HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAP 2012-04-23 Item 2A - Resolution - Tukwila Tree and Environment Advisory CommitteeCity of Tukwila
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Haggerton
Community Affairs and Parks Committee
FROM: Jack Pace, Community Development Director
BY: Carol Lumb, Senior Planner
Sandra Whiting, Urban Environmentalist
DATE: April 10, 2012
SUBJECT: Comprehensive Plan Update— Creation of a Tree and Environment Advisory
Committee as a Mechanism for Public Involvement
ISSUE
Should Tukwila form a citizen's advisory committee for the update of the Comprehensive Plan
goals, objectives and policies that address natural resources and community vision?
BACKGROUND
Washington cities subject to the requirements of the Growth Management Act are periodically
required to undertake an overall review and update of their Comprehensive Plans, separate
from the annual amendment process. Our approach to the review due in 2014 has been to
focus on a "vertical slice" of our goals, policies, regulations and implementation measures for
specific issue areas. This differs from the original Tukwila Tomorrow process where we formed
a general committee to make recommendations on a broad range of issues.
Staff has used this approach to conduct targeted public outreach and develop a set of
recommendations for updating the Shoreline and Manufacturing and Industrial Center (MIC)
chapters of the Comprehensive Plan as well as their associated Zoning Code regulations. This
ensures that our regulations are aligned with our Comprehensive Plan vision. We also hope that
it will result in meaningful input by involving our citizens and businesses in a streamlined
process for those issues of specific concern to them.
The 2012 -13 DCD work program includes the updating of the Natural Environment chapter of
the Tukwila Comprehensive Plan as well as other policies in the in the Community Image and
Residential Chapters that address natural resource issues. As part of that effort, the role of
trees in the City, tree protection, tree health, tree canopy cover and whether to establish tree
canopy goals for the City will be considered. To assist with the policy development, the City has
received a $10,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources to
conduct a baseline tree canopy survey to determine the amount of tree coverage currently in the
City. The updated goals and policies of the Comprehensive Plan will then guide revisions to the
City's implementing regulations the tree ordinance, landscaping code, and street tree policies
and will provide input for tree /urban forest management in the City's parks and other public
land in Tukwila.
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
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DISCUSSION
Staff believes it is important to involve a wide range of stakeholders in the Comprehensive Plan
update and in incorporating new goals and policies related to community forests into the Plan.
In addition, recent state legislation promotes community forest programs, which the addition of
goals and policies to the Comprehensive Plan will support. Staff suggests that the committee
be made up of members from the following groups:
1 -2 residential property owners;
1 -2 business owners (urban center and MIC or other);
1 representative of environmental groups /gardening groups (such as the Backyard Wildlife
organization);
1 arborist or landscape professional;
1 Planning Commission representative;
1 City Council representative; and
1 Parks Board representative.
Including members of these groups will help ensure that a wide range of viewpoints are
considered. The Committee members would be provided with background information on the
current Comprehensive Plan goals and policies and existing regulations, as well as materials
about community forest management and the value of trees in urban settings and will be asked
to provide guidance to staff on the direction City policy should take on key natural resource
issues, such as tree canopy, tree protection, landscaping in commercial and industrial areas,
street tree management and planning, and maintenance of forests and trees in parks and other
public areas. It is anticipated that the Advisory Committee would meet once a month for 6 -8
months.
Once the work of the Advisory Committee is complete, their recommendations, will be
incorporated into a ee�underline version of the relevant chapters of the Comprehensive
Plan, as well as a strike -out underline of the proposed revisions to the Tree Ordinance and other
natural environment related regulations. These will go first to the City's Planning Commission
and then to the City Council for action in early 2013. Policy recommendations also will serve as
input for later revisions to the City's landscape code and street tree policies, and for planning for
urban forests on public land and for tree management in general.
RECOMMENDATION
Forward the Resolution authorizing the recruitment and appointment of an advisory committee
to assist in the Comprehensive Plan and implementing regulations update to the May 14, 2012
Committee of the Whole meeting and subsequent May 21, 2012 Regular meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution Authorizing the Formation of the Tukwila Tree and Environment Advisory Committee
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A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, CALLING FOR THE CREATION
OF A TUKWILA TREE AND ENVIRONMENT ADVISORY
COMMITTEE AND CALLING FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
IN THE UPDATING OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
RELATED COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ELEMENTS AND THE
DEVELOPMENT OF POLICIES RELATED TO THE
MANAGEMENT OF THE CITY'S URBAN FOREST.
WHEREAS, the City of Tukwila adopted its Comprehensive Land Use Plan and
Map based on consideration of existing conditions and long -term community goals in
1995; and
WHEREAS, RCW 36.70A.130 requires the City of Tukwila to review and, if needed,
revise its Comprehensive Plan and development regulations on or before December 1,
2014; and
WHEREAS, new State legislation encourages jurisdictions to consider urban forest
management when reviewing land use policies and regulations; and
WHEREAS, the natural environment in Tukwila, which includes streams, wetlands,
steep slopes, coal mine hazard areas, trees and tree canopy, is important for its habitat
benefits as well as the aesthetics, quality of life and green infrastructure services
(stormwater volume and water quality, air quality, energy conservation) it provides for
the City; and
WHEREAS, it is important to sensibly preserve and enhance the City's natural
environment to promote recreational opportunities and exposure to nature in the City
and provide visual relief from the hard, constructed surfaces of urban development; and
WHEREAS, engaging a wide range of input from citizens, businesses, and
professional and environmental organizations is important to ensure all viewpoints are
considered in the updating of the Comprehensive Plan and for incorporation of new
goals, objectives and policies to address the natural environment and management of
trees;
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NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Tukwila Tree and Environment Advisory Committee. A Tukwila
Tree and Environment Advisory Committee, hereinafter referred to as the "Committee,"
is formed to advise on the development of new goals, objectives and policies related to
the urban forest and on the revision of existing goals, objectives and policies in the
Tukwila Comprehensive Plan that relate to the natural environment.
Section 2. Committee's Responsibilities. The Committee shall be advisory on
substantive issues related to the Comprehensive Plan goals, objectives, policies, and
implementation mechanisms related to the natural environment and the community
forest. Such issues include, but are not limited to, clearing and grading in sensitive
areas; protecting wetlands, streams, and geologically hazardous areas; recognizing the
value of trees in urban settings; landscaping in commercial and industrial areas; street
tree programs; protection and increase of tree canopy; and management of forests in
parks and other public lands.
Section 3. Committee Makeup.
A. The Committee shall be comprised of one Councilmember, one Planning
Commission member, one Parks Commission member, one or two residential property
owners, one or two business owners, one representative of an environmental
group /garden club such as the Backyard Wildlife organization, and one arborist or
landscape professional.
B. Committee members shall be appointed by the Mayor, who shall appoint
replacements as necessary.
C. All Committee members shall have equal standing on the Committee. The
Committee shall serve as an advisory body. General consensus should be obtained by
the Committee on matters related to the goals and policies.
D. A quorum of the Committee shall not be required.
Section 4. Chair. The Councilmember appointed to the Committee shall serve as
the Chair. The Chair shall strive to be neutral and be responsible for presiding over all
meetings, directing the process and helping the Committee arrive at consensus.
Section 5. Committee Staffing.
A. The Department of Community Development, hereinafter referred to as "DCD,"
shall be responsible for staffing all Committee meetings. Other City departments or
outside experts may be called to provide information to the Committee. DCD shall
prepare issue papers and provide background information, as necessary, to be
presented to the Committee.
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B. DCD shall provide changes to the pertinent sections of the Comprehensive
Plan in strike out/underline format for review and approval by the Committee.
C. The Committee shall provide policy guidance for revisions to the tree
ordinance, landscape code, street tree policies, forest management in parks and other
public lands, and tree management in general.
D. DCD shall have the sole responsibility of drafting the regulations to implement
the policies and goals recommended by the Committee for updating the tree ordinance
and landscape code after consulting and discussing pertinent issues with the
Committee. Changes in street tree policies shall be the joint responsibility of DCD, Fire
Department and Public Works, taking into account input from the Committee. Changes
in policies for trees /urban forest in parks shall be the joint responsibility of DCD and the
Department of Parks Recreation.
Section 6. Record. In order to ensure that a proper record is kept, staff shall
compose written minutes of all meetings of the Committee. All documents and items
that go before the Committee shall be part of the legislative record.
Section 7. Meetings. The Committee shall meet approximately once a month
beginning in August of 2012 with a goal of meeting 6 to 8 times, with the first meeting
being devoted to orientation, organization and administrative functions of the
Committee. The Committee shall determine a regular meeting day, time and place. All
Committee meetings shall be open to the public. The Committee and DCD shall
attempt to reach out to groups that may have an interest in natural environment and
tree issues and invite them to observe and provide input on these issues.
Section 8. Schedule. The Committee shall conclude its recommendations by the
second quarter of 2013 or sooner. The committee may be asked to meet further only
on an as- needed basis. The Committee shall have an opportunity to discuss their
recommendations at a joint meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON,
at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of 2012.
ATTEST /AUTHENTICATED:
Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk Verna Seal, Council President
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:
Filed with the City Clerk:
Passed by the City Council:
Resolution Number:
Shelley M. Kerslake, City Attorney
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