Lakewood council approves $300,000 contract to launch urban forestry program amid public outcry over trees cut for I‑5 connector

The Lakewood City Council on Sept. 2 approved a $300,000 contract with EXP LLC to begin work on an urban forestry program and other actions to meet state climate planning requirements. Assistant Director Angie Silva told the council the contract will fund engagement, a 10‑year implementation plan and near‑term work items tied to HB 1181 compliance.

The vote followed a lengthy public comment period in which residents raised alarm about hundreds of trees being removed for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) path and widening along the Gravelly Lake/I‑5 corridor. Christina Manetti, speaking for the Garry Oak Coalition in Lakewood, said WSDOT plans to remove “394 trees, 38 of them oaks,” and described one Garry oak with a 38‑inch diameter that state biologists estimate is at least 570 years old. “If a protected Garry oak that is a minimum of 570 years old is not protected, then really, how can one expect any tree to be protected in Lakewood?” she asked.

Why it matters: House Bill 1181 (HB 1181) requires local governments to add climate resiliency and greenhouse‑gas planning elements to city comprehensive plans by mid‑2029; staff said urban forestry policy is one required component. Council members and staff framed the EXP contract as an initial, multi‑phased effort to integrate Lakewood’s existing 40% canopy target, carry out tree canopy monitoring and develop funding and implementation strategies.

What the council approved: The motion, moved by Deputy Mayor Mary Moss and seconded by Council member Paul Bokey, authorized the city manager to execute a multi‑year agreement with EXP LLC for $300,000. Assistant Director Angie Silva told the council the work will be funded from two sources: ARPA (federal American Rescue Plan Act) appropriations and the city tree mitigation fund. Silva said $190,000 is expected from ARPA and $110,000 from the tree fund. The motion passed on a voice vote and was adopted.

Public concerns and staff response: Multiple public commenters and members of the ad hoc tree committee urged the council to strengthen protections for Garry (Garry) oaks and questioned whether replacing old oaks with saplings satisfies “no net loss.” Tikhomir Dunlop, a member of the ad hoc tree committee, said WSDOT proposed planting saplings to mitigate removals but warned replacement saplings “are not going to be cared for for the next a hundred years, let alone the next 500 years.” Haley Ivy, speaking from Memphis but identifying as a soon‑to‑be Lakewood resident, called the project “another car lane” and opposed cutting ancient trees for the corridor.

Staff and planning staff described the contract as a start toward compliance and broader goals. Silva said the contract is “a multi‑phased, multi‑year approach” intended to integrate the city’s canopy goals, develop community planting initiatives and support HB 1181 requirements. Tiffany Spear (staff member) added that the city’s 89‑item climate action work plan adopted in 2021 needs updating and that the climate advisory team created by the contract will “update it, see what has been completed” and prioritize work for the 3‑, 5‑ and 10‑year horizons.

Funding debate: Council members questioned using $110,000 from the city tree mitigation fund for a contract that includes broader climate tasks. Council member Branstetter said he supported approving the contract but was “concerned that over 20% of the dollars in the tree fund being dedicated to this contract is excessive.” Silva and Spear responded that state funding originally intended for HB 1181 work was not available, that the city’s code allows tree mitigation dollars for scientific research and community planting initiatives, and that the tree fund balance snapshot is roughly half‑a‑million dollars.

Next steps and limits: Council members and staff said the EXP LLC contract is an initial step, not the final urban forestry program. Silva said the deliverables include a prioritized work plan and evaluation framework; Tiffany Spear said the climate advisory team will update the expired 2021 implementation plan and help Lakewood meet its 2029 HB 1181 obligations. Several residents urged immediate protections for notable trees removed by WSDOT, noting that planting saplings does not replace centuries‑old oaks in the short or medium term.

Closing note: Council members and staff signaled support for the contract but also asked staff to pursue external funding and to consider ways the city can more directly protect mature oaks and respond to residents’ tree‑protection concerns.