4j) Discussion and Possible Action Including (1) Adoption of a Resolution Proclaiming the Existence of a Local Emergency Related to Climate Change; (2) Adoption of an Urgency Ordinance Exempting Replacement Roofs and/or Roofmount Solar Energy Systems from Discretionary Review in the Coastal Zone During the Local Emergency Related to Climate Change and (3) Adoption of an Urgency Ordinance Exempting the Removal of Certain Dead, Diseased, or Hazardous Trees from Discretionary Review in the Coastal Zone During the Local Emergencies Related to Climate Change and Tree Mortality
(Sponsors: Planning and Building Services and County Counsel)
I agree with Ms. Mitro's concerns about your proposed urgency ordinance that will exempt the removal of "certain dead, diseased, or hazardous trees from discretionary review in the coastal zone." This move blatantly contradicts the purported intent of your Resolution Proclaiming the Existence of a Local Emergency Related to Climate Change. After years of increasing, record-breaking drought and weather extremes in this county caused by the climate crisis, which are listed in the above resolution, you immediately turn around and allow a sweeping exemption that will only increase the risks of fire and other climate crisis-related events. Mature trees cool the environment with their shade canopies, retain moisture in the ground, and emit it into surrounding atmosphere. It is crazy to leave it up to private land and business owners to claim arbitrarily that a mature tree on their property is dead or hazardous so they can remove it without any authority oversight or tangible proof. Mendocino County’s native trees and forests have suffered massive losses over the last decade due to record wildfires and other natural disasters like extreme drought and the freak blizzard in January, 2019, combined with continued commercial over-logging, PG&E’s disastrous “Enhanced Vegetation Management Program,” and private land and homeowners’ land-clearing development projects. Please vote against this “urgent” ordinance, and at the very least specify requirements for proving that a targeted tree truly is dead or hazardous. The "urgency" is the dire need to protect our native trees and forests. Encourage their protection and conservation instead of expediting their destruction.
Climate Action Mendocino is in favor of the Resolution Proclaiming the Existence of a Local Emergency Related to Climate Change. It appears that this is a legal proclamation in order to follow State Law and Emergency Services.
Climate Action Mendocino is wholly in favor of the Urgency Ordinance Exempting Replacement Roofs and/or Roofmount Solar Energy Systems from Discretionary Review in the Coastal Zone .
Climate Action Mendocino has concerns about the Urgency Ordinance Exempting the Removal of Certain Dead, Diseased, or Hazardous Trees from Discretionary Review in the Coastal Zone. This Ordinance would certainly allow plenty of misinterpretation that could easily result in healthy or slightly damaged trees to be removed at the Owner's discretion. The Affidavit process appears to be up to the Owner's interpretation of a tree's health and the desirability of removing the tree by the Owner. Often the removal of broken limbs and other tree trimming will not cause a problem for a tree. How an Owner designates a tree as Hazardous, Dead or Diseased could be a convenient way for the Owner to use the timber of a perfectly healthy, but identified as 'diseased' or 'hazardous', tree without concern. Enforcement is likely not possible given the current workload in the County and the staff to follow up for enforcement. In any event, the tree would be removed. Given the climate emergency stated in nearly 3 pages of the Resolution mentioned above we need all of the healthy, mature trees we can protect to sequester carbon from our already carbon-saturated atmosphere.
I agree with Ms. Mitro's concerns about your proposed urgency ordinance that will exempt the removal of "certain dead, diseased, or hazardous trees from discretionary review in the coastal zone." This move blatantly contradicts the purported intent of your Resolution Proclaiming the Existence of a Local Emergency Related to Climate Change. After years of increasing, record-breaking drought and weather extremes in this county caused by the climate crisis, which are listed in the above resolution, you immediately turn around and allow a sweeping exemption that will only increase the risks of fire and other climate crisis-related events. Mature trees cool the environment with their shade canopies, retain moisture in the ground, and emit it into surrounding atmosphere. It is crazy to leave it up to private land and business owners to claim arbitrarily that a mature tree on their property is dead or hazardous so they can remove it without any authority oversight or tangible proof. Mendocino County’s native trees and forests have suffered massive losses over the last decade due to record wildfires and other natural disasters like extreme drought and the freak blizzard in January, 2019, combined with continued commercial over-logging, PG&E’s disastrous “Enhanced Vegetation Management Program,” and private land and homeowners’ land-clearing development projects. Please vote against this “urgent” ordinance, and at the very least specify requirements for proving that a targeted tree truly is dead or hazardous. The "urgency" is the dire need to protect our native trees and forests. Encourage their protection and conservation instead of expediting their destruction.
Climate Action Mendocino is in favor of the Resolution Proclaiming the Existence of a Local Emergency Related to Climate Change. It appears that this is a legal proclamation in order to follow State Law and Emergency Services.
Climate Action Mendocino is wholly in favor of the Urgency Ordinance Exempting Replacement Roofs and/or Roofmount Solar Energy Systems from Discretionary Review in the Coastal Zone .
Climate Action Mendocino has concerns about the Urgency Ordinance Exempting the Removal of Certain Dead, Diseased, or Hazardous Trees from Discretionary Review in the Coastal Zone. This Ordinance would certainly allow plenty of misinterpretation that could easily result in healthy or slightly damaged trees to be removed at the Owner's discretion. The Affidavit process appears to be up to the Owner's interpretation of a tree's health and the desirability of removing the tree by the Owner. Often the removal of broken limbs and other tree trimming will not cause a problem for a tree. How an Owner designates a tree as Hazardous, Dead or Diseased could be a convenient way for the Owner to use the timber of a perfectly healthy, but identified as 'diseased' or 'hazardous', tree without concern. Enforcement is likely not possible given the current workload in the County and the staff to follow up for enforcement. In any event, the tree would be removed. Given the climate emergency stated in nearly 3 pages of the Resolution mentioned above we need all of the healthy, mature trees we can protect to sequester carbon from our already carbon-saturated atmosphere.
Honorable Supervisors,
Please see the attached memo from MCA.
We are available to discuss further at your convenience.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,--
Mendocino Cannabis Alliance
MendoCannabis.com
707-234-5568