Chapter 12.30
PUBLIC TREE MANAGEMENT
Sections:
12.30.010 Jurisdiction and administration.
12.30.030 Adoption of administrative procedures.
12.30.040 Public trees in the right-of-way.
12.30.010 Jurisdiction and administration.
It shall be the responsibility of the parks, fleet, and facilities manager (hereafter “manager”) to manage and oversee the planting, care, maintenance, and removal of all trees on public rights-of-way and city-owned public property within the city limits (collectively, “public trees”) in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 960 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 617 § 1, 2012]
12.30.020 Tree board.
The parks, recreation and cultural services board, created pursuant to Chapter 2.55 SMC, shall serve as the city’s tree board. The tree board shall be advisory to the city council. The primary responsibility of the tree board shall be to make policy recommendations concerning the management of public trees. The tree board shall be comprised of all members of the parks, recreation and cultural services board acting in an ex officio capacity, and the roles, officers and terms of the tree board shall be the same as the parks, recreation and cultural services board. [Ord. 960 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 617 § 1, 2012]
12.30.030 Adoption of administrative procedures.
A. The manager is authorized to prepare and adopt procedures, technical standards, and standard plans necessary to facilitate implementation of this chapter, including a list of approved street trees in the Engineering Development Manual after notice and opportunity for public comment.
B. The manager shall make recommendations for a fee in lieu of replacement trees for adoption in the fee schedule established by the city council as provided in Chapter 3.01 SMC and utilized for this chapter and SMC 20.50.360. The fee in lieu shall be used solely for the cost of planting and establishing public trees. [Ord. 960 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 617 § 1, 2012]
12.30.040 Public trees in the right-of-way.
A. Planting of Public Trees. A right-of-way use permit shall be required and issued by the director of public works (hereafter “director”) for planting public trees in rights-of-way adjacent to an applicant’s property according to the variety and spacing approved in the Engineering Development Manual if such activity does not physically disturb the existing or planned public use of the right-of-way.
B. Nonexempt Pruning and Removal of Public Trees. A right-of-way use permit shall be required and issued by the director for the nonexempt pruning or removal of public trees in rights-of-way adjacent to an applicant’s property subject to the following:
1. Limits on removal under critical area regulations.
2. Public tree removal is prohibited on rights-of-way that have not been opened with public improvements, including, but not limited to, streets, sidewalks, pathways, and underground or overhead utilities.
3. No trees listed in the Engineering Development Manual as approved tree varieties for planting within rights-of-way shall be removed, regardless of size, unless deemed by a certified arborist as hazardous or causing damage to public or private infrastructure.
4. All existing public trees six inches in diameter at breast height or greater allowed to be removed shall be replaced with an approved variety of tree in the area of removal according to the replacement formula in SMC 20.50.360(C)(1) through (3). If the director determines there is no suitable space for planting of the replacement trees in the vicinity of removal, the director will determine whether an applicant shall replant at public sites approved by the director or pay a fee in lieu as established in this chapter.
5. All removed trees or pruned material shall be removed from the right-of-way and the right-of-way shall be restored in accordance with the issued right-of-way use permit.
C. Maintenance of Public Trees. All planted trees and replacement trees shall be maintained in good health and condition by an applicant, or their successor in interest, in accordance with the issued right-of-way use permit or other authorizing permit. [Ord. 960 § 1 (Exh. A), 2022; Ord. 627 § 1, 2012]