03/04/1992 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ II. WORK SESSION: URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN Bob Hammitt, Public Works, said that after almost two years of work and a lengthy public input process, the Tree Commission has completed the Urban Forest Management Plan. He said the plan had also been reviewed by the Plan- ning Commission and the Council Committee on Infrastructure. Mr. Hammitt said that the purpose of the work session is to familiarize the council with the plan in preparation for its public hearing scheduled for April 13, 1992. He said that the policies adopted in the plan will give direction to staff for ordinance development. The plan is divided into the following five elements: tree selection, trees on public property, trees on private property, heritage trees, and education. It contains 19 policy recommendations. Policy 12 and Policy 17 have drawn the most attention. Mr. Hammitt specifically mentioned that the public prop- erty element contains several proposed actions aimed at proactive tree main- tenance programs which have cost implications in conflict with the council's Eugene Decisions strategies on "Transportation--Street Trees." Mr. Hammitt also pointed out two gaps in the plan. One of those is protec- tion of trees in the urban transition area. He noted that there is a County interim ordinance in place that sunsets in May 1993. Lane County has said that it will consider the City's ordinance for adoption in the urban transi- tion area. If the County decides not to adopt the City's ordinance, it may opt to revert to the State Forests Practices Act. The other gap has to do with parcels within the city limits that are not in a development process. Mr. Hammitt said there is no protection provided on those parcels unless the council adopts a mandatory approach to heritage trees. e Mr. MacDonald identified another gap. The issue is whether there is specific consideration or latitude given to south hills residents or property owners to take action on their properties to mitigate fire danger. Staff noted that the Fire Prevention and Education Officer had made language suggestions to incorporate within the document that address that issue. Staff did not think a specific policy was needed and the issue could also be addressed in the ordinance. Mr. Hammitt noted that the Planning and Tree Commissions had different ver- sions of Policies 12 and 17. He said that the Council Committee on Infra- structure (CCI) has also outlined other options in its March 4 memorandum to the council. Mr. Hammitt said that the question before the council, in mak- ing the decision regarding the language for Policies 12 and 17, is what level of tree protection is in the public's best interest on private property. He said that if the council adopts the "required" approach, staff will develop ordinances around that policy direction. If the council adopts the "encour- age" approach, staff will develop educational materials and programs to edu- cate the community about tree protection. Mayor Miller noted the lack of a staff recommendation in the plan. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council 11:30 a.m. March 4, 1992 Page 3