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Commission previews canopy assessment and May electrification study; Council briefing planned
Summary
Staff shared a King Conservation District tree canopy assessment showing about a 2% increase over the study period and previewed a May presentation on facilities electrification; the staff presentation to City Council was tentatively scheduled and commissioners were invited to attend.
Sammamish staff updated the Sustainability Commission on recently completed technical work and upcoming agenda items, including a tree canopy assessment and a facilities electrification study.
Staff said the King Conservation District’s canopy assessment (study period 2017–2023) indicates roughly a 2% increase in canopy coverage over that period; staff emphasized the assessment measures aerial canopy coverage rather than counts of individual trees. Commissioners asked about the study period and whether recent storms or tree losses would be captured in later updates; staff explained the 2023 dataset is retrospective and the next processed flyover data will enable direct comparisons for 2025 and beyond.
The Commission was also told that a facilities project manager will present a Building Electrification study for City Hall and the Maintenance and Operations Center at the May meeting, and staff said they will seek Commission recommendations to forward to City Council. Staff indicated a tentative briefing to Council is scheduled for April 21, and said the Arbor Day and Earth Day proclamations will be read that night; exact agenda timing had not been finalized.
Other items noted included an October Cedar Grove facility tour and a schedule of recycling and volunteer events; staff asked commissioners to consider volunteering for several upcoming community engagements and noted a backup plan if commissioner staffing is insufficient for the July 4 event.
Next steps: Staff will present the electrification study to the Commission in May, provide the canopy-assessment fact sheet and public viewers of the canopy data in a future meeting, and confirm the Council briefing date and time.
