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Council adopts rewritten urban forestry code, replacing 1978 street-tree chapter
Summary
The council approved Ordinance 4992 on second reading to repeal and replace Chapter 4.36, expanding street-tree rules into a broader urban forestry chapter with protections for trees during construction, maintenance responsibilities, fee options, and penalties.
Ellensburg’s City Council adopted Ordinance 4992 on second reading on Aug. 3, replacing the 1978 street-tree chapter with a broader urban forestry chapter (Chapter 4.36) intended to modernize definitions, protections, and administrative procedures.
Erin McGowan, water/storm program coordinator, told council the updated code adds a purpose and value statement recognizing environmental and public-health benefits of trees, clarifies maintenance responsibilities between the city and adjacent property owners, establishes tree protection requirements during construction, and introduces cost-recovery tools and an in-lieu fee option when replacement is not feasible. "Staff recommends that council move to approve the 2nd reading and adoption of ordinance number 4 9 9 2," McGowan said.
The ordinance was recommended by the urban forest working group, city attorney and outside counsel review, and the environmental commission. Staff indicated the code change will be followed by amendments to public works development standards and an administrative hearing process to support implementation.
