CC Minutes - 10/12/98 Work Session

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Mr. Lee said that he would work with staff and periodically update the council on the process. Ms. Nathanson said she heard council support for education and coordination, but she questioned whether the council supported the concept of providing direct assistance to others. Mr. Johnson anticipated that any contingency plan developed would include setting aside money for the unforeseen worst case scenario. By consensus, the council directed Mr. Lee to proceed. Mayor Torrey left the meeting. Council President Fart assumed the chair. C. Work Session: Tree Issues Public Works Department Director Christine Andersen introduced Johnny Medlin of the Public Works Maintenance Division, Jerry Jacobson of the Planning Division, and Marsha Miller and Dick Gassman of Building and Permit Services. She reminded the council that it had one work session and one public hearing over the last twelve months on tree issues, primarily focused on the City's private property tree permitting program. Ms. Andersen said that for the discussion tonight, staff had provided background in the staff notes about adopted policies related to the Urban Forestry Program. Ms. Andersen provided background on the development and adoption of the Urban Forest Management Plan. She referred the council to the 19 adopted policies contained in the plan and wall charts highlighting some of the activities related to each policy. Ms. Andersen said the City had focused its limited resources on those areas most crucial to the council. Ms. Andersen reviewed regulatory activity associated with trees and development on private property, and discussed proposed changes to streamline the private property permitting program reestablished in fiscal year 1999 budget. Ms. Andersen noted public concerns expressed in testimony regarding the integrity of the urban forest and in particular areas along the ridge line and in the south hills. She referred the council to a map illustrating the ridge line trail and setback, the city limits, and the urban growth boundary. She said the hatch marked areas reflected already developed areas or areas in the process of being developed. Unshaded areas reflected remaining developable areas containing tree canopy that might be affected by future development activities. Staff had put primary effort into maintaining the integrity of the tree canopy, planting more than 5,000 street trees to date through the auspices of the NeighborWoods Program; she anticipated that in the future 3,000 street trees would be planted annually under Neighborhoods and the Local Street Plan requirement in areas with new development served by underground utilities, reducing the conflict between trees and regular maintenance activities. Ms. Andersen said that there continued to be strong community controversy about a relatively small number of private tree removal activities in Eugene. She said that for staff to make a recommendation to the council, it would be useful for staff to hear from the council what its program goals were. Ms. Taylor believed that the Urban Forest Management Plan was largely advisory rather than enforceable, and suggested that its provisions needed to be codified to be effective. She asked MINUTES--Eugene City Council October 12, 1998 Page 6 5:30 p.m.