Council Puts Off Tree Vote 3 Weeks First, City Wants Answers To Questions

City Council members voted Monday to delay action on a controversial tree ordinance, asking the parks department to answer questions and return in three weeks.

The council will consider the ordinance again July 20.

During lengthy testimony Monday night, no one disagreed about the value of trees and the need to improve the city’s urban forest.

However, many, including the council, were confused or opposed to fees, penalties and permits required to prune and plant trees.

Opponents called the ordinance confusing, oppressive and heavy-handed.

“We shared our concerns with the drafters of the ordinance several times, but have not been able to get them to fix the oppressive aspects,” said Mickey Thompson of the Nevada-Lidgerwood neighborhood.

Jay Cousins, representing nine neighborhood councils in opposing the ordinance, noted the lack of community involvement.

Street tree management is part of the city’s overall urban forestry program and a step toward receiving Tree City USA designation.

The city has about 45,000 street trees.

Jim Flott, the city’s horticulture supervisor, said the ordinance is a compilation of ordinances from about 40 other cities. The ordinance refers to trees in the public right-of-way, between the curb and sidewalk.

“We have come up with a unique ordinance that suits Spokane’s needs,” Flott said.

Rich Baker, a commercial arborist, reminded the council of the potential liability from neglected trees.

“Every day tree care is ignored, the specter of liability rises,” he said.

The ordinance requires permits for pruning or removal of trees. The permit fee wasn’t mentioned in the ordinance but would be nominal, according to Flott. The fees would benefit the city’s urban forestry program. The proposed ordinance required pruning be done only by an arborist licensed by the city.

“The quality of the urban forest would be elevated because of the licensing and arborist requirements,” said Mike Stone of the parks department.

The proposed ordinance includes a $250 penalty for anyone willfully damaging or destroying a tree.

Without the street tree program, Stone said the city’s urban forest will continue to decline, property values could fall, and improper trees will be planted in inappropriate spaces.

The estimated $400,000 to pay for the program would be taken from the parks department budget.

“What is the impact on other park department programs?” asked Laura Ackerman, from the Garry Park neighborhood.

Most speakers just asked for more citizen involvement and a guarantee that a citizens advisory committee be formed.

“We should be able to come up with a solution to bring these two forces together and make this work,” said Mayor John Talbott.