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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1998)
Citizens dislike proposed tree code By Nicole Krueger Managing Editor Sixteen local residents spoke out against a proposed revision of Eu gene’s Tree Removal Permit pro gram at a City Council public hear ing Monday night, reminding the council of how much Eugene loves its trees. No private citizens spoke in favor of the revision, which would place regulation of tree removal in Eugene from the hands of the city to those of the private sector. Barbara Keller, former city coun cilwoman and author of the ini tial tree removal ordinance, called the proposal “too flawed even to amend.” The existing code provides a permit process by which applica tions for removal of street trees and trees on private lands are evaluat ed. However, due to budget cuts caused by Measure 50, the council last spring discontinued city staff administration of the permits, complaint investigation and code enforcement on private properties, the cost of which totaled an esti mated $60,000. According to Public Works Di rector Chris Andersen, the code re vision is an attempt to continue meeting the goal of tree protection while working within the limits of the budget. Under the revised code, permit applicants must ob tain private certification by a certi fied arborist or a licensed land scape architect that the tree re moval is the minimum required to implement an approved develop ment plan or to alleviate a danger to life or property. The applicant must absorb die cost of the certifi cation. City staff will issue permits based on this private certification and will neither investigate com plaints of violations nor actively enforce the code. Instead, Eugene residents must enforce the code through court action if tree re moval without the required permit occurs or is threatened to occur. "This is our best shot at trying to achieve the goals of the city Urban Forestry Program,” Andersen said. “We feel that this is a reasonable proposal, although not ideal.” Residents raised numerous con cerns about the proposal, including whether certified arborists and landscape architects are qualified to evaluate whether a tree should be removed. Tom McCartney, a certi fied arborist, said people who re ceive this certification often have no experience and are not necessar ily qualified to make this judgment. Another concern raised was that requiring private certification for tree removal permits might create a conflict of interest for these ar borists and landscape architects. “[Relying on] private arborists is like the fox guarding the hen house,” resident Mary Ann Holser said. “You can always hire some one to give you the opinion you want.” McCartney, along with several other speakers, suggested the coun cil nominate a group of “proven ar borists with local track records” to provide certification for the tree re moval permits. Some speakers also expressed concern about the lack of city en forcement of the code. “Essentially, you’re taking the power of enforcement and putting it in the hands of private citizens,” said Martin Gascoyne, a representa tive of the Eugene/Springfield branch of the Oregon Landscape Contractors Association. "A lot of people are not going to want to take on the responsibility, and those who do will run a risk of coming into conflict with their neighbors. ” Keller agreed. “Do not expect in dividual citizens to do your job of protecting trees,” she warned the council. Overall, many speakers agreed that the revision will merely weak en the code at a time when strength ening is needed. Keller, who wrote the initial code five years ago, said the code has worked well in the past and was meant to be expand ed, not reduced. Andersen defended the revision, but she admitted that it is “not a flawless approach” and said the staff would be willing to listen to any other approaches. The issue will be discussed fur ther at the City Council meeting on Monday, which will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Cham ber. The council expects to take ac tion on the proposal at this time. News Briefs Forum will address harmful chemical use Students representing OS PIRG, MEChA, die Multicultural Center, CAER (Coalition Against Environmental Racism) and HOPES (Holistic Options for Planet Earth Sustainability) will be sponsoring an awareness fo rum on chemical usage. The fo rum will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8 in the EMU Ben Linder Room. For ad ditional information, contact Eric Colbeck of OSPIRG at 346-4377. Work party to help preserve wetlands The Nature Conservatory of Oregon is inviting volunteers who are interested in protecting the ecology of the Willow Creek Preserve to participate in a work party Saturday, April 11. The event is one of eight work par ties held on the second Saturday of each month. Volunteers are encouraged to bring along their own equipment. For additional information, contact Ed Alver son at 682-5586. Hearing scheduled to discuss bike plans The Springfield Planning Commission is inviting the gen eral public to a hearing on the city’s draft bicycle plan on Tues day, April 7 at 7 p.m. The discus sion will take place in the Spring field City Council Chambers at the Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St. Discussion of the plan will cover a period of 20 years and contains 50 proposed pro jects. For additional information, contact Dean Bishop at 726-3683. ¥ The Baha i Faith “The Power of Race Unity” TCI Odyssey Channel 20 March 28th, 2:30P.M.; April 1st, 10:00a.m.; April 4th, 2:30P.M.; April 8th, 10:00a.m. The video will also be shown at the Eucene Baha’i Center at the same times 1458 Alder St. Eugene Studeits Wekmel Call 844-3178 for more information. Aiuei i< ;i Brill i-org Se the Racial Divide Heally, me <. Set the course of the Bookstore! Yes YOU! 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