2026/04/08 Council Agenda Packet

Page 9 of 24 SECTION 2 – SCOPE OF WORK 2.1 INTENT AND BACKGROUND The City of Everett is seeking an experienced consultant team to update its existing tree policy and landscaping ordinance. The ordinance updates will establish enforceable standards and guidance that provide long-term accountability. The 1993 City of Everett Tree Policy, codified in Chapter 8. 40 EMC, established the city’s current framework for how trees on City‑owned property and right of way are managed, maintained, and regulated. The 1993 ordinance assigns responsibility for planting, care, and removal of public trees to the Director of Parks and Recreation, while trees on watershed lands fall under the jurisdiction of Public Works. The policy outlines compliance requirements with state and federal law, clarifies liability, and defines property‑owner responsibilities for preventing hazards. It also creates a management program focused on setting standards, protecting canopy cover, and planning for long‑term urban forest health. Additional components include annual performance evaluations, enforcement mechanisms with fines and penalties, and the formation of a Tree Committee to advise on policy and review proposed actions. Trees on private property are regulated under Chapter 19.35 EMC - Landscaping. Trees within critical areas and their buffers, whether on private or public land, are regulated under Chapter 19.37 EMC - Critical Areas. While comprehensive for its time, the tree policy is limited in scope and application to public land and right-of-way, and lacks several elements expected in modern urban forestry standards. It does not address climate resilience, equity in canopy distribution, or environmental justice considerations that now feature prominently in the city’s comprehensive plan. The ordinance also offers limited guidance on community engagement, tree‑risk assessment protocols, biodiversity goals, or integration with broader sustainability plans. Its enforcement and administrative structures are relatively narrow, and it does not incorporate contemporary best practices such as green‑infrastructure planning, detailed species‑diversity targets, or protections against over‑removal during development. As a result, the policy provides a foundation but falls short of the more holistic, climate‑aware, and community‑centered approaches used today. 2.2 NOTICE OF FUNDING & DEADLINE The City of Everett has received state grant funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce under the Climate Commitment Act to fund this endeavor. Consultants must include signed Department of Commerce clauses with their submittals. The grant funds expire in June 2027. A required milestone for the grant is to have the assessment completed no later than May 2027. 2.3 CURRENT PLAN The current ordinance can be found at: Ordinance 1948-93 - Laserfiche WebLink Ch. 19.35 Landscaping | Everett Municipal Code Ch. 19.37 Critical Areas. Note: a major update to this chapter is currently underway, with ordinance adoption anticipated in May 2026. Ch. 8.40 Tree Management | Everett Municipal Code