[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6229319,"mediaKeyId","3464150-02a77a2f2e8c046d9ca8a53f011993fe","parentId",3464150,"title","Sandpoint commission weighs arboriculture manual update and code changes; staff to seek ANSI standard references and better permit review","audioSeconds",1018,"startMs",3038000,"endMs",4056000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3464150-02a77a2f2e8c046d9ca8a53f011993fe&start=3038&end=4056","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3464150-02a77a2f2e8c046d9ca8a53f011993fe/thumbnail_3038000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6229319/Sandpoint/Bonner-County/Idaho/Sandpoint-commission-weighs-arboriculture-manual-update-and-code-changes-staff-to-seek-ANSI-standard-references-and-better-permit-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229319-7859f8c9ff92d3d3d83516020278afb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454380&Signature=GR9alWFyf2UjHxvOG9-ZCKLr9Nip1vomHlOLUHyEt4KpPsbcNUH3E7IqeI9tD5kbJWm9sabpLV0uXtSKaKG7E4caJKX1snBmLydFdF1NST5JFI58M0em7HjYwYE9SSBB9Nsf80yAkqTqLdKxlvA~e~1NMNwouKpsBjHNFXOee9aXXRrnp2NPUZ9OCpyMMgvzcanVc2XLi3BzSf2DyW4x-aWTXIyeOUvNhidU3~irKFKNnok8SIZYYljNCZIe~TW0LDMn-kCMFuhqjDlIXQuf0mMbUvwoQ71fLqiYGRjEBA2oMPxbEwbqhLFPkAcFq8W-v70qH9JaMhyC1nuibYri1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-23T15:26:44.857Z","article","The Sandpoint Urban Forestry Commission began a multi‑meeting effort to update its Arboriculture Manual and related city code language, with commissioners recommending the city reference national standards rather than reproduce technical standards in local code.

Eric Bush, city staff liaison, told the commission the current manual dates from February 2003 and is out of date. “Our manual is from 02/2003,” he said. Commissioners discussed whether the manual should serve homeowners with concise, digestible guidance while the code should point professionals to the current ANSI A300/ISA standards.

Why it matters: commissioners said unclear or outdated guidance contributes to poor tree work, unsafe plantings and inconsistent enforcement. They argued that the city code should avoid replicating lengthy professional standards and instead reference those standards so the ordinance does not require frequent technical updates.

Permitting and enforcement: Bush described the existing permit review process and said he is working to be added as a reviewer in the city's permitting software (BSNA) so larger private‑development applications receive explicit forestry review. “When a building permit gets filed with the city of Sandpoint... I am not a checkbox on that list for private development. So if you're, you know, building an apartment complex… I work with our planners and our building department, and they let me know when those applications come in,” Bush said. He recommended formalizing that review step to reduce non‑compliant plantings and to make enforcement more consistent.

Standards and code drafting: commissioners and staff discussed using ANSI A300 and ISA Best Management Practices as referenced resources and to avoid copying technical specifications into local ordinance text. A commissioner told the group that referencing the professional standard in code is preferable to embedding the content directly because the national standards are updated by experts.

Project structure and next steps: the commission agreed to review the manual in sections over multiple meetings and to coordinate any proposed code updates with legal counsel. Staff and commissioners will also inventory common local problems (examples of poor plantings or improper staking) to inform practical code or manual edits. Bush said he will check with legal staff about what code changes are permissible under state law and will pursue being added formally to the permit-review workflow.

Other considerations discussed included differences between rights-of-way trees (where the city has more authority) and private-property trees (where protections are legally and politically sensitive) and the potential to include a homeowner-facing digest of best practices while directing professionals to ANSI/ISA standards for technical work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Sandpoint | Urban Forestry Meeting | 05/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners agreed to update the 2003 arboriculture manual and to consider code edits that reference national ANSI/ISA standards rather than replicate technical standards; staff will pursue smaller, phased reviews and aim to be added as a formal reviewer in the city's permit software to improve enforcement.","taxTitle","Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho","taxId",52019,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6229324,"Sandpoint commissioners ask historic‑preservation input as they refine 'heritage tree' definition",334,71000,405000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3464150-02a77a2f2e8c046d9ca8a53f011993fe&start=71&end=405","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3464150-02a77a2f2e8c046d9ca8a53f011993fe/thumbnail_71000.jpg","/articles/6229324/Sandpoint/Bonner-County/Idaho/Sandpoint-commissioners-ask-historicpreservation-input-as-they-refine-heritage-tree-definition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229324-4caa7c394eec2bdbc8060d2090e94441/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454380&Signature=Qvu6rSmiao9vN0LbgrnBuVO8AhlB-EjOwW1OC5a8jerT-M0WvNM4TKIMn18EafS5UNgegWdtA6~mN42XXvga4tMbB7nd9hyDNf2D3CZQ7gHwHgJp9U3RFP0mVqIz7d2nTa-POH2-eK1WjDJLx1A4VtG-Txj-aFI~Yo8YuhNmjeF-NC9Aq8K6Mcv3IU3339b30IDngAbUc60UwR8j1trm~GWIvH95tCCL-Y18APNEZ0VVvXCd1yO8ak~e2tVdw4H6GwitZHLoH1Dw81O8Iam21lErTBsvuRXxJzKr7HzkK-tJJeexAGpNPkcLmSYqSv7Im230yTyh8IThJ~OXUJGlpw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sandpoint Urban Forestry Commission agreed to invite members of the Historic Preservation Commission and staff from the Bonner County Museum to its June meeting to help define “heritage” and other categories for outstanding trees, Commission Chair Moe's Dunkel said during the May 22 meeting.

Commissioners said they want to clarify the purpose of a heritage-tree designation — whether it is primarily commemorative, educational, or intended to give a tree added weight in land-use or development decisions. Eric Bush, city staff liaison, told the commission the city code already references a heritage or historical tree designation and that the designation “may be designated by this commission in coordination with the historic preservation commission based on the criteria as described in the arboriculture manual.”

Why it matters: commissioners spoke repeatedly about the legal and practical limits of city authority over private trees and the value of historical documentation. Bush noted that designation can create an “additional layer of documentation” for council consideration on projects that might affect a tree, but commissioners also recognized the potential for private-property conflicts and said they will seek legal advice before pursuing code changes.

Documentation and community history: commissioners proposed using museum photographs and historic records to support nominations. Bush suggested the Bonner County Museum and the Historic Preservation Commission could help compile historical context for trees that have been present since the early 1900s; having archival photos, he said, would “really…get people engaged.”

Process and next steps: the commission asked staff to reach out to the Historic Preservation Commission and the Bonner County Museum to request their availability for the June meeting. Commissioners were asked to prepare proposed definitions and lists of candidate trees to submit to staff ahead of that meeting for compilation.

Limits and legal considerations: during the discussion staff and commissioners noted that protections for trees on private property vary by state and municipality. Bush said he had reviewed state materials and recalled that some state code language means municipalities generally cannot prohibit private owners from altering trees except where specific local designations (for example, a heritage-tree designation) have been adopted; he recommended legal review before any ordinance change.

The commission closed the discussion by directing staff to invite the Historic Preservation Commission, contact the museum for archival assistance and compile commissioner-submitted nominations and draft definitions for discussion at the June meeting.","The Urban Forestry Commission agreed to invite the Historic Preservation Commission and local museum staff to the June meeting to help define 'heritage' and other categories for outstanding trees; commissioners said a clear purpose and documentation will guide any future code changes or nominations.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6229329,"Sandpoint commission to plant ginkgo, give away 100 seedlings at May 31 Arbor Day event",714,930000,1644000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3464150-02a77a2f2e8c046d9ca8a53f011993fe&start=930&end=1644","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3464150-02a77a2f2e8c046d9ca8a53f011993fe/thumbnail_930000.jpg","/articles/6229329/Sandpoint/Bonner-County/Idaho/Sandpoint-commission-to-plant-ginkgo-give-away-100-seedlings-at-May-31-Arbor-Day-event","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229329-195e719afffe61dd716ae85a4b4702f7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770454380&Signature=B0eOwja-ULYi0Xf0q8Fhlm1FhgyKThe6K5wI2YRSCg-4FXM6W9-icEXSImBXp6BGBH6J7NdR8a9U8u099QXKO0oaO6-LM1svASb6DoUUVMVlFVVKmQx2eLQmrE6iU4bGrfle48VRzEeshyuGfnPiKYUswJDV2vGOlWBZVRY5Ts35K6xIECdPTEd891Y17mvRYVA4uh9KctYpTA5wnW1FTssvryt6Hgts7viOrowkA9SjyHLNRIurQuFeSd4p~MnMhJgToAv4aPOMHsWl4Of0lU-SB7j8LgDjlHqwQK545JiXFHeAiozSWlN69RCz2jOrXIxPOqe4Q-Dy~Qp9XnPvwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sandpoint Urban Forestry Commission will host an Arbor Day event Saturday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to noon at Farm and Park (Third Avenue and Main Street), with a formal tree-planting ceremony at 10 a.m. in the newly redeveloped downtown parking lot, City staff liaison Eric Bush said.

The event is intended as an outreach and education effort and will include a table at the Sandpoint Farmers Market, tree-care resources, a planting demonstration and 100 free large seedlings donated by the Spokane Conservation District, Bush said. “We received a hundred free large seedlings, from Spokane Conservation District,” he said.

The commission plans to plant a ginkgo purchased from a local nursery for the downtown parking-lot ceremony. “I purchased the gingko tree yesterday, from a local nursery,” Bush said; he told commissioners the tree is “about 6 feet tall” and currently in a 5-gallon container. Parks staff will prepare the planting site in advance: Bush said city parks crew will dig the hole next week and will water and monitor the new planting through the summer.

Why it matters: commissioners said the event is both a public-education opportunity and a way to raise awareness of the city’s tree permit process and tree-care best practices. The commission invited partner organizations including Connexus Land Trust, Spokane Conservation District and the Idaho Department of Lands. Kyle Schreiber, city council liaison, confirmed the city will provide a portable PA system at the parking lot for the planting demonstration.

Event logistics and volunteer roles: the commission will set up a booth at the Farmers Market and display signage directing attendees to the 10 a.m. planting. Bush said he will bring stakes and ties, a water bag and tools; he asked volunteers to help with staking and the planting demonstration. Commissioner Paige Belfry volunteered to help with emceeing and the hands-on planting demonstration.

Tree protection and follow-up care: commissioners discussed protective measures for the newly planted trees, including temporary fencing and non‑mar elastic ties. Several commissioners recommended installing t-posts with green plastic mesh as a visual barrier to reduce accidental damage; one commissioner also recommended chain-lock straps for staking to avoid girdling and to allow trunk movement while the tree develops.

Right-tree/right-place and giveaway guidance: Bush said staff will advise seedling recipients to plant on private property and avoid rights-of-way and utility-line conflicts. He told commissioners he will prepare or provide “right tree/right place” materials (sourced from ISA or other guidance) so recipients understand appropriate planting locations.

Partners and publicity: Bush said the mayor may attend the planting and the city will place an Arbor Day proclamation on a June city council agenda. The commission will also try to make short announcements at the Farmers Market to encourage attendees to come to the planting.

Next steps: the commission will confirm volunteers and final logistics for May 31, post event materials on the shared repository, and follow up with partners to coordinate staffing and supplies. Bush asked commissioners to send tree nominations, photos and draft language for the commission’s “Outstanding Trees of Sandpoint” listing so staff can compile an updated list after the event.","The Sandpoint Urban Forestry Commission will hold an Arbor Day event Saturday, May 31, at the Sandpoint Farmers Market and plant a commemorative ginkgo in the downtown parking lot at 10 a.m.; the commission will give away 100 large seedlings donated by Spokane Conservation District.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sandpoint commission weighs arboriculture manual update and code changes; staff to seek ANSI standard references and better permit review

Sandpoint commissioners ask historic‑preservation input as they refine 'heritage tree' definition

Sandpoint commission to plant ginkgo, give away 100 seedlings at May 31 Arbor Day event