Urban Woodlands Ordinance

At a glance

• What: a proposed ordinance to protect urban woodlands, drafted with SCANS revisions and a Law Department draft.
• Where it stands: continued at the Oct 27 subcommittee; City Forester staffing is a concern and Councilor Govan asked for a preliminary budget. No vote.
• Next: continued discussion at the Nov 9 committee meeting; Councilor Davila aims for initial Council consideration before year end.

Sources

• 2026-10-27 - Sustainability and Environment Subcommittee (agenda and final minutes)
• 2026-11-09 - Sustainability and Environment Committee (agenda)

Log

• 2026-10-27 - Sustainability and Environment Subcommittee - Continued discussion of SCANS revisions, the Law Department draft and forestry staffing; preliminary budget requested.
• 2026-11-09 - Sustainability and Environment Committee - Continued Woodland Ordinance discussion on the agenda.

2026-10-27 - Sustainability and Environment Subcommittee

SCANS proposed letting the commission accept applicant amendments, sampling-based canopy estimates for large lots, a cap on fee waivers (the draft allows up to 100 percent) and a climate change mitigation definition. The Law Department agreed to a flat fee, an amendment procedure and wording changes, and asked for objective climate criteria. The City Forester warned of staffing limits. The Law Department will revise, a basic commission budget will be drafted, and the group meets again November 9 at 4:00 PM.