WELCOME NEW SAVE SHORELINE TREES SUPPORTERS!

FUNDRAISER UPDATE: A Save Shoreline Trees supporter offered $1500 in matching funds to SST for the month of August 2022. Thanks to all who contributed to this summer fundraiser. Donations totaled over $1500. Special appreciation to our benefactor who approached us with the $1500 fundraiser donation.

www.saveshorelinetrees.com info@saveshorelinetrees.com

COUNCIL TO MAKE EMPLOYMENT OFFER
FOR CITY MANAGER POSITION

At the Shoreline City Council meeting on September 19, Council authorized Mayor Scully and Deputy Mayor Robertson to enter into negotiations with Bristol Ellington* regarding the terms of an employment agreement. The City Council will take formal action to approve the negotiated employment agreement and to appoint the new City Manager at a future Council meeting.

City Manager Debbie Tarry announced her retirement and will be leaving the City on November 2. Raftelis has conducted a nationwide search for a new City Manager. During September, Council convened several executive sessions to interview candidates and a “meet and greet” for staff and community members to meet the three final candidates was held on September 8. The City of Shoreline is a “Council – Manager” form of government. As noted on the City website: “The City Manager implements the policies and goals of the City Council…The City Manager is the only employee hired by the City Council. The City Manager implements the City Council’s policies and oversees all City departments.”

*Bristol Ellington is currently the Deputy City Manager and Chief Operating Officer for the City of Henderson, Nevada. In Henderson he also served as Assistant Director of Community Development, Directory of Community Development, and Assistant City Manager. Before that he worked as Principal Planner and Planner II for the City of Palm Beach Gardens. He also served as a Planner for the City of Gainesville, Florida, as well as for the town of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Bristol has a Bachelor of Arts in Geography from the University of Wisconsin; a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Michigan; and, a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Nevada. He is an ICMA-CM (Credential Manager) and has an AICP (planning credential). Source: Raftelis

CELEBRATING OUR TREES THIS SUMMER

TREES LOSE AGAIN IN SHORELINE

From the Tree Preservation Code Team

On September 12, Shoreline City Council members voted against an amendment that would have retained 10% of trees on MUR-70' (Mixed-Use Residential) building sites. The vote (1 for retention, 6 against) means that current City Code stands, allowing developers to clear-cut a MUR-70’ zoned property without saving any nor replacing trees. This proposed amendment sponsored by Councilmember Eben Pobee would have required for example, a developer of a MUR-70' zone building site with 30 significant trees (6” or more in diameter) to save 3 trees. As it stands, no trees will be saved on MUR-70' building sites or on six other building zones in Shoreline.

The Tree Preservation Code Team, the legislative arm of Save Shoreline Trees, worked since June to save trees on MUR-70’ zones. Over 250 tree supporters in Shoreline and adjacent communities contacted City Council members by letter, phone and email, signed Tree Preservation Code Team petitions, and provided verbal comments to Council regarding the proposed 10% tree retention amendment. Yet even with all of these communications, the City Council voted not to adopt the amendment. It was a clear win for developers and a glaring loss for Shoreline citizens.

As Jean Hilde, Shoreline resident, wrote to Council: “While planting new trees is important, our existing tree canopy, especially our mature evergreens, is already providing us with all of the protective benefits that new trees won’t provide for 25 or 50 or more years. Why in the world would we go backwards in the fight against climate change and cut down any of our existing mature trees?”

Tree supporters in Shoreline have the same question for City Council members as we watch hundreds of trees removed every month. Shoreline is fulfilling the City’s vision of denser housing at the expense of Shoreline’s neighborhood trees.

PROJECTS WE ARE FOLLOWING

Here is an update for the developments along N 145th from 1st Ave NE to the east boundary of Evergreen The Line. Tree removals as confirmed by City planners to Save Shoreline Trees:

Shea: 67 significant trees

Evergreen The Line: 43 significant trees

All trees on MUR-70’ zones can be removed and no tree replacements are required.

Modera development: Project MFR-22-1623 at 17802 Linden Ave N. Development will replace the approximately 50 units at Garden Parks Apartments with a 7-story, 399-unit apartment building with approximately 455 parking spaces. Since this property is zoned Town Center-2, all of the 48 mature trees will be cut down and no replacement trees are required.
City project manager is Cate Lee.

Citizen contact: Linden10.

Brea development: Project MFR22-1644, MFR22-1645, DEV22-1642 at 18019 Aurora Ave N, 18002 Linden Ave N. Location of former ice rink on Aurora. This property wraps around to Linden Ave N. Development of two 7-story buildings totaling 386 apartment units and 477 parking spaces. SST has requested the arborist report. Zoned Town Center-2.
City project manager is Heather Maiefski.
Citizen contact: Linden10.

Evergreen Point Group’s “The Line”: Project PLN22-0004. MUR-70’ zoned building located on N 145th a few parcels west of I-5. Per permit application, development of a mixed-use building with 1,725 square feet of retail, 241 apartment units, and 196 parking spaces. Per City Planner, 43 significant trees were removed. SEPA Checklist does not provide opportunity for public comment as this site is on the Planned Action Determination of Consistency per Ordinance 752 passed by City Council in 2016.
City project manager is Cate Lee.
Citizen contact: Save Shoreline Trees.

Shea development in Parkwood: Project PLN22-0089. MUR-70’ zoned building site along 1st Ave NE between N 145th and N 147th. Per permit application, 7-story building with 550 apartments and residential parking of 505 residential parking stalls. Tree report requested. Per City Planner, 67 significant trees were removed. SEPA Checklist does not provide for public comment as this site is on the Planned Action Determination of Consistency per Ordinance 752 passed by City Council in 2016.
City project manager is Cate Lee.
Citizen contact: Save Shoreline Trees.

New Sidewalk Program
20th Ave NW: City announced a continuous 8’ wide sidewalk will be installed on the west side of 20th Ave NW and that “no trees will be removed”. Residents have concerns regarding installation and infrastructure impact on existing tree roots. Construction begins Spring 2023.

5th Ave NE: Construction continues for 2nd installation of the New Sidewalk Program. Drive or walk on 5th Ave NE, between N 175th and N 182nd Ct to see the current construction of the sidewalks, 6’ wide on both sides of this narrow street. There is no longer any parking along this section of 5th Ave NE where 17 tall trees were removed. Photo below shows the sidewalk construction site where the two tall cedars were cut down at 5th Ave NE and N 178th.

TAKE THIS SURVEY ABOUT MERIDIAN AVE N BY OCTOBER 5

Meridian Avenue N Safety Improvements project survey. Thanks to Lindsey Amtmann for contacting Leif Johansen the City project manager who responded: “We will not be installing new sidewalks with this project. There will be some limited curb ramp and sidewalk work at 163rd but it appears that the work can be completed without impacting trees. The plans are currently only at 30% completion. As we move forward toward 60%, we will continue to do our best to avoid trees.“  Learn more about this project by taking the survey.

Any comments about the survey? Let Save Shoreline Trees know your experience. Some SST supporters question the survey format and we would like to share with the City.

CARING FOR OUR URBAN FORESTS AND TREES

In August, Melody Fosmore and her family attended a Field Day on Vashon Island
sponsored by WSU and King Conservation District on how to care for our Urban Forests.
This is part one of a three part series including information about tree pruning, invasive weeds, tree health and wildlife.

Whether its your own backyard, neighborhood or neighboring park, the first step is to become aware of the environment around you. Hiking in the woods with a dog is fun however opportunities to see the birds and other wildlife becomes more difficult. Make time to visit nearby woods alone and spend time in quiet observation.

Wildlife: Get to know the wildlife that comes into your yard or neighborhood. What birds, squirrels and other larger mammals do you see? Do you live near a bog or water – what about otters, beavers, snakes, frogs, salamanders or fish? Do you see owls or bats? All of these animals and amphibians need the ecosystem to survive and our trees play a major role in their survival. If you are lucky to have tall trees on your property you can help with habitat diversity in your yard. Suggestions include having a good ground layer including some downed wood for hiding and nests; a shrub layer for the birds to hide; and a strong overstory with mixed species of trees including broadleaf trees as they provide the most food and nesting value for birds and squirrels.

Snags are a great resource for our urban wildlife. If you have to cut down a tree, leave a 10-15ft snag. Bats, pileated woodpeckers, even raccoons, love these snags for food and nesting. Bats love snags for their daytime sleep. Birds and bats help keep our insect populations in balance.

Nesting boxes are also great, however make sure you clean them every year and mount them high enough away from predator reach and human activity. This is good resource for safe ways to hang a bird house.

Everything works together and mankind benefits from the ecosystem, not the other way around!

RESOURCES
Seek App: Download this app on your phone to capture photos and ID wildlife, plants, fungi. www.inaturalist.org/pages/seek_app
King Conservation District: www.kingcd.org
WSU Extension forestry (by topic):https://forestry.wsu.edu/nps/

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING ‘CLIMATE DEPRESSION’?

Solastalgia is a term that describes the loss we feel in our souls when we see changes in our environment. Listen to the KUOW interview about Solastalgia:

I am struck by the author’s comments not only about eco-grief and how people are being affected by this but also how local environmental activism has become an important key to our survival as people on this planet Earth. True environmental change begins in local communities and then spreads outward. This is what Save Shoreline Trees is all about. We are a local community group calling the attention of our elected officials to what is happening in our neighborhoods. We really are stronger when we work together!  - Melody Fosmore

CITY RESPONSE ABOUT TREE SURVIVAL RATE,
WATERING AND MAINTENANCE

Staff Report to Council, August 15, 2022, pages 8a-4 to 8a-5

What is our general watering plan for trees and what is the overall survival rate?

“The Parks Maintenance Division puts trees installed by the City in Parks or the City’s Rights-of-Way on a watering schedule for at least two years or until successfully established. Watering generally occurs once a week in the summer, depending on weather and precipitation.

Parks has installed permanent irrigation at several restoration areas including Richmond Beach Saltwater Park, Shoreview Park, and Westminster Park, and has provided cisterns for volunteer watering at restoration sites in Twin Ponds Park and North City Park.

While staff do not currently have complete data on mortality and survival rates of planted trees, their assessment is that survival rates are generally very good for City-installed trees. However, it is important to note that many factors influence tree survival in urban environments beyond watering. For example, Parks staff have observed tree mortality from mower error, from vehicle collisions, and from vandalism. Staff expect and plan for these and other difficulties when conducting street tree planting and urban forest restoration.”

CONCERNS ABOUT TREES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
OR CITY’S TREE CODE?

PRIVATE PROPERTY

• Call 206.801.2500, ask for “planner of the day” if you have questions about trees on private property or City's tree code.

CONCERNS ABOUT TREES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY

• Call the Customer Response Team 206.801.2700 if you see or suspect illegal tree cutting or vandalism to street trees and park trees.

Visit ‘See Click Fix’ and use the Online Service Request. Download the See Click Fix App using a blackberry, iPhone or Android phone. Follow the prompts from the app. A video showing how to use the iPhone app is available through YouTube.

Contributors to this newsletter: 
Melody Fosmore, Kathleen Russell, Susanne Tsoming,
Kathy Kaye, Isis Charest, Janet Way, Lindsey Amtmann
Questions or comments may be emailed to info@saveshorelinetrees.com.