Should the city save trees?

[RedlineIt]

You know, we all talk about how the consumer needs to be educated.

A good, well conducted Municipal tree preservation By-law does exactly that.

I live in an area of 250-300K people administered by over half a dozen municipal councils, from City of, to Town of, to District of, and so on and so on. There is no confusion, if you live in Victoria, these are your by-laws, live in Saanich, those are yours.

Many times I have shown up to do an estimate for an ignorant client (no disrespect, they just did not know) and inform them that the work they are requesting will require a permit. They may cuss and swear a bit at first, but after the grand expenditure of $30 to persue the permit they call me back knowing what an ISA certified arborist is, what can and cannot be done, including pruning with spurs, which trees are protected, which are not and why.

In addition to that, as a CA, I sometimes get to climb with my digital camera, locking blade knife, handsaw and notebook to write a report for the Municipality to base it's removal permit on. Or not. I'm ethical that way.

There's another thread currently on this site about working with contractors. The By-laws here cover it all, including dumping slag in the fenced off Root Protection Zone.

And if any of you think this makes performing tree work here more difficult, it does not. Unless you're a hack who would spur up and top anything for cash.

And for those who believe the healthy 150 year old Oak should come down just on the whim of the owner....break out the chainsaws, I have no issue with you.

I'm just saying that tree protection laws work to our advantage for long term client relationships and the education of our consumer.

RedlineIt

 

[derwoodii]

Ok this threads just about dead, but my last post is a brief I tried to get up 10 years ago when my local Gov/Council wanted to bring in Tree works permits /controls. It was dumped and ignored "sniff." But I still think its got some legs and wish it given your thoughts. Praise would be nice, & criticism just as welcome, may teach me to day dream of Utopian worlds.

 

[treevet]

Ok this threads just about dead, but my last post is a brief I tried to get up 10 years ago when my local Gov/Council wanted to bring in Tree works permits /controls. It was dumped and ignored "sniff." But I still think its got some legs and wish it given your thoughts. Praise would be nice, & criticism just as welcome, may teach me to day dream of Utopian worlds.

I do not see this as "Utopian". Some negatives here as I am on my city's advisory UFB for council.

1. Where is the education or credentials for the council to be the discerning and deciding entity?

2. Huge opportunity for nepotism here and I have witnessed it on a consistent basis.

3. Where does the liability lie when a tree causes property or personal damage? This is what scares the council along with the involvement with the ACLU.

4. There are many gray areas in our profession and the property owner should be the deciding entity with their property. Example....EAB.....do you treat ash trees, does the treatment work, is it injurious, is it the right thing to pay rent to your trees or do you remove them and replace them? There is no black and white answer here or in many other infection or infestation or marginal tree removal/retention (decay, aesthetics, safety, property improvement) questions?

An entire council can be as misinformed, stupid, uncaring, biased, ignorant, corrupt....etc. as an individual can.

And councils often form into little packs whether it be incumbents vs newbies or old guard vs new arrivals to the city etc. and often one side is trying to pass something and the other side vetoes it and then later they "get them back" by vetoing something that is obviously the right thing just to get revenge.

Let the property owner decide their own property.

 

[Hddnis]

Monetary value is only meaningful if you are selling your home.
I think there are some things that can not be measured with a dollar.
Like Home family and health, ones environment can not easily be replaced.

As sentient beings Trees are invaluable to the soul and influence the way we act toward one another, just look at the cultures who live in areas without trees.

Tree are NOT sentient beings. No way, no how.

Some people aren't even sentient beings. lol



Mr. HE

 

[Hddnis]

I do not see this as "Utopian". Some negatives here as I am on my city's advisory UFB for council.

1. Where is the education or credentials for the council to be the discerning and deciding entity?

2. Huge opportunity for nepotism here and I have witnessed it on a consistent basis.

3. Where does the liability lie when a tree causes property or personal damage? This is what scares the council along with the involvement with the ACLU.

4. There are many gray areas in our profession and the property owner should be the deciding entity with their property. Example....EAB.....do you treat ash trees, does the treatment work, is it injurious, is it the right thing to pay rent to your trees or do you remove them and replace them? There is no black and white answer here or in many other infection or infestation or marginal tree removal/retention (decay, aesthetics, safety, property improvement) questions?

An entire council can be as misinformed, stupid, uncaring, biased, ignorant, corrupt....etc. as an individual can.

And councils often form into little packs whether it be incumbents vs newbies or old guard vs new arrivals to the city etc. and often one side is trying to pass something and the other side vetoes it and then later they "get them back" by vetoing something that is obviously the right thing just to get revenge.

Let the property owner decide their own property.

Very good points.



Mr. HE

 

[Hddnis]

I don't like tax credits for something like that. If they get a credit, that expenditure raises taxes for others since taxes pay some kind of bills. Even the recipient would pay a fraction in their taxes to cover any credits for others.

The one aspect I'd like covered, is not so much saving trees, as making sure the process gets paused long enough for everybody to be informed.

That would include notices to neighbors who may have to prepare their trees to prevent sunburn damage. Or requiring some removals to wait for the cool season for the same reason.

Part of the reason I suggested it is that the other people are supposed to be getting a benefit fromt he trees so they should pay the person who pays for the trees.

I really don't think the idea would ever fly. I suggested it merely to point out that there is no free lunch.


Mr. HE

 

[ROOTSXROCKS]

Tree are NOT sentient beings. No way, no how.

Some people aren't even sentient beings. lol



Mr. HE

Let me rephrase that for the Grammarian, since you didn't get it by the context.

Monetary value is only meaningful if you are selling your home.
I think there are some things that can not be measured with a dollar.
Like Home family and health, ones environment can not easily be replaced.

For humans,as sentient beings, Trees are invaluable to the soul and influence the way we act toward one another, just look at the cultures who live in areas without trees.

 

[fishercat]

since i can't rep ya....................

I do not see this as "Utopian". Some negatives here as I am on my city's advisory UFB for council.

1. Where is the education or credentials for the council to be the discerning and deciding entity?

2. Huge opportunity for nepotism here and I have witnessed it on a consistent basis.

3. Where does the liability lie when a tree causes property or personal damage? This is what scares the council along with the involvement with the ACLU.

4. There are many gray areas in our profession and the property owner should be the deciding entity with their property. Example....EAB.....do you treat ash trees, does the treatment work, is it injurious, is it the right thing to pay rent to your trees or do you remove them and replace them? There is no black and white answer here or in many other infection or infestation or marginal tree removal/retention (decay, aesthetics, safety, property improvement) questions?

An entire council can be as misinformed, stupid, uncaring, biased, ignorant, corrupt....etc. as an individual can.

And councils often form into little packs whether it be incumbents vs newbies or old guard vs new arrivals to the city etc. and often one side is trying to pass something and the other side vetoes it and then later they "get them back" by vetoing something that is obviously the right thing just to get revenge.

Let the property owner decide their own property.

i'll do it here!

 

[treevet]

i'll do it here!

thanks fishercat

 

[fishercat]

no problem.

thanks fishercat

i always compliment political incorrectness.