Stark wants healthy trees kept

Thu., Feb. 9, 2006

By Mike Prager mikeprager15@gmail.com (509) 459-5454

Spokane City Councilman Brad Stark is asking Mayor Dennis Hession to reconsider a plan to cut down 22 street trees to make room for reconstruction of Bernard Street from 14th to 29th avenues.

Stark’s resolution, up for consideration at Monday’s council meeting, asks Hession and other members of his administration to keep any healthy trees slated for removal in the Bernard Street project.

Area residents have protested the proposed logging because it would take away Bernard’s attractive leaf canopy.

Also, Stark and Councilwoman Mary Verner are considering an amendment to the resolution asking Hession and his public works staff to preserve other street trees in future bond-issue reconstruction projects. Improvements to Bernard Street were included in a $117 million voter-approved bond issue for paving throughout the city.

The large, mature trees along Bernard were planted years ago in curbside strips that are too narrow for their large trunks and root structures. Excavation required to improve the street will damage their roots to the point that they will not survive, public works officials said.

Many of the trees have damaged curbs and sidewalks along the stretch of Bernard slated for reconstruction. The project calls for digging down at least a foot to lay a new road bed. At that depth, the trees will lose a significant portion of their feeder roots, officials said.

In a letter to Hession, Stark said, “I strongly urge you and your administration to explore alternatives to incorporate the healthy foliage into a grand new streetscape.”

Stark’s resolution will be considered during Monday’s 6 p.m. legislative session in Council Chambers at City Hall.

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