Camas City Council to Review Final Version of Tree Program — Sept 4

Camas, WA — The Camas City Council will review the final presentation of the proposed Urban Tree Program, and will likely vote on the new ordinance on September 4.

The council recently voted unanimously to have the city attorney officially draft an ordinance, much of which was based on citizen input.

“We are now drafting an ordinance to amend the city’s municipal codes and a resolution to amend the city’s fee schedule,” said the city in an official statement. “City Council will review these items – which will be available to the public – on Tuesday, September 4 at 7 pm, in City Hall. This new date reflects our commitment to ensuring that the ordinance is crafted with the utmost care. The meeting will take place on a Tuesday in accordance with our holiday schedule, with Monday being Labor Day.”

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The September 4 meeting on the tree program does not include a public hearing. If adopted, the ordinance will become effective five days later.

Here are some highlights of the proposed Urban Tree Program:

• Street tree permits. Residents looking to remove street trees from their private property would need a permit. Removed trees will need to be replaced.
• Creates a new system for protection of trees with new developments that sets a minimum of 20 trees per net acre.
• Changes municipal code for park and open space trees.
• Adds very specific tree preservation language to municipal code.
• Changes the fine and fee schedules for removing trees. Currently, from $500-$1,000, the new proposal is a scale that is based on size. The fine could be higher based on size for trees in critical areas.
• Replaces Chapter 18.31 in the city code.
• Amends Chapter 18.13 for landscaping.
• Creates a city tree fund.

Please visit www.cityofcamas.us for more details.

Images from Public Hearing #2