Evergreen Cities (HB 2844)

As our population grows, trees are replaced with impervious blacktop and concrete. Meanwhile climate change is increasing runoff pollution and flooding. Trees in our cities are one of the most cost-effective ways to improve our water quality, air quality and our quality of life. This proposal ensures the Evergreen State is full of Evergreen cities, towns and counties.

Update: Evergreen Cities was signed by Governor Gregoire on April 1, 2008.

Benefits

Healthy and expanded urban forests will be helpful to communities and people across the state:

• Trees reduce runoff, a top Puget Sound pollutant, and can save tax payers over $2.4 billion in stormwater management.
• The right trees in the right place can reduce energy costs and associated greenhouse gas emissions by 30% for Eastern Washington home and business owners.
• Trees absorb air pollutants that cause asthma and global warming.
• This proposal will increase the number of communities’ with strong goals, objectives and management plans for urban trees and the environmental services they provide.

2008 Evergreen Cities Act

The Evergreen Communities Act restores, retains and establishes more trees and forests in our cities, towns and counties by creating:

Evergreen Communities Recognition:
Dept. of Community Trade and Economic Development (CTED) will recognize cities, towns and counties doing superior urban forest planning and management.

Model Forest Plans & Ordinances:
CTED develops eco-regional model urban forest management plans and ordinances to retain trees, restore forest, and expand urban forest canopy to achieve environmental objectives. Local governments may be funded to update or adopt inventories, plans and ordinances.

Stakeholder Process:
CTED will convene an Evergreen Communities task force to advise development of Evergreen Communities recognition, model plans and ordinances.

Funding for Local Governments:
New revenue is generated through voluntary utility ratepayer contributions for evergreen communities to develop and implement urban forest management plans and ordinances, for utilities to increase service reliability, and to leveraging federal funding.

Inventory and Assessment:
The bill authorizes the Department of Natural Resources to develop a statewide inventory and assessment of our communities’ forests to assist local governments with forest plan and ordinance development.

Lead contacts: Heath Packard, Audubon Washington, 360-790-5680 or hpackard@audubon.org
Lisa Paribello, Audubon Washington, 360-786-8020 x201 or lparibello@audubon.org

3-19-07