10-10-2011 Public Comment: Street Trees CITY OF WOODBURN
CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER CARD
Members of the public wishing to comment on items of general business must complete and
submit a speaker's card to the city Recorder prior to commencing this portion of the Council's
agenda. Comment time may be limited by Mayoral prerogative.
NAME: LL C n J 6E7% J 1
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AGENDA DATE: 1 D ` 'OH AGENDA ITEM #: S 6
COMMENTS: S I D e_e_ 1 ¶Li;-
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:
Follow -up:
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October 10, 2011
Dear City Council Members
Simplistically, we would like the city to preserve our canopy street trees whenever possible and
see a faster recovery of out street tree canopy.
We are rapidly losing more street trees than we are replacing due to undersized and improper
replacements, a lack of follow -up and the absence of any enforcement or penalty, We will
continue to lose Black Walnut trees. If we allow trees to be replanted that are only 2" caliper, we
will have to wait for 5 or so years BEFORE these trees even begin to grow and there will be no
sizeable canopy replacement for at least 20 -35 years. Requiring slightly larger caliper
replacement trees in the NCOD. that will begin to grow within two years, will greatly speed up
replacing the Woodburn tree canopy. Otherwise, we will be waiting for 45 -50 years..
In order to achieve this, The Historic Woodburn Neighborhoods Association would like to
propose the following be approved by the City Council and such changes be made to the tree
ordinance in both the city, and especially within the NCOD.
1. A $50.00 fee for all tree removal permits. Tree removal permits should probably
expire 360 days from issue. After 360 days a property owner would have to reapply
and pay required fees
2. A $75.00 fee upon issue of removal permit, refundable
within the 180 day requirement for tree replacement and upon
verification that the replacement tree is planted and meets all ordinance requirements.
3. A one page handout, to be given to any applicant by public works, listing the
requirements for replacement trees and listing the penalty for non - compliance (at
least in the NCOD).
4. A requirement that street trees in the NCOD be replaced with at least 2 1/2" to 3"
caliper trees and with species from the approved LARGE tree list. (per parking strip
allowance).
5. Propose that the city establish a $100.00 subsidy for the purchase and replanting of a
replacement street tree. (It would only cost the city $1,000.00 per 10 replacement
trees).
a. Propose that the city negotiate (by agreement or contract) with a local tree
nursery(s) for a predetermined set price for street tree replacements, to be paid
by the property owner (or city if property owner does not comply)
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b. Propose that the city negotiate (by agreement for contract) with local
nursery(s) or a landscaping contractor(s) for a predetermined set price for the
labor necessary to plant a street tree replacement, to be paid by the property
owner (or city if property owner does not comply)
6. Establish a system of follow -up and notification to tree removal applicants that
automatically results in a request for City Council action to issue a civic infraction to
a property owner for non - compliance after 180 days from the issue of a tree removal
permit as follows.
a. 1 letter to be sent to property owner upon issue of a tree removal permit
listing requirements and penalty for non - compliance.
b. 2 letter to property owner at 90 days from issue of tree removal
permit emphasizing necessary compliance.
c. 3 and final letter to be sent to property owner at 150 days from issue of tree
removal, giving notice that a civic infraction will be charged for non-
compliance and/or a lien will be placed on the property if the city has to
remove and replace a street tree due to non - compliance after 180 days from
the issue of a tree removal permit.
d. After 180 days of non - compliance from issue of a tree removal permit, Public
Works will automatically revoke any deposit or subsidy and request City
Council action to charge the property owner with a civic infraction and/or
authorize public works to proceed with removal and/or replacement, with
incurred costs to be recovered by lien against the applicant's property.
e. Extensions can be issued to the property owner only upon proof of purchase
of a replacement tree, that will not be planted until the optimum fall season
when the replacement tree is deciduous.
We would like to see if a "revised" tree ordinance and changes could be included in a
feature article by the Independent so that Woodburn residents know that tree removal
permits are required and when. Hopefully, most of the above will coincide with much of
Public Works' current and proposed future policy
Thank you,
Durrell Crays