucial, said city Parks and Recreation Director Ange Taylor, saying he’s not giving up.

“We’re not closing the door, we’re just letting the dust settle,” Taylor said. “We all want to have a street tree ordinance.”

He said he has met with Cousins about the ordinance.

“I asked him to go through and rework it, write a preamble that is more palatable for the neighborhood assembly,” said Taylor.

“I’m trusting he will use good judgment.”

The street tree ordinance is a crucial step toward revitalizing the city’s fading urban forest.

“You can’t imagine the serious trouble our trees are in,” said Taylor. “Most property owners are not doing anything with the trees.”

Jim Flott, the city’s horticulture supervisor, agreed the trees are in poor shape.

“If we don’t start addressing this problem, we are going to be without the trees we all really enjoy,” he said.

The parks board wants to give citizens the responsibility of caring for trees in the right of way on their property.

The parks department will dedicate extra money for staff to educate residents and help them choose and care for trees.

The city’s 45,000 trees are in terrible shape because of the 1996 ice storm, years of neglect, age and poor planting choices, said Taylor. There are spaces to replant 38,000 trees, but no money to buy them.

The ordinance is also a requirement for Spokane to receive designation as a “Tree City USA,” making it easier to get state and federal grants for tree programs.

“We need to develop a program we can all support, and start turning this situation around,” said Taylor.

He said the park board has already given in on several points, including eliminating permit fees, but not permits.

Permits will help the park department maintain an inventory of the city’s trees. Fines would be given for extreme damage to trees, just as they are for damaging any other city structure.

But Taylor refuses to budge on who will appoint tree committee members.

The neighborhoods want the City Council to appoint members, but Taylor said that takes too long. He wants to be able to do it himself.

Both sides agree an ordinance is needed to improve the city’s urban forest.

“There are just little, tiny issues that have to be fine-tuned,” said Cousins.

“One of our objections is that the mission statement doesn’t say in a positive way how much Spokane citizens enjoy and love their trees.”

Taylor said the parks department shares the passion.

“From the deepest part of our heart, we are trying to have a healthy population of trees in our community. We all want our city to be beautiful,” he said.