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Council introduces tree-preservation ordinance for city right-of-way projects, schedules public hearing
Summary
Council Member Naker introduced an ordinance to require preservation, replanting or replacement of trees on city right-of-way for city-sponsored projects; Public Works said the code change will let staff create rules and procedures and will be heard at a public hearing on Jan. 22.
Council Member Naker introduced a first-reading ordinance (25-4) on Jan. 15 to amend the administrative code to require tree preservation for city-sponsored projects in the right-of-way. The measure would prioritize keeping existing trees in place, replanting when removal is unavoidable, or replacing removed trees elsewhere in the city's right-of-way.
Naker credited staff work and named former legislative aide Taina Mackey and Public Works and Parks staff for drafting the ordinance language. "The goal of this ordinance is really to preserve our urban tree canopy by making sure that whenever we do work or contribute to work on city right of way that we preserve the trees that are there," Council Member Naker said.
Sean Kershaw, Public Works director, told the council the ordinance would codify existing policy priorities and give staff authority to write implementing rules, standards and guidelines. Kershaw said staff will address three practical questions: maximizing on-site preservation, preserving project-area trees when removal is necessary and replacing trees in other right-of-way when in-place replacement is impossible. He added that project budgets would need to include tree-protection or replacement costs, regardless of funding source.
Action: The ordinance was introduced and laid over to Jan. 22 for second reading and public hearing. Staff said implementing procedures and budget coordination will follow.
