The City of Edmonds is seeking residents interested in participating on the Citizens’ Tree Board. Board members must be Edmonds residents (must live within city limits) and it is recommended that the Board include citizens from throughout the city (representing different watersheds and neighborhoods).
Additionally, those with professional or hobbyist interest/experience in urban forestry, horticulture, and habitat enviroscaping are preferred; these may include arborists, botanists, horticulturists, native plant experts, master gardeners, wildlife experts, and related areas of interest. The citizens’ terms appointed to fill these vacancies will expire depending on the vacancy to which they are appointed. When applying, please note that the Tree Board meetings are held the first Thursday of the month starting at 6 p.m. at City Hall 121 5th Ave. N.
Interested residents, who live within Edmonds city limits, may access the application online. Please see information below. You may also pick up an application at 121 5th Avenue North, Edmonds, 1st floor reception, or by emailing sandy.chase@edmondswa.gov. If you would like an application mailed to you, please call the Council Office at 425-771-0248. When leaving a voicemail message, please remember to include your name, mailing address, and zip code when requesting an application.
Applications can be found online at www.edmondswa.gov must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 15, 2016.
I think the email address to get an application is not correct. Unless Sandy Chase is freelancing or on some contract, she retired several years ago. I would be curious on the source of this article.
Trees are important in the scheme of things but they can also do massive harm. They fall on utility lines impacting us all, they fall on streets, and when they hang over the street they can be hit by standard allowable vehicles traveling our roads. It is hard to see that the tree board can even discuss or have members who are concerned about public safety.
Yes we need trees but we also need to consider public safety and that piece seems to be missing!!
I think Sandy Chase is doing some part-time work for the city — this release came from the city so it’s official.
Thanks that explains the links. After the Economic Development Commission sunsets Dec 31 some of those commissioners may want to consider becoming Tree Board Members. The skills required may well be part of the background of some of those folks. Too bad the Tree Board criteria is so confining.
Darrol,
I agree that trees can be hazardous and sometimes bothersome. However, large conifers in Edmonds have been disappearing at an alarming rate. Large trees provide visual stress relief, hold rainwater in place in their needle carpets (duff), absorb carbon dioxide, cool our homes and neighborhoods, and offer refuge to birds and other wildlife. Edmonds needs a well-thought-out policy to slow down the removal of larger trees. It does not work to “replace” a mature conifer with other types of plants. Lake Forest Park has had a tree policy for many years. I believe the thorniest issue in Edmonds is the fact that some residents live here for the views, and trees sometimes block views. There is no one-size-fits-all. The tree policy must provide a way to trim or remove trees that impede views and/or pose a safety hazard. Maybe a zonal approach.
Cliff, good points but the Tree Board as defined will do little if anything to deal with public safety. We do need a well thought out approach but it should include all elements of managing trees for the environment and for public safety.