--- Begin Message --- TODAY! Thur. Nov 4 5:30pm Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, City Hall 600 4th Av
LAST BUDGET HEARING: Please attend or send emails TODAY !
ARBORIST�S OFFICE OVERPRUNED ! SAVE TREES! = BIRD HABITAT
"We're at risk of becoming 'the city formerly known as emerald,'" Mayor Nickels said.
Budget Committee - Public Hearing 4:30 p.m. - phone-in and e-mail testimony; 5:30 p.m. - live testimony Location: City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue, 1st Floor. Entrance to the building is on Fifth Avenue between James & Cherry Streets.
Contact: Councilmember Richard J. McIver 206-684-8800 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
City Council Website: http://www.cityofseattle.net/council/budget/budget2005-06.htm#agendas
Proposed Budget:
� Budget to eliminate 2 of 3 �Arboriculturist� positions at the SDOT Arborist�s Office.
� There is no money budgeted for new street trees.
TALKING POINTS:
* There is no protection for trees on private property, and developers are cutting them down.
* There is not enough open space or park space for most neighborhoods.
* Street trees are all that many people have left of any nature in Seattle neighborhoods.
More Talking Points:
1- How can only 2 maintenance people for all of Seattle�s 100,000 street trees maintain safely protect the City from accidents and lawsuits;
2- There is a backlog of over 100 jobs. How can this office chase emergencies, and maintain 100,000 street trees?
3- In the 1994 Seattle Street Tree Survey, 30,000 trees were either dying or in poor condition.
4- Newly planted street trees have a low survivorship, estimated at 22 years or less. Who will care for the new 30,000 young trees planted since 1999?
5- When we cut 1000�s of trees for Light Rail and the Monorail, will restoration fail due to lack of timely care?
6- Compare Seattle with other cities as to tree maintenance: The 19 year pruning cycle of street trees is already twice that of 14 comparable cities. The city of Milwaukee has 50 arboriculturists.
7- Stop Stonewalling the Street Tree Ordinance.
8- Find ways to save more trees in private development. The Director�s Rule is failing its goal to save quality trees in development.
9- The City is failing its Comprehensive Plan for Environmental Stewardship.
10- Last year, the Utility Line Clearance budget and the Tree Steward program were axed.
11- Is this the Mayor�s new �Seattle Green Initiative�?
FROM: Richard Ellison, saveseattlestrees.org
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