Edmonds council adopts minor tree-code revisions, raises fee-in-lieu cap to $4 per sq. ft.; appraisal exemption rejected

The Edmonds City Council adopted minor revisions to the city—s tree code at its Oct. 14 meeting, and unanimously approved an amendment raising the fee-in-lieu maximum from $2 to $4 per square foot of lot area.

Staff presented the package as limited, technical updates tied to a legal case rather than a comprehensive rewrite; the planning division said a more extensive update would follow when an urban forest planner is on staff.

Council debate focused on three contested items: (1) a proposed reinserted —notice on title— requirement; (2) a provision that would have allowed an applicant to forgo an appraisal when the removal would already trigger the maximum fee-in-lieu; and (3) the cap on fee-in-lieu payments established in existing code at $2 per square foot of lot area.

Council member Heck moved an amendment that would remove the notice-on-title reference and eliminate the appraisal exemption and the cap; the body discussed those elements at length. Staff explained the appraisal-exemption language—s effect: where a propertyowner—s cumulative removals already reach the statutory maximum fee, requiring an appraisal would impose cost without changing the fee calculation. The council voted on the appraisal-exemption portion and rejected it by a 2–5 vote.

Council member Dasch then offered a substitute amendment to change the fee-in-lieu cap from $2 to $4 per square foot. After discussion about the impact of the change and requests for staff to supply detailed cost comparisons in future updates, the council adopted the $4 amendment unanimously.

With that amendment in place, the council voted to adopt the minor tree code revisions as presented. The adoption vote was recorded as unanimous.

Council members repeatedly cited the need to protect large, landmark trees while avoiding legal exposure that could jeopardize the city—s fee-in-lieu program; several members said they wanted a fuller review when an urban forester is on staff. Staff said it would return with additional data on cost estimates, bonds and restoration costs to inform future changes.