[Vision2020] Managing "Urban Forests": Spokane's Approach

[Ted Moffett]

All-

Spokane has also had recent "aggressive" tree trimming for Avista power line
right of way that has raised complaints:

http://www.spokesmanreview.com/voices/story.asp?ID=195775

"This spring, a contractor hired by Avista Corp. to clear branches from
power lines raised hackles by sawing big ugly chunks out of the middles of
trees near Grand Boulevard and 37th Avenue ."

The article also indicates residents sued the City of Spokane for tree
removal for a street widening project!

"Residents sued the city over last year's removal of 17 old trees on South
Bernard Street as part of a street-widening project."

It is interesting that the "urban forest" discussed in this article has been
assessed a value of $300 million dollars.

"Perry figures the entire public part of the urban forest – park trees and
street trees – would be valued around $300 million."

This economic approach to the value of urban trees may be one way to assure
that everything possible and practical is done to save them.

Ted Moffett

On 7/2/07, Linda Pall <lpall at moscow.com> wrote:
>
> Dear April and Others with 'problem' and PROBL:EM!!! trees,
>
> My best suggestion is to approach Roger Blanchard, the City's arborist and
> a
> very kind and understanding person with good sense for what works for
> people
> AND trees with your problem and any suggestions for solutions you might
> have. Talk it through with him. You might propose tree replacement or
> discuss some landscape plan that is more to your liking and needs...
> showing
> how it would improve the look of your property and enhance the
> neighborhood,
> producing a win/win.
>
> Roger has a lot of good ideas for what works and what doesn't... he shares
> your view that some trees, when damaged by weather or pests, should be
> removed. "The City" is not anxious to inhibit the interests of property
> owners: our policy interest is the promotion of healthy, beautiful street
> trees in the right of way that will benefit the property owner and "the
> City."
>
> Your presence when trees on your property are being pruned is not for the
> purpose of annoying Avista wokres. It gives the opportunity to avoid
> misunderstandings that might not be able to be rememdied: once the branch
> is
> gone, it's gone.
>
> It's been my experience that Avista workers are more than willing to find
> a
> collaborative solution that meets the company's and the homeowner's needs.
>
> Give us all another chance, April! We can work together!
>
> All the best,
>
> Linda Pall
> Moscow City Council
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "April Fingerlos" <aprilf at fingerlos.net>
> To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
> Sent: Friday, June 29, 2007 6:49 PM
> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Fw: Avista & Trees
>
>
> > Since the trees are in the city right of way, and the home owners are
> not
> allowed to removed them without a mountain of paperwork and permits, what
> good does it do to be there, other than to needlessly annoy the Avista
> staff
> (actually, likely subcontractors) trying to do their job?
> >
> > I'd LOVE it if they'd remove these two awful, poorly-place blue spruces
> in
> my front yard, but my best hope is that they top them (yet again) so badly
> that it can't recover, and that the tree will have to come down due to
> being
> a public hazard.
> >
> > All previous owners of this house have tried to get the trees
> removed--city said no every time. I got in trouble for removing a tree
> from
> my BACK yard, after it split twice in two wind storms last fall, one time
> falling against my house! I'm not even going to try to remove these two
> much
> worse trees in my front yard, but I hope Avista can do what I can't!
> >
> > April
> >
> > April Fingerlos
> > Moscow, ID
> >
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