RES NO. 2017-13 CELEBRATE TREES! MONTHRESOLUTION NO. 2017-13
CELEBRATE TREES! EARTH MONTH BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of Bainbridge Island, Washington,
declaring the month of April to be Celebrate Trees! Earth Month Bainbridge
Island; reaffirming the City's commitment to promote appreciation and
protection for Bainbridge Island's trees and forests and the many cultural
social, economic, health, and material benefits that trees and forests provide
our community; and committing the City of Bainbridge Island to creating
progressive regulations that encourage tree retention, prevent inappropriate
tree removal and support the Island's natural landscape and ecology.
WHEREAS, the citizens of Bainbridge Island recognize that our forests provide multiple
ecosystem services including habitat for a wide variety of plants and animals;
temperature regulation for dwellings, streams and shorelines; air pollution reduction;
serving an integral role in our Island's water, carbon and nutrient cycles; providing
windbreaks; forestalling erosion by stabilizing slopes and soils; reducing and attenuating
stormwater runoff, enhancing physical and mental health; and
WHEREAS, our Island's forests have performed these important ecological functions
for thousands of years, during which times Indigenous Peoples used and coexisted with
these forests; and
WHEREAS, the growth of Puget Sound's cities and settlements over the past two
centuries was made possible by exploitation of the region's forests and other natural
resources: and
WHEREAS, in the 165 years since the Denny Party landed at Alki Point, our intact
forest ecosystems have been greatly diminished, with serious repercussions for the health
and function of Puget Sound; and
WHEREAS, our City's Comprehensive Plan has long recognized that the well being of
our human and ecological communities alike are very much connected to forests and
natural resources; and
WHEREAS, being a designated Tree City USA the citizens of Bainbridge Island take
seriously their responsibility to protect our native vegetation and forests, and urgently
desire that action be taken to strengthen and enforce policies that protect, steward, and
sustain forests and native vegetation so that they can continue to provide important
cultural, social, economic and ecological benefits to our community; now, therefore,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND DOES
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City of Bainbridge Island strongly supports the proposition that April,
Bainbridge Island's Celebrate Trees! Earth Month, shall be an opportunity to celebrate
the cultural, spiritual, health and material benefits provided by our trees and forests, and
to prioritize appropriate efforts to protect and restore them.
Section 2. The City of Bainbridge Island will make it a priority to revise its regulations
to strengthen protections for trees, forests, and native soils and vegetation to protect and
promote a full range of ecological services
Section 3. As part of the City of Bainbridge Island's Low Impact Development
regulations, and associated land use review process, an emphasis will be placed upon
retention of trees, native vegetation, and native soils in preserving hydrological function
before and after development.
Section 4. The City of Bainbridge Island will encourage property owners and developers
to incorporate trees and native vegetation into their land use designs, prioritizing intact
groves, significant trees and vegetation and historic trees. Policies and regulations related
to illegal tree removal will be reviewed to ensure they create an effective deterrent to
violations.
Section 5. The City of Bainbridge Island will develop and provide resources for
developers prior to permitting, and to the broader community, to promote understanding
of the economic and ecological value of our Island's trees and forests.
Section 6. The City of Bainbridge Island resolves to promote retention of historic and
significant trees for the enjoyment of all citizens and visitors to the Island through
appropriate regulations and policies.
Section 7. The City of Bainbridge Island will review current guidelines and regulations
regarding the planting of trees along Bainbridge Island's commercial district and consider
revisions to promote the enjoyment and social well-being of all its citizens and visitors.
Section 8. With all of this in mind, and with a deep appreciation for our Island's
Community Forests and associated ecosystems, the City Council of the City of
Bainbridge Island declares April to be Celebrate Trees! Earth Month on Bainbridge
Island.
PASSED by the City Council this 28th day of March, 2017.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 28th day of March, 2017.
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ATTEST/AUTHENTICATE:
By: .�-
Christine Brown, City erk
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: March 10, 2017
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: March 28, 2018
RESOLUTION NO. 2017-13