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09/10/03 Another Feel Good
City Ordinance Abused by City Staff
Editor's comment: I
have always supported protecting our city trees (our urban forest) for
aesthetics and environmental reasons. The city's tree ordinance was
toothless from the beginning, and it was never intended to be enforced.
Linda Pelon has furnished the following correspondence which should confirm that
not only is the ordinance not enforced, some of its so-called biggest supporters
are part of the non-enforcement.
| Linda Sharp |
Linda Pelon |
To:
Council Member Lois Finkelman
Thank you for holding a hearing yesterday to determine the status of
enforcement of our Tree Preservation Ordinance.
However, it was disappointing that the rules, procedures and standards
for issuing citations will not be finalized until at least January.
The CPC was advised on July 17 that these items would be completed much
sooner. I am looking forward to attending the September 19 hearing
when the CPC will be updated on these issues.
At the hearing yesterday, it was mentioned the Health, Environment and
Human Services Committee will be looking at the Reforestation Fund later
this year. I would appreciate it if you would advise me in advance
when this hearing will be held.
In the meantime, I have some questions you could perhaps answer or
direct me to the proper individual(s) to contact.
For example, the 9/8/03 letter Ms. O'Donnell wrote to the Health,
Environment and Human Services Committee states that on May 2003 there
was an expenditure from the Reforestation Fund for $12,065.50 for
Winnetka Heights "parkway". That letter also
states Winnetka Heights has requested an additional $14,000 for 100
trees and that request is awaiting approval.
My questions are: Who requests funds from the Reforestation Fund?
What species of trees are planted? Who plants and takes care of
them? And, What is the general process of getting approval of
expenditures from the Reforestation Fund?
Thank you again. I look forward to hearing from you. |
And
WHY????
Why would we pay thousands of dollars to buy trees
when the city has a huge backlog of mitigation trees and certificates
from nurseries for many hundreds more??
The reforestation fund was intended to purchase land
with mature protected
trees (air filters!) as mitigation properties.
We cannot all hold our breath until the small percentage of these
baby trees that survive grow into mature air filters 50 or 60 years
from now.
To quote the US Forest Service --
A large mature tree filters the air 50-60 times more effectively than a
immature small tree.
I am certain the intended purpose of the reforestation fund was to
purchase old growth for mitigation, since I was the one who suggested it
and intensely advocated for it back in 1993-4 when the original tree
ordinance was created.
This was also discussed many times last year as the revisions to the
tree preservation ordinance were negotiated.
Since Ms. O'Donnell admits we have no policies and procedures
regarding the tree ordinance, what gives her the authority to decide to
use the reforestation fund for a purpose for which it was not intended
and unwisely fails to use the backlog of trees already available.??? |
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