Evergreen Cities Act Passes House Ecology & Parks Committee

Olympia, WA – Audubon, cities, utilities, foresters and nurseries have joined together to support passage of legislation to ensure that the Evergreen State is full of Evergreen Cities.  This legislation, sponsored by Representative Ruth Kagi (D-32) and Senator Ed Murray (D-43), passed out of the House Ecology and Parks Committee Tuesday.  The bill is expected to be referred to the House Appropriations Committee.

The Evergreen Cities Act, one of the environmental community’s top four 2008 legislative priorities, is designed to help cities restore forested park lands, retain urban trees, and establish more trees to  expand Washington’s urban forest canopy.  “The incentives and tools in the Evergreen Cities bill will help communities across Washington protect and plant trees that are essential to our future air quality, water quality and quality of life” said Prime Sponsor Kagi.

“For too long, Washington has been loosing trees and forests in our cities due to inadequate urban forest planning.”  Said Audubon Washington’s Executive Director, Nina Carter.  “In December Washington Department of Ecology reported stormwater runoff as the leading pollutant in Puget Sound and recent events have increased awareness about how trees help control floods.  Trees are one of the most cost effective ways for cities to reduce stormwater runoff pollution and flooding.”

The bill establishes an Evergreen Cities designation program that recognizes cities in Washington who are meeting or exceeding model urban forest plans and ordinances that will be developed by the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.  The bill directs the Department of Natural Resources to conduct a statewide urban forest inventory and assessment to support local governments’ planning processes and to measure effectiveness of the Program.  The bill includes incentives for municipalities to become Evergreen Cities including partnership grants and bonus points for competitive state capital infrastructure investment accounts.

Dave Williams with the Association of Washington Cities said “We have been eager to work with proponents to craft this new workable approach that creates incentives, tools and guidance to help cities manage their urban forests to compliment smart growth management.”