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<br /> <br />3)The proposed regulation states a person can remove four trees that are four to eight inches in <br />diameter – what if a property only has four trees and they remove them all, how does that keep the <br />tree canopy? <br />Staff <br />: it doesn’t. But we decided it wasn’t reasonable to say that no trees can be removed from a <br />single-family site. A property owner can remove up to four trees in a three-year period; if more <br />than four trees are removed, then tree replacement would be required. This would replace some of <br />the tree canopy. Some jurisdictions are more restrictive, but we felt that coming from our current <br />regulations going to that extreme, that would be too much. <br /> <br /> <br />4)How much is a tree permit, how often does it increase, and what is the enforcement for not getting <br />a tree permit? <br />Staff <br />: currently $116.55; the price increases annually; we try to approach enforcement on an <br />educational basis first; enforcement begins with a courtesy letter requesting compliance and then <br />escalates as needed. <br /> <br /> <br />5)Is there a plan if the tree canopy falls below 47%? <br />Staff: <br /> Not currently. <br /> <br /> <br />6)Is it correct that a residential home owner can prune a tree up to 25% and other trees up to 20%, <br />and no permit is required? <br />Staff <br />: Yes, it’s 25% of the canopy other than fruit trees; no permit is required for pruning. <br /> <br /> <br />7)Which City Department is responsible for doing the canopy assessment in the parks or the public <br />right-of-way; would the condition of the tree also be assessed? <br />Staff: <br /> It is primarily DCD, partnering with the Parks and Recreation Department. The condition of <br />the tree is a separate assessment, regarding defects or health concerns. Green Tukwila Partnership <br />is helping with maintenance with Park properties, currently with Tukwila Park. In the past, City <br />received a grant from the Washington Dept. of Natural Resources for its initial tree canopy <br />assessment; currently King Conservation District is carrying out a canopy assessment for south-end <br />cities. In the future, we hope to develop a Citywide maintenance plan for City-owned trees – we <br />need data from tree inventory to develop the maintenance plan. <br /> <br /> <br />8)Is a laurel considered a tree? <br />Staff: <br />The laurels are an invasive species. We would also consider it a hedge/shrub rather than a <br /> <br />tree, although it can grow tall, like a tree. A laurel can be removed without penalty or a permit. <br /> <br />Staff also had an addition to the draft minutes to note the discussion from the Commission that the City <br />needs to provide canopy coverage assessment for City owned properties, City campus and City parks. <br /> <br />Carol Lumb <br />, Senior Planner, Department of Community Develop (DCD), gave the presentation, <br /> <br />Items in the packet responding to past requests and public comments: <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Request for a chart that identifies other jurisdictions and how they treat trees in terms of how <br />they start regulating (Attachment H) <br />Page 2 of 9 <br /> <br /> <br />