09-14-10 CSDS Committee MinutesCommunity Service/Development Services Committee Meeting
September 14, 2010
Elected Officials Present:
Council Member Strom Peterson, Chair
Council Member Petso
The committee convened at 6:00 p.m.
A. Increasing fines for illegal tree cutting.
Staff Present:
Rob Chave, Planning Manager
Kernen Lien, Associate Planner
Rob English, City Engineer
Phil Williams, Public Works Director
Brian McIntosh, Parks Director
Bertrand Hauss, Transportation Engineer
Kernen Lien, Associate Planner, presented information on different approaches for how fines for
illegal tree cutting may be assessed and reviewed, including how a number of Tree City USA
communities assessed fines for illegal tree cutting. Remedies for illegal tree cutting range from
restoration — which may be based on the value of what was cut or on a tree -for -tree or some other
ratio of replanting — to fines based on the value of what was removed. Valuation of the tree(s) cut
can be determined by methods described in the Guide for Plant Appraisal authored by the Council of
Tree and Landscape Appraisers, or a simple fine can be applied per tree removed. Fines ranged
from $50 to $3,000 for the Tree City USA communities reviewed, although many seemed to have
basic fines in the $1,000 range. Mr. Lien discussed how the fines may vary depending on where the
illegal tree cutting occurred, for example trees that are located within critical areas or on City
property often have larger fines than trees which are cut on private property without any critical
areas present. In addition, some communities also consider other factors, such as to what extent the
cutting affected the value of the underlying property or the surrounding area.
The City of Edmonds' current fines for illegal tree cutting are $500 per tree, and are tripled to $1,500
for trees illegally cut within critical areas. The City also has the option to increase permit fees for up
to five times according to the City's fee schedule adopted under Resolution Number 1192.
ACTION: The Committee indicated a desire to increase the City of Edmonds fines for illegal tree
cutting and asked that code amendments be brought to the full Council for consideration which will
(1) increase the basic fine for illegal tree cutting to $1,000 per tree, and (2) provide for a tripling of
fines if the tree is located on public property or right of way.
B. Capital Facilities Plan (2011-2016).
Rob English, City Engineer, presented information on the draft 2011-2016 Capital Facilities Plan
(CFP) and the projects that are contained in the document. Mr. English also reviewed the draft
2011-2016 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and explained the differences between the CFP and
CIP. Staff requested comments from the Council committee and asked if they had a preference on
whether to include specific projects as part of the presentation to the City Council on September
21 11. A public hearing on the CFP is scheduled for the October 5, 2010 Council meeting.
CS/DS Committee Minutes
September 14, 2010
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Councilmember Petso asked if the potential TBD revenue generated by the proposed TBD ballot
measure could be diverted for other purposes besides the capital projects approved by the TBD
Board. Staff replied that this was a policy question for the Board, but the ordinance approved by the
Board specified the additional TBD revenue for the 37 capital projects in the ordinance.
Councilmember Petso requested that the presentation include information on the Edmonds Crossing
WSDOT Ferry/Multimodal project.
ACTION: Staff will present the draft 2011-2016 CFP to Council on September 21st for information
and schedule a public hearing for the October 5, 2010 Council meeting.
C. Briefing on the Six -Year Transportation Improvement Program (2011-2016)
Bertrand Hauss, Transportation Engineer, presented the 2011-2016 Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP). Mr. Hauss explained that the TIP identifies all the transportation projects that are
planned within the next 6 years, along with the appropriate funding source (secured / unsecured
Federal and State grants and / or local funding). Due to the transportation funding shortfall, the TBD
is also identified as a potential funding source. Since the first 3 years of the TIP are financially
constrained, this potential revenue source isn't identified until 2014. A short description of each
project programmed for 2011 was presented (Dayton St. Overlay, 228th St. SW Corridor
Improvements, Main St. Pedestrian lighting, Shell Valley Emergency Access, and 226th St. SW
Walkway).
The construction of the 228th St SW Corridor Improvements is estimated at approximately $3.45M in
2014. Since the cost is so high, the Committee members asked if this phase of the project would be
eligible for partial grant funding, instead of 100% TBD funding (as currently identified in the draft
TIP). Staff replied that this is a regional project and the possibility of receiving additional grants was
high. Staff will revise the TIP to show additional federal/state grant funding for this project.
ACTION: Staff will present the proposed Six -year TIP to the Council on September 21, 2010 and a
public hearing is scheduled after the presentation to receive public comments.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.